Hey i was wondering if it was posible to go Blue to green. I am an AS 250 and ive decided that if I dont get an EA this year I would like to go to ARMY ROTC. What are my chances at doing this and is it possible to joiny ARMY at the end of your Soph year
AFROTC to ARMY ROTC
- Thread starter Ryan115
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kevster
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I believe so. I heard that a few kids in our det took this route when they did not get an EA. I'm pretty sure Army's version of FT is summer before senior year so you would have 1 year to get racked and stacked. I would talk to the Army det once EAs are handed out.
I'm not sure what job you would like but a word of caution. Army AD life and AF AD life are pretty different. I saw AF life from a kids perspective but I will let other people who lived it chime in here. Pima has a very good perspective of this. If she does not respond to this thread I suggest you PM her to get a better take.
Anyways keep working hard for the EA and best of luck!
I'm not sure what job you would like but a word of caution. Army AD life and AF AD life are pretty different. I saw AF life from a kids perspective but I will let other people who lived it chime in here. Pima has a very good perspective of this. If she does not respond to this thread I suggest you PM her to get a better take.
Anyways keep working hard for the EA and best of luck!
Pima
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Ryan, not getting EA is not the reason to change from blue to green. You do that because you have decided you want to spend your life wearing green after graduation.
Kevster is correct their AD lives are night and day. I mean night and day. Bullet did 2 tours with the Army as an AF officer (Jump ALO with the 82nd and PME as an O4).
Bullet use to joke the Army has meetings to discuss when they are scheduling the next meeting. That is not the AF way.
Bullet served 5 yrs AD before the 82nd tour. 1st day there he got up at 5 a.m. and kissed me goodbye as I slept, whispered I am off to PT. 3 minutes later as the door slammed I woke up and said what the heck is PT and why is he doing it so early? I was a wife that could tell you what 10 turn 6 meant or how the runway numbers are 180 degrees (09 and 27), I even understand when he would point his hand to the side and put out and know what time that meant, however in 5 yrs I never heard the words PT.
Another difference which does not matter to you know, but will later on in life is the adage, if the Army wanted you to have a family they would have issued you one. The AF is not that way at all. They know the way to keep a happy airman is to keep their family happy.
I am not even going to approach the career aspect, because I hope you already have figured out what you want to do in the military, and that both services have your career goal.
Finally, here's the question of why would you transfer just over EA? Is it over fear of AFSC? If so, wouldn't it be logical to say that you stand just as great of chance if not higher now because you are later coming into the Army system for your AFSC? At least by staying, the det CC gets to know you and 65% of your WCS for AFSC comes from the det...LOR, rack and stack, job positions, etc.
FWIW a 3.3.gpa is a good solid gpa, the 90 PFT needs to be bumped up...try to hit 95. For the AF there is no guarantee that you will be commissioned AD upon graduation, HOWEVER, it is rare not to be with a gpa that high. Usually, if they cut you loose it is because the gpa is below a 2.8.
From what I know, the AROTC does not guarantee everyone AD because there are 3 routes AD, Reservist or Guard. PM Clarkson to explain that to you. From what I do understand is basically everyone does get the route they want, BUT like the AF it is all about manning at the time of the commissioning, if they have enough in the system, than it could be like the AF where they say thanks, but no thanks.
Timing is everything in the military, what you know is important, but if your timing is off than it is off and you have no control over that.
I think you are worrying too much right now. Time to put your cranium down and work as hard as you can. The decision is out of your control, the boards will be meeting very shortly, so essentially there is nothing you can do anymore to imporve your chances for EA. However, it is how you approach the future that will improve your chances for AFSC.
Kevster is correct their AD lives are night and day. I mean night and day. Bullet did 2 tours with the Army as an AF officer (Jump ALO with the 82nd and PME as an O4).
Bullet use to joke the Army has meetings to discuss when they are scheduling the next meeting. That is not the AF way.
Bullet served 5 yrs AD before the 82nd tour. 1st day there he got up at 5 a.m. and kissed me goodbye as I slept, whispered I am off to PT. 3 minutes later as the door slammed I woke up and said what the heck is PT and why is he doing it so early? I was a wife that could tell you what 10 turn 6 meant or how the runway numbers are 180 degrees (09 and 27), I even understand when he would point his hand to the side and put out and know what time that meant, however in 5 yrs I never heard the words PT.
