AFROTC commitment

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Jul 1, 2016
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I'm a rising senior in high school and I am currently in the process of going through the AFROTC application. I know that on almost every school website it will tell you after graduation you do 4 years of AD and 4 years of reserve. But I've been reading through a couple of threads about the reserve option rather than active duty. There were a number of controversies within a few threads as to what active duty after AFROTC meant and reserves. I noticed one person said that the 4 years AD meant going to that one weekend a month and 2 weeks of training and the last 4 years were inactive ready reserves. So i was just wondering, is this correct and if it is, would I be allowed to pursue a regular job right after graduation?
 
You will go ADAF, that will be your job for 4 yrs. There is no weekend warrior option. That option is for Army ROTC grads only, the Navy will also send you AD. Just like the Army, the AF has the reserves, and I think that is where you are getting confused. You will have a Reserve commissioning, but that does not mean what you think. It is a terminology used for the type of commissioning. For lack of better terms if you are commissioned via USAFA you have what is called a full commissioning. If a reduction in forces (RIF) occurs than by law USAFA grads are safe, whereas, ROTC grads are eligible to be cut first since they are a Reserve commissioning. It does not mean you can apply to a Guard unit as a reservist.

Caveat: The only time that has been an option is when the AF had too many Lts. commissioning for that year group, but that is rare so I would not count on it.

You may also be confusing the regular job right after graduation because it is not uncommon to have to wait 3-9 months before reporting to your 1st assignment. Your 4 yr. clock does not start at commissioning/graduation. It starts when you report to your 1st assignment. IOWS, you commission May 12, 2021, report October 15, 2021. You are eligible to leave in Oct. 2025
 
You will go ADAF, that will be your job for 4 yrs. There is no weekend warrior option. That option is for Army ROTC grads only, the Navy will also send you AD. Just like the Army, the AF has the reserves, and I think that is where you are getting confused. You will have a Reserve commissioning, but that does not mean what you think. It is a terminology used for the type of commissioning. For lack of better terms if you are commissioned via USAFA you have what is called a full commissioning. If a reduction in forces (RIF) occurs than by law USAFA grads are safe, whereas, ROTC grads are eligible to be cut first since they are a Reserve commissioning. It does not mean you can apply to a Guard unit as a reservist.

Caveat: The only time that has been an option is when the AF had too many Lts. commissioning for that year group, but that is rare so I would not count on it.

You may also be confusing the regular job right after graduation because it is not uncommon to have to wait 3-9 months before reporting to your 1st assignment. Your 4 yr. clock does not start at commissioning/graduation. It starts when you report to your 1st assignment. IOWS, you commission May 12, 2021, report October 15, 2021. You are eligible to leave in Oct. 2025
Actually the offer to go guard is pretty much always open but it varies on how publicly they promote it and how easy it is to get. It's a lot of work either way as you need to find a squadron that'll accept you and both cadre and HQ needs to OK it.
 
I am not disagreeing with you Sled, but as you have stated this is where both sides must agree to allow this to occur, and realistically this is not common or an easy feat. It is rare that a cadet can manage to walk out after 4 yrs in AFROTC and join the Guard.
~ JMPO I see that like going to WP and after 4 yrs there ask to x-commission to USAF or USN. There are a couple, but I would not bet on it ever, even on a good day.

Simply put, if that is your goal to find a job and be a weekend warrior after being an AFROTC scholarship recipient, you have a lot of what ifs, buts, and maybes you have to clear to get that option.
~ AF considers certain career fields critical manning, and they can change annually. As a senior in HS right now that major or career field may not be deemed critical, but 3 years from now they can turn and say...your major is critical manning and will not release you. It changes that fast.

If the OP was my child I would say...expect to serve ADAF for 4+ years.
 
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