ROTC what its like and chance of commisioning.

[Kevin]

I want to become an officer, but I'm not sure what branch yet, however, I'm leaning toward air force. I have heard that anyone can join AFROTC everyone is treated the same wither you are a scholarship cadet or not. I have also heard the anyone can take the last 2 years(junior and senor) as long as they contract. What is required to contract, do I just need to pass the physical fitness test, and keep my GPA up (how competitive is it?).
Also, how much work is required out side of the classes.

Please label what branch you are referring to.

Thanks.

 

[Pima]

AFROTC requires you to be selected and attend SFT aka LEAD to a POC. The gpa median will vary between tech and non-tech majors. Tech majors typically carry a 3.0 cgpa and non-tech @ 3.3.

 

[Humey]

The Air Force now has a two year program but unless you are already a sophomore, you are much better off doing all four years. As a non scholarship cadet, you can leave AF Rotc without consequences after you finished your second year. In the summer between Sophomore and Junior year, assuming you are selected, you attend AF Field Training or Lead as it now called. Assuming you pass (almost everyone does), when you go back to school for Junior year, you will contract with the Air Force and you will commission when you graduate. For the basic job, you will serve for 4 years. If you become a pilot, you will serve for minimum of 11 years ( 1 year of flight school and 10 years of Active duty) Depending on the job, it can be anywhere from 4 -10 years. As for grades, as long as you are a 3.0 you will be fine. Of course the more popular the position (pilot) the better the GPA should be. My son however, got a pilot spot but had a 3.0 GPA. He did very well on the other things they look at. They look at your GPA, they look at your AFOQT (sort of SAT but includes pilot and navigation skills), how well you score on your Physical fitness test, your rating from your commander and how well you did at Field Training (Leads) Some of the positions are Rated, which include Pilot, RPA (dones) Combat Systems officer (navigator) and Air Battle Manager. You go up before a board where they review your qualifications and choose you for those positions. All of the other positions are non-rated and to be honest no sure how those works, but you select what positions you want and I would imagine based on your major and other qualifications they assign them

 

[Kevin]

The Air Force now has a two year program but unless you are already a sophomore, you are much better off doing all four years. As a non scholarship cadet, you can leave AF Rotc without consequences after you finished your second year. In the summer between Sophomore and Junior year, assuming you are selected, you attend AF Field Training or Lead as it now called. Assuming you pass (almost everyone does), when you go back to school for Junior year, you will contract with the Air Force and you will commission when you graduate. For the basic job, you will serve for 4 years. If you become a pilot, you will serve for minimum of 11 years ( 1 year of flight school and 10 years of Active duty) Depending on the job, it can be anywhere from 4 -10 years. As for grades, as long as you are a 3.0 you will be fine. Of course the more popular the position (pilot) the better the GPA should be. My son however, got a pilot spot but had a 3.0 GPA. He did very well on the other things they look at. They look at your GPA, they look at your AFOQT (sort of SAT but includes pilot and navigation skills), how well you score on your Physical fitness test, your rating from your commander and how well you did at Field Training (Leads) Some of the positions are Rated, which include Pilot, RPA (dones) Combat Systems officer (navigator) and Air Battle Manager. You go up before a board where they review your qualifications and choose you for those positions. All of the other positions are non-rated and to be honest no sure how those works, but you select what positions you want and I would imagine based on your major and other qualifications they assign them

Thanks.
I'm not sure if you know the answer, but how many people get selected to go to field training in the class. Obviously, I will strive to do my best, but is it like if I'm not in the top ~75% then I don't go and all my time was wasted? Will I know my place in the class? Also, do they just select some non-scholarship and all of their scholarship students.

 

[Humey]

The Air Force now has a two year program but unless you are already a sophomore, you are much better off doing all four years. As a non scholarship cadet, you can leave AF Rotc without consequences after you finished your second year. In the summer between Sophomore and Junior year, assuming you are selected, you attend AF Field Training or Lead as it now called. Assuming you pass (almost everyone does), when you go back to school for Junior year, you will contract with the Air Force and you will commission when you graduate. For the basic job, you will serve for 4 years. If you become a pilot, you will serve for minimum of 11 years ( 1 year of flight school and 10 years of Active duty) Depending on the job, it can be anywhere from 4 -10 years. As for grades, as long as you are a 3.0 you will be fine. Of course the more popular the position (pilot) the better the GPA should be. My son however, got a pilot spot but had a 3.0 GPA. He did very well on the other things they look at. They look at your GPA, they look at your AFOQT (sort of SAT but includes pilot and navigation skills), how well you score on your Physical fitness test, your rating from your commander and how well you did at Field Training (Leads) Some of the positions are Rated, which include Pilot, RPA (dones) Combat Systems officer (navigator) and Air Battle Manager. You go up before a board where they review your qualifications and choose you for those positions. All of the other positions are non-rated and to be honest no sure how those works, but you select what positions you want and I would imagine based on your major and other qualifications they assign them

Thanks.
I'm not sure if you know the answer, but how many people get selected to go to field training in the class. Obviously, I will strive to do my best, but is it like if I'm not in the top ~75% then I don't go and all my time was wasted? Will I know my place in the class? Also, do they just select some non-scholarship and all of their scholarship students.

At this point, just about everybody goes. My son's class two summers ago, 100% went and this year it was 100% again also. From what I read, there were years where overall nationally it was something like 70% or less. Honestly, I wouldnt worry about this although there is no guarantee it may not change in the future. Once your are AF ROTC, there is no difference between those who get money and those who dont. I have read that some detachment are quicker to give uniforms to those who get scholarships. Good question on if those with scholarships go automatically into Leads. The issue would be that if you aren't selected you are basically kicked out and would have to repay your scholarship (I think)

 

[Kevin]

Thank you Humey that makes more sense.
Does anyone know what is required out of class aside from working out and volunteering like home work .

Also, does anyone know if any of the additional funding that is going into the military will touch the ROTC programs.

 

[Pima]

SFT board is masked. IOWS they do not know which cadet is on scholarship and which cadet is not. You will know how you rank within the det. It is part of your score that is submitted for the board.

I doubt that you would see a big bump in funding for AFROTC. A yr or so ago the Sec of AF stated that they intended to increase the OTS pool for commissioning.

 

[Humey]

Thank you Humey that makes more sense.
Does anyone know what is required out of class aside from working out and volunteering like home work .

Also, does anyone know if any of the additional funding that is going into the military will touch the ROTC programs.

I think you attend two Rotc classes a semester and would imagine there may some homework attached to it. My son who will never be accused of being the best student gets an A every semester. There are other events related to Rotc but they arent exactly time consuming. From what I can tell, they make it easy for you and their priority is that you do well in school

 

[airman_lati]

ROTC has a class per grade level and then something called Leadership Lab (LLAB) which is for all cadets. LLAB is about 2 hours and requires no HW. It's essentially meant to train you for LEAD but the ROTC class itself is like any other class and it does require assignments.