ROTC Pilot Slot

Pima said:
Please read this thread by raimius. The early part is about USAFA, but it goes into what life is like as a student at UPT.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com...s-experience-blog-posts-from-elsewhere.35795/
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Thanks, was good to hear about another persons experience, even though I won't be attending USAFA.

I don't know how much time I should give myself before deciding to commit and go through with joining, I've only ever considered the Air Force for the past couple weeks. I know if I join for the three year program next year I don't have much time, there's just a lot to think about. I did however watch this interview which has further inspired me of a Major answering some questions about ROTC, and it's even at USF det. 158 where I'd be going. I look forward to being able to challenge myself. I've never really had that opportunity to challenge myself towards something as important as the Air Force. Being apart of something bigger than myself, traveling across the country or even the world, meeting new people and experiencing/learning all these new things. I get really excited and can't wait when I think about what I could be apart of and what I could do, then of course I guess like everyone else I go back to having my doubts. Not doubts about if I'll be able to keep up physically, if I'll be able to do well academically, more of "this is such a huge step, and I have to decide for myself if I'm going to actually take it". I've never been the one to jump on anything, I've always been the type of person to weigh all possible situations then in the future make the right choice. I've got some big decisions to make, thanks everyone for helping thus far.

The interview:
 
DPActive said:
As I mentioned I'm 20 living at home as I just started college. Parents don't make a whole lot of money so where I'm living now won't be where I'm living next month. They never saved up for me to be able to afford to stay on campus, or have a car right now to get myself to work, but within the next month or so I'll know where I'm living and am going to college permanently so I can really think about what I want to do.
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Don't understand some of these comments.

Assuming you worked from age 18-20?

Also, I do hope you understand what PIMA and others have suggested: just because you get a flight slot doesn't mean you will ONLY be flying. My sons fly heavies, all over the world, but spend many many hours flying that desk. So will you, if you are lucky enough to become a pilot.

From what I have read, you have a strong desire to fly, but my question to you is: do you have a strong (stronger, really) desire to serve? You may find that you will spend the greatest portion of your career behind a desk, pilot or no.

Why did you or why have you not applied to USAFA? You are still within the age limits.
 
fencersmother said:
DPActive said:
As I mentioned I'm 20 living at home as I just started college. Parents don't make a whole lot of money so where I'm living now won't be where I'm living next month. They never saved up for me to be able to afford to stay on campus, or have a car right now to get myself to work, but within the next month or so I'll know where I'm living and am going to college permanently so I can really think about what I want to do.
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Don't understand some of these comments.

Assuming you worked from age 18-20?

Also, I do hope you understand what PIMA and others have suggested: just because you get a flight slot doesn't mean you will ONLY be flying. My sons fly heavies, all over the world, but spend many many hours flying that desk. So will you, if you are lucky enough to become a pilot.

From what I have read, you have a strong desire to fly, but my question to you is: do you have a strong (stronger, really) desire to serve? You may find that you will spend the greatest portion of your career behind a desk, pilot or no.

Why did you or why have you not applied to USAFA? You are still within the age limits.
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I know if I'm lucky enough I'll be spending a lot of time behind a desk, studying, training, etc, and not flying. One of the careers I'm going to put on my "top 4" or how ever many you get to choose as preference is IT/Cyber Security so I'm not afraid of being stuck behind a computer monitor, it's something I've wanted to do even before considering the AF, Information Technology/Networking that is.

I've not work years 18-20 because my parents always preached to me that I can work later in life, and that I needed to focus on school in my younger years, get a good education, then find work. As to why I've not applied to USAFA, I never did great in academics. Sure my GPA my last semester of part time college (was out of state so couldn't afford full time) was 3.1, but in high school I didn't care much for grades, figured it was a waste of time and I should be focusing on what I want to do for the rest of my life, not the upcoming Chem test I had. My SAT/ACT scores when I took them in high school weren't the best, nor was my GPA. Don't remember the exact numbers but I know for sure there's no way they're high enough to meet the requirements of USAFA. Even if I did do amazing in high school, I've never even considered the Air Force until a few weeks ago, and talking to some friends I know across the country that have served. Think I need to talk to the ROTC recruiter at my local university to make sure this is the right thing for me.
 
So, how many credits do you have now? Are you a sophomore?

Twelve credits is just barely full time; perhaps you could find a job on campus? (My son at USAFA had 27 credits, in one semester; you are not on track to garner 27 in a whole year. They will ask: what are you doing with all your time?)
 
fencersmother said:
So, how many credits do you have now? Are you a sophomore?

