FTP Leadership Positions

During FTP at my DS's detachment jobs/.leadership positions are rotated every two weeks.

Looking for input from posters regarding ANY
information on what jobs/leadership positions the 200/250's have during FTP.

Also if there are any POC poster's from medium/large detachments that can offer any insight or if there is any correlation between top leadership jobs held during FTP and ranking coming out of SFT or even in relation to getting rated jobs the following year.

Or are the job assignments during FTP completely random and a cadet who has held one or more leadership positions during FTP no more likely to come out of SFT with a much higher ranking than a cadet who did not have the opportunity to hold a leadership position while in FTP in the last few months before SFT?

Basically should a cadet read anything into having or not having been assigned a leadership position during FTP?

No, I didn't have any FTP jobs and got top 1/3 at FT and just got a Pilot Slot. FTP in our detachment isn't anything like FT, it's not even mandatory. Don't look too far into it!

-AS300

Thanks for the input....

I wasn't sure if I was going to get any feedback. Hopefully more cadets that "have been there done that " will take the time to contribute their experience.

I am a 400 POC about to graduate. I come from a medium size detachment. Doing well at Leadership positions, I believe is the most important factor when it comes down to your overall commander ranking. Grades, PFA, SAT, that is just 50% of the equation, while the other 50% is the commanders ranking. The POC rank the GMC cadets mainly based on how well they preformed throughout the semester in leadership positions, customs and courtesies, overall attitude motivation and dress and appearance. That ranking is sent to the Cadre in the form of a performance feedback form to justify that ranking. And from what I have been told by Cadre members, they take those rankings very seriously when they do their official rankings. Unfortunately, people slip through the cracks, and maybe because they were not assigned a leadership position. My advice is to take whatever job they have and transform it into something better. The object here is to Stand out and to be known and showcase your leadership potential. The Detachment commander and the rest of the cadre should always know your name, your accomplishments, and how you have contributed to the Wing.

FTP is only for ranking cadets for the PSP selection process and getting their toes wet with the environment they will experience at SFT. Positions are something they change rapidly because they want to see cadets in certain situations and prepare those cadets.
Performing well at FTP will better increase your odds of a higher rank at SFT, not because of your Cadres ranking, but because you will perform much better having been prepared by FTP.




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ERAU,

I have tried to pm you for a few days, but I keep getting fatal error every time. I just wanted you to know I didn't blow you off.

I agree with others, don't read too much into this at all.

The SFT ranking matters more and when they go up for AFSC boards that ranking will be part of their score.

I know at our DS's det that their fall jobs were in part based on how they ranked out of SFT.

Getting TG or DG during FT have nothing directly to do with positions that you hold as a FTP cadet. Those rankings are completely dependent on your PFA down there and how well your FTO likes you. My class had a bunch of "hot shot" kids (FTP class was ~40) getting ranked bottom 1/3. We had a few average and quiet kids get top 1/3 during FT. Getting ranked well in your flight is all about whoever does well during one month.

I use the word "directly" because theoretically if you have "good" jobs you would think that you would get leadership practice under some stressful situations. However its really not a big deal. I think leadership jobs in the det have a bigger impact with CC ranking at the det which later translates into job selection. But I would advise your son not to stress. Since I was a freshman I have seen a few classes go through FT and at least at our det those people who put in the work in the classroom do very well. The kid with a 3.7 in any degree is going to always get picked over the kid with a 2.7 and is involved in every ROTC activity. School > everything else. Stay focused and only spend time thinking about what you can control.

Best of luck to your son!

Engineering SMC Super Senior Scholarship Cadet Process

I have a question that may have been addressed prior but I am unable to find the answer. Our DS is in AFROTC at a SMC on full scholarhip. He is majoring in two Engineering disciplines, has over a 3.0,is a scholarship cadet (in college award) and does very well on pt and did extraordinary well on the AFOSQT (?) test. All 99,98,96,95 etc/ Top 1/3 of SFT. DS will be a 5th year sr so he will graduate in year 4 (2015) from the VTCC with a Leadership Studies Minor but will continue at VT for one more year to finish his double-major degree and his 5th year of Air Force Rotc (2016). So my question is, given that he is a 5th year double engineering major with a leadership studies minor behind him, when does he start the process of requesting for commissioned jobs/rated slots...whatever. I am not savvy on this. I am asking this as a parent, not because he would not tell me....trying not to bug him. I"m doing my intel so I'll know. With the 5th year component, I'm just a bit confused. Also, If your major is Computer Engineering and you were on scholarship and did very well both in GPA and in the Detachmemt, where might you end up on your first "deployment" or is a grad, a grad, a grad. I am assuming that he, as a 5th year senior , will get his assignments etc. not thi s year, as a jumio and not next year as a senior but the NEXT year (2016) as a super or 5th year senior. What if he speaks Russian, Spanish and French? Does that figure in? I'm just asking a bunch of "mom"questions because I am doing my own research so that I will be just as prepared as he is when orders are given. He's my baby and only son so any good sage advice will be appreciatefd. Not a creeper...just a "like to know" er. " I was the leader of the troops around my house for 20 years and now I like to know who is taking over. Thanks in advance if anyone has any insight on the 5th year "super senior" and how that works.

