Question's about MMI and JMC-to-Academy Process

I'll be honest, after the past 48 hours, I'm really not sure what I want to do right now.

My initial plan after high school was to enlist in the Air Force because I didn't have money for college. My friend's father (pretty much my second father) called MMI yesterday and told them about me. They called me that afternoon and said that they really wanted me to attend MMI. Not really knowing what to do, I applied for admission and scholarships over the phone. I set up a visit for this morning and I did go. After my campus tour, I came back to the admission's office and they were handing me one of their 5 Presidential Scholarships, and said I would probably qualify for more scholarships once my FASFA was processed.

So here's my problem. I don't know much about JMCs or really the military at all. I do understand from my AF recruiter (I haven't told him about MMI yet, he's been out of town) that if I enlist, I won't start off in debt and I'll start making a base salary after tech school. My main problem is money and time. I don't quite know all the benefits of going to a JMC instead of enlisting. They were saying something about doing a year at MMI and then transferring to Air Force Academy. That's basically another 5 years of school that I could spend being enlisted and earning a salary. I guess that's another problem.. I don't understand the ranks and their respected salary.

So long story short, I just need someone to help me out by giving me some details on the benefits of paying money to go to MMI (I would be taking out a loan) and POSSIBLY going to Air Force Academy (I'm not quite sure how difficult it is to get in after a year at MMI) instead of enlisting and not going into debt and getting a paycheck within the first year.


I know this is a lot information I'm asking for, but I'm trying to do my research and get help from anyone I can. I don't come from a wealthy family and I don't want to start off in debt and be screwed if things don't go accordingly to plan.

Cewrobel, I'm sending you a PM.

cewrobel, I don't have many answers for you, but it sounds like MMI is very impressed with you. Please don't do anything rash! Don't make any decisions until you feel you have a solid understanding of the different opportunities you have enlisting vs. becoming an officer. Find out who your USAFA liaison is and talk about this opportunity with them.

It is admirable -and wise!- that you want to remain debt-free. However, a few thousand dollars of debt is a no-brainer if it will lead to a cost-free education worth several hundred thousand dollars. Admission into a US Service Academy is very competitive and involved process, so nothing is guaranteed. However, it sounds like you have been presented with a rare and terrific opportunity - do not pass it up without serious thought.

Best of luck to you!

Nicole

Thank you for your help. If you don't mind, I have a few basic questions that I hope someone could possibly answer.

If I did get into AFA after 1 year at MMI, and I graduated, what rank would I be commissioned to?

If I did my one year at MMI, but I didn't get into AFA, what happens then? Do I enlist? If so, would I still start as an Airman?


I have a decent resume, I didn't think it was that competitive. I have a ~3.95 GPA with a 28 on the ACT. I do know for a fact that my ACT can go up though. I talked to two Army infantry men who just returned from Afghanistan last week and they're absolutely against MMI. Neither of them went but they said it's a terrible idea and said I should just enlist.

cewrobel - you've been given advice from a couple sources. Learn to consider the sources. The army guys gave you advice from their perspective. People who have gone,or have offspring who have gone/will go through the officer path will have a different perspective. I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you to take the time to make up your mind.

You have the grades to go to MMI, and if you additionally have community service, athletic ability and a clean record you may seriously think about applying to one of the service academies. That will likely lead you down a different path than a straight enlistment. Do you have leadership potential? Do you want to lead? You are leaning Air Force. Do you want to fly?

Although there are other schools with similar programs to MMI, I can only speak to that one, as my son was there this past year as a Coastie. Self-preps at MMI tend to do well in terms of getting appointments to the Service Academy of their choice, not least because they are motivated by the goal in mind. MMI does have a flight training program, but it is expensive. It does allow you to get a pilot's license, which in turn gets you past the first hurdle into flight school.

It doesn't sound like you considered applying to one of the service academies. Maybe you want to consider it. If flight is what you are interested in Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Army all fly (just differently). It does not hurt to talk to an admissions officer from any of the academies. Tell them you are just out of high school and

I didn't mean to write a book. Please ask more questions and someone will be happy to help.

