Dropping out of a Service Academy

miotouch

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2012
Messages
2
Was not sure where this belonged so I put it under off topic. But I heard if you drop out of the academy voluntarily, within the first two years, you are unable for future commissioning programs (ROTC and OCS). Is this true? What if you decide to enlist and are thinking about OCS in the future?
 
Was not sure where this belonged so I put it under off topic. But I heard if you drop out of the academy voluntarily, within the first two years, you are unable for future commissioning programs (ROTC and OCS). Is this true? What if you decide to enlist and are thinking about OCS in the future?

I knew a girl who I believe dropped out (al though it's always hard to tell what the real stories are when people leave....) and she went to OCS. I believe she's still an officer in the USCG..... so it should be possible. That said, at least for the Coast Guard, OCS is not easy to get into.
 
Was not sure where this belonged so I put it under off topic. But I heard if you drop out of the academy voluntarily, within the first two years, you are unable for future commissioning programs (ROTC and OCS). Is this true? What if you decide to enlist and are thinking about OCS in the future?

Not true. Your ability to regain entrance into the military depends on your fitness for military duty and your DD-214.

If your Dodmerb physical is more than two years old when you contract you will have to take it again.
If you enlist, you have to take a MEPS physical - Army anyway.
 
This is an excellent question and one that I can't (so far, I've got a call in to USAFA) get a "definitive" answer to.

The short version: YES, you can receive a commission after leaving a service academy.

"Once upon a time" there was either a law or "rule" or "reg" that stated that you could NOT be commissioned prior to "your class" being commissioned. Example, you resigned after two years in the class of 1983 (out in 1981) you could not go to ROTC, or OTS and be commissioned prior to the USAFA class of 1983 being commissioned. But that was the only restriction I ever knew about.

And I'm not sure that's in place now; as I said, I've asked the question. If I hear back....

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
This is an excellent question and one that I can't (so far, I've got a call in to USAFA) get a "definitive" answer to.

The short version: YES, you can receive a commission after leaving a service academy.

"Once upon a time" there was either a law or "rule" or "reg" that stated that you could NOT be commissioned prior to "your class" being commissioned. Example, you resigned after two years in the class of 1983 (out in 1981) you could not go to ROTC, or OTS and be commissioned prior to the USAFA class of 1983 being commissioned. But that was the only restriction I ever knew about.

And I'm not sure that's in place now; as I said, I've asked the question. If I hear back....

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

I can assure you this *rule* or *law* or whatever it is - certainly is not in place right now - at least for one branch of military.
 
It depends on the paperwork filled out when you leave. In the AF paperwork, there is a section for future military service (or something like that) where they can recommend taking you back or not at a later date.
 
Many years ago, one of my classmates in college left West Point in his yearling year. He came straight into the ROTC program at the college the semester after he left. However, I don't know if things are different now as this was back in the mid-1970s.
 
I knew a student who applied to and was accepted to the Naval Academy.
He left in his fourth class year. Came home continued his education at a Community College and applied to Navy ROTC. He was accepted to a great NAVY ROTC College and he graduated, and now flies jets for the Navy.
Hope this helps.
 
miotouch, while everyone has provided excellent advice, I would touch base with the NROTC unit that you are interested in joining and figure out what your options are BEFORE you go burning any bridges. I suspect this year may not be the same as it was only a few years ago. I hope that I'm wrong, but these are not ordinary times. There is little downside to following that course of action.
 
Back
Top