ROTC Contracted Vs. Non-Contracted Cadets?

[Troy]

Hello all,

I am a bit confused about the difference between contracted and non-contracted cadets because I have received multiple different answers. So if anyone knows the answers to my questions I would appreciate it. The first is:

-How likely is it once commissioned that the Air Force will pay for your masters . degree?

The second I have received numerous different answers. I had a question about drug test because I STILL have not had one. PLEASE NOTE: I do not smoke weed anymore and have not for over two years, so I am not asking this because I want to get high and get away with smoking, otherwise I would not be in the military as the two do not go together. That being said.

-Does AFROTC have the right to randomly drug test NON CONTRACTED Cadets? So Cadets that are Freshman or Sophomores who have no military obligation yet? Or do they just randomly drug test contracted cadets?

SO FAR I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM OTHER PEOPLE:
-All groups, whether by contract or not, have rules that members agree to when joining up. You may not have remembered the rules or they were in a brochure or handout that you didn't bother to read regarding drug testing. Look back through your paperwork or ask the person in charge for that documentation.
-And you will not get tested until you are contracted. Until then Uncle Sam has no control over you. You will not get drug tested when you are not contracted. Period.
- If you are not contracted you are just some civilian college kid taking ROTC classes. As a matter of routine we do not drug test Cadets until they go off on some sort of summer training. Once you are contracted you become a cadet.
-Anyone on the program can be drug tested. At any time. It will be part of the mandatory physical. Just like anyone in DEP can be drug tested at anytime.


SO who is right? Have I not been drug tested because I am Non contracted and Non scholarship? Or can they test me anyway but have chosen not to?

Thanks for any help and answers.

 

[Pima]

Our DS was scholarship, so I won't respond to the drug testing question. However, I will say this if you are not smoking it than don't worry about it.

I am really not sure why it matters whether they do random drug tests or not if you are not partaking. Many times posters get why you would ask that question at all, unless you have an issue.

As far as the masters degree that comes back to what you are desiring.
Full time grad school as an O1 with the AF picking up the entire dime? (AFIT at Wright Pat?))
Full time grad student with an educational delay. Your dime, no O1 pay
As an O1 on AD in your AFSC? TA pays 75% and is concurrent with your time commitment owed.

The answer will vary depending on which program you are looking at for your grad degree. 100% paid for with an ED right out of college is the lowest chance. 75% paid for on ADAF is a given right now.

It really is going to come down to not only your grades, your major, but your career field and personnel needs for the AF. I know one poster here that her DS is AFIT right now.

Remember for AFROTC once you graduate from SFT you will contract even if not scholarship. Just like SFT, the selection board is masked regarding scholarship. IOWs they have not a clue if the cadet was on scholarship or not when awarding AFIT or ED.

I assume you are a 100, the path is really long in ROTC (4 yrs to be exact), I would talk to the 400s in your det to see if anyone is applying for AFIT or ED, and if they know what the selection rate was for 2013 for those options. I would also remind you the biggest hurdle in front of you right now is to get selected for SFT. Long term goals are great, but to get there you need to clear the short term hurdle.

 

[Meliora]

If you have gone to Orientation you should have gotten the spiel on drugs. My commander made it very clear that you should not lie, and that minimal prior drug usage would not be a problem, so long as you admitted to it, met with the Det commander and had the incident or incidents cleared. As far as drug testing goes they are not required to administer them, but are cleared to do so if they feel it is necessary

 

[Pima]

Minimal is subjective, but in reality the AF has a true number set for what is considered experimental, and from the posts where I have seen the thank you, but we will not commission you even if you tell the truth off the bat, it is very, very, very low. The exception typically occurs for those that were AD prior enlisted.

I will say that if you are looking for the number make sure you look only at the numbers for the AF because the Army and Navy may have different numbers than the AF.

I do agree with Mellora, be honest up front because when you go for your security clearance as a 400 they will ask you and your references if you have ever used drugs. If, you have, the frequency used. Just like the 80 page security clearance paperwork, they will ask this question in different manners during different times to see if your answer remains the same.
~~~ The interview is conducted by a govt. agent that shows up at their home with a shiny badge.

 

[usmawebb]

In my Army ROTC batallion, they only test contracted cadets. I would assume AF is similar.

 

[Freedom125]

Yes you can get drug tested. It works like when you apply for a job anywhere. Random drug testings can happen although not often. The wisest and best solution is to stay off drugs because not only can you get fined/expelled but it also ruins your character and reputation with the cadre and other cadets.