quitting the academy and joining afrotc hopefully

nray25

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
7
title says all.

any thing that i should be deeply concerned about?
 
Like many posts state, this place is definitely not for everyone, and I believe I am one of those people that it is not for. I was thinking a lot about quitting after the first semester, but I figured I would give it another semester to think things through. I recently put in my transfer applications, and am now waiting for word on it. I have the utmost respect for those who attend this place, and those who graduate from here, but it just isn't the place for me. I have always been one who enjoys my freedoms. Also I frequently go down to the gym to play basketball, and rarely are there other cadets down there. I love doing activities, and sports, but it is very hard out here. Most cadets I have found can run very fast, and do a decent amount of pushups, but they really do not like to compete in sports. I need my sports as an outlet to academics...

I have also seen a lot of power hungry and arrogant cadets...one thing that has definitely turned me off about the place. Not all leaders that come from this place are extraordinary.
 
Your quitting due to lack of freedom, yet you still plan on ultimately becoming an officer?
 
title says all.

any thing that i should be deeply concerned about?

Yes.

Be ready to give an explanation as to why you the military should spend XXX dollars on you even though you have left an Academy. There are several; however, be eloquent, don't go with the "nobody is in the gym to play basketball" or "I have seen a lot of power hungry and arrogant cadets" excuse. You will find this in the active duty side as well so those arguments won't help.

Look deep inside and figure out exactly what it is that you feel you will gain by going ROTC as opposed to staying at the Academy. Think hard about it, write it out, and be prepared to be basically interrogated about it. There will be questions, but ones that can potentially be overcome.
 
We met a boy last year who had turned down his ROTC scholarship in order to attend the Naval Academy. He quit after one year and went back to college and was lucky enough to get another ROTC scholarship. He was finishing up his year at the college and was thrilled.
The Academy life just isn't for everyone.

Good luck.
 
I have to give you credit for knowing what you want and don't want. Your comment on sports was suprising. Aren't there a number of intermurial sports going on? My son also MUST have some type of sporting activity as an outlet so I understand where you are coming from. Best of luck to you!
 
title says all.

any thing that i should be deeply concerned about?

Nope. There's plenty of former academy kids in ROTC here. Last semester, the mid who commanded the NROTC battalion came here from USNA. It doesnt seem like they have any major problems.
 
I agree with Nick - this is more common than most people think. You aren't the first and won't be the last.

It's hard to tell from your post if you are just venting and a little down about your first year or if you are dead on serious about leaving. You should talk to your Company officer (or whatever they call them at AFA) and consider going to counseling, if you really feel like you can't talk to anyone else. Definitely talk to your parents so they are not shocked should you separate after finals.
I think you should give it your all for the rest of the semester - it is still early and you should give AFA a fair shake. You might end up liking it and staying.
Another reason is to get credits that transfer.
If you get all down and crap out on your courses - that won't help.

Transferring - you can go ahead and send in some applications. Colleges generally love Academy transfers and you will get tons of credit - However, generally only courses with a *C* or better will grant you credit - this can vary by college. So, if you get *D*'s then you will have wasted that class. So keep up your studies as best you can - the payoff either way is worth it.
Just remember you can change your mind until they give you your DD214 and you walk out the door.
 
Yeah I definitely have given this tons of thought. I also continue to focus on my classes. I came here mainly to serve my country, and for the education. I am not big on all of the pointless military stuff that we have to do, marching, meetings in the sar, pointless jobs, sitting cq, etc.

Some people love that lifestyle and I respect them for that. I think ultimately though I could still serve my country well by obtaining a degree from a place where I would like to be at.

Also I know that USAFA has a great engineering program, especially aero/astro, but do you guys think I could get a better/equal level education for mechanical engineering at a state university, more specifically the university of minnesota.
 
I am not big on all of the pointless military stuff that we have to do, marching, meetings in the sar, pointless jobs, sitting cq, etc.

Some people love that lifestyle and I respect them for that. I think ultimately though I could still serve my country well by obtaining a degree from a place where I would like to be at.

