AFROTC Disenrollment

F

fly

5-Year Member
Joined
May 9, 2014
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2
Hello everyone,

I was hoping I could get some solid advice on my predicament I am currently facing in regards to my AFROTC status.

I joined my Detachment in the beginning of my sophomore year of college as an AS250 (dual enrolled in AS100 and AS200 coursework). I have really enjoyed the program through my two semesters and learning leadership skills. I did not receive an EA for field training this year. I really want to continue another year and try for an EA again next year as an AS500 cadet.

I made an appointment to call our Det Commander. Our OFC Captain emailed me a couple hours before, telling me I should call him instead, since the commander had an emergency situation to deal with.

I learned that I missed achieving a C grade in my AS102 class, so I would not be allowed to continue as a cadet at the Detachment, and thus, my commander is not able to submit a request for me to continue as an AS500 cadet up his chain of command. That was the only reason I have been disenrolled from the program. I had difficulty with receiving the assignments, because they were not emailed to me as they were for all the AS100 cadets.

My dream is to become an Officer in the world's greatest Air Force - I can't stop chasing it, no matter what. The Captain mentioned that I could join the Army ROTC Battalion at my school, and request to transfer branches after a few years of service. My Commander also mentioned that enlisting first, then ROTC/OCS are an option. Even though these are all solid options, and I'm sure I'd enjoy any of them, staying at my Detachment, coming through to get that EA, and commissioning with my classmates would be my first choice.

Now, my questions for the community:
1. Do you believe is it at all possible to stay at my Detachment? My case against my poor grade would be the nonexistent information provided to me about assignments that were upcoming.
2. If this is not an option, what is the alternative course that you would recommend to become an Air Force Officer?

Finances are also a factor here. My school has a tuition waiver to cadets in good academic/ROTC standing at the Detachment and the Battalion. I live with my parents, so this has helped me reduce the costs of my education immensely.

Thank you very much for your help in advance. I look forward to reading your responses.
 
If I read your post correctly your Det COC has made the decision they would not support you for 500. If that is the case than you will be disenrolled. It is basically that simple.
 
Don't consider joining the US Army if you really want to be an AF officer.

Though the Army ROTC commissions more folks (as it is the primary pipeline for reserve component commissions), don't think the ROTC program or service as a soldier will be any easier. It's been my experience that duty as a soldier, even as an Army reservist / Guardsman, is FAR more demanding than your friends in blue ever experience. Let me recommend you pursue AF OCS or check out the Air Ntnl Guard. The Army only needs people that want to be soldiers.
 
If tracking down your assignments was too difficult, I think you may not be cut out for ROTC or the military.
 
It sounds like your Det. has already made the decision and returning as an AS500 is not an option.

Even if you wanted to try and switch to AROTC you would still need to be accepted, having missed the min. grade for your AS102 class would not help you in the application process.

From what I read you are now completing your sophomore year which would mean you would have to start AROTC as a contracted MS3 which will carry an obligation to the Army. Getting that slot this late in the game would be tough. I tend to agree with the other posters, if you really want only the AF then don't switch to the Army, you will not be happy.

The only option you really have is to complete college and apply for OTS, getting accepted will depend a lot on your college transcript and your major, both will ned to be stellar.
 
AS class failures are non-negotiable when it comes to re-enrollment. Your case of "non-existent information being provided" would be met with the question of why didn't you take the initiative to reach out to your professor or peers to get on the same page. This issue comes up every year at our detachment and students typically just meet with the instructor after a class to get on the email list or have one of their buddies email them the assignment whenever it comes in.

Also, I'm sure every professor is allowed to deviate from the syllabus somewhat but I'm pretty sure AS102 is pretty similar for each detachment year to year. With that being said its one of those classes where getting an A is pretty easy if you cram the night before. So flunking AS 102 will raise some eyebrows amongst your cadre. I'm not saying this to be a tool, for all I know you could be taking 18 EE credits along with a full time job and AS 102 just isn't at the top of your priority list (understandably so in that scenario). However, your cadre see that you peers had no issue with the class and probably are not going to cut you slack. Only way I could see getting back in is by potentially claiming some type of "hardship waiver" if things were tough with your personal life. But even then they will ask why you didn't bring these concerns up to them.

In regards to the best options you are down to enlisting to OCS, OCS, or the Academy. If I was you I would try the OCS options. Maybe work your butt off and rock your classes till you graduate and submit a top notch application to OCS. Or enlist, work your butt off in addition to classes and try that route. In the end, put this behind you and learn from it. Apply it to your next path whatever it may be and go at it with renewed vigor.
 
