Field Training 2012 AFROTC Selection

ryguy115

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2011
Messages
17
Hey,

I am a 200 cadet who is competing for an field training spot this summer. I was wondering if anyone could give me an insight of how my chances look for this year. I know last year the selection rate was around 46%, and i can only imagine it will be worse this year. Anyway, my GPA at the end of this semester will be a 3.30, non tech, economics. I maxed out my PFA this semester with 100%. Im currently active in both Arnold Air Society and Drill Team. Also, i have a job within the detachment as recruiting officer.

Any feedback at all would be much appreciated!

Thank you for your time
 
Overall ly selection was actually @55%+ nationally, some schools had higher & (i.e. VT was in the 60%+ if I recall), some had lower...one poster (parent) said their school was 38%. Our DS's school was right at the national.

The point is because schools vary, nobody can give a true up or down. If you were at our DS's college you would look like a very strong candidate, and I would say feel comfortable you should be fine. However, your school had a lower than nat. avg., and that needs to be placed into the equation. Maybe at your school a 3.4cgpa+ is the historic min. I don't know.

Remember although cgpa is a factor, just like for scholarships, the school profile and course rigor will be taken into the equation. You can't say that a cadet from UMiami in a govt major is attending a school academically on par with UPenn. A 3.3 for the two are not the same because of the profile of each school and the rigor of courses offered, the board is going to recognize that issue.

The best advice is to talk to the POC's in your det. They will be able to give you a true ball park of what "safe" is for the non-tech major at your school.

Additionally, if I am correct don't they now give the AFOQT in Oct C200 yr? That will be a part of your WCS. If they did not give it, the last I heard is they will substitute your SAT from HS.

Hence, you are missing a piece of the equation.

The Commander's rec and ranking of you within the det will play the biggest part of the equation. If he says you are top dog, than you will get more points than just being one of my top dogs.

Notice the difference in the statements. Somebody from your det will get top dog (my #1). Than some will get my next top. Than some will get my top 25%. Than comes the I support. Than comes no writing in the box for supplemental (think if you have nothing good to say, say nothing). Than comes I do not support. (RARER than RARER can be...you did something bad and they are using it as a way to drop you). In the AD world these are key phrases that are used for all promotion boards...minus the dog :wink:

The board knows that. That rec is 50% of your packet.

Understand that not only does tech v non tech major matter, so does career field. A cadet that is a nursing major, has an edge because manning wise they are in desperate need of them. No SFT = no commissioning. Same with certain foreign language majors. So it is not as cut and dry as you may believe.

Like I said, talk to the POCS, they know who in the unit got it and didn't last yr. They can eyeball it for you better than us. At our DS's college as 100's you are assigned a 300 to mentor you for the 2 yrs as a GMC. That is one of the reasons they are there.

I also would not say this yr is going to be worse. IMPHO, it will be the highest since graduating class of 11. 12 and 13 they not only cut HS scholarships, but also stopped ICSP and cancelled OCS boards. 14 is now available for scholarships. They would not offer this to C200's and than have to revoke it because they didn't get SFT.

No SFT also means as a scholarship recipient they have the right to revoke the scholarship, or place you in 250. Why would they do this if they expect to reduce the number even lower for SFT? It does not make logical sense from a fiscal position.

I am sure you may believe that 14 also might be the last big class because of AFA reducing 15 and 16 drastically. However, the 2 have nothing to do with each other. AFA had to reduce their size due to a federal law which mandates 4400 at any given time, or ask for a waiver. Due to the budget issues AFA opted not for a waiver. By not opting they had to trim 15 and 16.

AFROTC OTOH trimmed scholarships back in 2010 for 14. They had less coming in. They did have some who came in as 100's without scholarships, hoping for one as an IC, but when it was cancelled LY, many jumped ship and went to AROTC, or no ROTC at all. That decreased the C200 class for this yr. The number of SFT slots remained the same. Statistically that would mean the % will rise.

OBTW, understand you are not competing against just the 200's you are also competing against the 250's. How many of those 250's are HS scholarship? I ask because for them to retain the scholarship, command had to step in and fight for them with AFROTC HQ. AFROTC had to agree to let them keep the scholarship and go 250. It would be hard for any commander to come back a yr later on the rec and say to the AFROTC HQ, I made a mistake, they aren't as good as I thought, and AFROTC just wasted a yr of tuition, plus stipend, plus book allowance on them...here's my real number 1.

