Perks for USAFA Grads

Beppyoh

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
6
I have a question...I know the obvious perks, like no debt, great education, pay, etc. What are some of the perks that are not so openly known. I was told 90 days off paid after graduation and a $30,000 interest free loan. Are those things true?? Trying to put together a list for DD of the pros and cons.

Thanks!!:smile:
 
I have a question...I know the obvious perks, like no debt, great education, pay, etc. What are some of the perks that are not so openly known. I was told 90 days off paid after graduation and a $30,000 interest free loan. Are those things true?? Trying to put together a list for DD of the pros and cons.

Thanks!!:smile:

My experience is CGA, but if AFA is similar it's 30 days between graduation and reporting, not 90 (but if AFA is 90 days, man that is some sweet time).

Atleast when I was a cadet, the loan was what we called a "2/c car loan".... at 1% interest. Not sure how anyone could survive handing out $30 without interest...

Finally, a loan is debt.

But even a loan with very low interest isn't hard to shoulder with some very nice O-1 pay (and job) with little expenses.

She'll probably have a job after 4 years of free college at a great institution. She'll have dependable friends for life. And she'll do some interesting things. Plus she'll experience a job that for a greater good (which does feel good).
 
We got 60 days after graduation (and it was sweet, I caught space available travel to hawaii and hung out for a month, some traveled the world that way).

As for the loan, I got 35000 at 0.5% interest, but it changes from year to year. You can take that loan at some point in your junior year, but I waited and took it after graduation and buying a house to do some remodeling.

Other perks that are pretty great are 2.5 days of paid leave a month (if you have the opportunity to take it) and the obvious healthcare. Then there is the perk that is particular to my job. I am a scientist (specifically a physicist) and to work in that field you need experience. The AF gives me the opportunity to get experience first hand with some brilliant scientists and I am learning a ton.
 
USAFA grads get 60 days of paid leave after graduation. This is the 'accrued' leave that was not used during their time at USAFA (that is how it was explained to me).

The loan terms are slightly different each year depending on the market conditions. Son's was $35,000 at 1/2% interest for five years, with payments beginning 3 months after graduation. The loan is actually available during their junior year, so they can have almost two years of no payments, but interest still accrues. Son took his loan proceeds and invested almost all of it into different stock and mutual funds. He has more than doubled the money, and was recently able to put 30% down on purchasing a house in Surprise, AZ where he will be stationed starting in June. With his coming promotion to 1Lt next month his income will be about $66,000 a year including base salary, BAH, BAS, and flight pay. Plus, he has no debt other than the loan and his house. Not a bad place to be for a 23-year-old single guy just out of college.

Stealth_81

Edit: Looks like the Tennis Lady beat me to it!
 
I know I'm a Coast Guard vet, but Air Force has some of the best educational opportunities of all the services. They really invest in their people, officers and enlisted.
 
I know I'm a Coast Guard vet, but Air Force has some of the best educational opportunities of all the services. They really invest in their people, officers and enlisted.

Free health insurance from day one of BCT. Monthly salary. :thumb:
 
Free health insurance from day one of BCT. Monthly salary. :thumb:

Well.... they all have that, where the Air Force excels is the opportunties going forward after cadets and recruits graduate. But I can say once you get out, you really start to appreciate a lack of co-pays you had before.

I miss walking into the office at CGHQ, and going to the ground floor to have my teeth worked on, or to get checked out.
 
Edit: Looks like the Tennis Lady beat me to it!

Just a personal sidenote, I believe the forum term for this is "ninja'd"

But this is an interesting thread to think about.

Personally, I think it'd be awesome to hop a flight to Rammstein AFB and backpack around Europe for a bit or something. But that's more than 4 years away for me, so who knows? Maybe space travel will be cheap by then or something :p
 
Well.... they all have that, where the Air Force excels is the opportunties going forward after cadets and recruits graduate. But I can say once you get out, you really start to appreciate a lack of co-pays you had before.

I miss walking into the office at CGHQ, and going to the ground floor to have my teeth worked on, or to get checked out.

I wasn't sure if he was talking about AFROTC or other academies!
 
We got 60 days after graduation (and it was sweet, I caught space available travel to hawaii and hung out for a month, some traveled the world that way).

As for the loan, I got 35000 at 0.5% interest, but it changes from year to year. You can take that loan at some point in your junior year, but I waited and took it after graduation and buying a house to do some remodeling.