Twelve credits is just barely full time; perhaps you could find a job on campus? (My son at USAFA had 27 credits, in one semester; you are not on track to garner 27 in a whole year. They will ask: what are you doing with all your time?)
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I'm a freshman as I'm within the 0-29 credit hour category, even though I've been out of high school for a year or two. Like I said moving around and family issues, I didn't have my priorities straight. I'm only taking 9 credits this coming semester so by May I'll be at 21 credits (it's a financial thing), then I'm going to take some summer courses so I'll be around 30+, which will make me a sophomore, then after that financial aid will cover me and I'll be going full time! I'm hoping the timing works out, as I'll technically be a second year sophomore student like everyone else when spring semester comes around, and will be able to join the three year afrotc program as a sophomore, where I believe the following summer you take classes to make up for not being in the program the previous year.

Congrats btw on your son being in USAFA and being on track. As far as me having a job goes, I plan on getting one somewhere within the next month or two as I start fall classes, as well as take up some volunteering or extra curricular at my community college so I have something to show for what I've been doing in my free time. I just won't be living on campus probably like the other rotc cadets, and won't be starting first year, so I hope I won't feel too out of place not knowing anyone since everyone's already been together for a year.

The more and more I think about it, the more and more I'm having a difficult time finding a reason why not to join, or even attempting the program. Hearing from friends and other people is really inspiring me as well, making me feel like I'm not alone in making this decision, thanks so much and I would still really appreciate anyones/everyones opinions!
 
Cranium hurting now.

DPActive said:
I just don't want to be stuck doing anything else after having already devoted years to trying.
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that was your original post, but now you say:
DPActive said:
One of the careers I'm going to put on my "top 4" or how ever many you get to choose as preference is IT/Cyber Security so I'm not afraid of being stuck behind a computer monitor,
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Again, you need to do some research, because for AFROTC the way it works is:
Apply for rated spring semester junior year. Not picked up you apply for non-rated fall semester your senior year.
Two different boards.

DPActive said:
I've not work years 18-20 because my parents always preached to me that I can work later in life, and that I needed to focus on school in my younger years, get a good education, then find work.
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Did you do a gap volunteer year?

The way your posts currently read to me is this:
~ Folks can't afford to assist you for college
~ Folks believe you can work later in life
~ After HS graduation you did nothing at all.

Just saying you might want to clarify that, because I am going to be honest now. The military is traditionally filled with Type A personalities. Pilots, especially fighters make a type A look laid back. Rated world will eat their young.
 
DP, PIMA is wise.

Please clarify, because I am thinking something's not quite right here. For two years since high school graduation, you did not go to school, and did not work - correct?
 
Xposted with DPActive,

I am chiming out now because I leaning to the fact that you are a troll.
DPActive said:
will be able to join the three year afrotc program as a sophomore, where I believe the following summer you take classes to make up for not being in the program the previous year.
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If I am wrong, than I apologize. However, if I am wrong and you are not a TROLL than that statement alone proves you have done absolutely ZERO research regarding ROTC. ROTC does not offer summer classes (LLAB). You either enter as a 100 as a freshmen or a 250 sophomore (never in ROTC as a freshmen).
~ Summers go as follows, typically:
100s on scholarship get to due a 2 week or so tour shadowing at an AF base. Non-scholarship are not offered this as a GMC
200s go to SFT. Scholarship and non-scholarship
300s rated selected go to WPAFB for their FAA FC1

Prove me wrong that you are not a troll. How? Defend yourself against my post. If you let this thread die than that says 1 of 2 things.
1. You really don't want it
~ I should not be able to back you down with my posts. They may seem mean, but in the AF they are sugar/sweet.
~~ If I can make you walk away on an anonymous forum than you need to ask if you are willing to sacrifice your life for me?
2. You are a troll.

The ball is in your court.
 
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You are both correct. I got out of high school, was supposed to start full time at college, everything was just fine. We ended up moving around because of parents job opportunities, taking what ever jobs they could get in their respected fields where ever in the country, so I never ended up being able to "start" full time and settle somewhere for college, until now.

Do not mistake me for someone who got out of high school and just didn't care. I'll prove to you, and anyone else who is tough on me to back down that I'm not that person.

Sure I didn't get a job after high school, I didn't start college full time right away like all the other "Type A personalities", not having the motivation to do anything, being a lazy teen. That's never been me. I just never had a "normal" high school/college transition like most kids had. I know that neither of you know me, and from my posts that may sound like who I am, but it's not. I do not want my current self to reflect my past self, which is why I want to join. I didn't get out much my teenage years, of course I had friends in school and no one disliked me as I was always neutral/friendly with everyone. I just didn't have my priorities straight, I didn't see life the way I see it today I suppose.