Going to OTS right after graduation may not be the best in the current environment. Boards are in rough shape, and even then they would still see your AS102 class and I believe they will look at your ROTC record too, but I'm not too sure.
 
There are many worse places to be than the USAF enlisted force. I spent four years there and recommend it highly. A strong service record could make up for AFROTC shortcomings.
 
The problem with the idea of going OCS directly out of college is he would be applying next summer and as stated his current transcript would show it, which opens up the question of why he left ROTC. They too would know that the C was the disenrollment issue, plus as kevster hard stated it does not bode well for them regarding the reason for receiving a C. It would/could have been different if it was an A and they had a 3.0 cgpa tech/non-rated major. SFT selection rate for non-rated was not great.

Secondly, in this current environment OCS boards are being cancelled. The summer board has been cancelled and they have stated for FY15 there are no boards yet on the schedule, IOWS there may or may not be a board in January. If there is a Jan board the size of the pool will be much larger than the typical size, yet the amount appointed could be the same size as before, hence a lower chance of being picked up.

Personally that would not shock me, because let's face it AF by having such a small SFT class size and cancelling OCS is saying we are meeting our numbers for O1s coming on line in 15 and 16.
 
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Getting a good grade in the AS 102 class is pretty easy. At my Det there is no book, and you can literally get most of the answers on test by using common sense. Your Det may have been different, but if you knew you were missing assignments you should have asked for help. The bad thing is, you need a C to pass the class, and you're saying you got less than a C. No ones going to look pass that, and even if you were to go to a different Det, your current Commander would need to recommend you for a transfer. It's tough out there right now. Ask you current commander if you can try again, and repeat the year.


But in reality, you didn't get an EA this year, and you failed a required AF course. It's not looking too good. Perhaps the enlisted route is the way to go. Serve for a few years then come back to college and try again!
 
+1 Wannabe

The harsh reality is come next year the CoC is going to rank you at the bottom of the barrel for next year EA maybe mid-pack if you really shine, but thereehas never been a 100% selection rate, and nobody here knows what your academic cgpa is, nor your AFOQT or even your PFT. Are you carrying a 3.8 tech major with a 90 AFOQT, 98 PFT? Or are you a 3.3 non-tech/non-rated, 74 AFOQTand 93 PFT?

One has at least a slim chance if they shine, the other has close to nil.

As harsh at it seems, the best advice anyone can give you is to be brutally honest. The enlisted route is probably the best option. I would check into ANG and see if you can enlist while you finish your degree. From there try to become an officer in the Guard. Believe it or not there are full timers in the Guard. IF you want to go rated you can apply for rated boards that way too.

My other suggestion is to think about becoming a civilian with the DoD. Look at websites like www.usajobs.gov. You can serve your country from a leadership position that way too. I have said this many times. My cousin was DQd medically when he was in AROTC, but he wanted somehow to be in the Army. He works for the Army now as a GS. He PCS's just like military members, but in a better way...he can't be forced to PCS, he applies for a tour.

Our DD is an AF brat, she never wanted/s to be in the military, however she wants to give back to the country. She has parlaying her collegiate opportunities into better and better rewards. Friday she will graduate with an undergrad in English. June she will be one of 6 that VT is paying a full ride, plus books, and $1500 bucks a month to get her Masters in Education. She is already parlaying that into becoming a DoD teacher, hopefully overseas. She has made contacts and started that networking route, just like my cousin did before he graduated.

Just saying there are more options than just the straight route.
 
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Thanks for your great responses.

Here is a bit more information on myself as a person:

Computer Science Major (emphasis Enterprise Software)
3.6 GPA
82 PFA score
AFOQT:
Pilot Navigator Acad Aptitude Verbal Quantitative
78 54 94 95 84

The career field I would like to enter would be Cyberspace Operations.
I know that my PFA score is well below competitive, and that is my biggest goal for this summer to work on improving. I regressed this semester due to some personal issues - last semester I was at almost 89.

Since I just finished my sophomore year, I thought a good course of action might be joining the ANG or AF Reserve, as some of you suggested. After I finish college, I could work on a graduate degree and try for OCS when my chain of command approves, or whenever the proper time is. I will have to speak to a recruiter about these options. As well as considering if being in the Army is even an option for me. I would be proud to serve there as well, but I'm sure it is different from the environment of an Air Force Officer.

I do understand that failing AS 102 class was a serious misstep, and was my responsibility. If I look at my situation in a positive light, I am currently learning a valuable lesson about keeping track of all my responsibilities across my life. I hope it is still possible to become a Cyberspace Officer. If not, I would be proud to serve as an enlisted Airman and continue to improve my "life skills".
 
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