Another difference which does not matter to you know, but will later on in life is the adage, if the Army wanted you to have a family they would have issued you one. The AF is not that way at all. They know the way to keep a happy airman is to keep their family happy.
I am not even going to approach the career aspect, because I hope you already have figured out what you want to do in the military, and that both services have your career goal.
Finally, here's the question of why would you transfer just over EA? Is it over fear of AFSC? If so, wouldn't it be logical to say that you stand just as great of chance if not higher now because you are later coming into the Army system for your AFSC? At least by staying, the det CC gets to know you and 65% of your WCS for AFSC comes from the det...LOR, rack and stack, job positions, etc.
FWIW a 3.3.gpa is a good solid gpa, the 90 PFT needs to be bumped up...try to hit 95. For the AF there is no guarantee that you will be commissioned AD upon graduation, HOWEVER, it is rare not to be with a gpa that high. Usually, if they cut you loose it is because the gpa is below a 2.8.
From what I know, the AROTC does not guarantee everyone AD because there are 3 routes AD, Reservist or Guard. PM Clarkson to explain that to you. From what I do understand is basically everyone does get the route they want, BUT like the AF it is all about manning at the time of the commissioning, if they have enough in the system, than it could be like the AF where they say thanks, but no thanks.
Timing is everything in the military, what you know is important, but if your timing is off than it is off and you have no control over that.
I think you are worrying too much right now. Time to put your cranium down and work as hard as you can. The decision is out of your control, the boards will be meeting very shortly, so essentially there is nothing you can do anymore to imporve your chances for EA. However, it is how you approach the future that will improve your chances for AFSC.
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Have to take a few exceptions with Pima's response.
Not exactly sure what "have a meeting to decide when to schedule a meeting" is about. I find it hard to believe the AF doesn't have their share of meetings and planning sessions. I would also take exception to your characterization that the Army doesn't take care of families. In the Army we place the mission first, as any organization should do, especially one that is trying to ensure the security of the country and fighting and winning the nations ground wars. And while we are deployed, doing our jobs we have family support groups with professional facilitators, rear detachment commanders, and all the support we can to help the families cope.
There are opportunities in the Army and AF to live the hard life (such as serving with the 82nd as an ALO). There are also opportunities in both branches to live the soft life, like being a ROO at an ROTC detachment, or running a Corp of Engineers office in upstate New York.
Keep in mind that typically an Army unit deploys and fights for 12-15 months at a time. Air Force units rotate every 4 months (although I've heard that some people are catching on to this imbalance). If you want to hear a story about the comparison, as a deployed ready reservist trying to get communications infrastructure improved at Bagram in Afghanistan, at one time we were supported by an AF Cable unit. They showed up on a 4 month deployment. Took them one month to figure out where they were and get all their equipement in country. We got two good months of work out of them, then it was time for them to pack up and go home.
Deep breath...
Anyways, it would be no problem at all to switch over to the branch that is not shrinking...Too easy. If you were a sophomore I would send you to the 4 week LTC camp this summer, and you would return next fall with the option of contracting and starting on the path to becoming an Army Officer. Obviously our offer and options are a little different than Air Force. If you were attending school at Clarkson I would have you over to my office on Monday to explain all the options.
Good luck with whatever you decide, hope you get that EA.
Not exactly sure what "have a meeting to decide when to schedule a meeting" is about. I find it hard to believe the AF doesn't have their share of meetings and planning sessions. I would also take exception to your characterization that the Army doesn't take care of families. In the Army we place the mission first, as any organization should do, especially one that is trying to ensure the security of the country and fighting and winning the nations ground wars. And while we are deployed, doing our jobs we have family support groups with professional facilitators, rear detachment commanders, and all the support we can to help the families cope.
There are opportunities in the Army and AF to live the hard life (such as serving with the 82nd as an ALO). There are also opportunities in both branches to live the soft life, like being a ROO at an ROTC detachment, or running a Corp of Engineers office in upstate New York.
