ROTC to Service Academy

[The_Grizzly]

I am currently a senior in HS, and right now also applying to USAFA, however, I am a unsure about a few things. I heard that I can reapply to a service academy with an ROTC, however, my main question is, if I do reapply and make it, do I need to attend a Service Academy for another four years separate from the ROTC (like 5 years in total)?

 

[Capt MJ]

I am currently a senior in HS, and right now also applying to USAFA, however, I am a unsure about a few things. I heard that I can reapply to a service academy with an ROTC, however, my main question is, if I do reapply and make it, do I need to attend a Service Academy for another four years separate from the ROTC (like 5 years in total)?

Yes. You start out with the incoming class and do 4 years with them, regardless of how many college credits or years completed you have elsewhere. You have to really want it. There are those who re-apply three years in a row, and start all over. If you receive an offer of appointment, you will have the opportunity to potentially validate some classes, but not graduate early.

If you find you are happy in your school and ROTC unit and are thriving, on a perfectly fine path to a commission, there may be no need or desire to try another path.

 

[Peter2025]

I am currently a senior in HS, and right now also applying to USAFA, however, I am a unsure about a few things. I heard that I can reapply to a service academy with an ROTC, however, my main question is, if I do reapply and make it, do I need to attend a Service Academy for another four years separate from the ROTC (like 5 years in total)?

Yes

 

[moho]

I am currently a senior in HS, and right now also applying to USAFA, however, I am a unsure about a few things. I heard that I can reapply to a service academy with an ROTC, however, my main question is, if I do reapply and make it, do I need to attend a Service Academy for another four years separate from the ROTC (like 5 years in total)?

I am a sophomore (AS200 in AFROTC) applying for a third time. I just contracted today with a full-ride in-college scholarship, so opportunities will arise either way. If USAFA does not work out for you, AFROTC is an excellent commissioning source (and the most numerous method).

Additionally, your AFROTC Detachment Commander can nominate you under the Honor Military Schools AFJROTC/AFROTC Category (32 CFR § 901.12), which is another nomination source which will be at your disposal depending on your performance and Det/CC. Should you obtain an appointment, you will start at USAFA as a Doolie. An experienced Doolie, but a Doolie nonetheless. So yes - you will be studying for 5 years total.

Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!

Moho

 

[es22]

One of my fellow doolies in my squad did ROTC for two years and then moved to USAFA. An advantage to doing this is that he has many of the core classes already out of the way.

 

[moho]

One of my fellow doolies in my squad did ROTC for two years and then moved to USAFA. An advantage to doing this is that he has many of the core classes already out of the way.

I’m in the same boat here. Is a double major feasible with those out of the way?

 

[USAFA_86]

I’m in the same boat here. Is a double major feasible with those out of the way?

It will be easier if you can knock out a bunch of core classes, but double majoring here is still ridiculously hard.

 

[moho]

It will be easier if you can knock out a bunch of core classes, but double majoring here is still ridiculously hard.

I'm an astro major at my school now, so if I were to attend USAFA (after next semester) I'd have taken:

Calc I through DFQ
Physics I-III
Statics
Solid Mechanics
Thermodynamics
Chemistry for Engineers
Computer Science for Engineers

I'd imagine this creates a lot of space in an Astro Eng major but I'm not sure how directly these courses correlate with how your engineering dept runs the program

 

[playeroff574]

Where will you all be in 4 years? 2lts wearing the same uniform with the same rank going to the same branch schools. Some had a party life and some had to ask their table leader for dessert. Even if you do not party, memorizing the meal schedule for seniors and walking in step everywhere is not my version of college that sounds enjoyable. To each their own

 

[es22]

I’m in the same boat here. Is a double major feasible with those out of the way?

Yes, one of my cadre is a double major. Aero and comp Sci. He did 3 years of college

 

[moho]

Yes, one of my cadre is a double major. Aero and comp Sci. He did 3 years of college

I’m not sure what I’d want my second major to be (if even possible). I wish I could do MSS but the common courses aren’t many.

 

[justdoit19]

Where will you all be in 4 years? 2lts wearing the same uniform with the same rank going to the same branch schools. Some had a party life and some had to ask their table leader for dessert. Even if you do not party, memorizing the meal schedule for seniors and walking in step everywhere is not my version of college that sounds enjoyable. To each their own

This is not accurate. Did you visit? And if you did, you would have been exposed to freshman year. Not senior year. I guarantee, your statement about senior year is inaccurate. There is a lot of fun to be had.

But, yes, to each their own. Just make sure you are making an accurately informed decision.

 

[Peter2025]

I'm an astro major at my school now, so if I were to attend USAFA (after next semester) I'd have taken:

Calc I through DFQ
Physics I-III
Statics
Solid Mechanics
Thermodynamics
Chemistry for Engineers
Computer Science for Engineers

I'd imagine this creates a lot of space in an Astro Eng major but I'm not sure how directly these courses correlate with how your engineering dept runs the program

*There's a doolie in my DiffEq class, so if you score well enough on the placement exams you could validate calc 1-3. Not sure if you can do it with just college credit (you'd have to ask someone more informed). If you took the right types of physics, you can get out of physics 1 and 2, although you'll have to actually go talk to the department (it's not automatic). As for the others, I have no experience. One of my buddies who did ROTC and did compsci couldn't validate because there's a little bit about cyber security at the end of the core class here.
Morale of the story: ASK! Go to each of the departments you've taken classes in and ask what the possibilities are to validate with college classes. The worst they can say is no.

 

[moho]

*There's a doolie in my DiffEq class, so if you score well enough on the placement exams you could validate calc 1-3. Not sure if you can do it with just college credit (you'd have to ask someone more informed). If you took the right types of physics, you can get out of physics 1 and 2, although you'll have to actually go talk to the department (it's not automatic). As for the others, I have no experience. One of my buddies who did ROTC and did compsci couldn't validate because there's a little bit about cyber security at the end of the core class here.
Morale of the story: ASK! Go to each of the departments you've taken classes in and ask what the possibilities are to validate with college classes. The worst they can say is no.

Thank you! I appreciate you all very much.

I look forward to you screaming in my ear in approximately 288 days.

 

[Peter2025]

Thank you! I appreciate you all very much.

I look forward to you screaming in my ear in approximately 288 days.

 

[Falcon74]

I am currently a senior in HS, and right now also applying to USAFA, however, I am a unsure about a few things. I heard that I can reapply to a service academy with an ROTC, however, my main question is, if I do reapply and make it, do I need to attend a Service Academy for another four years separate from the ROTC (like 5 years in total)?

When my son was preparing to complete his college applications, he showed interest in the service academies. He also wanted to see some civilian schools. At one such school, the admissions representative arranged for him to speak with their ROTC OIC (Officer in charge). I was present as an observer only to their conversation when the ROTC officer claimed that, if he had a choice, he would rather attend ROTC than enter a service academy. Later, I told my son that I was shocked by the OIC's statement. I thought that I was listening to a used car dealer promoting his program. The difference in opportunities between service academies and civilian schools with ROTC programs is overwhelming!

BTW, my last roommate at USAFA spent a year in the Corps at Texas A&M and then came to USAFA to go through basic again as a Doolie at USAFA. What a glutton for punishment!

I don't advocate going to college with the goal of applying to a service academy later; however, attending a service academy with some college already under your belt can be a significant advantage. By validating several courses, you can create incredible flexibility in your academic program which you can use to take courses for fun or even complete a second major. Continuing your goal of academy attendance even after an initial failure is commendable; but, I would accept an appointment as soon as I could get it and not wait to intentionally complete a year of college first.

Good luck. Competition is tough.