Will quitting AFJROTC affect chances for USAFA?

I’ve been in the program for three years (I’m a junior) and at first as a freshman I enjoyed it, but now I’m sick and tired of everything in JROTC. It’s getting boring and I’m lacking in my job even though I did well the past two years. I’m in staff and we almost do nothing everyday since my job to assist my boss but I end up doing almost nothing Everyday. I find this class more and more pointless everyday because staff does almost nothing. I used to like rotc but I hate it now and I think I should just leave.

I just want to know if quitting could have any impact on my chances for USAFA before I make an official decision.

I wouldn’t quit now seeing as you are a junior and have invested quite a bit of time into JROTC. To make things more interesting how about you talk with staff and try to implement more activities or start a club at school so you can share your interests.

This is just my opinion and I don’t know much about JROTC because it isn’t offered in my county. I personally wouldn’t drop it, but as a Junior I would try to change the problem.

Just make this is the theme of your essay and make sure you inform your nominating sources as you work through the appointment process.

No?

USAFA looks for leaders. People who made significant leadership impact in high school. People who saw a problem, determined a solution, rallied others to the cause, and guided that group to execute the solution. It’s essentially officership, practiced on a smaller stage.

So what better way to demonstrate to USAFA that you’re a leader worthy of offer of appointment than to fix your current problem? Because a key question you should expect in the application process — for both appointment and nomination — is, “What impact did you have in your JROTC unit?”

“Uh...nothing. I did nothing. We did nothing.” Hmmm...imagine how this would go over. Not the answer of someone who’d be an outstanding cadet and officer. If your heart and mind aren’t into fixing your JRTOC situation — for the betterment of you and your unit — what will happen when things get really difficult, frustrating or, yes, boring, at USAFA?

+1 MidCakePa
I would add the same can be said when you go ADAF. There will be frustration and boredom at times in your career.

The problem could be the delegation and leadership skills of the unit leadership? Have you gone up the chain of command asking for more responsibility? What have you done to try to address the issue? There will be many issues you will need to address with the CoC in the AF, whether they involve you career-wise or in some other capacity. Treat this as an opportunity to expand your leadership skills in these areas. Just one man's two cents.

PinkFlower123 said:

I’ve been in the program for three years (I’m a junior) and at first as a freshman I enjoyed it, but now I’m sick and tired of everything in JROTC. It’s getting boring and I’m lacking in my job even though I did well the past two years. I’m in staff and we almost do nothing everyday since my job to assist my boss but I end up doing almost nothing Everyday. I find this class more and more pointless everyday because staff does almost nothing. I used to like rotc but I hate it now and I think I should just leave.

I just want to know if quitting could have any impact on my chances for USAFA before I make an official decision.

Click to expand...

Sent you a PM ( should help you)

if you are bored with this how will it correlate with USAFS where you will have no say for an entire year?

I’m also in JROTC, though I joined sophomore year so I’ve only had three years like you. I completely understand how sometimes it can be a drag and it’s not always fun, but if you quit not only are you losing stuff to put on your resume, USAFA is gonna think you won’t be able to follow through on stuff even when it sucks. Stick with it, the opportunities it can give you look great or USAFA or any college for that matter. Cadet Leadership Courses, Flight Academy, community service, it’s a good way to show USAFA that you care about your community and that you’re a leader. Best of luck to you.

MidCakePa said:

USAFA looks for leaders. People who made significant leadership impact in high school. People who saw a problem, determined a solution, rallied others to the cause, and guided that group to execute the solution. It’s essentially officership, practiced on a smaller stage.

So what better way to demonstrate to USAFA that you’re a leader worthy of offer of appointment than to fix your current problem? Because a key question you should expect in the application process — for both appointment and nomination — is, “What impact did you have in your JROTC unit?”

“Uh...nothing. I did nothing. We did nothing.” Hmmm...imagine how this would go over. Not the answer of someone who’d be an outstanding cadet and officer. If your heart and mind aren’t into fixing your JRTOC situation — for the betterment of you and your unit — what will happen when things get really difficult, frustrating or, yes, boring, at USAFA?

Click to expand...

^^ THIS - so much THIS

My DS was bored in Sea Cadets and wanted to quit. Only three active cadets remained in the unit. Instead of quitting, he decided to do something about it. He completely, and pretty much single handedly, turned the unit around. When he left, there were 25 active cadets and the unit had received several awards. This demonstration of leadership was exactly what the academies and MOC's we're looking for. It made his interviews really easy. Good leaders know how to lead change. Do not waste this opportunity to make a difference.

PinkFlower123 said:

I’ve been in the program for three years (I’m a junior) and at first as a freshman I enjoyed it, but now I’m sick and tired of everything in JROTC. It’s getting boring and I’m lacking in my job even though I did well the past two years. I’m in staff and we almost do nothing everyday since my job to assist my boss but I end up doing almost nothing Everyday. I find this class more and more pointless everyday because staff does almost nothing. I used to like rotc but I hate it now and I think I should just leave.

I just want to know if quitting could have any impact on my chances for USAFA before I make an official decision.

Click to expand...

I'm going to speak in language I know you'll relate to.

As a SASI (which I am) my question would be something like this: "what have you done to change that which you see is a problem? How have you taken your position as a cadet leader, a member of the staff, and used it to build the corps, to reverse the apparent apathetic position of most of the corps, and to re-energize the program?"

If the answers are "I haven't done anything...I just am sick and tired of JROTC..." then as a SASI, I'd want you out of the program as fast as I could remove you from WINGS. Why? Because as a member of the staff, an acknowledged leader among both your peers and juniors, you are helping to bring things down. If your answers are more on the "I've stepped up, met with the other members of the staff, we've outlined where we think the deficiencies are, and we've come up with several plans to rebuild our corps into something that's special on campus, something that brings pride to our members, and will help us grow next year" and still it's not working...then you need to work with your SASI and ASI to determine a root cause and possible "fixes" to this.

As an ALO...these are the questions I would ask you during our evaluation interview if you had a resume that showed three years of JROTC but not your senior year.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83