When you graduate from the Air Force Academy, you are commissioned as a 2nd Lt. You may or may not go to flight school. The Air Force is pretty big, and they have lots of places for officers who don't fly.

If you finish one year at MMI and don't receive an appointment, there are a couple options. One is go a second year at MMI and work towards an Army 2nd Lt commission. Another is enlist. Having the year at MMI under your belt will help. It think you would have 30 credits, so would enlist as E-3 (someone who knows will correct me. I know that is Coast Guard, not sure about AF).

Unless you have your heart set on enlistment, consider MMI or a community college, then apply to AFA after a year. Consider ROTC and apply to a school that has it. That also pays for your education. You could be offered a spot in a spring semester after one semester at MMI or wherever. Both are very competitive routes to an education and carreer.

Thank you for your input AuxNoob. I'm considering it, but my mom is not too enthused. She thinks that I'll take out a loan, go down there, not like it, and be screwed out of an appointment to the USAFA. She doesn't like the fact that I'm not guaranteed an appointment. She keeps saying that if I enlist, then I'm guaranteed a job with no consequences.

I also have another question. It's based off what I've heard in town. I'm friends with a fraternity at the UA and one of the brothers was in the USAFA. He was kicked out because he fell off the log in the obstacle course and slipped a disc. Is this really what happens when you get hurt, they just drop you and all that time is for nothing?

I apologize for being difficult about all this. I just don't have much time and I'm trying to find out as much as possible.

Also, I should mention that I'm looking for an intelligence or computer job. I'm really looking at Cyberspace Operations Officer.

cewrobel said:

I have a decent resume, I didn't think it was that competitive. I have a ~3.95 GPA with a 28 on the ACT.

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Do you have a hook? i.e., are you an exceptional athlete, have impressive leadership experience, or a URM (under-represented minority)?

For your family friend to be go to bat for you, and for MMI to offer you such a large scholarship on the spot, there has to be some reason these people see you as an exceptional candidate.

Nicole

Um, I played football for 6 years. I'm in National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Thespians Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society. My friend's father is the only person they've talked to about me, so he must have really talked me up haha.

cewrobel said:

...my mom is not too enthused. She thinks that I'll take out a loan, go down there, not like it, and be screwed out of an appointment to the USAFA.

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Why does she think you won't like it? You are a good student so I doubt that is it. Does she think you won't like the physical demands? The discipline?

She doesn't like the fact that I'm not guaranteed an appointment.

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No, you are not guaranteed an appointment. And if you get an appointment, it isn't guaranteed you will graduate. But for a few thousand dollars you are getting a chance at an amazing opportunity. It isn't like this is some pie-in-the-sky scam. MMI isn't set up to fleece earnest young people out of money they don't even have. Over 300 generals and admirals have attended MMI! This is a challenge that others who know you well think you are up for.

Go to their website and watch some videos. You can also find them on YouTube - just search the school name.

She keeps saying that if I enlist, then I'm guaranteed a job with no consequences.

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And if you go to MMI and decide that it isn't for you, you are still able to enlist. You will have a few thousand dollars worth of debt - and a steady income with which to pay it off.

In the grand scheme of life, a few thousand dollars (the amount you would earn in your first few months as a newly enlisted airman) should not be enough to prevent you from taking a chance to pursue a dream.

I just don't have much time and I'm trying to find out as much as possible.

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I don't get this. What is the hurry? Why don't you have any time? Because MMI starts in August, or because it is pressing that you enlist next week?

You have enough time to figure this out. Find your ALO and talk to them. This is the most important and productive thing you can do right now. Let it be known that it isn't an emergency, but very pressing that you talk with someone very soon. Ask MMI to put you in touch with USAFA prepsters and learn about their experiences. I would be leery of discussing this with a recruiter since he isn't objective about this.

Nicole