USAFA chances

Alright. I won't put it in the application. But I still want to do it. I just wont take credit for it.
 
navarrotrout said:
Alright. I won't put it in the application. But I still want to do it. I just wont take credit for it.
Click to expand...
I would ask your ALO what he or she thinks. It could help your application but it could potentially hurt it if it looks like you are trying to pad your resume.
 
Any EC or sport you take up in your senior year is going to be suspicious-looking. Why did you neglect such for the three or more previous years? Why were you not involved in anything before?
Having had three sons in CAP, there is some serious work and studying involved; I would not make book on becoming an officer in six months. Plus, if you are under 18, I would check into the rules before I became "part of the flight crew." Not saying it can't happen (I had a son who got his PPL on his 17th birthday and was not permitted on adult flight crews till age 18, but things may have changed.)

If you want to pursue CAP for your own reasons, great! Good on you. I do not think I would put it anywhere near an EC for an SA application package, especially since it is already in the latter third of JULY and you still are in the seeking phase.
 
fencersmother said:
\
Having had three sons in CAP, there is some serious work and studying involved; I would not make book on becoming an officer in six months. Plus, if you are under 18, I would check into the rules before I became "part of the flight crew." Not saying it can't happen (I had a son who got his PPL on his 17th birthday and was not permitted on adult flight crews till age 18, but things may have changed.)
Click to expand...

I reread navarrotrout's post...they're being recruited by a senior squadron so it's a little different and honestly I think they'd have better luck joining as a cadet if they're really looking for CAP as a leadership opportunity.

fencersmother you're right, becoming a cadet officer in 6 months is impossible given the time requirements on the cadet side-I think 18 months is still the minimum to get to Mitchell unless you have 2+ years JROTC. You're right about flight crews and the 18+ requirement there, too.

If you're joining as a senior member, 6 months to 2nd Lt is about the minimum....IF you're 21. If you're between 18-21 you can't even get that promotion and you're stuck in a weird sort of limbo rank.

For anyone else reading, I've been in CAP since 2007, both on the cadet and senior sides-feel free to shoot any questions my way, but the most applicable leadership experience you'll get for SA applications is on the cadet side.
 
Just my 0.0198654 cents, after you read it throw it in the circular filing cabinet.

Join because you want to do it. Don't join because you think it will help from an appointment or AFROTC scholarship aspect.
 
You're all right in saying it would look suspect. I didn't join earlier because I had to fight tooth and nail for my grades last year, the hardest of my life. There was a lot of stuff going on, and I think my EC department is pretty good. Yes I am 18 and yes they asked me on to be the guy in the back. I already finished the tests. I'm only doing it for the benefit of the squadron because they did not have those positions filled. It's not going on the application, but I'm getting the benefit of training in a semi military environment. I'm not looking to rank up . I want to do my job and help find overdue aircraft and recon oil spills. It's for my own experience. Plus flying is fun and I like it.
 
Hi all, long time no post. First of all, I'd like to announce that I'm done. My application is submitted and in. I finally brought my ACT math up to a 32 and raised my scores in other areas. Still waiting for the SAT scores though... I did end up in CAP and I enjoy it. I'm now a mission scanner trainee and will be part of the flight crew. I met a lot of pilots and have learned a lot from them on our flights. In other news, I'm finishing up my SCUBA certification because I want to enjoy the last bit of my life in sunny socal if I'm appointed. Still working hard in school and staying in shape, but man oh man what a relief getting everything done is.
 
Good to know you are on top of things and enjoying CAP.

Maplerock: i absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE your newly coined word: fisqusligication. I may have been the recipient of just such frivolity on occasion. :) Really, this is most excellent!
 
fencersmother said:
Good to know you are on top of things and enjoying CAP.

Maplerock: i absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE your newly coined word: fisqusligication. I may have been the recipient of just such frivolity on occasion. :) Really, this is most excellent!
Click to expand...

