Prior enlisted, looking into ROTC

GregoryBeaverFan

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Good afternoon everybody! I am currently an enlisted Airmen looking to commission! I currently have 0 college credits except for my military ones, but I will be starting school in June. Some background about me, I had pretty bad grades in high school, and didn't think that I'd ever join the mlitary (but here I am).
My major will be computer science with a possible minor in Spanish. I would love to commission back into the Air Force as a comm officer. I am conflicted between doing as much school as possible throughout my 6 year enlistment, then getting out and finish school, then applying for OTS. Or, I will apply to ROTC while in.
Basically, any tips/ what should I do to make my package look better would help a lot! I'm a current comm troop if that helps any. Also, which colleges would you recommend. Thanks!
 
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Definitely apply for AECP, SOAR etc, How far are you into your 6 years if I may ask? Also just my opinion ROTC is a safer bet then OTS. OTS can be hit or miss, ROTC is easier to get accepted etc.
 
Keep in mind that once in college the grades in high school are wiped clean. It is a new start. My son in college almost doubled his GPA from high school. He graduated with honors, commissioned and has had some success in the Army. Many others do well in high school and struggle in college. The one thing you should remember that you have a job(Air Force) to do the next 6 years. Don't overdo it with the school work initially. Focus to do well in that job. Take college courses to get not just credits but to really learn and get good grades. Take care of all things.
 
btw, unless something is different with what Norwichdad said, they will not even look at your highschool grades. You do not need a scholarship since you have GI bill, but they will require something if you don't take a few college classes first then apply to AECP or SOAR.
 
It is much safer to go the ROTC route. Talked to another prior E today who is in ROTC and asked him if he would have went another route going looking back and he said no. Also he said that in order to commission on time it's a good idea to go the ROTC route. That way you can really focus on your grades and not have to squeeze them in while on active duty.
 
Thank you for all the replies! I added in the high school grades tidbit because I think applying to the academy they still look into that. I have not hit my 2 year mark yet.
 
I was prior enlisted for 6 years before I was accepted into the ASCP program. I'm currently in ROTC now as an EE major. Feel free to PM any questions you may have in putting a package together whether it be for ASCP, SOAR, POC-ERP or LEAD.
 
Tried to send you a private message but it said I couldn't so here is the gist of what I typed.. lol

If you have any questions let me know. Went to ROTC from active 6 years as well. To answer some of your questions just keep your EPRs up, let your supervisor know your goals. If they are a good supervisor they will help you out and show you what your unit looks for to recognize a "good troop". Do your best and focus on your job and education at the same time. There is no reason to not do both, some people will say its too hard but in the end nobody studies or focuses on work outside of work. Instead of partying and drinking go take a class at the education center.

Honestly you should finish at least 1-2 years of college then enter ROTC, pretty easy with your military experience credits. It took me 6 classes for my associates and I entered the 3 year program. You can skip the first year and enter as a AS250, so you do a total of 3 years in ROTC instead of wasting that first year which you do not need. It's relatively easy to get accepted into ROTC, even without scholarships or the programs because you have the GI Bill and do not need them. You can just separate and join on your own if you really wanted to, but I learned a valuable lesson while doing my packages, try to apply ASAP. The sooner you apply and get things rolling the better, even if you get denied for the programs like SOAR this year, apply again next year. Generally there are more openings then applicants. Lastly, you have acknowledge that you will probably not get the career field you want (though it is possible), so do not go into it hoping for one thing like comm officer. Go into it with a open mind willing to accept a commission, not a job.
 
Tried to send you a private message but it said I couldn't so here is the gist of what I typed.. lol

If you have any questions let me know. Went to ROTC from active 6 years as well. To answer some of your questions just keep your EPRs up, let your supervisor know your goals. If they are a good supervisor they will help you out and show you what your unit looks for to recognize a "good troop". Do your best and focus on your job and education at the same time. There is no reason to not do both, some people will say its too hard but in the end nobody studies or focuses on work outside of work. Instead of partying and drinking go take a class at the education center.

