VMI ROTC crossroads

[VMI2020 Dad]

First post here and looking for some advice to give my son. He's currently at VA Military Institute (class of 2020) and enrolled in Air Force ROTC (AFROTC). He is non rated (not interested in being a pilot) and non STEM (international affairs major). His goal was to be a special operations Combat Rescue Officer and he trained hard for it. The EAs for his class are out and he was not selected for field training. Of the non rated and non STEM cadets, only those with a GPA higher than 3.6 were selected and his GPA fell short. As a result he will not receive a commission thru AFROTC.

Basically, he is at a crossroads. In his mind, he will continue in AFROTC as a non commissioning cadet, graduate from VMI and seek to enlist in the Air Force. He still desires to be a special operations para-rescue jumper or tactical air control specialist with the hope of perhaps going to officer school at some point. In his Dad's mind this doesn't make sense and he should talk to the VMI Army ROTC folks to see what they have to offer in terms of opportunities for commission. He has two more years at VMI to see where Army ROTC has to take him, and if that doesn't work for him he can enlist, go into private industry or whatever he wants to do.

Does anyone have any experience with transferring from AFROTC to Army ROTC?

What about enlisting after graduating college?

Any tips I can share with my son?

At the end of the day I'll support my son whatever path he takes; however, I just want to ensure he has the best info possible in making a decision.

Thank you

 

[Jcleppe]

If your son is interested in switching to AROTC he should contact the AROTC Battalion ROO as soon as possible. This is not unusual, every year there are AFROTC cadets that make the switch to AROTC for the same reason as your son.

One thing to consider, if he does switch to AROTC he would be starting as a MS3 and he would be contracted which means there is an obligation to serve as an officer in the Army.

While there are opportunities for Special Operations in the Army, it would be something that he would not be able to apply for as an officer for about 3 years. His best bet right ow is to contact the AROTC Battalion, have a discussion with them about the Army, the program, and what opportunities there are. After getting all the facts he will be better informed in making his decision.

 

[New@This]

I don't have any suggestions but my what a difficult situation for both you and your son. It is heartbreaking as a parent to see our kids dreams not come to fruition.

Has he considered Navy ROTC? That would give him the seal option and perhaps an option to go Marines option. Not entirely sure how navy works as we are an AF/Army family.

 

[emwvmi01]

I have known several folks in your son's spot who successfully made the crossover from AF/N ROTC to AROTC as late as 1/C year. I would talk to Ms. Ruffin in the AROTC front office. The ROO at VMI deals mostly with prospective cadets since the battalion is so large (about 900 AROTC cadets was last I heard). She will tell you who he needs to link up with so you can figure out options. The other good news is the physical if required can be done by Dr. Copeland at the Post Hospital and my perspective was he was pretty good at assessing based on what the requirements for commissioning were and what your son already did with Rat Challenge or D1 Athletics. The good new is the crossover at an SMC isn't as hard I would guess since I definitely saw two guys switch last semester senior year (both were PT studs already) and they did just fine at Advanced Camp and commissioned at the end.

As far as opportunities go for the SOF community there are plenty of resources there that he can talk to and figure out how to pursue that in the Army.

Reference the plan to enlist talk to him about his realistic plan B or C. Things like what is your plan if you don't get selected for your preferred communities. Will you be happy in additional AFSCs? If he has loans look at the salary he will make coming in and see if it is supportable to repay those loans as an enlisted airman.

 

[Dckc88]

My daughter is not as a SMC, she is at a school
with both AFROTC and AROTC, and they definitely get AF cadets transferring to Army every year, and because of how AF works, not uncommon to do it after sophomore year. I agree with the above, he should talk to Army ASAP, even if he is not sure he is interested, I would encourage you to encourage him to give himself the benefit of a conversation. He does not know what he does not know. I know as a parent you know this, but I would be surprised if your son is different than my daughter at the end of her sophomore year, she doesn’t love me giving her advice! But will usually take it eventually. Another note, I recently learned from my daughter that her Lt Colonel started college in NROTC but obviously commissioned Army, so definitely it can end up being a really good thing. Options are always good. Good luck to your son and your family, I know this is stressful. And please keep up posted!

 

[VMI2020 Dad]

This is all good info. I talked to my son today and encouraged him to talk to the AROTC ROO. While typically what a Dad says goes in one ear and out the other, he did say that his fellow cadets were encouraging him as well so maybe he will follow through.

I’m encouraged by all the encouragement here and I hope this works out for my son. I reminded him today why he chose VMI and that if his desire to serve his country as an officer hasn’t changed, then perhaps he should do all he can to continue down that path.

Thanks all for the info it’s very helpful.

 

[23Lt]

If he enlists, make sure he is prepared to stay enlisted because OTS isn’t a guarantee. I have a good friend who completed AFROTC and majored in History. He couldn’t commission because he broke his leg, so he decided to heal, enlist, and then go to OTS. THEY DIDNT SELECT HIM BECAUSE OF HIS WEAK MAJOR! He is now an E5 and loves it, but if officership is the only thing he wants, it may be difficult.

Just my 0.2

 

[Falcon A]

This is all good info. I talked to my son today and encouraged him to talk to the AROTC ROO. While typically what a Dad says goes in one ear and out the other, he did say that his fellow cadets were encouraging him as well so maybe he will follow through.

I’m encouraged by all the encouragement here and I hope this works out for my son. I reminded him today why he chose VMI and that if his desire to serve his country as an officer hasn’t changed, then perhaps he should do all he can to continue down that path.

Thanks all for the info it’s very helpful.

VMI2020 -- any luck with your DS making contact with "Mr A" the VMI AROTC ROO?

 

[VMI2020 Dad]

This is all good info. I talked to my son today and encouraged him to talk to the AROTC ROO. While typically what a Dad says goes in one ear and out the other, he did say that his fellow cadets were encouraging him as well so maybe he will follow through.

I’m encouraged by all the encouragement here and I hope this works out for my son. I reminded him today why he chose VMI and that if his desire to serve his country as an officer hasn’t changed, then perhaps he should do all he can to continue down that path.

Thanks all for the info it’s very helpful.

VMI2020 -- any luck with your DS making contact with "Mr A" the VMI AROTC ROO?

He was supposed to talk to him this week; however he is also in the middle of exams and has been on "radio silence" for a couple days.

 

[VMI2020 Dad]

If he enlists, make sure he is prepared to stay enlisted because OTS isn’t a guarantee. I have a good friend who completed AFROTC and majored in History. He couldn’t commission because he broke his leg, so he decided to heal, enlist, and then go to OTS. THEY DIDNT SELECT HIM BECAUSE OF HIS WEAK MAJOR! He is now an E5 and loves it, but if officership is the only thing he wants, it may be difficult.

Just my 0.2

Yeah, the odds are definitely not in his favor if he wants to be an officer in the AF.