Plan B....backup or active

USAF303

5-Year Member
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Jan 18, 2018
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Just thought I'd start a thread for some insight to what others have as a backup to USAFA ..

Class of 2023 Hopefuls:
What do u have as a Plan B. C, or D?

For Class 2022 and previous years:
What plan B is active and that you highly recommend?

Ill go first:

DS 1st choice thats been his focus for last 5 years is USAFA. As plan B he also applied USNA, and recently accepted to ERAU.
 
DD: USAFA/USMA plan 1a, 1b
U of Michigan AROTC/NROTC 2a, 2b
 
Grandson's first choice was USNA with USAFA, Hillsdale College and BYU as backups. He received appointments to both USNA and USAFA. Following a couple of visits to USAFA, it morphed into his first choice and he is now part of the 2022 class.
 
DS first choice is USNA and USAFA. Plan B is USCGA. Plan C is Va Tech, TAMU, or Norwich on ROTC (has AFROTC still waiting on NROTC)
 
DS first choice at the beginning was USMA/USNA/USAFA
Now is USNA/Princeton with NROTC/ USMA/USAFA
Received early action nonbinding acceptance to Princeton (has 4-year AROTC National Scholarship and 4 year NROTC with ISR both to Princeton)
Received appointment to USNA on December 26
He is debating between USNA and Princeton with NROTC
So Plan B which used to be Princeton could eventually become Plan A
 
Last edited:
Just thought I'd start a thread for some insight to what others have as a backup to USAFA ..

Class of 2023 Hopefuls:
What do u have as a Plan B. C, or D?

For Class 2022 and previous years:
What plan B is active and that you highly recommend?

Ill go first:

DS 1st choice thats been his focus for last 5 years is USAFA. As plan B he also applied USNA, and recently accepted to ERAU.
Plan B: Reapply next year
Plan C: Enroll in ROTC at ERAU
Plan D: Apply for OTS

I am an enlisted Airman and taking the enlisted route at a young age and then applying for USAFA is a great option that people tend to overlook.
 
DS plan A, USAFA/USNA/USMA. plan B USCGA, plan C University of Alabama and reapply
 
DS plans were:
Plan A-USAFA,
Plan B-ERAU/AFROTC,
Plan C- Florida Tech/AFROTC
Appointed to Prep
 
Just thought I'd start a thread for some insight to what others have as a backup to USAFA ..

Class of 2023 Hopefuls:
What do u have as a Plan B. C, or D?

For Class 2022 and previous years:
What plan B is active and that you highly recommend?

Ill go first:

DS 1st choice thats been his focus for last 5 years is USAFA. As plan B he also applied USNA, and recently accepted to ERAU.
I would say ERAU is a great choice!!! My DS was accepted and it is a beautiful campus. Have you been ? We were set on going there until we got news of going to prep the same week we were visiting.
 
I am an enlisted Airman and taking the enlisted route at a young age and then applying for USAFA is a great option that people tend to overlook.

Funny you posted this because I starting wondering about this option just a few days ago. DS is pretty confident AF is the route he wants to go so I've thought about having him talk to a recruiter about enlisting with the goal of reapplying next year instead of heading off to college on an ROTC scholarship, just to explore the idea. Would LOVE to hear more of the pros and cons on this.
 
Funny you posted this because I starting wondering about this option just a few days ago. DS is pretty confident AF is the route he wants to go so I've thought about having him talk to a recruiter about enlisting with the goal of reapplying next year instead of heading off to college on an ROTC scholarship, just to explore the idea. Would LOVE to hear more of the pros and cons on this.

There are many, many threads in all forums here about this path. It is a narrow path filled with possible detours and no guarantees. It certainly can be done, as room is made each year for prior enlisted.
 
I am an enlisted Airman and taking the enlisted route at a young age and then applying for USAFA is a great option that people tend to overlook.