Hello ERAUUmattmom, I've been keeping up with these forums since I was a 200 to see whats going on beyond my det but your post persuaded me to finally get an account and start becoming active on this forum. I'm currently a 300 cadet now and this term I'm actually the FTP Commander/Trainer for 200/250s going to SFT this year.

I think others might have answered your question but I wanted to also give you my input if it may be helpful. There's no correlation between holding any FTP leadership positions during FTP to what goes on at SFT at all. As the FTP commander, I assign these jobs randomly to all cadets so that I may evaluate and provide feedback on their weaknesses so that they may improve before SFT begins. Of course, the cadets in FTP would be ranked based on how well they perform in their positions held but I think that ranking, passed onto the Cadre throughout the term, is more for the cadre to keep in mind about who is doing well and to decide end of year awards/etc.

In terms of SFT and the ranking there, it's all fair game on TD-1 at Field Training for every cadet. FTOs and CTAs have no information on how each cadet performed at their detachments therefore every cadet have the opportunity to shine on even terms. As for FTP, my aim is to provide as much feedback and criticism from how they perform in leadership/non-leadership positions that will help cadets prepare for field training. I can't say any more because it may be a little bit of speeding of SFT. Hehe.

I am certain, from my own experience, that your ranking at SFT plays a huge role in your commander's ranking when you return as a 300 and you go up for rated boards. I was not the best cadet my 200 year (being ranked bottom third of my FTP class) but was able to get it together and complete SFT with Distinguished Graduate. Because of that, my commander's ranking for the rated boards this year was in the top third of my class. In my personal opinion, doing well at FT will help a lot in rated board selection because of how much commander's ranking go into the selection.

Hope this helps.

Hello vamom, to answer your first question, he would start applying for rated boards during year 4 (technically his 400 year) if he was planning to go up for it. If not, he would compete for regular AFSCs during his 5th year as an AS700 cadet. I'm only a 300 so I'm not sure how first assignments are selected but I'm pretty sure those ranked higher will have a better chance of getting what they pick. During the last year of AFROTC, all 400s or 700s, will submit a form where they will list their top 3-5 assignment locations that they "want" to be stationed to. The rest depends on where the Air Force needs them and if they have openings there. From what I heard, new lieutenants wouldn't deploy probably in the first two years due to training and getting the experience first. And obviously first assignments usually depend on types of AFSC as well because pilots will need to go to IFS and UPT for about the first two years of active duty within the states versus a regular AFSC like Security Forces that can be stationed anywhere after their 8 week training.

Hope this helps.

vamom said:

I have a question that may have been addressed prior but I am unable to find the answer. Our DS is in AFROTC at a SMC on full scholarhip. He is majoring in two Engineering disciplines, has over a 3.0,is a scholarship cadet (in college award) and does very well on pt and did extraordinary well on the AFOSQT (?) test. All 99,98,96,95 etc/ Top 1/3 of SFT. DS will be a 5th year sr so he will graduate in year 4 (2015) from the VTCC with a Leadership Studies Minor but will continue at VT for one more year to finish his double-major degree and his 5th year of Air Force Rotc (2016). So my question is, given that he is a 5th year double engineering major with a leadership studies minor behind him, when does he start the process of requesting for commissioned jobs/rated slots...whatever. I am not savvy on this. I am asking this as a parent, not because he would not tell me....trying not to bug him. I"m doing my intel so I'll know. With the 5th year component, I'm just a bit confused. Also, If your major is Computer Engineering and you were on scholarship and did very well both in GPA and in the Detachmemt, where might you end up on your first "deployment" or is a grad, a grad, a grad. I am assuming that he, as a 5th year senior , will get his assignments etc. not thi s year, as a jumio and not next year as a senior but the NEXT year (2016) as a super or 5th year senior. What if he speaks Russian, Spanish and French? Does that figure in? I'm just asking a bunch of "mom"questions because I am doing my own research so that I will be just as prepared as he is when orders are given. He's my baby and only son so any good sage advice will be appreciatefd. Not a creeper...just a "like to know" er. " I was the leader of the troops around my house for 20 years and now I like to know who is taking over. Thanks in advance if anyone has any insight on the 5th year "super senior" and how that works.

