Contracting in your juniior year AF ROTC?

[bojibean]

If you are still considered a sophomore at the end of your second college yr due to total number of credits completed are you even eligible to attend FT and become contracted for POC if selected? Would you become eligible after completing enough credits to become considered a Jr? Will your selection be placed on a hold and you would complete FT and enter POC the following year If so what do you do with ROTC in the interim? Do you repeat AS200 or just sit out until able to re-enter as a Junior? Thank you for any advice you may have.

 

[Pima]

I am going to assume you have not talked to the cadre at your college AFROTC det. and you are not currently in AFROTC as a sophomore.

I would suggest you make an appointment to talk with the CoC.

I have read your post many times, but I can't follow your questions.

If you are still considered a sophomore at the end of your second college yr due to total number of credits completed are you even eligible to attend FT and become contracted for POC if selected?

Engineering majors typically are on 5 yr programs due to the amount of credits needed graduate. This is different than a non-tech major taking 12 credits which can be considered full time.
~~~ Please clarify

Will your selection be placed on a hold and you would complete FT and enter POC the following year If so what do you do with ROTC in the interim?

~~~ SFT selection board is for that yr. If not selected that yr., you need to be supported to meet the next yr board, otherwise they will dis-enroll you.
~ Your AS code will go from 200 to 500. You will still be required to be in the program...LLAB, PT. etc.
~ You will now compete with every 200, 250 and 500 for that yrs SFT selection.
~~~~~ 250 is a cadet that joins in their sophomore yr. 500 is a cadet that was not selected for SFT and dis-enrolled from the program as a 200 or 250.

Do you repeat AS200 or just sit out until able to re-enter as a Junior?

See above.

I am not trying to attack you, I am just saying if you read my responses talking to the CoC will be more beneficial than any anecdotal info we post here.

 

[bojibean]

I am sorry, I know my questions were confusing but I am confused as well. I am currently in ROTC in my second semester. I only joined in January this year. According to my credits I am not considered a sophomore although I am in my second year of college. I would like very much to be offered the ICSP for my last two years but I am not far enough along in my current AS degree program to graduate in May 2014 and transfer to the university to complete the next two yrs. I understand that if I am offered the scholarship and I do not complete the bachelor program by the two years that I will be enlisted only, not an officer. If I am selected for SFT then I cannot attend the summer session to catch up and complete the AS degree and begin at the university for the fall 2014. Is there a deferment option if I am selected but need to put it off, without losing the SFT/Scholarship opportunity? I hope I was able to make better sense.

 

[Pima]

I really suggest you talk to your cadre, because right now I am more confused now than after your 1st post.

Sorry, but too many things you have posted screams to me talk to the cadre ASAP!

Here is why:

I would like very much to be offered the ICSP for my last two years

No offense, but I haven't seen in my 5 yrs here a 2 yr ICSP.
~ Talk to the cadre, CoC regarding chances for a 2 yr. Ask have they seen any HQ AFROTC ICSP 2 yr scholarships?
~~~~ Could you be confusing det only 2 yr with HQ AFROTC ICSP?

I understand that if I am offered the scholarship and I do not complete the bachelor program by the two years that I will be enlisted only, not an officer.

Who on earth told you that? Take some time and read disenrollment threads for scholarship recipients. Gojira is the best example. Enlistment is not your choice, IT IS THEIRS! There are several threads where they were handed a bill!

If I am selected for SFT then I cannot attend the summer session to catch up and complete the AS degree and begin at the university for the fall 2014. Is there a deferment option if I am selected but need to put it off, without losing the SFT/Scholarship opportunity?

I thought I answered this already, your CoC will submit your name for the board.

I am not trying to be rude, but this is your career. You need to take control and rely on the input from your Commander for guidance, Asking us odd questions, such as, how do I approach is one thing. being in the system is another.

You are unique, if I read it correctly you are at a JCC. You are a unique cadet, and that is why you want to ask for a one on one with the CoC.

I can't say it enough...talk to your CoC. It is also why I did bold for the CoC/Commnder in my posts. It is up to you now. Cadets, parents and posters, opinions regarding your life or your CoC's opinion that is part of the SFT selection because their rec is part of your SFT selection score?

Best wishes, hopes and thoughts! Thank you for your desire to serve this great nation.

 

[bojibean]

This is all so confusing. Why do they say there are 2 yr scholarships if no one can get them? So if I were going to be offered a ICSP it would have been for 3 yrs and it would have been offered last semester? It is so hard to get the correct information, how am I supposed to plan a future if I cannot plan for next semester. ughhhh!!!
BTW, I was reading some of the disenrollment threads, yikes!

