Include AFROTC on USNA Application?

[C/Snuffy]

Hello everyone! Lengthy post ahead, I apologize but thank you for bearing with me.
BLUF: Should I include my AFROTC participation on my USNA application, when my detachment commander won't recommend me to USAFA?

So: I'm a college re-applicant to USNA and USAFA. I was rejected last year, but I never let it bring me down and in the 6 months between then and now I have been busy non-stop retaking SATs, volunteering, working a job, and doing more to bolster my applications for this year. This September I enrolled at 4 year college to continue pursuing my education while I re-apply to the academies. As it is my goal to be an officer in the military, I also joined my local AFROTC detachment as a X-town Cadet, about an hour drive away from my college. At some point within the first three weeks, I politely informed a member of the cadre that I was applying to USAFA and I would be pursuing the AFROTC nomination as well as a recommendation from our commander. (for anyone who doesn't know, a recommendation from an AFROTC commander is necessary for current-AFROTC USAFA applicants, although the AFROTC nom is not)

Everything about my re-applications has been going smooth (3.95GPA, close-to plebe-like schedule, honors, STEM major, letters of rec, etc) except for AFROTC. I have been struggling with the program, and even worse it's been entirely my fault. I've had instances of: failing to maintain professionalism when addressing POC (MFR), being late to PT, and robotic/awkward etiquette when talking to cadre. I regret all of this very much. I've reflected to myself upon how I allowed my professionalism to drop, and what I can do to isolate and eliminate each failure so that these remain instances of behavior instead of patterns. Needless to say however, (and I have confirmed this with the aforementioned cadre member) I will certainly not be receiving an AFROTC nomination nor our commanders recommendation at this time!

two things I'd like to make clear:
1) I've committed myself to changing this. I'm maintaining proper professionalism and work ethic, and I'm hoping to show up to as many non-mandatory sessions as possible despite being X-town. It's my goal to improve the cadre's opinion of me as best I can within the next few months, not just for USAFA purposes, but also because I want to be a good cadet in general! I hate half-a**ing things.
2) I'm writing the rest of this post under the assumption that my current status will not change, and that my actions have solidified the cadre's opinion of me for at least the next few months (until application packages are due). In that sense I've had to shift my focus almost solely towards getting into USNA, because without a commander recommendation my USAFA application is basically over.

So, I ask you this:
When writing my USNA statement, when conducting my BGO/nomination interviews, and when listing my extra-curricular activities, should I include that I have been doing AFROTC? USNA does not require a recommendation from my commander like USAFA does, however if I include that I'm a cadet, will USNA then ask to hear from my detachment commander? Will they ask for a surprise-recommendation from him? Is it even morally justifiable to include an activity who's leader would not recommend me as an extra-curricular on a college application?

I ask this because as much as including AFROTC on my USNA application could possibly hurt me, I know it could also help me. I believe that participating in AFROTC demonstrates my commitment to military service, especially when considering I could have joined my sophomore year and spent this year focusing 100% on my applications. I have also had my good moments at AFROTC, such as providing free transport to fellow cadets at other X-town colleges, fulfilling my duties within the cadet group, and doing well on the PFT. These are all things that I could write or speak about throughout this application cycle. USNA is my absolute goal, and I don't want to leave anything on the table. If something holds me back this year, be it AFROTC or not, I will continue striving to excel as a cadet and apply again next year.

That was pretty long winded, but I wanted to be clear and earnest, so thank you to everyone who read it. I know I shouldn't go to strangers on the internet for advice, but I don't know who else to turn to, and I've already talked about it with my dad.

 

[Academician]

Definitely include your participation in AFROTC. Use your concrete examples. It is a benefit. One of my students was an AFROTC cadet and received an USMA appointment. It is all upside. If your BGO asks why AFROTC over NROTC, you can provide the reason. My student noted that the AF unit on campus was was highly rated and quite good, so she chose it over others.

 

[justdoit19]

From my own BGO perspective: if I was interviewing you, I would expect to know this. And if you didn’t include it? That would be more damaging than helpful (it would draw attention to the lack of addressing).

Admissions will know you are military, I would suspect, based upon your application/personal details (won’t it pop up on a database, or similar? Idk). It may flat out be a question on the application. Yes address this!

