Enrolling In Air Force ROTC (Master's Student)

[minuteman89]

Greetings,

I will be attending a university in New York City for a master's degree in computer science. My undergraduate degree was nothing spectacluaor in computer information systems ~ 2.93 gpa. I have about 3 years of work experience with a large financial institution with a technology role. Is it at all possible to enroll in Air Force ROTC, while doing master's? My school does offer AFROTC with Manhatten College - but I just wanted to know if anybody knew if one is allowed to enroll while pursuing a master's degree.

 

[Pima]

I doubt that it is possible to commission this route because of certain steps that needs to be completed. For example, you must go to Summer Field Training (SFT) before becoming a POC, you must be a POC for at least 3 semesters. Thus, from a timing situation you would need to be in AFROTC for a total of at least 2 1/2 years.

A friend of our DS did AFROTC while getting their Master's, but he started it as a Jr. He went to SFT his rising SR yr.. Than by the time he graduated with his grad degree he had completed the 2 years as being a POC.

I would go and talk to the det. because they will know for sure.

I would also say to you in case you have not read or heard, AF is cutting personnel, especially non-rated(non-flying) positions. Cadets that are commissioning this yr. have been informed that if not enough walk away, they will be sent to an involuntary separation board and some will be given walking papers come Feb. There is talk that this may occur for the graduating class of 15 too.

IOW, the AF currently has to drop their personnel numbers in both the AD world and the pipeline (ROTC) to meet their manning goal for the next few yrs.

 

[minuteman89]

Thank you for the info. I might try Army then. I do have more than 2 years to graduate, as I need to take a few pre-req classes. It may be possifle for AFROTC, but it seems almost impossible to get a good spot. I have a pretty good job, so might not even do military. I am still interested though. I will contact the cadre and get back to you all. Thanks!

 

[Pima]

FYI,

I maybe wrong, but I am pretty sure that the Army too will be reducing their manpower numbers.

Although the average person believes that sequestration only was for last yr. The fact is it will be in place for 9 more yrs. Each budget will be reduced by 10%. IMPO, it is not going to get any better or easier to earn a commission in the military.

Look at what they are doing currently.
~ Reduction in Forces for AD. (RIF boards) Basically in corporate terms....lay offs
~ Selective Early Retirement Boards aka SERBs (O5-10). Corporate world forced retirement
~ Retirement pay taking a pay hit...capped now under cost of living.
~ Retiree health insurance costs being increased.
~ AD pay annual raises between 1-2%

I am curious why you want to go this route. Why not go OCS right now, and use tuition assistance (TA) to get your grad degree. I get it if your grad degree is coming from an Ivy, but if not, all the grad degree will do for you when you leave the military is filling a square for hiring purposes, it is your experience that will matter more at the pay level you want.

In case you don't know what TA is in the military. You go to grad school at night (every base has satelitte colleges, such as ERAU, UMD, Webster, Troy, etc. They pay 75% of the cost, and you owe a concurrent commitment. If you start right off the bat you will probably owe no more than a yr over what you owed for commissioning.
~ Do the math. You go ROTC, get your commission in 2016 and owe 4 yrs. 2020 is exit. Grad school is all on your dime. OR you go OCS in 14, do TA complete in 17, and still walk at 2020. However, during all of those yrs.,you are making rank, and they are picking up 75% of the cost.

Food for thought when you are looking at costs, and employment opportunities. The OCS grad using TA will have a higher rank,and theoretically more responsibilities on their resume when entering the corporate world. Again, why I say unless that college is renown for their grad program OCS in your case might be more beneficial,, if so than go to a recruiter.

 

[minuteman89]

Undergrad degree is 2.93 because I interned 60 hours per week for 4 years. Other reason is as I do ROTC/Grad school I can keep my current job (Pays 82k per year)> I was considering the military officer route because I am getting sick of sitting behind a desk, and i do agree that it wont get easier. Maybe I am just going through a quarter life crisis @ 24? I was also considering to the reserves, but the problem with reserves is that it hinders your civilian job and you never get promoted.

 

[minuteman89]

Post got cut off - my undergrad gpa isn't good enough for ocs, otherwise I would do it. With ROTC (Army at least), I can choose reserves via SMP or go Active if I think Active is what I want to do.