AF ROTC and Major Selection

NavyUMO

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
242
I know there have been a few strings I have seen in the past but wanted to refresh a question with the group. My DS is applying for AF and NROTC and would likely like to major in BioMedical Engineering. This is listed as a Tier 2 for Navy and not even on the list of Majors for AF. He isn't completely adverse to some of the more foundational engineering majors (Environmental, Architectural, Mechanical) that are listed but they aren't his first choice, What is his best way to list his preferences?. I know you don't want to list a major that is "on the list" just for the sake of the scholarship but just wondering how best to work this. Should he list General Studies for Air Force if Biomedical isn't on their list.?
 
Not all majors exactly match what's on the list. Additionally, majors vary by school so that what's considered a technical major at one school is considered non-technical at another. I would call the unit at one school he's interested in to get their input on how to list it. Further, i recommend that regardless of how it gets listed. If thats what he wants to pursue he should do so. He'll thrive majoring in something that interests him. Just one man's 2 cents.
 
For AFROTC, probably best to say "Mechanical Engineering" as his preference.

He might be able to add Biomedical as a minor once he gets through the lower-level course sequence at college -- alternatively, he could simply take the additional chem/biochem courses required for the Biomedical Engg. major while he gets his Mech. Engg. degree. To do that and still graduate on time, however, he'd likely need to place out of a couple of introductory courses, either through test results or AP classes or both.
 
USAF has no biomedical engineering positions. The closest would be the enlisted position of Bioenvironmental Engineer, with no officer equivalent.

There may be some limited opportunity in the 62E, 61A, or 61C AFSC's.

FYSA, most mechanical engineers will wind up 32E or 62E if non-rated.
 
If it's not one of these (https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/desired-majors/), then it is considered non-technical, for Air Force ROTC purposes. Yes, it is annoying, but those are the current stated needs of the AF.

For AFROTC, probably best to say "Mechanical Engineering" as his preference.
I would be cautious in doing this. It's long held that you should not do any major you don't really want to do- in other words, don't choose a technical major just for the scholarship money.

Just my two cents.
 
...don't choose a technical major just for the scholarship money.
Well said.

HSSP is also just one of many ways to pay for college while pursuing a USAF commission. There are plenty other ways to achieve both that are (a) easier, (b) faster, or (c) more permissive.
 
I know the title in your thread addressed AFROTC, but you also mention this is tier 2 for NROTC, so I assume he is applying for both scholarships. For NROTC 85% of scholarships go to tier 1 and tier 2 majors. From what I have read, it does not appear their is any preference given to tier 1 over tier 2, so listing Biomedical Engineering should be just as competitive as say Mechanical Engineering.
 
So our youngest son is looking into AF and Army ROTC. His brother (active Army) and uncle (Lt.Col AF) says go AF all the way... Our youngest starts college this Fall, wants to pursue Kinesiology as a major and become a strength and conditioning coach (requires Doc degree). This obviously doesn't fall within the "preferred" majors of the AF. Could he still go after one of the "non-preferred" scholarships and stand a good chance with solid grades? Army has much more relaxed requirements so that may be his "fall back" if AF doesn't recognize the major he wants.
 
This obviously doesn't fall within the "preferred" majors of the AF. Could he still go after one of the "non-preferred" scholarships and stand a good chance with solid grades?

Of course. As long as he has leadership experience, a good PT score, and does well in the interview, he should have a shot at a non-tech scholarship.
 
I guess I also have a more basic question... How does he list a major like Biomedical on the Air Force application? It only allow you to pick from the engineering majors, Foreign language majors or general studies. Just not sure how to even list it.
 
So our youngest son is looking into AF and Army ROTC. His brother (active Army) and uncle (Lt.Col AF) says go AF all the way... Our youngest starts college this Fall, wants to pursue Kinesiology as a major and become a strength and conditioning coach (requires Doc degree). This obviously doesn't fall within the "preferred" majors of the AF. Could he still go after one of the "non-preferred" scholarships and stand a good chance with solid grades? Army has much more relaxed requirements so that may be his "fall back" if AF doesn't recognize the major he wants.
He needs to be aware that the purpose of ROTC programs is to train and commission junior officers, to get them commissioned and serving in their fields. Almost without exception, this means earning a bachelor's degree, commissioning and going to their first assignment. There are some opportunities to stay in school to earn advanced degrees, but they are very rare and would have to benefit the service he is commissioning into. There have been some good past threads about options for going into medical fields in the various branches. Perhaps you can find them using the search function.
 
So our youngest son is looking into AF and Army ROTC. His brother (active Army) and uncle (Lt.Col AF) says go AF all the way... Our youngest starts college this Fall, wants to pursue Kinesiology as a major and become a strength and conditioning coach (requires Doc degree). This obviously doesn't fall within the "preferred" majors of the AF. Could he still go after one of the "non-preferred" scholarships and stand a good chance with solid grades? Army has much more relaxed requirements so that may be his "fall back" if AF doesn't recognize the major he wants.
Your son may want to research roles in the USAF officer healthcare provider community, which do not generally come out of the AFROTC path, but are directly commissioned once they have the appropriate degree.

The service academies and college ROTC programs are focused on producing warfare types, not healthcare providers. The services get those professionals through direct commissioning programs.

A few interesting links below:



The HPSP scholarship is available for AF, Army, Navy, for very specific fields.

Of course, he could do AFROTC, serve in an unrelated career specialty, then do an additional 36 months after his ADSO is complete, then use his Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits to obtain a post-grad degree in the field he desires. That is a l-o-o-o-o-ng road.

There may be a path to competitively apply for a lateral transfer to a healthcare community via post-grad schooling, once commissioned and at a certain juncture as a junior officer, but if it is anything like the Navy path, it is very narrow, and as always, will depend on the needs of the service. I will let our AF experts speak to that.

Time for your son to continue digging into the primary sources and see what’s feasible and what he really wants to do.
 
It only allow you to pick from the engineering majors, Foreign language majors or general studies. Just not sure how to even list it.

You would input that major as "general studies," since it is considered not technically unfortunately.
 
Back
Top