Honestly you should finish at least 1-2 years of college then enter ROTC, pretty easy with your military experience credits. It took me 6 classes for my associates and I entered the 3 year program. You can skip the first year and enter as a AS250, so you do a total of 3 years in ROTC instead of wasting that first year which you do not need. It's relatively easy to get accepted into ROTC, even without scholarships or the programs because you have the GI Bill and do not need them. You can just separate and join on your own if you really wanted to, but I learned a valuable lesson while doing my packages, try to apply ASAP. The sooner you apply and get things rolling the better, even if you get denied for the programs like SOAR this year, apply again next year. Generally there are more openings then applicants. Lastly, you have acknowledge that you will probably not get the career field you want (though it is possible), so do not go into it hoping for one thing like comm officer. Go into it with a open mind willing to accept a commission, not a job.


Hello Zero. I am a Senior Airman with 3 years left on my first contract. I am ambitious to become an Officer. I have very little colleges credits. In 3 years I will be 27 years old so I was looking into 2 year ROTC programs, but maybe I can do a 3 year ROTC program (I have no idea how to get an age waiver). What are my options? I am still deciding a major. Is there any way I can be undecided and not declare a major until I join ROTC?
 
Yes and no, if you go to a 2 year it's extremely competitive for prior or some ppl said Troy holds a out of cycle ea but you'd still end up doing SFT etc so would be nearly 3 no matter what start to finish. If your in a 2 year you need a major, a 3 year your a sophomore so at least have an idea, but depends on the college. Age waivers are pretty easy from what I've been told, however depends on if you want rated and how things are going that year. Honestly you should get in ASAP through a enlisted program. It's your best bet and you get out of your enlistment. Go to your base education center they should have a comissioning rep.

Note when i was in any enlisted program you need a tech or language degree and had to be enrolled/accepted at the college to get accepted into the program.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
 
Yes and no, if you go to a 2 year it's extremely competitive for prior or some ppl said Troy holds a out of cycle ea but you'd still end up doing SFT etc so would be nearly 3 no matter what start to finish. If your in a 2 year you need a major, a 3 year your a sophomore so at least have an idea, but depends on the college. Age waivers are pretty easy from what I've been told, however depends on if you want rated and how things are going that year. Honestly you should get in ASAP through a enlisted program. It's your best bet and you get out of your enlistment.

Note when i was in any enlisted program you need a tech or language degree and had to be enrolled to get accepted.

If I did a 2 year, would I automatically get an EA since I would be starting as a Junior. Or would I have to go to the Field Training no matter what (even if I have done AD)? I was thinking either Accounting or Computer Science? Honestly I have not been to school since High School so I have a hard time choosing a major now. I use to like math, but I am not so good at it anymore haha. I know it is what I am interested in, but do you have any suggestions? I want something that will not be too dull and I can still grasp that I can have a competing GPA.

Can I choose General Studies as my major for maybe the first one or two years? I think this knocks all of my general courses out regardless of Major. Then I can choose a major by the time I enter ROTC?
 
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Do something you can get a good gpa imo. And yes you go to field training, some gurentee EA some don't depends on how you join. If going math AECP is an option. Think of field training as rotcs OTS.
 
Depends on how you want to join.. You can go to college on your own then join or you can go for the 2-3-4 years to finish with rotc the whole time. If applying for those programs you need a major...if you want to dabble in college while enlisted you can do whatever you want, they only care about when you apply.
 
Are you planning on finishing enlistment then joining?
That was a plan. I would be 27. If I did a 3 year ROTC, I would finish the program at the age of 30 so I would need an age waiver.
Now here comes the decision I need to make. Two majors I were interested in are Accounting and Computer Science. If I did Accounting then I would probably finish up my two years in it to become a Junior (all of this before enlistment ends). Since I do not think Accounting would qualify as a major for one of those programs.
If I do Computer Science then I would go for an AECP Scholarship, etc so I can separate early. If not, then finish up the Enlistment and hope for an age waiver. It would also be a STEM Degree

Also in about a week, I am going to take Sociology and American Government which are both 8 week courses. Will this count towards my credits, regardless of Major I choose? I believe they are part of general classes which every Bachelors would need
 
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