Will the Army benefit from increased competition amongst it's cadets? Usually more competition is a desirable situation but is there enough available space within most of the AROTC Battalions for more (former AFROTC) cadets and how will this affect the existing AROTC cadets at commissioning? Will more of the current cadets have to go to the Reserves or National Guard? I could imagine that if I were a current AROTC cadet that an influx of former AFROTC cadets might be somewhat disconcerting and not necessarily a welcome situation. JMPO...
New cadets joining AROTC their junior year is nothing new and happens quite often.
Current and prior enlisted can join their junior year.
There are quite often transfer students that join junior year.
NG and Reservist that have completed BCT and AIT can join junior year
Students that are starting their Masters degree can join as a 3rd year MS3 cadet.
AF cadets that come over to AROTC make up a small portion of the cadets that join junior year.
The top graduating cadet last year at my son's battalion was a two year cadet getting his Masters. One of the top cadets this year came from AD and started his junior year.
If a cadet comes from the AF, has a 3.8 GPA and can max the APFT, do well at LDAC and do well in ROTC their junior year, they will indeed be toward the top of the OML and very well take an Active slot from someone with much lower marks. The bottom line in AROTC is do not assume that because you look ok at the end of your sophomore year, that you will look the same at the end of your junior year. The new guys coming in can quickly eclipse you if you don't stay focused.
The competition is for the Army to get the best officer it can, whether these officers started ROTC their freshman year or junior year doesn't matter. Cadet command has a mission set, some battalions are traditionally full and some have openings for the MS3 year, if they can fill these openings with capable cadets from any source then the competition will work itself out.
My son was the fastest cadet in the Battalion....until a new cadet joined junior year, I think his name was "Flash". The only thing you can do is not rest on your heels the first two years, do your best because someone may come along that 3rd year that pushes you even harder.