That is why I say, talk to your POCs. The minutia for your school or any cadets school is too great to say...YES, NO or MAYBE without having the inner details of your unit.

The only way I see the number being lower is if Congress forces Panetta to make more drastic cuts due to the super committee failing to create a budget.

Good luck. Study for those finals, because the gpa will include your fall semester soph yr. Pull a 4.0 and the cgpa goes up, pull a 3.3 and it stays the same. Every point for the board will matter, and the gpa is not yet set in stone.

You will not know until sometime in Feb/Mar. Enjoy life. BELIEVE!
 
Just some clarification on recent updates:

  • Percentages for EA selection is changing. Commander's Ranking is being decreased, GPA and SAT/ACT/AFOQT scores increasing
  • 200 more slots are being added this year, including a new Max
  • Because the class of 2014 has been cut so bad (lack of scholarships, people just not wanting to do it, and people leaving because they don't think they would've made it this year), and in combination with the added slots, the EA percentage should increase
  • ICSP is back
  • Next year there will be less HS scholarships in favor of ICSP.

Overall the chances are better than last year but it's still no guarantee. As always, aim for the highest grades possible this semester - don't slack off because it's almost the end.
 
My DS just told me they recommend you take the AFOQT early if you do not have a "good" SAT/ACT score.

And if you don't need it the score to boost your SFT pacakge, only those wanting a pilot slot will take it the 200 year...everyone else will take it their 300 year
 
Just some clarification on recent updates:

  • Percentages for EA selection is changing. Commander's Ranking is being decreased, GPA and SAT/ACT/AFOQT scores increasing
  • 200 more slots are being added this year, including a new Max


Do you have any references for these two points? (example: an official source online that i can stare at with excitement and joy)
I've already heard about the ICSP being reinstated (somewhat) by taking away funds from HSSP from my cadre, but havn't heard anything about adding another field training session or change in weight of det ranking/academic performance.

Considering that i am doing quite well on the GPA/AFOQT sections already, you have boosted my mood considerably tonight!
 
I had to giggle at adding the new Max. Only LY they cancelled it, kept the same size, but more in each class. I thought it was smart they did cancel it. DS went to Max 6 (July29- Aug 28th). He had to move back into school on 8/29, classes started on the 30th. which meant we had little wiggle room to get him back, get him settled and get his books. He does not attend college 30 minutes away.

I would think even if they add 200, it equates to 40 more per class.

Additionally it makes sense about the 200 for pilots, because as a 300 those that want rated must take the TBAS. The AFOQT is usually held in Oct. TBAS starts up in late Nov through Dec. It is not like the AFOQT which is like the SAT. At our DS's school cadets did it individually on different dates. His school actually sends them to the nearest AFB to take it. It is a 90 minute test, and if anyone tells you what is on it they must kill you :eek: Which is unlike the AFOQT where they sell the materials on line for prep.

The only thing that will make me say that 200 more won't go this yr is if the super committee cannot get the job done. AF has already worked their 11/12 budget, which is what we are operating on now, but if the super committee fails, than Panetta needs to slash more, a ton more. I am not a betting woman, but I would bet that at the 11th hour they will resolve it, and this will not be a factor.

For all that are applying...the list comes down and than it is fast and furious with bag drags. Just be prepared to get your medical records, including shots and a recent physical in order during winter break. Folks be prepared if they live far away to be sending priority packages for some of the things they ask for...permanent laundry marker, zip lock baggies, moleskin, sun block, bug repellent, camo tees, etc. Things that the avg kid in college does not have in their dorm or the avg school sells on campus. The list is quite extensive and they are graded on it.

The other hint is after they do the bag drag and bring it back home with them, unpack it. Take the shirts and place them in gallon ziplock bags. It will reduce the wrinkles they get from the weight of being packed.

Good luck to all...and let's hope that it won't be 104 degrees with 90% humidity while you are there :frown:
 
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Do you have any references for these two points? (example: an official source online that i can stare at with excitement and joy)
I've already heard about the ICSP being reinstated (somewhat) by taking away funds from HSSP from my cadre, but havn't heard anything about adding another field training session or change in weight of det ranking/academic performance.