 

[Pima]

Why do they say there are 2 yr scholarships if no one can get them?

Of course there are those scholarships, but it comes down to HQ ADAF personnel needs for the commissioning yr group.

Currently because they are cutting the 200 yr group for SFT there is need to offer a 2 yr scholarship!
~~~ Think about it the 200 selection rate is 93% for SFT, why would HQ AFROTC offer a scholarship if they are below a 100% selection rate for SFT?

Also please understand every det has scholarship funds tied to that det. However, these scholarships are typically awarded at the spring dining out. That means after the SFT selection.

So if I were going to be offered a ICSP it would have been for 3 yrs and it would have been offered last semester?

Please read above to understand that some ICSP are HQ and some are det.

Again, if you are an AFROTC cadet you need to talk to the cadre for direction.

SFT selection is only one part of the equation. AFSC board is more intense.

 

[kinnem]

This is all so confusing. Why do they say there are 2 yr scholarships if no one can get them? So if I were going to be offered a ICSP it would have been for 3 yrs and it would have been offered last semester? It is so hard to get the correct information, how am I supposed to plan a future if I cannot plan for next semester. ughhhh!!!
BTW, I was reading some of the disenrollment threads, yikes!

Again, all the more reason to speak with the cadre so you get the straight skinny. If they don't know the answers (and I expect they do) they can get them.

 

[bojibean]

MOM is hijacking son's account, need info

Hello all and thank you for your advice to my son. He is speaking to his cadre also. Trying to get the information out of him (son) is difficult at best and I am trying to help him with understanding all of this and have some questions of my own. First of all, I am unfamiliar with all the acronyms so have a hard time following but I am picking it up as I go.

I am having trouble understanding the difference between detachment money and ICSP from HQ? The detachment can fund its own scholarships? How are the two different? Is one more desirable than the other?

May all be moot points as I do not believe my son has the gpa to be considered further at this point so , what are his options? Does he quit ROTC and try again at later date when his grades have improved? If he quits now is he done forever? If by some stroke of pure fate he manages to proceed and is selected for SFT2014 (summer field training, right?) he will need to complete his bachelor studies by time of commissioning ( two years- summer 2016)? I understand the part about if not selected for SFT then he returns in the Fall as a 500. If, as a 500, he is then selected for SFT 2015 then he only has one year of ROTC left before commissioning (seems logical but as I have learned better to ask)?

In both scenarios, if he attends SFT but does not complete the degree requirements in order to graduate, what happens then? If he completes SFT he is contracted- yes? When contracted is becoming active duty automatic at the planned graduation date? If you did not graduate as planned are you then active duty as enlisted as opposed to the officer you had planned on or do they give you time to finish the degree requirements?

Is there a place on the internet that has all these answers instead of asking everyone I can find? My son found this board and I think it is a wonderful source of information and advice but do not wish to make people repeat what may be readily available elsewhere if you know where to look. Please don't suggest that my son get all the answers from his cadre because as you know, what is heard and then repeated to me at home often gets lost in translation. I know I cannot go to his commander myself and ask as that is definitely taboo, but, believe me, I have thought about it!

Again, thank you for any advice you have to offer!

 

[jbsail]

This is all so confusing. Why do they say there are 2 yr scholarships if no one can get them? So if I were going to be offered a ICSP it would have been for 3 yrs and it would have been offered last semester? It is so hard to get the correct information, how am I supposed to plan a future if I cannot plan for next semester. ughhhh!!!
BTW, I was reading some of the disenrollment threads, yikes!

Yes, the disenrollments are real.

 

[bojibean]

Thank you all for your input. Guess we have some figuring out to do!

 

[Pima]

The detachment can fund its own scholarships? How are the two different? Is one more desirable than the other?

A det. scholarship is different than an HQ scholarship because it can only be used at that det. The HQ is national and the cadet can take it to any school that accepts the scholarship.
~~~ Dets. can use the money as they wish; for example they may offer only 1 scholarship for 4 yrs., they may offer 4 scholarships for only 1 yr.

