Is it too late for me to join AFROTC?

DTRapture

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Jul 15, 2015
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Hello! I'm new here, so I hope I can make my first thread memorable and helpful. I recently graduated high school a month ago, and I'm counting down my days until I officially stay to dorm at the University of Washington. Joining the AFROTC program has been on my mind, but I never took action to consider it until now, unfortunately. Is it already too late to sign up? Even for a scholarship?
 
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You can walk on as a freshmen or a sophomore. During the school year you can apply for the college level scholarship. I would call the unit and try to meet up with them at the orientation. During orientation you will sign up for AFROTC AS100 class. I would still call them if you already had orientation because for some units ROTC has an earlier show time to the school for their training, while some don't.
 
+1 to what pima said. Most students will walk on their freshman year. Best thing is you can try it out without any commitment. Its really a win-win for interested freshman. Definitely try and reach out to the detachment so you can get some info. I know some people who just commissioned out of Det 910 and they have many good things to say about the unit.
 
By "walking on", how does that exactly work? Is it similar to walking on a sports team in college, where they have to test your athletic ability prior to joining? Or you sign your name on a clipboard and that's it? And is there a specific deadline to walk on?
 
When you register for your classes there should be two classes one called Aerospace Science or Air Science 100 and Air Force Leadership Laboratory. Both should be 1 credit classes. You should register for both of them. Talk to the UW Detachment that you are interested in joining and they should be helpful in giving you the steps to join. Most likely you will show up to the detachment office and do paperwork before you do any Air Force thing. You have until the last day you can sign up classes to join so you do have time.
 
Ah, understood. Regarding athleticism, should I begin to exercise in the mornings to prepare for AFROTC? I was a runner and thrower in Track & Field during my sophomore year of high school, but since then, I've been out of shape.
 
Yes.

The 1st week for ROTC will include a PFA test.

I always say exercise in the a.m. due to lack of sleep. Exercise at the hottest point of the day. Run in the rain.

Download the form for push ups and sit ups, they will be sticklers.
 
You wont do a PFA till Oct-Nov. Its scheduled and once your enrolled you can look at the calendar. Walk-on's can still get scholarships, it just depends on when the board meets and if they do out of cycle boards, like they did last year. They will prepare you by doing PT with the Det. before you take a PFA. Scholarship cadets have to take a PFA prior, walk ons do not. In short, start working out because its not that far off.
 
Zero,

Can you clarify for me something in your post. My DS was scholarship, thus why I am asking.

I was always under the assumption EVERYONE takes the PFA within the 1st week. If they bust than they have a 2nd shot in Oct. If they do great, even non-scholarship, than they can use those scores for their record.
~ DS maxxed everything. They turned to him his fall semester and said fly, be free, you don't have to do PT with us. Show up for the next official PFA.
~~ That meant of course his spring job in the unit as an AS100 was a PT instructor for his flight.

Is that a unit only thing?
 
There is a reg out there that states the time frame for the PFA CPI/CPII. So guessing that's his unit. Ours was late October this past year.

Edit: For the OP

AFI36-2905_AFROTCSUP
7.4.3.1. (AFROTC) Detachments must conduct one PFA prior to 31 December for the Fall semester and prior to 30 June for the Spring semester. Additionally each cadet must take the commissioning QFR no earlier than 30 days prior to commissioning. A published PFA schedule must be posted for cadet review at the beginning of each term. See Table 7.1 for term requirements.
 
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PIMA:

The one in the first week is a practice PFA: They want to guage where cadets are at and see what needs to be worked on. There are a certain number of PT sessions you have to do in order for the det to adminster a real PFA. Scholarship cadets take them to qualify for the scholarship, but that's different.

OP:

There is a bit of paperwork, and most Dets have a New Cadet program for the freshmen. It's good time to meet new people. You have to contact the det to let them know you're interested, and they will give you the needed paperwork. Just as everyone else said, its good because you can try it out for a while without any commitments.
 
WannaBe

He was scholarship. That was his contracting. I was just asking if a non-contracted cadet can use that as their score.
 
Good Luck DTRapture, UW is my sons choice if he isn't fortunate enough to get an academy appointment.
We have been looking at ROTC scholarships and there are both 3 and 4 year scholarships for ROTC.
So even though you missed the first year, you can still take the classes mentioned and start the application for the 3 year.
Are you in pursuing a technical/engineering field at UW?
 
F15DOC, I actually am pursing an engineering career at UW. Civil Engineering, more specifically.

So I can take the classes mentioned, and then begin the 3-year scholarship application when it's available? Is the 3-year program more demanding and difficult than the 4-year one? By the looks of it, you cram more things to learn in a shorter period of time.

Also, good luck to your son! UW is an amazing school. Being a native of the drizzly Pacific Northwest, the campus felt like home to me.
 
Good Luck DTRapture, UW is my sons choice if he isn't fortunate enough to get an academy appointment.
We have been looking at ROTC scholarships and there are both 3 and 4 year scholarships for ROTC.
So even though you missed the first year, you can still take the classes mentioned and start the application for the 3 year.
Are you in pursuing a technical/engineering field at UW?

F15DOC, I actually am pursing an engineering career at UW. Civil Engineering, more specifically.

So I can take the classes mentioned, and then begin the 3-year scholarship application when it's available? Is the 3-year program more demanding and difficult than the 4-year one? By the looks of it, you cram more things to learn in a shorter period of time.

Also, good luck to your son! UW is an amazing school. Being a native of the drizzly Pacific Northwest, the campus felt like home to me.



I think there is a misunderstanding here. Your single ROTC application you fill out going into (and during) your senior year in high school puts you into a pool for scholarship selection. You can get either the 3 or 4 year scholarship from that. There is no way to just compete for one or the other on the national level.

Once you are in college (and in ROTC) you can compete for in-house scholarships. This would mean you go in your freshman year and participate in ROTC. If you excel, you may be offered a scholarship from your respective school's battalion. They may be any duration.
 
PIMA

Everyone has to retake the PFA within the det at the scheduled time. Our date usually does it in October. The practice PFA during the first week doesn't count for anyone. If you fail it, it doesn't hurt you, it just shows the areas you need to work on. Those scores cannot be used to replace the official PFA. The real PFA can be an issue if a scholarship cadet fails it.
 
No, it's not too late. You can enroll in ROTC either your spring semester of freshman year or fall semester sophomore year.
 
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