GI Bill Backup Plan Questions

afa · Feb 19, 2013

Hi guys, i'm not sure this is the most appropriate place to post this but i feel i will get the best info on this from those with experience who somewhat frequent these forums

first off it is my goal to go to the afa and become an officer in the AF. i have my mind set on becoming a CRO, if i got accepted into the academy, or a pilot (maybe the person that pilots the helicopter carrying the PJs :biggrin:

). becoming either will probably be the hardest thing i ever do but i still need to have a backup plan. if i don't get accepted to the academy i have already been accepted to a private university so i know i will be able to go to college either way. i would try to get into OTS but from what i hear it's extremely competitive and due to budget not many officers come out of the program

what i want to look into is enlisting for the fact that i want to try become a PJ and then at the end of those 4 or 6 years maybe go to college after with the GI Bill. can anyone explain to me how the GI bill works or if this is even a valid thought process? thanks in advance. fingers crossed until i hear back from the academy and best wishes to you all.

Bourdeau · Feb 19, 2013

As someone who is enlisted, and have had SpecOps buddies. I want to make it clear that wanting to be a PJ is cool and all, but actually getting through it is one of the hardest processes in the world. I have had friends fail out of training left and right and end up getting retrained into Comm, SecFo, Services, and Medical. There are other routes you can go if you do enlist and want to commission, we have scholarships awarded to people to go ROTC, or get your bachelors degree and try to go OTS, and while in you can still apply to the Academy up until your 23. It's all up to you, but just a word of advice that big blue can train you into whatever you job they want if you end up failing PJ indoc, or any Spec Ops indoc.
And regarding the GI Bill, its really researching what is best for you, Post 9-11 and MGIB are two different entities all together. And you can still take college while enlisted, mission allowing that is, and being spec ops that would be very difficult to accomplish.

afa · Feb 19, 2013

Bourdeau said:
As someone who is enlisted, and have had SpecOps buddies. I want to make it clear that wanting to be a PJ is cool and all, but actually getting through it is one of the hardest processes in the world. I have had friends fail out of training left and right and end up getting retrained into Comm, SecFo, Services, and Medical. There are other routes you can go if you do enlist and want to commission, we have scholarships awarded to people to go ROTC, or get your bachelors degree and try to go OTS, and while in you can still apply to the Academy up until your 23. It's all up to you, but just a word of advice that big blue can train you into whatever you job they want if you end up failing PJ indoc, or any Spec Ops indoc.
And regarding the GI Bill, its really researching what is best for you, Post 9-11 and MGIB are two different entities all together. And you can still take college while enlisted, mission allowing that is, and being spec ops that would be very difficult to accomplish.

yes i understand how much it will take to even try to become a PJ and at the same time i don't because i've never been pushed to that limit (just watching discovery's special on the first part of the process doesn't mean i know squat when it comes to the real thing). i have a friend whose older brother had to stop right before completing training because he got shin splints. yes shin splints but i don't think he had to go all the way back to square one.

i just want to see what my options are because i am sure i will want to get a degree to help myself when i do choose to search for a job out of the military. i have an appointment with someone regarding this and will make sure to get every last detail i can :wink:

regardless i think CRO or PJ and pilot are my ultimate goal.