This statement you make above concerns me a bit that becoming a commissioned officer is the right choice for you. I hope you are well aware that the "pointless military stuff" you listed above is going to be a part of your active duty life as well. Any job you get will have its share of mundane duties along with the more exciting ones. You will also be serving with some of the same people you are disliking at the Academy after you get commissioned, so leaving there and still going into the military won't solve that problem.

It's perfectly okay to find you don't like these aspects of military service. But if they are a major sticking point for you to endure, you really want to think twice if this line of work is right for you.
 
This statement you make above concerns me a bit that becoming a commissioned officer is the right choice for you. I hope you are well aware that the "pointless military stuff" you listed above is going to be a part of your active duty life as well. Any job you get will have its share of mundane duties along with the more exciting ones. You will also be serving with some of the same people you are disliking at the Academy after you get commissioned, so leaving there and still going into the military won't solve that problem.

It's perfectly okay to find you don't like these aspects of military service. But if they are a major sticking point for you to endure, you really want to think twice if this line of work is right for you.


I understand your point here but IMHO most parts of cadet life at an Academy/SMC arent really similar to active duty. I've never heard of active duty Air Force units marching to meals in formation every day. Also, active duty officers dont spend their entire careers living in military dorms with every aspect of their lives being controlled. If that experience isnt what someone wants, then I think that's fine. It doesnt meant they arent cut out for life as an active duty officer. The majority of USAF officers come from traditional ROTC and DON'T live that lifestyle.
 
I am former active duty Navy. I sat watches (at all hours). We had weekly formations of our squadron. We marched and participated in special ceremonies. I inspected many enlisted barracks.

Yes, active duty is less intense on those aspects than your Academy/ROTC training, but those activities are still aspects of the armed forces you will participate in.
 
I understand your point here but IMHO most parts of cadet life at an Academy/SMC arent really similar to active duty. I've never heard of active duty Air Force units marching to meals in formation every day. Also, active duty officers dont spend their entire careers living in military dorms with every aspect of their lives being controlled. If that experience isnt what someone wants, then I think that's fine. It doesnt meant they arent cut out for life as an active duty officer. The majority of USAF officers come from traditional ROTC and DON'T live that lifestyle.

Is that an exaggeration of what you think or the reality? Because if it is the reality, thats kind of scary o.o

But I dont know - Im applying to USMA so hopefully its not as horrible as you say it is...
 
I am former active duty Navy. I sat watches (at all hours). We had weekly formations of our squadron. We marched and participated in special ceremonies. I inspected many enlisted barracks.

Yes, active duty is less intense on those aspects than your Academy/ROTC training, but those activities are still aspects of the armed forces you will participate in.


Please re-read my post. I began by saying "I understand your point here but IMHO most parts of cadet life at an Academy/SMC arent really similar to active duty." Obviously I have no active duty experience myself so I just have to go with what the det cadre and my family/friends describe it as.

I did not say that active duty life is all fun and games with no repetetive or annoying little tasks. I am just saying that if someone dislikes academy/SMC lifestyle, then that doesn't mean they need to reconsider their career choice as you suggested.

My uncle went through Air Force OTS and absolutely hated all the "pointless military stuff" there. So did all of his classmates. So do all of my peers here at VT. And I assume most academy/SMC cadets do. But I don't think that we should all avoid serving in the military.

Again, that's just my own humble opinion. Not trying to ruffle any feathers here.
 
... So do all of my peers here at VT. And I assume most academy/SMC cadets do. .

I am confused. Are you a cadet at USAFA in C-Springs? It sounds like you are not at USAFA, based on your comment above, but rather at Virginia Tech., right?

Your thread title made me initially think you were at USAFA in C-Springs but your above comment tells me that you are not at USAFA and are thinking instead of leaving VT. Right?
 
nick460, no ruffled feathers here, don't worry. Life is much closer to "normal" on most duties once you are commissioned.

I just want to make sure young people contemplating service in the armed forces do so with their eyes wide open and don't think it's going to be equivalent to going to work in the civilian private sector.
 
Nope. There's plenty of former academy kids in ROTC here. Last semester, the mid who commanded the NROTC battalion came here from USNA. It doesnt seem like they have any major problems.

Would one be eligible for an ROTC scholarship after leaving the academy?
 
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