So I figured some of my fellow nominees might want to hear my story about the crazy road I have taken to come to where I currently am in the Usafa app process. Sorry its kinda long...
High School... lived in tallahassee, Fl and dont think I ever saw one person in uniform the entire time I was there. There was a jrotc program at my school but it was marines and it was a social club and a joke so i didnt give it a second thought. All of that to say I had absolutely no exposure to the military. No one in my extended family for 2 generations had been in any of the armed services.
During my senior year I applied and was accepted to 9 different colleges throughout the southeast. I went on various campus tours and eventually decided upon Samford University in Birmingham, AL. While I was on my tour at Samford I ran into a AFROTC cadet and he started up conversation with me. He was a really cool guy and he planted the seed in my head that told me I could possibly see my self doing what that guy was doing.
I come home after my college visit and look up scholarship opportunities online and realize that I missed the application deadline for in highschool ROTC scholarship applications by 4 days...it was Dec. 5 and the deadline was Dec. 1. I was crushed. I called the detachment and spoke with the Major and she told me that I should join rotc anyways and that they could get me an in college scholarship.
Summer comes and goes and I move in at Samford fall of 2008. I begin the semster enrolled in ROTC. I soon find that I LOVE it! my air force stuff is what I look forward to every week. I do well and am ranked 2nd in my flight after the first semster. I also join Arnold Air Society, the air force intrest fraturnity.
Over Christmas break I started looking over what I was doing and realized that I really wanted to be at the academy. There was virtually no information out there about transferring into the academy. After the break I spoke with my major and she told me that I was awarded the Detachment 012 USAFA nomination for the year of 2008-09! I was so excited because i thought appling was impossible since it was far to late for me to get a senators nomination.
So I begin the application process Jan. 5th. I find out that my bad ankle (been a problem because of HS soccer) is going to disqualify me. So I quickly schedule surgery. Before having my two part surgery on Feb. 12 and 25 I do both my Dodmerb and CFA. I have the Brostrom-Gould Ligament reattachment procedure. While recovering I keep up with my application packet and college classes. I finish my packet Feb. 25.
Currently I am walking and in rehab after being on crutches for 6 weeks. I am supposed to be fully recovered by the end of april. Once healed I will be able to submit my administrative remedials and pass my dodmerb.
As of right now I havent heard back from the academy about my application. I have left 3 messages and tried to call my admissions counselor every day for the last 2 weeks.
I have faith that my application was a solid one, and the fact that I was able to finish it all was a miracle.
For those other Nominees that are waiting.....in limbo, like me. Keep faith. If you have gotten this far you are among a select few. I am lucky in the fact that I am at ease with the whole situation because if I dont get in I still love my ROTC detachment and would be perfectly content with staying at Samford.
For those people that have received letters of denial, DONT GIVE UP! The academy is just one of the three ways that you can become an officer (USAFA, ROTC, OTS). Dont give up on your dream to become an officer just because you cant go to the academy. ROTC is a great program and they will pay you to go through it and college.
For those who have received appointments. Dont take it lightly. You are among an even smaller elite group and many people would die to be in your situation. You are blessed.
I will reply to this post when I get any update on my admission status.
Thanks for reading,
-J
High School... lived in tallahassee, Fl and dont think I ever saw one person in uniform the entire time I was there. There was a jrotc program at my school but it was marines and it was a social club and a joke so i didnt give it a second thought. All of that to say I had absolutely no exposure to the military. No one in my extended family for 2 generations had been in any of the armed services.
During my senior year I applied and was accepted to 9 different colleges throughout the southeast. I went on various campus tours and eventually decided upon Samford University in Birmingham, AL. While I was on my tour at Samford I ran into a AFROTC cadet and he started up conversation with me. He was a really cool guy and he planted the seed in my head that told me I could possibly see my self doing what that guy was doing.
I come home after my college visit and look up scholarship opportunities online and realize that I missed the application deadline for in highschool ROTC scholarship applications by 4 days...it was Dec. 5 and the deadline was Dec. 1. I was crushed. I called the detachment and spoke with the Major and she told me that I should join rotc anyways and that they could get me an in college scholarship.
Summer comes and goes and I move in at Samford fall of 2008. I begin the semster enrolled in ROTC. I soon find that I LOVE it! my air force stuff is what I look forward to every week. I do well and am ranked 2nd in my flight after the first semster. I also join Arnold Air Society, the air force intrest fraturnity.
Over Christmas break I started looking over what I was doing and realized that I really wanted to be at the academy. There was virtually no information out there about transferring into the academy. After the break I spoke with my major and she told me that I was awarded the Detachment 012 USAFA nomination for the year of 2008-09! I was so excited because i thought appling was impossible since it was far to late for me to get a senators nomination.
So I begin the application process Jan. 5th. I find out that my bad ankle (been a problem because of HS soccer) is going to disqualify me. So I quickly schedule surgery. Before having my two part surgery on Feb. 12 and 25 I do both my Dodmerb and CFA. I have the Brostrom-Gould Ligament reattachment procedure. While recovering I keep up with my application packet and college classes. I finish my packet Feb. 25.
Currently I am walking and in rehab after being on crutches for 6 weeks. I am supposed to be fully recovered by the end of april. Once healed I will be able to submit my administrative remedials and pass my dodmerb.
As of right now I havent heard back from the academy about my application. I have left 3 messages and tried to call my admissions counselor every day for the last 2 weeks.
I have faith that my application was a solid one, and the fact that I was able to finish it all was a miracle.
For those other Nominees that are waiting.....in limbo, like me. Keep faith. If you have gotten this far you are among a select few. I am lucky in the fact that I am at ease with the whole situation because if I dont get in I still love my ROTC detachment and would be perfectly content with staying at Samford.
For those people that have received letters of denial, DONT GIVE UP! The academy is just one of the three ways that you can become an officer (USAFA, ROTC, OTS). Dont give up on your dream to become an officer just because you cant go to the academy. ROTC is a great program and they will pay you to go through it and college.
For those who have received appointments. Dont take it lightly. You are among an even smaller elite group and many people would die to be in your situation. You are blessed.
I will reply to this post when I get any update on my admission status.
Thanks for reading,
-J