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If he is going for rated his board will meet this time next year as a 400. During the summer of his rising 700 year he will be sent to WPAFB for his FC1 physical. He will also submit his TS clearance at that time.

If he gets DQd for his FC1 he will than be put up for the non-rated board which occurs the fall of his 700 year.

Around this time of his 700 year he will get his base assignment for his rated school. As stated he will go to IFS prior to UPT if he does not have a PPL. He may be sent casual status first to his base and than prior to his class start date they will send them TDY to Pueblo {IFS).

He will not find out his operational base until close to the end of UPT when they find out their airframe. It may even change after that because after UPT they than go to RTU. This is where they learn how to fly their particular airframe. That training can anywhere from 6-9 months. During this time they will also do water and land survival.

Thus, if all of the classes line up on time (doubtful) they will not hit their operational squadron until about 3 years after commissioning. Our DS graduated May 12 and he will wing end of April this year. He still will have about another 8 more months of training which does not include any casual status between classes.

Just putting it out there so you understand how much longer he will be in the training/student world.

Also as for rated, some majors are considered critical manning, and the AF may say they cannot go rated. I don't remember which engineering major is part of it, but there is at least one. In that case they only allow a small percentage to go rated. I believe it is EE or ME.

A big thank you to all POC's who have given their input on this thread.

Getting feedback from those who have been there done that really helps us parents. If everybody else's DS and DD's are anything like mine getting detailed information from their own is kind of like pulling teeth.

Even though they are no longer in their teens, it's hard for a parent to stop wanting to enjoy and be a part of any accomplishments of their offspring.

Thank you once again....and keep on Postin...

And of course PIMA on your 2 cents.....you already know I'm your biggest fan!!!!

+1

I wish there was a way to bookmark certain posts...Might not be relevant now but in a few more years it could be helpful. I'm very familiar with the reference to 'pulling teeth' for info. It's helpful to know what's going on - even if DS doesn't want to share. I probably wouldn't know anything about SFT w/o this board.

I haven't done it yet....but there is a way to subscribe to a thread which would make it easier to refer back to in the future...I'm sure there are instructions somewhere on this site...

That is unless someone wants to post the directions for us less computer savy surfers...

Or.... cut and paste those things you might want to refer to in the future into a google (or other) doc. Any links will usually be saved as links in this process. I have one with great "military" quotes... some of which I plan to read to DS prior to his leaving for OCS this summer. Here is my favorite which I actually transcribed from a video:

The best back home may be just good enough to barely make it here. When you come here you have to manage your expectations both for success and for failure. You will fail. You will succeed. How you handle success and how you handle failure is a demonstration of character as to whether or not you have what it takes to be a Marine Officer.

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BTW, I cut and paste that back here from the google doc. An amazing thing, this cut and paste!

Not only was that a good idea (cut and paste) but it was a good quote (cut and paste worthy).

I have done screen captures but I'm usually on an iPad and you don't see the path so this never occurred to me. You never know what you'll learn on this board! Thanks

MSFaygo said:

Not only was that a good idea (cut and paste) but it was a good quote (cut and paste worthy).

I have done screen captures but I'm usually on an iPad and you don't see the path so this never occurred to me. You never know what you'll learn on this board! Thanks

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Glad to be of service.

kinnem said:

Or.... cut and paste those things you might want to refer to in the future into a google (or other) doc. Any links will usually be saved as links in this process. I have one with great "military" quotes... some of which I plan to read to DS prior to his leaving for OCS this summer. Here is my favorite which I actually transcribed from a video:


BTW, I cut and paste that back here from the google doc. An amazing thing, this cut and paste!

Click to expand...

Wish I was a fly on the wall of that google doc!

payitforward said:

Wish I was a fly on the wall of that google doc!

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Well, really it's rather small. Only the very best quotes and things go there. If I were to print it, it would be less than half a page.

Quick question of Commanders Ranking. If the Enrollment Allocation packages are already sent up, what's to stop top cadets from slacking (not saying they will)?
Would a commander be able to revise the rankings?