When giving me opinions on what I should do, please know that I'm not that person. Not that person that's done poorly in school and I think I can just join the air force to fly cool fighter jets. I can be that outstanding guy, I am that guy. I've just never had a reason to want to be that guy in a way I suppose. I always have been, maybe just never have acted like it, for reasons that are beyond me. I'm getting a grip on the real world as I've been out of high school a while, I'm getting a better grip on what real life is actually like. As far as me just bringing up now that I've been interested in IT/Networking, that's what I plan on doing if it turns out being a pilot isn't right for me, or something is wrong medically, or something like that, what I've wanted to do before considering the AF

I wouldn't say I've done "zero" research though regarding rotc, I've just yet to speak with anyone actually from the program, just going off what people have said online. I thought I had read somewhere that if you join as a 200 as a sophomore and don't participate for that first year, which is where you take your leadership labs and what not, then you take them over summer. An update though, I was doing more research yesterday and read somewhere that if you join second year, you just double up on classes that you would normally have taken the previous year. Sorry if I come off as a troll, I assure you I'm not, I've just only done research online, and only for the past couple days, which is why I sound like I know little to nothing, because at the moment I do.
 
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DPActive I give you credit for taking the time to learn about the program. Not everyone comes out of high school as a "Type A" person knowing exactly what they want to do. My son has a guy in his squadron who sounds a lot like you. He took a couple of years after high school to deal with life, and then went on to college and picked up AFROTC after his freshman year. He is a fighter pilot now, so it can be done. Don't let the people here get you down. They are trying to help, and you will have many times in AF training where your self-confidence will get you through when others might doubt you. Keep up the quest.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth_81 said:
DPActive I give you credit for taking the time to learn about the program. Not everyone comes out of high school as a "Type A" person knowing exactly what they want to do. My son has a guy in his squadron who sounds a lot like you. He took a couple of years after high school to deal with life, and then went on to college and picked up AFROTC after his freshman year. He is a fighter pilot now, so it can be done. Don't let the people here get you down. They are trying to help, and you will have many times in AF training where your self-confidence will get you through when others might doubt you. Keep up the quest.

Stealth_81
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Thank you for your words. I know all people like Pima are trying to do is help me make the right decision, and I understand how I sound coming off to everyone, without any of you actually knowing me. I understand, and accept the tough love. What I've just realized in the past couple of minutes is where my eagerness is coming from. Like I mentioned I haven't had a job. I haven't lived away from home. My eagerness is not to simply get a job and graduate with a degree, but to be this person I'm trying to be, or saying I want to be, this person that the air force will make me be. I'm fairly sure what I've realized over the past few days has been what people call an "epiphany". Do I sound stupid saying that? Maybe. Have I felt better about life in general over the past few days? More than you could imagine.
 
You will enter as a 250.
~ That means basically as a sophomore you will take both the 100 and 200 courses simultaneously. Traditional cadet that entered as a freshmen will be a 200.

ROTC units basically close up shop during the summer.
~ They are ADAF and being part of the ROTC system means they usually cannot go on leave when school is in session...leaving winter or summer as their best time to go.
~ ADAF likes to PCS in the summer.
 
Pima said:
You will enter as a 250.
~ That means basically as a sophomore you will take both the 100 and 200 courses simultaneously. Traditional cadet that entered as a freshmen will be a 200.

ROTC units basically close up shop during the summer.
~ They are ADAF and being part of the ROTC system means they usually cannot go on leave when school is in session...leaving winter or summer as their best time to go.
~ ADAF likes to PCS in the summer.
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Thank you for yet again more useful information.
 
DPActive said:
After going through as a non-scholarship ROTC cadet (as I'm already in my first year of college), getting my bachelors, passing the tests, keeping up physically, and it's time to choose my top four careers, I really don't want to do anything other than flying. Flying a jet preferably.

By the time I know what my career will be, will it be too late to back out if I don't get a pilot slot preferably for a fighter jet? I want to devote the next 10 years of my life to being a pilot, as pilots must do, I just don't want to be stuck doing anything else after having already devoted years to trying.
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I am still not convinced you are not a troll and the above comments are of some serious concern to me. As PIMA noted pilots, particularly those flying airframes which start with "F" are notoriously Hyper-A-type, which category you clearly do not fit. And the fact that you are already looking for a way out if you don't get a fighter pilot slot, makes me even more suspicious.