Funny you posted this because I starting wondering about this option just a few days ago. DS is pretty confident AF is the route he wants to go so I've thought about having him talk to a recruiter about enlisting with the goal of reapplying next year instead of heading off to college on an ROTC scholarship, just to explore the idea. Would LOVE to hear more of the pros and cons on this.
As long you enter the Air Force between 17-19 years old you should definitely have plenty of time to apply. I would recommend a AFSC with a Tech School that's not more than 6 months so you can get your duty station quick and start the application process. The application process is a lot more easier and some say its actually drastically a lot less competitive because you only compete with other Enlisted Airmen applying. The amount of leadership opportunities that are offered in the Air Force is wide and will make your application strong. Not to mention that you gain a lot of maturity and skills while enlisted. USAFA loves prior enlisted Airmen. I have never heard of an airman's chain of command not supporting a goal to commission as long as if they don't get into serious trouble. Although there is no guarantee that you'll get accepted, at least you have the knowledge and skills you learned being in the Air Force and you can commission other ways. Honestly, as long as if you don't procrastinate and get your main job done, I don't see why you can't apply.
 
Just thought I'd start a thread for some insight to what others have as a backup to USAFA ..

Class of 2023 Hopefuls:
What do u have as a Plan B. C, or D?

For Class 2022 and previous years:
What plan B is active and that you highly recommend?

Ill go first:

DS 1st choice thats been his focus for last 5 years is USAFA. As plan B he also applied USNA, and recently accepted to ERAU.
I would say ERAU is a great choice!!! My DS was accepted and it is a beautiful campus. Have you been ? We were set on going there until we got news of going to prep the same week we were visiting.
It's fun to learn others share the same backup plans! My DH and DS did infact vist ERAU Daytona campus but I was unable to make the trip. He would much rather be in the Rockies than the beach!lol. It's a nice campus and smaller than traditional civilian colleges, so I've been told, More his style, coming from a small independent high school. He has applied to other schools but not interested.
 
Plan A 1.USAFA 2.USNA
Plan B - Texas A&M Corps of Cadets with AFROTC or Rice University with or without (not sure) NROTC

He is auto accepted into TAMU, but not into the engineering department and he has not heard on that yet. Also applied to Rice but has not been accepted yet. He is not concerned about either because their websites indicate it should still be a bit before he hears. The engineering program at TAMU is highly competitive as is admission to Rice. He is still finishing up all the steps for the ROTC applications. This whole process is very tedious. Feel like its every few days we are discussing something he needs to do and a deadline that is approaching.

We are kicking around talking to a recruiter about enlisting in the Air Force with the plan to reapply next year. This idea is still in its infancy in our home. Might be something discussed more in earnest as we know for sure the results of all the the various paths above.

HOWEVER, he got a call this very afternoon informing him he is receiving a nomination to the USAFA from the US Rep so we feel a little better about plan A as of today. Obviously it is far from guaranteed as we now know he is also going to need a medical waiver, but no nom and also not medically cleared was starting to look hopeless for plan A.
 
Plan A 1.USAFA 2.USNA
Plan B - Texas A&M Corps of Cadets with AFROTC or Rice University with or without (not sure) NROTC

He is auto accepted into TAMU, but not into the engineering department and he has not heard on that yet. Also applied to Rice but has not been accepted yet. He is not concerned about either because their websites indicate it should still be a bit before he hears. The engineering program at TAMU is highly competitive as is admission to Rice. He is still finishing up all the steps for the ROTC applications. This whole process is very tedious. Feel like its every few days we are discussing something he needs to do and a deadline that is approaching.

We are kicking around talking to a recruiter about enlisting in the Air Force with the plan to reapply next year. This idea is still in its infancy in our home. Might be something discussed more in earnest as we know for sure the results of all the the various paths above.

HOWEVER, he got a call this very afternoon informing him he is receiving a nomination to the USAFA from the US Rep so we feel a little better about plan A as of today. Obviously it is far from guaranteed as we now know he is also going to need a medical waiver, but no nom and also not medically cleared was starting to look hopeless for plan A.

My DS’s suite mate at A&M Galveston is engineering contracted NROTC.... He is assured CS after 1 year at Galveston. So do not rule out A&M if have to back door into College Station.
 
My kid: #1 USAFA (or Prep or USNA)
Plan B The Citadel (we put a deposit down)
Plan C Texas A & M

He was offered USAFA Prep and accepted. The Citadel gave us our deposit back
 
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