AROTC Cadet to AFROTC?

[jaj98]

I recently left the AROTC program (where I was an MSI/II compression cadet) at the university I attend in the tri-state region. However, I am strongly considering getting into contact with the cadre/ROO (or the USAF equivalent) at a cross-town campus as I believe the path I'd like to take after commissioning might be better suited to a career in the USAF.

When I joined AROTC, later than my peers, I was not really prepared for it, or cognizant of many of the factors that went into joining my particular battalion and branch. I have a strong desire to serve and want to pursue a career as an officer but fear that it may be too late to actually achieve my dream.

After doing a significant amount of research I've come to the conclusion that the Air Force is a better fit for my particular goals and aspirations, and I have been putting in the work to make sure I am more than prepared to rise to the challenges presented to me if I were afforded the opportunity to join the Detachment.

That being said, is it impossible to join AFROTC/a Detachment heading into my junior year of college (I will have at least two more years of school + the potential of two or three more to ascertain a postgraduate (JD) degree)? Should I mention to the recruiting individual that I speak to at the Detachment that I was previously an AROTC cadet? Or should I just put plans for ROTC on the backburner and attempt to enlist/go to OCS (or the USAF equivalent) after graduation?

I would greatly appreciate any insight that could be provided. Especially from AFROTC cadets - I know of cadets that have gone from AFROTC to AROTC, but really haven't heard of any cadets doing the converse, so if anyone has experience in that, that would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Reaper]

Well, you need at least 3 years of school left to do AFROTC. I don't know if it'll be possible to join unless you somehow extend your degree. I've heard of people doing two years in the past, but I don't know if it's still possible. I'd talk to the AFROTC cadre because they can give you a definite answer.

 

[Jcleppe]

Your biggest concern if you join AFROTC late is what will be your chances of getting a SFT slot. That is on top of the fact that you only have two years of college left.

The biggest difference between the two programs, other then their missions, is that all AROTC cadets go to LDAC. In AFROTC going to SFT is not a given, you will compete for a slot. The issue here is that there will be AFROTC cadets that have been with the program for two years, they will have a big advantage for those SFT slots. The other issue is that SFT takes place the summer after your sophomore year, which from your post, is where you are right now.

Your best bet is to contact the AFROTC Det. and tell them what you would like to do, see if there are any options for you.

Your right, there have been AFROTC cadets that have switched to AROTC, that is much easier the doing to opposite.

 

[DukeFool]

You can join AFROTC during your junior year but you have to either extend your graduation date or attend graduate school to accommodate the three year minimum requirement. If you do attend graduate school there is a higher standard for those that are in graduate school (higher AFOQT scores, GPA). I know one cadet in my detachment that was kicked out in his last year in AFROTC due to the recently changed standards. You should tell the cadre that you were in AROTC as the paperwork you filled out in AROTC can be transferred to AFROTC. As long as you got and can get good grades (3.2+) you have a shot in AFROTC.

 

[Pima]

Quick question.

Do you want to go JAG? I ask because you said a JD as post education. If so you need to really research that since it is a different path for educational delay purposes than the traditional masters.

JAG is considered to be extremely competitive and there are 2 tracks to get there. I would discuss this with cadre.

http://www.afrotc.com/careers/professional-programs/graduate-law/

The other track is if you want them to pay for it, you will need to figure out how to get through AFROTC and commission. You than serve 2 yrs before competing for a JAG slot. They will than pay for schooling, and your job in the AF will be to attend law school full time as an O1/O2.

The positive of that route is obviously the pay, but also the biggest perk. You are guaranteed to go JAG upon completion.

The AFROTC route is not a guarantee to get into JAG. If there is a slot open than you fight for it against the other grads that are in the program. If there are no slots, than you may get a different AFSC than JAG until you get a slot.

 

[jaj98]

Thanks all for the information. I sent an e-mail/received a response from the Det's Recruiting Flight Commander, which also included some very helpful information.

The Recruiting Flight Commander suggested visiting the Det if I had any further questions and mentioned that it is indeed possible to join AFROTC as a rising junior.

Pima - JAG is the eventual route I want to take, so thank you very much for that additional information.

Are there any tips and tricks I should potentially know before beginning to endeavor to join the AFROTC program? Obviously the whole point of ROTC is to learn (and ultimately lead), but if there is anything I absolutely should or should not do, I'd be incredibly appreciative of any advice.

 

[Reaper]

Well since you're going to be brand new to the program you'll have to compete against all the other people that have already been in for 2 years. You really need to make yourself stand out and prove yourself because you may not get a SFT spot if you don't. The 2 cadets at my det that didn't get EAs this year were both AS250s which means they had only one year of being in the program before field training.