Clarification needed here.
Has anyone asked if contracted cadets will be paid their stipend regardless of 26, 27 or 28 days?
Sometimes it is the question that is asked that gives the true answer.
For example, only about 20% of all AFROTC cadets are contracted prior to SFT. If by changing it to 26 or 27 days, and assume almost 20% are scholarship, that would equate into a huge savings.
~~~~ 80% of 2200 = @1740 cadets getting just a per diem and no wages.
Or is it every single cadet?
I recall our DS saying it was @700 that he got paid for SFT, but he was a scholarship cadet. I do not know if that included his stipend. Never asked, it was a non-chalant conversation in Oct. He was getting a lot of money via the AF in one month (book reimbursement, new stipend and SFT pay) and he decided to burn the money by buying a new laptop
I would also give some anecdotal info on how the budget is truly impacting ADAF.
We have 2 friends ADAF. 1 at UNT, 1 at UPT.
UNT: Original class start date was Jan, went to Feb., and is now at Mar. He
is at IFS right now, and will come back to P'cola to be on casual for @5 months.
UPT: Original class date was Nov. Now they are at Jan.
The AF is trying to squeeze every penny, and if not seeing what the ADAF is doing to pinch, think about how saying that money will trickle down to AFROTC too.
~~~ It could mean money for more ICSP or HSSP.
~~~ It could mean more money a new program at SFT, to better train the cadets.
~~~ It could mean not closing down a det that was slated to close. Would you care if it went 28 to 26 if it meant that your host det would remain a host det and you wouldn't have to go x-town?
It is a big picture to look at in the end. Every cadet that graduates from SFT will become a POC, and they will likely commission. Your perspective when you are in it, is about what you are enduring currently. Right now it is SFT. However 2 yrs ago it was scholarships and 2 yrs from now it will be ADAF.
AF's perspective is the whole picture. 2 days less of training is not a biggie at SFT. Heck, they come back in from the field. Get their phones back, call their loved ones day 26. March on the field day 27 for graduation. Fly out day 28. JMPO....no flaming, but I don't see how reducing it to 26 days to save money hurts the level of training they receive. I see it as pay issues.
~~~~ Again in 2 yrs from now while you wait to go AD, would you disagree that you feel it is a no harm/foul issue?
Would you agree if you were contracted that the 1 month pay is nothing compared to the stipend loss for the next 2 yrs. Multiply 18 months by the loss of 100 bucks. DS's stipend as as a 300 was 450, and as a 400 it was 550. How much is it now?
AFROTC cut stipends this yr. It is only natural that this is the next thing to cut from a damaging AFROTC budget POV if they have to find that 10% cut from the DoD budget.