Can anybody give me their opinion so I can have some peace of mind and have an idea of what to expect, I have a 94.8 PFA score and a 3.04 GPA. I know it's not great but do y'all think I might have a decent chance of going to field training this summer. Be as brutally honest as you like.
AFROTC EA due date
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What is your major and in which percentile of your class are you?
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Capt. Ahab
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We haven't been given a percentage. Numbers being "pretty low" is a vague term based on perspective. Until we hear something further, I'm not sure we can say it speculate any thing.
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hanstine93
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I told our cadre that if EAs get released at the end of the week at NATCON to not call me. Finding out over the phone would be lame, regardless if I got a slot or not
Folks - "Take not council of thine fears" Don't read into it or rationalize - it's going to be a tough week but bear down on what you have to do and carry on. You'll find out soon enough and agonizing over it will only be counter-productive... You've made it this far as noted...
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
This is not a bad idea. At the same time, the suspense would be absolutely killing me the entire time at NATCON.
hanstine93
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I thought we were a small group with only 13!!
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Doesn't NATCON start this Friday? You go to school Thursday and then leave that night, if the cadre know EAs by Thursday couldn't you ask them to tell you before you go?
hanstine93
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I'm from Central Washington U, most of us are leaving campus Wednesday night after LLAB and flying to DC Thursday morning
ERAUMattmom
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Decide over the weekend if they want to continue????? That to me sounds more like speculation then fact.
I would think that AFROTC should be more concerned about moving forward and notifying those cadets who actually survived the cut and the "low" number of EA's so that they can start getting prepped for the upcoming FT.
Not to sound callous to those unfortunate to end up being a casualty of the budget cuts...but by now if a cadet doesn't have a solid plan B and a decent plan C in place...then maybe they were on the correct side of that cutoff line wherever it may fall.
It's not like the low numbers are going to come as a shock to anybody...They already cut the number of days as well as the number of Max's.
And from what I have learned from Pima and this forum is that it's actually up to AFROTC if they will LET YOU continue on....definitely not something that they are going to be making a decision on over the weekend.....
I think if the numbers are in....it's time to deliver the news.....
JMHO ....... that of a MOM
AFROTC may give the cadets the option of continuing in the program next year and compete again for FT. So actually, these cadets will have a lot to think about over the weekend.
hanstine93
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Just curious as to how you got this information. I think names should be released ASAP, so that the cadets going to MAX 1 have more time to prepare (though that should be happening, regardless). Wondering if this is legitimate information or not
ERAUMattmom
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sarcasm font on
Gee - Maybe the numbers are so low that they don't want to risk ruining the atmosphere at NatCon this weekend.
sarcasm font off
Guys/Gals - My DS say's it best .... maybe he learned it from Eagle 1 ... but it will happen when it happens. Be proud of what you have accomplished these past 2 years.
The best thing to do now is be prepared to take those next steps wherever they may lead. If you happen to find yourself on new road step quickly and confidently. Know that everything happens for a reason and believe it.
ERAUMattmom
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IMHO -
This year, with the circumstances that they are, the budget cuts, the reduction in number of max's, the reduction in number of days of SFT and the length of time to get EA's released .....a good cadet will already have in place what his plan is if not receiving an EA. Hence the decision to return or not return will have already been made.
There will no doubt be many good cadets not making the cuts. The best of these have already probably done whatever steps necessary to make their plan B happen.
I would think that this decision is something that these cadets have had the entire semester to think about and NOT something that should be decided in the days/week after receiving the bad news as the decision would be more likely to be made with unnecessary emotion added to the mix.
The first step in deciding plan B.... Do I want to return as a 500 if I don't get an EA? yes or no If the answer is 'NO" then the planning begins for plan B..... see where I am going with this?
That's why it's called an opinion.. this one just happens to be mine.
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All the planning in the world, whether they have looked at all their options over the past semester or not, will replace the anxiety some cadets will face if they get the bad news. Many cadets will have planned all along that they will continue if given the opportunity but after the realization that they now have to make that decision stares them in the face they will need a couple days to make that decision.
This isn't exclusive to AFROTC, there are moments like this in every branch. AROTC cadets plan for what branch they want, they have back ups, when they finish LDAC and put their paperwork together and find out what their chances are for some branches the whole thought process starts over.