Focus on the positives and not the negatives. For example, ‘I’ve gotten my first year of growth, change and self awareness that comes with freshman year’. Or something or other if it turns to a negative discussion. To this mom, that’s a benefit (IYKYK). Freshman year is transitional. Frame it as a benefit vs a shortcoming. We learn from EVERYTHING. And there is value in failing. And yes I failed, but this is what I learned about myself by going though it.

Side note: you mention things you have done lately to ‘improve your resume’. Make sure you can identify leadership in your package.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Full Steam]

Aren't you taking the standard Air Science courses for an AFROTC cadet? Those will be on the transcript from your college that you send to USNA.

So I don't think there is much chance of hiding that you are in Air Force ROTC. Given that, you will want to address it proactively so you can talk about the lessons you've learned as a cadet.

Initial lack of preparation or immaturity doesn't doom you to staying a low performer. I know a ROTC midshipman who failed the first PRT and went on to be the unit commander as a senior.

But I notice you write mainly about your interest in attending an academy and not much about your interest in being an Air Force officer or Naval officer. Is it possible that you are communicating some disregard, even contempt, for the program you are actually enrolled in?

Be careful that in your personal statements and interview you don't come across as putting down ROTC. As a former BGO, that was not something I thought was a positive characteristic in a candidate.

 

[C/Snuffy]

Definitely include your participation in AFROTC. Use your concrete examples. It is a benefit. One of my students was an AFROTC cadet and received an USMA appointment. It is all upside. If your BGO asks why AFROTC over NROTC, you can provide the reason. My student noted that the AF unit on campus was was highly rated and quite good, so she chose it over others.

Thank you! I will provide my reasoning for doing AFROTC and the growth I have experience (and will continue to experience) throughout my time here. I appreciate your feedback.

 

[C/Snuffy]

From my own BGO perspective: if I was interviewing you, I would expect to know this. And if you didn’t include it? That would be more damaging than helpful (it would draw attention to the lack of addressing).

Admissions will know you are military, I would suspect, based upon your application/personal details (won’t it pop up on a database, or similar? Idk). It may flat out be a question on the application. Yes address this!

Focus on the positives and not the negatives. For example, ‘I’ve gotten my first year of growth, change and self awareness that comes with freshman year’. Or something or other if it turns to a negative discussion. To this mom, that’s a benefit (IYKYK). Freshman year is transitional. Frame it as a benefit vs a shortcoming. We learn from EVERYTHING. And there is value in failing. And yes I failed, but this is what I learned about myself by going though it.

Side note: you mention things you have done lately to ‘improve your resume’. Make sure you can identify leadership in your package.

Let us know how it goes!

Thank you! I will certainly bring AFROTC up and make it a highlighted point when talking to my BGO. I will also include many of the points you talked about regarding personal growth, and reflecting on the collegiate transition. There is value in failing as you say, I may not be that old but I'm definitely old enough to know that.
I appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.

 

[C/Snuffy]

Aren't you taking the standard Air Science courses for an AFROTC cadet? Those will be on the transcript from your college that you send to USNA.

So I don't think there is much chance of hiding that you are in Air Force ROTC. Given that, you will want to address it proactively so you can talk about the lessons you've learned as a cadet.

Initial lack of preparation or immaturity doesn't doom you to staying a low performer. I know a ROTC midshipman who failed the first PRT and went on to be the unit commander as a senior.

But I notice you write mainly about your interest in attending an academy and not much about your interest in being an Air Force officer or Naval officer. Is it possible that you are communicating some disregard, even contempt, for the program you are actually enrolled in?

Be careful that in your personal statements and interview you don't come across as putting down ROTC. As a former BGO, that was not something I thought was a positive characteristic in a candidate.

Good point! Yes it will show up on my transcript.

A apologize for any lack of clarity or confusion in my initial post. Despite the difficulties I've encountered I have nothing against my current AFROTC detachment! And yes, my #1 plan for my future is to commission as an officer, and I'm aware that both ROTC and an academy (and ocs!) are tremendous opportunities and all equally respectable paths to commissioning. I'm just very focused on attending an academy right now because I set it as a goal for myself and I want to pursue it 100%. And although an academy officer is no better than a ROTC officer, USNA does offer certain degrees/majors which my current college doesn't that I'd like to pursue.

I certainly do not want to come across as putting down ROTC, I hope it didn't seem that way in my initial post. I wouldn't want to see that if I were a BGO either. Humility is one of the strongest character traits. Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.