Learning about Military Colleges

My son's goal is an appointment to USAFA. Long term goal is to become an AF pilot, but even if he does not get a pilot slot, he wants to serve as an AF officer. Already has a few AF careers in mind. He's also looking into USNA, but he's not sure if he sees himself in the Navy if he doesn't get pilot.

@mintyicedtea, apologize if you and your DS are already aware that, the service most midshipmen from USNA are assigned at graduation: Pilot in Navy and Marine Corps combined, not counting NFOs.

https://www.navytimes.com/story/mil...-drafted-navy-marine-corps-branches/76056832/
 
@mintyicedtea, apologize if you and your DS are already aware that, the service most midshipmen from USNA are assigned at graduation: Pilot in Navy and Marine Corps combined, not counting NFOs./

Yes, folks have told him about the many pilot positions through Navy and Marine Corps. His concern is that somewhere along the way, if he becomes unqualified for pilot, he is not sure he sees himself in sea operations. I hope he keeps an open mind.
 
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But he is okay with a support type officer in the Air Force if he doesn't get to be an Air Force pilot? I suggest your DS to give that some serious thoughts.
 
If you look at the numbers above, at both The Citadel and Norwich (both highly regarded military schools) ~40% of the student body do not participate in the Corp of Cadets. They want the structure of a military school, but they do not want to serve in the military. When you go to a civilian college and participate in ROTC only a portion of your schooling has that military structure.

Well kind of... it depends on what you call the student body. If you call night school Grad programs student body I guess so? If you attend day classes at The Citadel you will not have non corp students in your classes except maybe veterans. All day undergrads are members of the corp, uniforms 24/7.

And it is important to understand that the corp and ROTC are totally different entities, at least at The Citadel. If you are a member of the corp and in ROTC, Corp rank has nothing to do with ROTC rank. And as said above you can take ROTC and not sign a military contract. If you are contracted you are ranked on an OML listing according to performance in many different areas during ROTC. You basically bid on you preferred branch based on the OML listing. What I mean by branch is position within the Army (ie Infantry, Field Artillery, etc) and I am speaking of Army, no idea how the others do it. Some years different branches in the Army have more slots that others. Most SMC Army contacted get slots of some kind, somewhere, in some branch, unless they really messed it up...

As far as what is expected at an SMC other than academics. Well different degrees in different SMC's. You have Corp duties like PT, room inspections, curfews, very little leave time as a freshman, tours to walk when you mess up (done on your weekend free time), and set an example for underclassmen if an upperclassman. And I missed plenty things...definitely a different way of college life than a non SMC school.

Important aspect as already said, make the visit to all the schools you can. All have different flairs to offer that may be to your Cadets liking. It may be school attitude (stricter military style) or it may just be as simple as geographic location...

DS is a 2015 Citadel Grad.. FA..
 
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Well kind of... it depends on what you call the student body. If you call night school Grad programs student body I guess so? If you attend day classes at The Citadel you will not have non corp students in your classes except maybe veterans. All day undergrads are members of the corp, uniforms 24/7.

And it is important to understand that the corp and ROTC are totally different entities, at least at The Citadel. If you are a member of the corp and in ROTC, Corp rank has nothing to do with ROTC rank. And as said above you can take ROTC and not sign a military contract. If you are contracted you are ranked on an OML listing according to performance in many different areas during ROTC. You basically bid on you preferred branch based on the OML listing. What I mean by branch is position within the Army (ie Infantry, Field Artillery, etc) and I am speaking of Army, no idea how the others do it. Some years different branches in the Army have more slots that others. Most SMC Army contacted get slots of some kind, somewhere, in some branch, unless they really messed it up...

As far as what is expected at an SMC other than academics. Well different degrees in different SMC's. You have Corp duties like PT, room inspections, curfews, very little leave time as a freshman, tours to walk when you mess up (done on your weekend free time), and set an example for underclassmen if an upperclassman. And I missed plenty things...definitely a different way of college life than a non SMC school.

Important aspect as already said, make the visit to all the schools you can. All have different flairs to offer that may be to your Cadets liking. It may be school attitude (stricter military style) or it may just be as simple as geographic location...

DS is a 2015 Citadel Grad.. FA..
Well said.
 
Can't take credit for posting this, but found this very helpful and think others may as well--thanks!
Very good breakdown in terms of size, Corps, and offerings.

Texas A&M
(Oldest Public College in Texas)---Founded 1876---64,376 students with 2,200 Corps of Cadets members, 3.4% of student body---Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate, Online degrees---All ROTC Branches offered.
Virginia Tech---Founded 1872---33,170 students with 1,200 Corps of Cadets members, 3.6% of student body---Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate, Online degrees---All ROTC Branches offered.
University of N. Georgia, The Military College of Georgia---Est. 1873---17,289 students (all campuses) with 744 Corps of Cadets members, 4.3% of student body---Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate, Online degrees---only Army ROTC offered.
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina---Est. 1842--3,506 students (distance degree students not included) with 2,200 Corps of Cadets members, 62.7% of student body---Bachelor's, Master's, Online degrees---All ROTC Branches offered.
Norwich University (America's first Private Military College and Birthplace of ROTC), Founded 1819---2,100 students (distance degree students not included) with 1,260 Corps of Cadets members, 60% of student body---Bachelor's, Master's, Online degrees---All ROTC Branches offered.
Virginia Military Institute (America's first State Military College)---Founded 1839---1,653 students---100% Corps of Cadets---Bachelor's degree---All ROTC Branches offered.
 
To tack on a minor note, it's just "associate degree." There's no possessive such as other degrees. Some schools even get that wrong.
 
To tack on a minor note, it's just "associate degree." There's no possessive such as other degrees. Some schools even get that wrong.

Respectfully disagree, LITS. This is from the Style guide of Western Michigan University.

Academic Degrees

Academic degrees are capitalized only when the full name of the degree is used, such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of Social Work. General references, such as bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, are not capitalized.

Correct
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2008.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 2008.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication in 2008.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2008.
She holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from Stanford University.

Abbreviations, such as B.A., M.S. and Ph.D., should be used in text only when there is a need to identify many people by academic degree and use of the full names would be cumbersome.

In most writing, use of the general terms bachelor’s or bachelor’s degree, master’s or master’s degree and doctorate or doctoral degree are sufficient to establish credentials and preferred to use of the full name of the degree (or the initials).

Use an apostrophe (possessive) with bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, but not in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. Do not use an apostrophe (possessive) with associate degree or doctoral degree.


Source:
https://wmich.edu/writing/rules/degrees
 
Respectfully disagree, LITS. This is from the Style guide of Western Michigan University.

Academic Degrees

Academic degrees are capitalized only when the full name of the degree is used, such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of Social Work. General references, such as bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, are not capitalized.

Correct
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2008.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 2008.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication in 2008.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2008.
She holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from Stanford University.

Abbreviations, such as B.A., M.S. and Ph.D., should be used in text only when there is a need to identify many people by academic degree and use of the full names would be cumbersome.

In most writing, use of the general terms bachelor’s or bachelor’s degree, master’s or master’s degree and doctorate or doctoral degree are sufficient to establish credentials and preferred to use of the full name of the degree (or the initials).

Use an apostrophe (possessive) with bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, but not in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. Do not use an apostrophe (possessive) with associate degree or doctoral degree.


Source:
https://wmich.edu/writing/rules/degrees

Actually, I think you're agreeing with me.
 
I may have been unclear with my "such as." There ARE possessives with other degrees, but not an associates degree.
 
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