I learned to type at Huntinpeck University. Sometimes I finish a long rant only to find that my chubby fingers were a little off. Par for my course. :)
 
I think you look great! :) All ducks in a row....keep striving for leadership opportunities and the best scores you can get. Nice work!
I hope you will let everyone know how it turns out! :)
 
Hi everyone. Good news blew into my inbox this morning, it was a LOA from Navy. Of course this is by no means an appointment, but it's a little off my chest. I'll keep you all posted if I hear from USAFA or my MOCs (Lowenthal's interviews are not till January and I haven't heard from Boxer or Feinstein).
 
Congrats on the LOA navarrotrout ! Hopefully you will get good news from USAFA eventually. I guess USAFA is your first choice, right? Why wouldn't it be !?!
 
Yep, usafa is number 1, of course! One side of the family is Navy, one side is Air Force. The holidays will be interesting!
 
Congrats on the LOA!

navarrotrout said:
Yep, usafa is number 1, of course! One side of the family is Navy, one side is Air Force. The holidays will be interesting!
Click to expand...

Here is a funny story. My sons' sponsor dad in CO was a former Army officer and several of his sons were serving while my boys were at USAFA. Anyway, Sponsor Mom & Dad used to invite my sons and their friends over all the time, and often had big dinners for all. Well, I think it was in their 2* year, Sponsor family got a new 12-person hottub and invited Twin A&B plus any friends over for a steak dinner (without telling them about the hottub addition).

So Twins and five or six of their buddies show up, and lo! behold! here's this great hottub out on the deck, with a gorgeous view of/from the mountains, food aplenty, etc. Only thing is, no one has on a bathing suit, and no one brought one. Hmmm... this might be a day to forget ... or wait... Sponsor Dad says, "Guys! Go to your room and you'll find all sorts of trunks in multiple sizes! Hottub open for business!" So, all the guys go to my boys' room (!), and there in the drawer were indeed about 20 swim trunks, all in ARMY BLACK & GOLD WITH "ARMY" splashed across the legs. Yes, yes, they wore them and many tales were told about the kid who didn't want to put on the Army trunks but thought it just fine to, um,... never mind. :cool:
 
navarrotrout said:
The holidays will be interesting!
Click to expand...

Nav, first of all, CONGRATS on your USNA LOA! That is a big deal and you should be really excited about it!

You also mentioned that AF is your number one choice (as it should be! ;)). I know pretty much how you feel right now. I also got an early appointment from USNA (in January), and there was this awkward period of about 2 1/2 months when I had my #2 on the hook, but #1 still hadn't bitten. I remember being more than a little anxious during this time period.

Most likely, you will also go through this experience. I would suggest that you prepare to wait at least 4 1/2 months before hearing from USAFA. Not trying to be pessimistic at all--just trying to save you anxiety and some of the uncertainty. :cool: I urge you, don't check your portal every 5 minutes. It's not worth it. If you absolutely have to check, just check on Thursdays (pretty sure that's when portals were updated last year). But in the meantime, ENJOY your senior year. It goes by faster than you think, and let's just say that you will be in for a change if you end up coming here. So appreciate the time you have left. :D

Oh, and lastly, DON'T WORRY if you hear about others getting early appointments. It doesn't mean that you are an "inferior" candidate or unlikely to be appointed. It's just the way the system works (I think a lot of it has to do with principal/presidential nominees as well as recruited athletes/diversity candidates).

Again, I am NOT trying to be discouraging in any way. The fact that you already got an LOA from USNA means that you have a...quite decent...chance of getting an appointment from USAFA. You may indeed end up getting an early appointment! If so, I wish you a most heartfelt congratulations.

However, I strongly encourage you not to expect an early offer from USAFA. I did, and I wish I hadn't. Plan and expect to wait--that way any good news will be a surprise to you, instead of "neutral" news being a letdown. :thumb:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top