Joining AFROTC as a Sophomore

[jl13]

Good afternoon/evening,

I plan on joining an AFROTC detachment this coming fall but still have a few questions about the process.

I've registered for the classes necessary for an AS250 cadet (AS 100, AS 200, LLAB) through my university's registrar but am waiting for confirmation from the host university. Is there anything else I need to do before attending New Student Orientation in August?

This next question is for something very far down the road and will not deter my decision but I am still curious. Does anyone have experience with the JAG educational delay program where you postpone active duty for three years and then attend law school in hopes of becoming a JAG officer? I imagine this must be incredibly competitive and it will not make or break my decision but I am curious nonetheless.

Thanks

 

[Pima]

All you need to do now is workout. They will get in contact you closer to the start of the academic yr.

Practice the PFT in all types of weather...if it is drizzling out, run and than do the rest of the test. Don't be lax in your form, this is an area they will nail you. Do it to the proper form. Do it with the exact rest time in between. No easy outs. There will be PT instructors watching you, and you will get nailed. You not only wasted time, but energy too. Do it right.

Run at the height of the heat during the day. Again follow the PFT.

They schedule the test for a specific date, bearing a hurricane or Thunderstorm, you will be doing it on that date. Running on a treadmill is not the way to go, running at 5 a.m. when you went to bed at 1 will help.

As far as the JAG program. There are 2 ways to go if I remember correctly.
1. ED, right out of college.
~~~ No guarantee you will go JAG. Theory is they gave you ED. Upon graduation you fight for that AFSC
2. AD, and apply after 2 yrs AD.
~~~~ They pay for college and your salary, but the BIGGIE is you will go JAG as long as you pass the bar. It is a guaranteed slot. Problem is there is no guarantee of selection, just like the ED option.

Regarding chances, if you google it, you basically have a better chance of getting a fighter as a pilot than a JAG slot. Fighters are typically 5% of UPT. I believe getting a JAG slot is @2%. Highly competitive is an understatement.

Our DS at one time wanted it, but after investigating the paths, he chose a different route. His heart wasn't in it. If your heart is in it, you will get there. However, before you get tunnel vision, use this yr to listen and explore all of the AF opportunities. If you really want JAG talk to the cadre, maybe they have connections you can use to gain insight.

Best wishes, thoughts and hopes.

 

[Adelita]

I'm a 250!

Hi,

I'm currently a 250 and plan on being POC in a few weeks . I don't know if you've spoken to the cadre at the host university but if you haven't set up a meeting ASAP! There's a bit of paperwork that needs to be filled out before you can actually be considered a cadet and meeting the cadre (or even cross towns from your school) will give you a better feel for the det.

Now just some 250 advice: Stay on top of your stuff. If there are marching practices or shoe shine parties, go! POC (at least at my det) will let you slide by for maybe 3 LLabs before they expect you to start taking on leadership roles. Get to know your FTP class and make friends with them. Your fellow FTP need to know that you're knowledgeable and your leadership needs to know that the flight can look to you for answers as well. As a 250 you can NOT be the person who doesn't know they're knowledge, forgets essentials, or how to keep up dress and appearance. POC (especially past CTAs) will chew you up!! Keep your grades up, retake the SATs if you need to, and work out hard like Pima said. You probably won't get a stellar CC ranking as a 250 (you have one semester whereas everyone else has at least 2 and mostly 3) but don't let that break you. There are detachments that get 100% selection rates.

Just keep your head up and don't quit! It's not as hard as non 250s think it is and they will have mad respect for you if you actually try. Don't be afraid, just be likeable and go hard!

 

[Pima]

+1 on the shoe shine parties. It may seem silly, but cadets know that this is not a 15 minute chore, to do it right, it is a process that includes many steps and can take a couple of hours depending on how much shine you want before you say I quit. Seriously, it is not put on wax and rub, rub, rub. It is steps involving rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, and nylons plus melting in the wax in, at least that is the way my DH and DS do the procedure.


A lot more fun to share the pain, than by yourself in a room alone.

At our DS's det. they have GMC nights. It is held at the det. lounge, 1X a week. They order pizza, play foosball, crud, Xbox or watch movies. It is a way to bond as GMCs.

I would also suggest if your det has military fraternities to investigate them regarding joining.

There are 3 reasons:
1. It creates friendships.
2. It allows them to know cadet jl13 as a person outside of the classroom.
3. More insight and guidance from POCs in a relaxed environment.

Remember POCs belong to these things, plus they must have an adviser from the cadre. It allows you to not be just a name. Now you are someone with a face they can place to your name. This is especially important at large dets where they can have 150+ (100/200s).

Like dets., and universities, they have personalities. Arnie Air at one det. maybe the group that is filled with engineers, and at another it is filled with cadets that want rated. Same with Angel Flight, Silver Wings or Honor Guard. Don't assume if you ask here what it is like in Silver Wings compared to Arnie Air, that it will be like that at your det.

The only thing to be cautious of is joining any organization, it will take time away from academics when you pledge. If your grades are eh, than best to wait to join until the spring.