Other perks that are pretty great are 2.5 days of paid leave a month (if you have the opportunity to take it) and the obvious healthcare. Then there is the perk that is particular to my job. I am a scientist (specifically a physicist) and to work in that field you need experience. The AF gives me the opportunity to get experience first hand with some brilliant scientists and I am learning a ton.


AWESOME...thanks, the answers I was looking for!! Travel while you're young and what a great way to get experience on the job! Congrats to you! Keep up the good work!!:thumb:
 
Pros and cons

I was an AFROTC grad in 1986. Went on to pilot training and spent about 9 years in the active service. BEST years of my life and I only got out to start a family with my Navy husband. There is something to be said for emerging from a fine institution debt free with a job in hand, particularly in today's economy. I remember everyone in college stressing over job interviews and internships and it was nice knowing where I was going and what I was doing for the next 6 years. The degree, leadership experience and years of service in the Air Force will benefit later in life as well with other job opportunities. I believe the Air Force is the most "corporate" of the 3 services...I kept wondering when I'd encounter the "full blown military" stuff ROTC supposedly prepped me for.
 
I have a question...I know the obvious perks, like no debt, great education, pay, etc. What are some of the perks that are not so openly known. I was told 90 days off paid after graduation and a $30,000 interest free loan. Are those things true?? Trying to put together a list for DD of the pros and cons.

Thanks!!:smile:

The main perk is that you become an Air Force Officer. There are many other perks but none of those matter at this stage for your daughter. Does she want to be in the Air Force? Does she want to fly AF Jets (Academy definitely has a leg up on that competitive area). That should be the main focus. I am an '87 grad, I served as faculty in the early 90's and my son is now a Freshman. I am struck by your statement that you are "trying to put together a list for DD of the pros and cons." I would urge you to let her show the initiative and drive to make the USAFA decision. In my experience, the worst decision of all is for a kid to go to USAFA because mom and/or dad talked them into it. Not saying you are doing this but sounds from your post like it might be a possibility. To go to the Academy for anyone other than oneself is a recipe for disaster. I have seen it many times. They come for the wrong reason and then end up leaving to return home to disappointed parents. It is an emotional and psychological train wreck for the parents and devastating to the kids that "quit" and didn't live up to expectations from those they love the most. Not trying to be a downer. I don't post much but this one is important. I neither encouraged nor discouraged my son--he chose USAFA on his own (granted he saw a lot more of the AF than a civilian kid). As sure as he was where he wanted to go, my daughter is just as sure where she DOES NOT want to go--that is fine!
 
Very informative and helpful for interested applicants.
Does your DD just not like USAFA or the military career in general?
 
How do you learn about SA and military life?

The main perk is that you become an Air Force Officer. There are many other perks but none of those matter at this stage for your daughter. ... I am struck by your statement that you are "trying to put together a list for DD of the pros and cons." I would urge you to let her show the initiative and drive to make the USAFA decision. In my experience, the worst decision of all is for a kid to go to USAFA because mom and/or dad talked them into it. ...QUOTE]

Great advice for all of us parents. For students who don't have a family background in the military or service academy's, what avenues do you think are most useful for them to understand what they would be committing to with an SA and life afterward? Our kids have talked to folks in the military, but most are enlisted and tell them that their life as an officer will be different (true?). Our daughter's BGO is helpful, but more so in terms of USNA (understanably) and the SA route, not for instance NROTC. She tries to make time to read information and watch online vidoes, but that only gives so much information. She is going to USAFA ss (and USNA NASS) and hopes that will give her more information on everything from the admisisons process to life at the academy to life afterward.
Any recommendations on other things she should be doing or places she should be looking? The interest was prompted by folks at her boarding school and the idea has stuck, but she says herself that she is not sure how to narrow this all down, even in terms of the different SAs and which might suit her best...if any. On paper, she is preparing as advised (lots of leadership, sports, academic rigor and good performance with SATs, grades, etc.). But understanding SAs and life beyond in the service when you are starting at ground 0 is tough.
Thank you--
S
 
Alright, so first off. Im, or at least be, a prior heading into the P school this year.

That being said, the USAFA grads seem to have a 'click' in society. So far doing research, mostly all the graduates, are slotted at least Lt Col. both my center CC (commander) and Vice-CC are graduates of the academy and they are both Col.s

You get all the benefits; Space-A (the ridiculously cheap air-fair), free medical, also higher BAH (like from E-4 to O-1 is an additional $210, not bad). It also looks better if your applying to say CIA or DIA.
 