Dets., especially at big universities have mandatory volunteering activities for the cadets. At our DS's det. they clean up the football stadium after the game at least 2x a season, they also clean up the basketball arena several times a yr. The college pays that money to the det. instead of paying it to a janitorial service. They rotate it between A/N/AFROTC units on campus.
~~~ This is thousands of dollars that the det. earned for philanthropic purposes which paid for the scholarships.
~ It also pays to offset the costs for dining in and dining outs.
~ It pays for GMC night and the fun things in the lounge, such as the foosball table, the crud table, the tv, xbox, playstation, and pizza for those weekly GMC nights.

Only his CoC can tell him about how their det. scholarship works. Neither is more or less desirable when it comes to the ultimate goal...SFT selection and commissioning.

May all be moot points as I do not believe my son has the gpa to be considered further at this point so , what are his options? Does he quit ROTC and try again at later date when his grades have improved? If he quits now is he done forever?

This is a def. ask the CoC. I know there is a reg which allows them to commission, but I believe it is not through ROTC, but OCS. Do not quote me on that at all. Plus, I believe it is the official dis-enrollment paperwork that is a factor in if he can come back in.

I know one of DS's friends quit on his own accord AFROTC. He just didn't feel like he was a good fit in the AF. He graduated from college, got his grad degree within a yr. and decided he wanted to go Army. He was accepted into their OCS program.
~ I just don't know if he would have been allowed OCS for AFROTC.

I understand the part about if not selected for SFT then he returns in the Fall as a 500. If, as a 500, he is then selected for SFT 2015 then he only has one year of ROTC left before commissioning (seems logical but as I have learned better to ask)?

First, he does not decide if he can return as a 500. There is a paperwork process that goes up the chain, and the 1st person that needs to sign off on that decision is the CoC. If the CoC does not support him for 500, he will be dis-enrolled.
~~~ A few yrs ago, 500's were more common, but still rare, than it went down to almost nobody. Now, it is more, but in no way, shape or form would I place returning as a 500 as a given. The 500's usually had something unique for them(CoC) to go to bat for them with HQ AFROTC.

Second, the reg is that after graduating from SFT, they will become a POC. To be commissioned, they must serve at least 3 semesters as a POC. In other words, they would not commission in May with the cadets they entered with as a 100.
~ This also adds a new twist regarding not only their AFSC, but their report date. Currently new grads go after AFA grads, with OCS grads sprinkled in the mix. The May grads will go before the August grads, and the Aug grads will go before the Dec. grads. It is not uncommon for them to wait 6-9 months before reporting. He may wait closer to 9 mos. before reporting depending on the career field he desires. Competitive AFSCs will usually wait longer than the non-competitive fields.

In both scenarios, if he attends SFT but does not complete the degree requirements in order to graduate, what happens then?

Your DS should already know by now this answer. At the end of every semester the cadre typically sits down with the cadet to review their academic progression and review them as a cadet within the det.
~ If his graduation date moves for any reason, he needs to tell them immediately. HQ AFROTC predicts how many cadets will commission yrs out. In part, this is how they determine the number of SFT/EA allotments will occur for the 200 yr group. I.E. if they have 3000 200's for 14, and only need 2000 to commission in 16, they are not going to offer 3000 SFT slots, more likely 2200 or less.

If he completes SFT he is contracted- yes? When contracted is becoming active duty automatic at the planned graduation date?

See above, but short answer is yes. Do not confuse contracted with scholarship contracted. He will get a stipend, but he will not get money to use for tuition or room and board.

If you did not graduate as planned are you then active duty as enlisted as opposed to the officer you had planned on or do they give you time to finish the degree requirements?

First see above regarding telling them asap. The fact is they would probably dis-enroll him way before because you cannot commission without a degree.

The 2nd part is the AF's decision whether you go enlisted or you pony up the money they paid to you.
~ For contracted scholarship cadets expect to pony up the money. For contracted non-scholarship cadets in this current environment, expect them to say have a nice life, don't call us, we'll call you!

They are not heartless, he would most likely be able to complete his degree. You need to understand the military is a business, and the AF has always been jokingly referred to as the banker or corporate branch. They are not stupid, even if they required the enlistment it is to their advantage to wait the 6 months for him to finish his degree, than force him off to boot camp in June.
~~~ One reason on top of a better asset, is morale, it can spread like a cancer in any unit on any base. Fast!

Is there a place on the internet that has all these answers instead of asking everyone I can find? My son found this board and I think it is a wonderful source of information and advice but do not wish to make people repeat what may be readily available elsewhere if you know where to look.

The fact is in my opinion you are not going to find any place on the internet that will give you the information for guidance as a parent better than this one.

 

[bojibean]

Pima, thank you for answering all my questions and very thoroughly also. I have been having a rough go at trying to decipher everything and to provide guidance to my son.

One more question regarding OCS- my son has mentioned this as an option also. Why don't you think the AF would have accepted your DS's friend?

 

[Pima]

He completed SFT and came back to school saying I don't want to do this. He voluntarily left as a POC since he graduated from SFT.

 

[bojibean]

Wow, I didn't think there were any options after you became contracted but, I see how wrong I am. I am so glad to have this site and the information you and others can provide. Thank you, thank you!!!