AFROTC at University of Idaho

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Just looking for any opinions on the detachment as I know there is at least one Vandal Army ROTC poster on here. I am a U of I alum and have a favorable opinion of the school but I don't know much about the ROTC units there. We have communicated with the AFROTC Commander there and have a positive feeling. I have heard 2nd and 3rd hand that all of the ROTC programs there are good. This is the only school on my sons list that is near us, all of the others are thousands of miles away. Thanks.
 
I would also post this on www.collegeconfidential.com under the college section. Scroll down hit colleges -alphabetical, than hit I from there post on the U of I.

Posters there are connected truly to U of I.

Next, is this his number 1 choice. or your number 1 choice?

Kids in their sr yr of hs, swear they can't wait to fly the coop, only to realize come October they want to come home just for re-charging their batteries.

I would discuss with your DS, how it will play out if he goes 1000's of miles away...in other words, does he understand when everyone clears out of the dorms for a 3 day weekend, he will stay because you can't afford flying him home?

They don't get in hs, but in college empty dorms on weekends really impact them.

Regarding ROTC, I would do a one on one visit and ask some very pertinent questions.

1. % that gets SFT
2. % that graduate with a commissioning
3. GPA for those that get SFT...tech/non-tech
4. AFSC, % that get the career field he desires.
5. Talk to C300/400's, just your DS and them.

Let him walk around the campus by himself, this will allow him to see if he feels like it is a fit.

I understand the other options are 1000's of miles away, but if he hates the campus, he will not succeed academically or in ROTC.

Finally, AFROTC scholarships are very very very competitive. If I read your post correctly U of I would be IS. Type 7 is the most common scholarship. You can convert that to 3 yr Type 2, the question is can you afford to pay out of pocket freshman yr, with only a 18K cap for 3 yrs as an OOS student?

Let's say he also wants UMich, I am guessing OOS is @35k+, that means for type 2 3 yr:
Fresh: 35 K your dime ---no stipend or book reimbursement
Soph: 17 K your dime
Jr : 17 K your dime
Sr: 17 K your dime

Caveat that is without UMich increasing tuition or R/B.

Tally it with an AFROTC scholarship and no merit you can be looking at 85K out of pocket.

IS they are covered from freshman yr.

These times from a fiscal position are impacting families.

It is a difficult decision, but it is best to use this year to determine how to approach the situation.

Good luck, trust me, we all know how hard this is, but we also know where there is a will there is a way.
 
LOL. We just graduated and commissioned our DS from Navy ROTC. Navy ROTC at U of Idaho is phenomenal. With the Navy and Marine options, it has a lot of opportunities for extra activities. The unit is very active with Northwest Navy. Having someone that just commissioned through the unit and listening to his stories the past 4 years, I can honestly say it was a very positive experience for him. We have met several of the AFROTC cadets over the years (our DS's roommates for three years) and they have had nothing but positive comments.
 
Thanks NAVY1981. Congratulation to your son. Glad to hear that NROTC was such a good experience. The positive comments on AFROTC help substantiate other things we have been told. We try to make it back to at least one football game every year.

Pima: Whether it is or is not my first choice is irrelevant. It is not my decision to make. I am an information collector and someone to discuss the options and pros and cons with. I do appreciate the information and insight that you provide. Thanks.
 
Just looking for any opinions on the detachment as I know there is at least one Vandal Army ROTC poster on here. I am a U of I alum and have a favorable opinion of the school but I don't know much about the ROTC units there. We have communicated with the AFROTC Commander there and have a positive feeling. I have heard 2nd and 3rd hand that all of the ROTC programs there are good. This is the only school on my sons list that is near us, all of the others are thousands of miles away. Thanks.

I guess I am the lone University of Idaho AROTC parent that you are referring to.

My son just finished his 3rd year in AROTC at the U of I. He has loved his time there so far. I talked with him this afternoon and relayed your question. The Army and Air Force do not do that much together but he said that the AF cadets he has spoken to have all had positive things to say about the program.

I met a couple of the new AF LT's when I picked up my son, they both said they loved their time at the U of I and couldn't have imagined themselves going anywhere else.

As far as the school goes, my son just loves it. He likes the smaller campus feel while having all the amentities of a larger school. He talkes to his friends that are attending the UW (We are from Seattle) and they are all amazed when he told them that the Proff's teach all the classes and how easy it is to see their advisor on a moments notice. The fact the the U of I is in a small town means that kids don't just run home every weekend, most kids are on campus every weekend which he likes. I'm sure I am preaching to the choir since you are an alum.

With some of the larger schools, like the UW bursting at the seams with students, the U of I was a welcome relief. Some of the freshmen classes at the UW are topping out at 700+ students.

I wish your son the best.

Go Vandals
 
LOL. We just graduated and commissioned our DS from Navy ROTC. Navy ROTC at U of Idaho is phenomenal. With the Navy and Marine options, it has a lot of opportunities for extra activities. The unit is very active with Northwest Navy. Having someone that just commissioned through the unit and listening to his stories the past 4 years, I can honestly say it was a very positive experience for him. We have met several of the AFROTC cadets over the years (our DS's roommates for three years) and they have had nothing but positive comments.

While I was picking up my son at the U of I last week I watched the Cadets walk into the graduation. The new Navy Ensigns looked great in their whites. Congratulations to your son.
 
I guess I am the lone University of Idaho AROTC parent that you are referring to.

You are it! I agree that it is a great school and I enjoyed my time there back in the dark ages. It does not have the name recognition and the prestige of some of the big schools but the education is sound. I don't believe the name recognition is a big deal for some one who is going to commission into the service as 5+ years down the road I think it will be about what they have done not where they went to school.

Thanks for the feedback on AFROTC and ROTC in general and good luck to both of your sons.
 
I don't believe the name recognition is a big deal for some one who is going to commission into the service as 5+ years down the road

Agreed, I told S if he stays in he needs to go to Grad School, If he gets out, he will probably need to go to Grad school...unless he has something already lined up, he is OK with that.
 
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