It doesn't end in ROTC either. All through Flight School my son had his sights set on a certain airframe, when it came time for selection day he changed his mind on the spot. Once the cards are layed on the table almost everyone reevaluates their options.
It's not fair to assume that these cadets should have thought all this through and not need any time to think about their decisions, while I agree that they should hope for the best and plan for the worst, it will still be a tough decision when finally faced with their options.
This isn't exclusive to AFROTC, there are moments like this in every branch. AROTC cadets plan for what branch they want, they have back ups, when they finish LDAC and put their paperwork together and find out what their chances are for some branches the whole thought process starts over.
It doesn't end in ROTC either. All through Flight School my son had his sights set on a certain airframe, when it came time for selection day he changed his mind on the spot. Once the cards are layed on the table almost everyone reevaluates their options.
It's not fair to assume that these cadets should have thought all this through and not need any time to think about their decisions, while I agree that they should hope for the best and plan for the worst, it will still be a tough decision when finally faced with their options.
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IMHO -
This year, with the circumstances that they are, the budget cuts, the reduction in number of max's, the reduction in number of days of SFT and the length of time to get EA's released .....a good cadet will already have in place what his plan is if not receiving an EA. Hence the decision to return or not return will have already been made.
There will no doubt be many good cadets not making the cuts. The best of these have already probably done whatever steps necessary to make their plan B happen.
I would think that this decision is something that these cadets have had the entire semester to think about and NOT something that should be decided in the days/week after receiving the bad news as the decision would be more likely to be made with unnecessary emotion added to the mix.
The first step in deciding plan B.... Do I want to return as a 500 if I don't get an EA? yes or no If the answer is 'NO" then the planning begins for plan B..... see where I am going with this?
That's why it's called an opinion.. this one just happens to be mine.
You say that like it's something that's easy to decide. You THINK you know exactly what you're going to do if it doesn't pan out, but everyone still thinks they have a chance and are banking on that chance until that final word is given. What with how stringent the weeding process was at dets across the nation this year (I know our class is bigger than last year's, but that's because we started with more candidates than in previous years) and cadets being disenrolled for medical reasons left and right, there isn't a whole lot of "bad cadet" fat left to trim. In a perfect world "bad cadets" would be at the bottom and "good cadets" would be at the top and the selection process would get rid of all the undeserving cadets. In reality there are "bad cadets" with better gpas than "good cadets" who will edge them out of EAs.
If selection stats are as low as people have been predicting them to be, this year a lot of good cadets that would have made it in previous years won't. Of our group of 27 or so FTP cadets I can only think of 2 that would be told not to return as 500s next year, everyone else has shown maximum effort.
Even those who seem the most dedicated will struggle with repeating their 2nd year, watching the rest of their classmates go on and become POC, having to address them as Sir or Ma'am, and struggling with bonding to your new class when you used to be so tight with your old one. Not to mention having to foot the bill for an extra year of schooling so that you can commission through ROTC. We had a 500, pretty gung ho guy when he was a 200, had a military legacy that he'd dreamed of living up to for years. He just couldn't hack it, stayed most of the year, but was never engaged, never bonded with our class, struggled with having new found barriers put in place by rank of ppl he'd known for years which made him question why he was doing this in the 1st place. Gone.
It may sound petty and inconsequential or like something that cadets who really want to be there wouldn't struggle with, but those are still valid concerns for anyone contemplating returning which is partly why many cadets who don't get EAs either switch ROTC branches or don't return at all.
I want the results to come out to us as soon as our dets get them too, but at the same time deciding whether or not to return as a 500 is not worthy of a snap decision nor is it to be taken lightly. Not getting an EA is a possibility for everyone, but I highly doubt most of us have thought up a solid plan that extends beyond A) contemplate the end of the dream you've had for yourself for the past 2-15 years in a fetal position B) stay in school and finish your degree C) Start thinking about the job you'll have to get in the civilian sector with a degree you may or may not have chosen because you thought you'd be in the military and wouldn't actually have to use it.
(Partial) Kidding aside, I think a weekend to recover and consult with trusted confidants and parents is more than appropriate. These are their lives, it's hard to let go of the thing you've been building for yourself since you were a kid. Like Jcleppe said, the kid who's been joking all semester that he's out if he doesn't get an EA can decide to stay and the cadet that's been gung ho about going to FT no matter what may give up and opt out when everything is said and done.