What is your intended major?

IMHO, I am almost always very leery of those who found nothing to do for two years in the prime years of their lives. My parents moved twice between my 17th and 19th birthday and we never had two nickels - what did you do with your time for two years?
 
fencersmother said:
DPActive said:
After going through as a non-scholarship ROTC cadet (as I'm already in my first year of college), getting my bachelors, passing the tests, keeping up physically, and it's time to choose my top four careers, I really don't want to do anything other than flying. Flying a jet preferably.

By the time I know what my career will be, will it be too late to back out if I don't get a pilot slot preferably for a fighter jet? I want to devote the next 10 years of my life to being a pilot, as pilots must do, I just don't want to be stuck doing anything else after having already devoted years to trying.
Click to expand...

I am still not convinced you are not a troll and the above comments are of some serious concern to me. As PIMA noted pilots, particularly those flying airframes which start with "F" are notoriously Hyper-A-type, which category you clearly do not fit. And the fact that you are already looking for a way out if you don't get a fighter pilot slot, makes me even more suspicious.

What is your intended major?

IMHO, I am almost always very leery of those who found nothing to do for two years in the prime years of their lives. My parents moved twice between my 17th and 19th birthday and we never had two nickels - what did you do with your time for two years?
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My intended major is Information Technology or Computer Science, two things I enjoy doing. I see you quoted my very first post which I now see made a very bad impression for me. "I really don't want to do anything other than flying" was silly, and low looking back, embarrassing of me to say. I know that I'll be able to do other things that interest me in the AF such as anything to do with Information Technology/Cyber IT.

I graduated June of 2014 so it's not been quite two years, but what have I accomplished? Not too much of anything. Thinking mostly. Last summer I began to obtain my CompTIA A+ Certification to begin my path becoming an IT/Network Engineer, I've passed the first exam (two are required) but not yet the second part, so I suppose I've done that. What else have I done between graduating and now though? Not too much at all. First couple of months after graduation (summer) I relaxed and took off. By the time fall semester came around I signed up for community college and attend the first couple weeks, before finding out I would be moving across the country. Didn't sign back up for another 6 months, and have only done part time because out of state tuition would have killed me if I did full time.

So what have I really done the past year and half other than my certification? Not much at all. I believe this is a part of the reason for being so anxious, and part of the reason why I now what to sign up for rotc, be able to prove myself, and hit the ground running.
 
Non Ducor Duco said:
No problem. Haha I just wanted to make sure you understood your options before you waited too long. As far as the flight hours go, plenty of ppl get a pilot slot without any hours. Going through OCS to get a rated slot is way harder than trying to get one through ROTC. It's still competative to get, but it's still more likely than OCS. Just make sure your PT scores, grades, and AFOQT scores (the AF's standardized test) are good. Join things, get involved in the detachment to make sure the cadre know you, that can help with your commander's ranking.
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Plenty of people also do not get pilot without hours. It literally can make or break your career choice over a couple hundred dollars worth of flight time. The vast majority of people with hours get pilot because of the huge pcsm boost.
 
Zero said:
Non Ducor Duco said:
No problem. Haha I just wanted to make sure you understood your options before you waited too long. As far as the flight hours go, plenty of ppl get a pilot slot without any hours. Going through OCS to get a rated slot is way harder than trying to get one through ROTC. It's still competative to get, but it's still more likely than OCS. Just make sure your PT scores, grades, and AFOQT scores (the AF's standardized test) are good. Join things, get involved in the detachment to make sure the cadre know you, that can help with your commander's ranking.
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Plenty of people also do not get pilot without hours. It literally can make or break your career choice over a couple hundred dollars worth of flight time. The vast majority of people with hours get pilot because of the huge pcsm boost.
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Thanks for your opinion. I hope to get working here very soon, so maybe if I save up enough money I can work on getting licensed and getting flight hours in. Again, I know I need to speak with someone at my university for proper information, but there shouldn't be any restrictions about flying while I'm a cadet correct? If not I think saving up some money to even get a few hours in, just to show initiative, might be possible. Not only that but flying sounds awesome.
 
Joekenny said:
Just about every question you have about ROTC and getting a pilot slot can be found in AFROTCI 36-2011. I've attached a link below for your use, good luck.

http://afrotc.utah.edu/_images/spotimages/contentimgs/documents/AFROTCI36-2011-July2015.pdf
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Thank you for that link, more of looking for opinions rather than facts though I suppose. Only a few have stuck with me through this whole thread to hear me out and give me their opinions, which I appreciate deeply.
 
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