AFROTC to AROTC

tibreaker

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Dec 24, 2015
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If not selected for field training at the end of your sophomore year for the Air Force, is it possible to switch to AROTC junior year? Thanks.
 
Years ago many did jump over to AROTC, but the question isn't is it possible, it is will AROTC need you? If they are downsizing, than chances are that they will say they don't need you.
 
PMS may give credit for the years spent in AFROTC, sometimes not. It is good to have your cadre put in a good word.
 
Pima, if I go to a SMC that problem of them needing me doesn't really apply, right?
 
Actually Army PMS's (and ROO's) at most SMC's usually have no problem fulfilling their mission. A lesser known non-SMC college with a newer AROTC unit may be more eager to accept a transfer from AFROTC. Of course each case is going to be unique and based on your individual accomplishments.

Think supply and demand...
 
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Pima, from what I understand you can switch. In fact many cadets do switch ROTC branches. I just want to know if switching between my sophmore and junior years is realistic and if switching then would be too late. Thanks.
 
Caveat I know nothing on SMCs (and many other things). But in general to continue in AROTC beginning of junior year (on a 4 year program) you must contract (not equal scholarship but contract, to go advance.) Unless you have prior military basic, as of 2016, all new AROTC must go to CIET either between freshman and sophomore or sophomore and junior year. Between junior and senior summer go to AROTC leadership course which is part of OML. As a junior trying to transfer to AROTC you will not have AROTC MS1, or MS2 classes completed. Perhaps AROTC gives credit for AFROTC. Sounds like you will have to ask at your school, beware not to burn bridges.
 
I heard that if you do switch between junior and senior years that you would have to contract and go to some other field training to make up for the first two years missed. Is this what you are talking about?
 
While on tours of SMCs I asked a similar question (NROTC to AROTC). I was told the short answer is yes.
You would do well to contact them to hear what the long answer would be.
 
Okay so it sounds like all you need to do is go to CIET if switching branches between sophomore and junior years.
 
tibreaker,

You missed my point. Yes, you can switch, but the Army needs to have openings for your year group.

There was a year that on this site that AFROTC cadets tried to jump over to AROTC and found out there was no room at the inn. IOWS AROTC had enough cadets for that year group.

Yes, you can do it, but you should not assume that they will take you on.
 
Pima, I was under the impression that they had to take you, but I guess that I was mistaken. Although, I don't think that they turn away people regularly. Anyways, hopefully it doesn't even come to this. I was just wondering out of curiosity. Thanks for all of the responses everybody.
 
No @tibreaker you do not need to got to CIET if you switch between sophomore and junior years. Many AFROTC cadets at DS det did not receive EA's two years ago and were able to switch over to army and got credit for their first two GMC years. They continued on as MSIII's without needing to attend anything over the summer.
 
No @tibreaker you do not need to got to CIET if you switch between sophomore and junior years. Many AFROTC cadets at DS det did not receive EA's two years ago and were able to switch over to army and got credit for their first two GMC years. They continued on as MSIII's without needing to attend anything over the summer.
Stop the bus. Yeah that's fine and all - but don't forget this was TWO years ago.

The Army, and CC for that matter, has made some vast changes between now and then. Yes, at Penn State I do know a couple people who did jump ship from AF to Army. Most of those (if not all of them) have already commissioned last year.

So yeah, that may have worked 2, 3 years ago. Doesn't mean it will hold now. We are a different Army than we were 2, 3 years ago.

I think you guys are still missing the point that Pima is trying to make. And maybe she didn't quite make it clear enough.

BLUF: No contracts = no slots = you're not commissioning in the Army. It's that simple.

Think about it. Money in the Military is divided up in Fiscal Years. That means each Branch has their own allocation. Beyond that each Branch has it's own quota, for lack of better words, in regards to how many O-1's then need to commission. From there that money is divided up into slots/contracts. So yeah, there may be plenty of contracts/scholarships/slots available during freshman and sophomore year. ... but after that, most (if not all) of that money has been allocated for the pre-existing cadets/midshipmen for commissioning. There may be some money left ... but at least in today's Military, there wont be much left, if there's any left at all.

Catch my drift?

My point? Don't be banking on another branch to save your butt. Do everything you can within your power to get that EA slot and commission in the AF.

Best of luck.
 
@tibreaker - what college are you asking about? Is it VMI or Citadel? If so, then I believe you are correct that you may switch to AROTC to complete your degree. However, I am not sure commissioning through AROTC after switching late - best to ask the cadre.
 
It's Virginia Tech EOD/SEALmom. Thompson, commissioning won't be an issue since it's an SMC right? Because you are guaranteed a commission with the army as long as you finish the AROTC program. Right??? I heard that there is some summer training the army has available if you do make the switch too late. Is this correct? Thanks everybody.
 
.... I don't know how to make myself even clearer.

You are guaranteed a commission with the Army as long as you finish the AROTC program - provided one has a contract.

You CANNOT physically jump ship without a contract for the Army. You're in AFROTC right? What do you have? a scholarship? If so, a scholarship = $$$$ + contract. At the end of the day, at bare minimum you need a contract. $$$$ is not a requirement to commission, it's just a nicety to have.

And to answer you're other question - to be quite frank, I don't know. CIET isn't really/and kind of is the same as LTC. LTC was more of something for cadets who missed the first two years of AROTC to play "catch up" to the cadets who have been there their MSL I and II years already.

CIET, from my understanding, is more of a "basic training" for lack of better words - to standardize all the cadets, so each one comes out with the same information, knowledge, and skills.

At the very end of the day - this is something you'd best talk to your cadre/Army ROO shop about. As parents and cadets/midshipmen on here, no one would really know about this unless they have a DD/DS or oneself going through this process. And even then, this process would have to be ongoing right now for the information to be current.

Don't go banking on jumping ship if the AF can't help you.
 
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