AF enlisted personnel can get their undergrad using TA, and than go OCS/OTS without ever leaving AD. This is why you see the DFAS pay charges have rank and grade. It is very possible in the AF to be an O1 with 6 yrs...the 6 yrs would include your enlisted time.
Once they have their undergrad they can apply for OCS. AF holds 2 different types of boards for OCS. Rated and non-rated. They will need Wing command support to meet the boards.
They use to hold 2 board a yr for each. Last yr the non-rated July board was cancelled, but the rated board did meet. Who knows, TY the non-rated board can meet and the rated be cancelled.
dunninla said:
Attend college at a Sr. Military College with or without ROTC, and join the Corps of Cadets (Texas A&M, Citadel, VMI, VaTech, N. GA, Norwich)
This will not for AF purposes allow them to be commissioned into the AF. They
MUST ATTEND SFT, just like for the Navy re:advanced standing.
SMC does not equate into a commissioning. The Corps does not require a cadet to be in any ROTC program at these schools. HOWEVER, the ROTC program at these schools require them to be in the Corps.
It is not the same. If you do not get selected for SFT (AF) or Adv. Standing (Navy), you are disenrolled from ROTC, but you are still a member of the Corps. Now your option falls to plan B for commissioning.
I would never tell anyone to try the enlisted route as a path, annd here are my reasons why:
1. YOU BELONG TO THEM
~~~ You can't guarantee you will not be deployed or PCS'd at times that are conducive to getting your degree on base at the Education Office. You can be PCS'd half way through your undergrad to a new base, and that base may not have the same satellite college. Some have Troy, some have Webster, some have UMD,, but there is no guarantee they all have all 3.
2. YOU MUST STILL GET AN UNDERGRAD
~~~ Hard to do when you are sitting in a sandbox for 6 months. Life gets in the way, and even if you did work hard on your academics, it would be close to impossible to graduate within 4 yrs while you have a "real" job that takes up 40 hrs+ a week.
3. YOU BELONG TO THEM
~~~ To be put up for OCS/OTS you must have command support. The commander can deny it due to Op tempo. Thus, now what?
I am not saying there aren't multiple paths, because there are. I am saying that theory and reality rarely meet. You need to place that into the equation.
Now back out of this post being in the weeds. The OP has 2 threads currently going.
1. AFROTC to NROTC due to vision issues.
2. Trying to figure out his chances for SFT.
Both threads are important. He needs to make a decision. JMPO, but I am assuming that the SFT chance is his make or break. I think he is starting to comprehend that in both services there are no guarantees for flying, let alone an airframe.
I would say to the OP that if flying was his deal, but he only wanted RW, he should jump now, because he would be a fool to stay due to the lack of RW in the AF. He should also look at AROTC. However, since he is going between AF and NROTC, I am going to take the leap he wants FW.
He really needs to do 1 thing, and 1 thing alone...CONTACT DODMERB because as of right now he has stated
Bdl1127 said:
The test i intially took was the isihara and im pretty sure I failed it.
Pretty sure and sure are two different things. Until he knows that the AF failed him, this is all moot. Isihara is also known as PIP, which is the AF method, FALANT is Navy. That is why I posted he needs to explain why he took the FALANT, who authorized it? The answer is there if he asks the right question.
Additionally, as I also stated the hardest thing for kids in college is that they understand they may be attending that college due to scholarships. Maybe NROTC cleared him for FALANT, but did not give him a scholarship to that school. That means now he has to figure out should he transfer to maybe another school if NROTC offers a scholarship to follow that dream of flying...unlikely, or should he stay at the school with AFROTC, but let the dream of flying die. AGAIN WHY TO CONTACT DODMERB NOW!
He also needs to remove that flying perspective. Is he willing to live AF for 11+ yrs after his RNLT for UPT? It actually could be 12 yrs, if he goes casual status upon commissioning...common place. For some 18 yr olds to say to them on the best day you will be
33/34 before you can say goodbye to the AF is when they pull the handle.
I am sure as an AFROTC cadet right now he sees 400's walking around in flight suits, and think COOL! They don't understand every aspect of what went into them getting the pjs/bags nor the fact that those 400's have said I agree to not 4 yrs., but 11+.