The main perk is that you become an Air Force Officer. There are many other perks but none of those matter at this stage for your daughter. Does she want to be in the Air Force? Does she want to fly AF Jets (Academy definitely has a leg up on that competitive area). That should be the main focus. I am an '87 grad, I served as faculty in the early 90's and my son is now a Freshman. I am struck by your statement that you are "trying to put together a list for DD of the pros and cons." I would urge you to let her show the initiative and drive to make the USAFA decision. In my experience, the worst decision of all is for a kid to go to USAFA because mom and/or dad talked them into it. Not saying you are doing this but sounds from your post like it might be a possibility. To go to the Academy for anyone other than oneself is a recipe for disaster. I have seen it many times. They come for the wrong reason and then end up leaving to return home to disappointed parents. It is an emotional and psychological train wreck for the parents and devastating to the kids that "quit" and didn't live up to expectations from those they love the most. Not trying to be a downer. I don't post much but this one is important. I neither encouraged nor discouraged my son--he chose USAFA on his own (granted he saw a lot more of the AF than a civilian kid). As sure as he was where he wanted to go, my daughter is just as sure where she DOES NOT want to go--that is fine!


I am not trying to sway my DD one way or the other, I am trying to give her advice with all the possible options, good, bad or indifferent. She has made it thru her first year at USAFA, all on her own accord. She has been very successful, but we aren't a military family and don't know a lot about it. So I was just looking for things us "civilians" don't know about. I got that call that was like I don't know if I can do this. I think as a parent, you have to be there to listen, give advice and let them make their own choices. They are the ones that have to deal with the good and bad of those choices. But I know as a 40+ mom, I still call my parents for advice, sometimes I like it sometimes not so much. I guess why I was asking is that when you're 19 y/o and the next 8 years are planned for you per say it seems like a lifetime and is scary, even though it flies by. So just needed some communication tools in case I get another phone call. She did inform us she will be going back next year, so phew...I know she can do it. Even without having to use all my good info I received from you all!! Thanks everyone!!
 
If your daughter is a rising 3 dig her best bet is to find a a good mentor, such as a rising firstie that can help her figure what how best to handle the Academy. It's okay to have doubts, but she needs to figure out if the Academy is for her. For most cadets, it does not get easier after 4 dig year - she'll be faced with a different set of challenges each year.

She still has the option to quit for another year, and if had the drive and ambition to be accepted to USAFA, and the perseverance to overcome 4 dig year, I have no doubt that she will be successful outside of the military.
 
Beepyoh,

I did not realize from your initial post that your DD was at the Academy. It sounded like she was in HS considering. I stand by my advice 100% for those parents wondering if the Academy would be right for their High Schooler. You, however, are in a completely different boat.

I would venture to guess that most cadets at some time get fed up and consider quitting--I know I did. It is natural. The best advice I would give is to tell the Cadet that the active duty AF is not like USAFA. I got to fly 6 different aircraft from huge bombers to aerobatic trainers to high altitude, space suit wearing reconnaissance aircraft. I worked with great people, did important things and had a sense of purpose. I would not trade my 20 years for anything! The Academy provided a great foundation but active duty is different and, in general, much more fun.

When my son left for USAFA, I asked him to pick something as a reminder/goal to sustain him. For me it was the promise of flying aircraft. For him it was some 2nd Lt bars. Being an AF officer is what he truly wants and that has helped him through Freshman year.

Good luck with DD. I had the emotional phone call with my parents almost 30 years ago--I'm sure it was very rough on my folks. I am very glad I stuck with USAFA and the Air Force.
 
Civilian College Option

The Academy provided a great foundation but active duty is different and, in general, much more fun...
Being an AF officer is what he truly wants and that has helped him through Freshman year. I am very glad I stuck with USAFA and the Air Force.

Nevada: Can you share what you belief is the best benefit of reaching AF officer via the Academy vs. via AFROTC at a civilian college? For instance, for you son, if the and AF officer is what is pulling him through, did he consider AFROTC rather than USAFA since (from what I understand) the end result is the same?
Just curious as in our case we DO have high schoolers. Oldest dd is at a high school that has a full emphasis on SAs for those that want to be officers. There is no help for the rotc route and as such it is off her radar.

S
 
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