Keep in mind that typically an Army unit deploys and fights for 12-15 months at a time. Air Force units rotate every 4 months (although I've heard that some people are catching on to this imbalance). If you want to hear a story about the comparison, as a deployed ready reservist trying to get communications infrastructure improved at Bagram in Afghanistan, at one time we were supported by an AF Cable unit. They showed up on a 4 month deployment. Took them one month to figure out where they were and get all their equipement in country. We got two good months of work out of them, then it was time for them to pack up and go home.
Deep breath...
Anyways, it would be no problem at all to switch over to the branch that is not shrinking...Too easy. If you were a sophomore I would send you to the 4 week LTC camp this summer, and you would return next fall with the option of contracting and starting on the path to becoming an Army Officer. Obviously our offer and options are a little different than Air Force. If you were attending school at Clarkson I would have you over to my office on Monday to explain all the options.
Good luck with whatever you decide, hope you get that EA.
Pima
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Clarkson is correct about it depends on the job. When I said the meetings to schedule meetings that doesn't really exist in the Operational world, OSS, Maintenande, Flying etc. I can't say if it happens for A & F or PA.
The family issue, I still standby. For example, child 1 was born and they came to me asking if we would have family help after his birth, If we didn't because DS was only 10 days old, they would pull Bullet from the TDY...AF.
Child 3, (2 under 4, and I was not allowed to be out of 20 miles from the hospital, since Child 2 was born in 47 minutes) Bullet was sent to jump into the woods on my due date for a 10 day TDY. He asked what if my wife goes into labor? Oh well, you are still going! DS was born the day after he returned. That was the 82nd.
When he was at Leavenworth, we both got teased constantly about being the Prima Donna service.
The rotations vary for the AF because they have Expeditionary Wings. For the 4th FW, the typical rotation would be 2 4 months tours within @ 18 months. Go Jan - May 2010, than go July 2011 - Nov 2011. A lot has to do with SOFA, on how long aircraft can stay in the country, thus, they rotate them in and out.
Now let me say this about the Army, I loved every second of Bullet's 2 assignments, and as a wife, I would say that they are much closer knit than the AF. Probably because of deployments. I loved Fayetteville, NC 5000 times more than Goldsboro NC.
The military life is what you make of it. The thing is to always make it fun, no matter what the job or where the assignment is. It is an adventure, if you relish that thought, no matter what branch you commit to, you will have the time of your life with no regrets.
OBTW, Clarkson, I meant no offense to the Army, I respect and admire them a lot. Trust me, I believe that their dedication is out the door amazing...honestly, even as an AF family, after living 4 yrs with the Army at 2 different bases, the AF is the Prima Donna's of the big 3.
The family issue, I still standby. For example, child 1 was born and they came to me asking if we would have family help after his birth, If we didn't because DS was only 10 days old, they would pull Bullet from the TDY...AF.
Child 3, (2 under 4, and I was not allowed to be out of 20 miles from the hospital, since Child 2 was born in 47 minutes) Bullet was sent to jump into the woods on my due date for a 10 day TDY. He asked what if my wife goes into labor? Oh well, you are still going! DS was born the day after he returned. That was the 82nd.
When he was at Leavenworth, we both got teased constantly about being the Prima Donna service.
The rotations vary for the AF because they have Expeditionary Wings. For the 4th FW, the typical rotation would be 2 4 months tours within @ 18 months. Go Jan - May 2010, than go July 2011 - Nov 2011. A lot has to do with SOFA, on how long aircraft can stay in the country, thus, they rotate them in and out.
Now let me say this about the Army, I loved every second of Bullet's 2 assignments, and as a wife, I would say that they are much closer knit than the AF. Probably because of deployments. I loved Fayetteville, NC 5000 times more than Goldsboro NC.
The military life is what you make of it. The thing is to always make it fun, no matter what the job or where the assignment is. It is an adventure, if you relish that thought, no matter what branch you commit to, you will have the time of your life with no regrets.
OBTW, Clarkson, I meant no offense to the Army, I respect and admire them a lot. Trust me, I believe that their dedication is out the door amazing...honestly, even as an AF family, after living 4 yrs with the Army at 2 different bases, the AF is the Prima Donna's of the big 3.
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