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AlphaAlphaSigma
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Just a question is the decision to return to ROTC really have to be that hastily made? In my detachment there were many FTPs last year that stuck until the end of the semester before they decided to pick other routes. I'm not understanding why we would need a weekend to think about it when in actuality you have a semester before you would start your 500 year.
ERAUMattmom
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I respect both your - Non Ducor Duco and Jcleppe's opinion on this. My opinion is what it is.....that's why it is called an opinion and you can't be upset with a person for having one that happens to be different than yours.
While I sympathize with what you both are saying...my response was to the OP's claim that the announcements won't be made until later this week so that it would give cadets a chance to decide whether or not they want to continue.
MY OPINION is that it is possible to announce the EA's and still give the cadets the time they need to make those decisions...
Out of respect for those who DO get EA's ...the more time that they have to arrange their summers the better....and we are running out of time...
IN MY OPINION that trumps being sensitive to those with disappointing news.
I am fine with you having a different opinion. That is part of what makes this such an amazing country...it's OK to disagree..
And for the record I am absolutely NOT saying that is something that is easy to decide.....That is exactly the point that I was trying to make.....It is something that I believe should have been seriously considered since before the beginning of the year. I understand needing time to lick one's wounds.
I also believe that a cadet looking to be a leader in our military should know enough to realize that the perfect plan isn't always perfect and be confidently prepared to adjust when confronted with obstacles that at the very least neutralize that plan.....AFROTC cadets have known the reality that this particular obstacle has been out there since day one.
Maybe it's because I have learned to put so must trust in the things that Pima posts that I have this attitude or opinion....From day one....posters are concerned about getting scholarships.....THE VERY FIRST RESPONSE BY PIMA IS......MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SCHOLARSHIP IS GOING TO SFT. That getting an EA and going to SFT is the biggest and most important obstacle that needs to be hurdled in route to commissioning.
Of course everybody hopes and dreams until that last minute of getting that EA. My hope that is for cadets that end up with disappointing news for it not to "ruin" them...but to use these past two years as a stepping stone to something equally as great.
While I sympathize with what you both are saying...my response was to the OP's claim that the announcements won't be made until later this week so that it would give cadets a chance to decide whether or not they want to continue.
MY OPINION is that it is possible to announce the EA's and still give the cadets the time they need to make those decisions...
Out of respect for those who DO get EA's ...the more time that they have to arrange their summers the better....and we are running out of time...
IN MY OPINION that trumps being sensitive to those with disappointing news.
I am fine with you having a different opinion. That is part of what makes this such an amazing country...it's OK to disagree..
And for the record I am absolutely NOT saying that is something that is easy to decide.....That is exactly the point that I was trying to make.....It is something that I believe should have been seriously considered since before the beginning of the year. I understand needing time to lick one's wounds.
I also believe that a cadet looking to be a leader in our military should know enough to realize that the perfect plan isn't always perfect and be confidently prepared to adjust when confronted with obstacles that at the very least neutralize that plan.....AFROTC cadets have known the reality that this particular obstacle has been out there since day one.
Maybe it's because I have learned to put so must trust in the things that Pima posts that I have this attitude or opinion....From day one....posters are concerned about getting scholarships.....THE VERY FIRST RESPONSE BY PIMA IS......MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SCHOLARSHIP IS GOING TO SFT. That getting an EA and going to SFT is the biggest and most important obstacle that needs to be hurdled in route to commissioning.
Of course everybody hopes and dreams until that last minute of getting that EA. My hope that is for cadets that end up with disappointing news for it not to "ruin" them...but to use these past two years as a stepping stone to something equally as great.
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I think it's more of the decision of "Do I still go to class or not?". I imagine it's like when you decide to drop a class, but think "Oh this is super useful, I should audit" so you go to the class a couple more times, but get to thinking "Why am I even here? It's not like I'm getting a grade. There are better things for me to do, I'll just learn it when I actually have to take the class again." So you stop going to the class at all. When attendance is no longer mandatory, I'm sure plenty of cadets, especially crosstowns, get to thinking why am I still going?
You can stay until the end of the semester if you want, but it's pretty important that you at least decide to commit to that after EAs come out, and then you can take more time deciding if you want to be a 500 or not. So basically you would take a weekend to either decide that you will definitely be a 500, or that you will give yourself more time to decide. If you decide no and stop showing up to class and fail LLAB, pretty sure that's it for you.