Asking advice about which AFROTC Detachment

[Skimama]

Hi there, my DS is coming close to the deadline to accept a college and is still struggling between 2. He's been to both schools (one more than once) and met with AFROTC detachments. I believe one is a smaller unit than the other. Are there any resources to review to help him decide?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Capt MJ]

For which school does he feel the best fit? If he’s in a college environment that he likes and thrives in, he should do well at the ROTC detachment, regardless of size.

One of the first military skills essential to a junior officer is understanding he will probably never have 100% of the information he would like to make the perfect decision. Many times he will have only 60%, or less, and he’ll have to go with gut and the best case he can make with what he has, and just get on with it. Delaying a decision is also making a decision.

Which school has majors areas that appeal? Class sizes that seem right? Which school has the culture that appeals? Which school and unit did he have his best conversations with? Which school will he most regret not going to down the road?

He knows the answer. It’s hard to let the other one go and close a door in one of his first major adult decisions.

Another military rule of thumb is roughly 30% of a unit’s staff changes every year. That means the culture and focus within a unit can change too.

He is fortunate to have two solid choices. Time to identify the top two or three factors that matter the most to him, determine which school and unit have the best match, make the decision, and get unstuck.

 

[Skimama]

For which school does he feel the best fit? If he’s in a college environment that he likes and thrives in, he should do well at the ROTC detachment, regardless of size.

One of the first military skills essential to a junior officer is understanding he will probably never have 100% of the information he would like to make the perfect decision. Many times he will have only 60%, or less, and he’ll have to go with gut and the best case he can make with what he has, and just get on with it. Delaying a decision is also making a decision.

Which school has majors areas that appeal? Class sizes that seem right? Which school has the culture that appeals? Which school and unit did he have his best conversations with? Which school will he most regret not going to down the road?

He knows the answer. It’s hard to let the other one go and close a door in one of his first major adult decisions.

Another military rule of thumb is roughly 30% of a unit’s staff changes every year. That means the culture and focus within a unit can change too.

He is fortunate to have two solid choices. Time to identify the top two or three factors that matter the most to him, determine which school and unit have the best match, make the decision, and get unstuck.

Thank you! He's fortunate enough to have the Type 7 scholarship. He likes the culture of one school (which is ranked a little higher and the setting is what he wanted, but the engineering school is off campus). The meeting with the cadre leader was casual and DS is looking for a bit of more disciplined. The other school is much larger, but everything is on campus - good meeting with the cadre. His major in AFJROTC thinks school A is better for him, and he trusts him implicitly, but school B checks the boxes of housing and on campus program. AAHHHH - poor kid (poor kid nothing - he has a great opportunity).

 

[Capt MJ]

Time to say “love you, son, we trust you to make a good decision!”

When we have USNA sponsor mids at our house agonizing over something, I remind them how they couldn’t wait to grow up, drive, be independent, leave home, and decisions like this are part of the deal.

Two nice paths. He will feel so much better after he commits.

 

[Skimama]

Time to say “love you, son, we trust you to make a good decision!”

When we have USNA sponsor mids at our house agonizing over something, I remind them how they couldn’t wait to grow up, drive, be independent, leave home, and decisions like this are part of the deal.

Two nice paths. He will feel so much better after he commits.

I believe you are correct. Thank you! Time to close the laptop and walk away (I'm sure there's a load of laundry to do on my day off and a high school graduation party to plan).