Considering that i am doing quite well on the GPA/AFOQT sections already, you have boosted my mood considerably tonight!

In person conversation with Colonel Dunn, AFROTC Commander :thumb:
 
Eagle, not saying Col. Dunn is incorrect, I am just saying that you may want to re-think placing your comments directly tied to him, unless he read a directive from AFROTC HQ to your entire command stating this is now the break down.

I am not saying he did or didn't. I am only illustrating that his opinion, or the word of mouth at HQ says this will occur compared to actually briefing the corps that this is occurring for FY12.

AF, even AFROTC is a small community. This is how the game telephone works, and what will stay in that game is Col. Dunn's name. What MAY happen is another cadet from another det. says Col. Dunn is stating this, but you have yet to inform us to his CC. That CC may in turn call Col. Dunn and discuss it with him. Which will now get back to the cadets.

As I said, I am not at all implying that it is not occurring, I am just saying many times we hear what we want to hear.

As far as the ICSP coming back on board, that was the goop last spring, but nobody knows the level it is returning at, only that the numbers will be small.

This is my second semester in AFROTC, and as a 250 this semester, was in both the 100 and 200 level classes today when the instructors in each class announced that a small number of in college scholarships would be returning. (available to both current freshmen and sophmores) Apparently some funds were shuffled out of the HSSP to allow those already in college a chance.

We won't be applying for them, but rather will have the Cadre inform us individually if they want to talk to us about the matter. Read: Cadre will be choosing a select few for the money.

They made it clear that there weren't going to be many scholarships, but this is a good bit of news nonetheless!

I don't know what college this poster attends, but if the AFROTC HQ does it by size of dets., there may be dets that receive no scholarship. It appears that the CC will select and it will not be a national board. That means a det like ERAU, TAMU, VT, VMI could get 5 due to size and MIT get nothing.

Again, why unless it is a briefing with exact details, all we do is muddy the waters by saying my cadre stated X,Y.Z. It allows people to start freaking out when they have yet to hear. It allows people to create their own beliefs of what will occur using their rationale.

Best to wait for the true facts to be stated. Trust me, you will see this again when it comes to promotion boards in your AD career. The XO for the Wing King/Queen will tell their best bud that they EXPECT to have 5-10 people up for DP. The next thing you know everybody has rationalized it to be 7, and than when the results are released it was actually 4. Amazingly people are shocked, because they were told 7, and now the new gossip is why only 4 occurred, when in reality the key word was EXPECT. This happened many yrs ago at EAFB. Trust me members who were banking on the DP because they thought the number was going to be 7 were distraught when it came out to be 4. DP in the AD world is akin in AFROTC world as SFT selection and the CC's top pick. DP meant they were basically golden, and now they had to fight it out as a P.

The reality is for the 200/250's it really doesn't matter if they take 200 more cadets, because that is still not a 100% guarantee. The fact is right now look at this semester like you did for your AFROTC HSSP application. Submit the best packet, work on your weaknesses, understand it is national and your major is a factor. The rest of it is out of your hands, and supposing, hoping, debating how many are going won't help you. It will leave you with self doubt and constant thoughts about the future. You will be in essence wishing your life away because you won't be 100% all in enjoying college. Just like in HS as a sr., wondering about when the board will meet, how you rack and stack, will you get the scholarship. Do you not look back and think it was a waste of time and energy wondering/worrying, because you did all you could, all that was in your control, the rest was up to the AF.

Remember, especially for those that want an AFSC which is deemed competitive, rated or non-rated. You will be going through another board, and you need to keep those grades up, plus jobs in the unit, and EC's to fight another day for your career.

Also understand that at SFT, you will be ranked there too, and that rank will be a part of your equation for AFSC. DG, top 1%, top 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, other. This is just one hurdle.

Good luck, may we one day get to 100% SFT!:thumb:
 
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I don't know what college this poster attends, but if the AFROTC HQ does it by size of dets., there may be dets that receive no scholarship. It appears that the CC will select and it will not be a national board. That means a det like ERAU, TAMU, VT, VMI could get 5 due to size and MIT get nothing.

This is coming from Detachment 090. We have 181 students on the attendance rolls (including all years). But without anything more specific than knowing it was very few scholarships, there's nothing really to give in terms of statistics.
 
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