Yes, you can, but it will not be on scholarship compared to the 2 yr and compete. 2 yr AD and compete will allow you to immediately go into JAG.
I was also talking about being on the AF dime as a law school scholarship recipient. Sorry for the confusion.
There are many reasons why most do not go the 3 yr delay route.
1. It is on their dime. Even if you have a type 7 scholarship, you may have loans. Type 7 only pays Tuition, not R & B.
2. No guarantee of getting into JAG
3. Competitiveness.
4. Must make the decision by spring JR. yr., because they need to apply for Law School Sr. yr., but will not find not their results until spring SR yr. All the while trying to graduate college, study for LSATs, apply for Law and doing ROTC. That is a lot to handle.
5. Burnt out academically.
6. SFT. In your summer rising jr. yr., you may go to SFT, there is only a 50% selection rate currently. Now if you don't go, you won't be a POC, and must compete to go again as a rising sr. Meanwhile you are still a jr., which means you are starting the law school process. Hard to study for LSATs at SFT which is 4 week of your summer, and can be from Mid July to mid Aug.. If you do not get SFT your jr. yr, you will not be commissioned into the AF. and if you are scholarship, obviously your scholarship is revoked. Making this all moot anyway.
~~~ You need SFT for your OML because the delay program is a WCS style board and your OML will be taken into account.
By going the 2 yr AD route, they are able to attend on the AF's dime while collecting a paycheck and know that they will go directly into JAG. This called FLEP (Funded Legal Education Program).
They also can do ELP (Excess Leave Program). This allows them to do something sim. to the 3 yr delayed, no tuition, no pay,etc, but their time in grade will count and again as long as they pass the bar they immediately go into JAG. No fighting for a spot.
~~~Many will save every penny for 2 yrs so they can live for the 3 yrs. They still may take loans, but at least for 2 yrs they saved money. The delay student, unless Mom and Dad are footing the bill will have to take loans and find a PT job to make ends meet as a student. 1 of you will have an easier path due mainly to the fact that fiscal issues are less burdensome, hence, they can study more and get better grades.
~~~ They still keep their medical coverage and bennies. I am not sure of you parents health coverage, but most drop the child at 23, even if they are in college. You would be without insurance for about 2 yrs.
~~~ However the biggie is they will go to JAG
JAG is a very small component of the AF, and so many opt these routes to be guaranteed JAG. Look at our current economy and how DOD is going to have to cut budgets. If you really want to be a JAG you need to decide how much of a chance you are willing to take.
It would really stink to get through Law School to only find out that JAG has no room at the inn and now you are assigned to PA for 4 yrs.
Finally, JAG is probably the most competitive field to get into in the AF. Additionally the delay program is also very competitive. I would hate to have people think that just because they want to do this it is easy to do.
Good luck.