Wanting Army ROTC but only AF is available...

[Impulsive]

He can do just that, enlist, make rank then apply to OCS or even go Warrant to Lt (O-3) after he gets experience, does well, and is supported by his command. ROTC, and the SA's are just another way to do it. If he is truly adverse to College, enlist and advance to be eligible for OCS and then get his command to recommend him and he can Commission that way. This is something he needs to check into himself and make that decision.

 

[HawkeyeMom]

He can do just that, enlist, make rank then apply to OCS or even go Warrant to Lt (O-3) after he gets experience, does well, and is supported by his command. ROTC, and the SA's are just another way to do it. If he is truly adverse to College, enlist and advance to be eligible for OCS and then get his command to recommend him and he can Commission that way. This is something he needs to check into himself and make that decision.

One still needs a bachelor's degree to commission as an officer- even if commissioning through OCS. I don't believe the above is accurate.

 

[SunnyCal]

I believe that the current regulations require a minimum of 60 college units to be commissioned. Additionally, a 4 year college degree is required before being promotion to Captain/O-3. While Audie Murphy was promoted to first lieutenant without even a middle school education, it was a field promotion during a time of war. Very rare.

No college = No officer

 

[Heatherg21]

Our DS candidate never had ROTC as an option in high school, school doesn't offer it. He was awarded round 1 4 Year Tier 1 NROTC in October. Many ways to get there!

 

[LostInOKC]

No college = No officer

Gotcha, though with the current college atmosphere and professors I feel like that's asking him to shoot his foot to join the marching band :-/

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

 

[Heatherg21]

Gotcha, though with the current college atmosphere and professors I feel like that's asking him to shoot his foot to join the marching band :-/

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

There are a lot of schools that have a great military history. Many offer room and board scholarships to ROTC scholarship recipients. Our son selected Norwich, which is considered the birthplace of ROTC. He has another school that we had never heard of whose NROTC program is continuing to reach out to him letting him know the advantages of their program, and they offered full Room and Board for 4 years as well. They are near multiple navy bases and have listed plenty of experiences he would gain at their location. Many options, just keep doing the research. Good luck to you!

 

[HawkeyeMom]

Gotcha, though with the current college atmosphere and professors I feel like that's asking him to shoot his foot to join the marching band :-/

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

There are online options that award associate degrees. College of the Air Force? Can't remember the name off the top of my head, but I am sure you can do a search for that. Additionally, many 4-year institutions offer online classes at a discount to AD military (and are very supportive of them)- Liberty University comes to mind for one of them. So, your child could absolutely enlist, get his degree, and then commission as an officer if he desires. Or continue his career in the enlisted corps. Either path provides a great opportunity to serve!

 

[Stealth_81]

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

Isn't that what the service academies are? And, they are free.

Stealth_81

 

[Impulsive]

I believe that the current regulations require a minimum of 60 college units to be commissioned. Additionally, a 4 year college degree is required before being promotion to Captain/O-3. While Audie Murphy was promoted to first lieutenant without even a middle school education, it was a field promotion during a time of war. Very rare.

No college = No officer

Unless something has changed this is not correct! At least in the USCG, you can make E-6 or above, get appointed as a CWO (Commissioned Warrant Officer) and then go from CWO to LT (O-3) without any college. Also many accredited Colleges offer College Credit for Service Schools and Service Experience that can get you College Credits. I would assume other Services have some sort of direct enlisted to Warrant or Ensign (via OCS) that is based on experience and in service schooling.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/navy-warrant-officer-selection-program-3355996

https://media.defense.gov/2017/Jun/26/2001769018/-1/-1/0/CIM_1420_1.PDF

 

[kinnem]

Unless something has changed this is not correct! At least in the USCG, you can make E-6 or above, get appointed as a CWO (Commissioned Warrant Officer) and then go from CWO to LT (O-3) without any college. Also many accredited Colleges offer College Credit for Service Schools and Service Experience that can get you College Credits. I would assume other Services have some sort of direct enlisted to Warrant or Ensign (via OCS) that is based on experience and in service schooling.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/navy-warrant-officer-selection-program-3355996

https://media.defense.gov/2017/Jun/26/2001769018/-1/-1/0/CIM_1420_1.PDF

While it may be true of the CG it is not true of Air Force. Army, or Navy. The latter services have a path to a commission for enlisted folks, but it requires earning a college degree along the way. Many, if not most, earn this degree while serving as enlisted personnel at a college with their approoriate ROTC program, and they are participants in that program.

 

[TexasAggie204]

Gotcha, though with the current college atmosphere and professors I feel like that's asking him to shoot his foot to join the marching band :-/

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

Texas A&M is as close to this as I have observed (and experienced). Definitely not as affordable as when I went, but 100% promotes the USA and armed forces. There were a couple of "wacko" professors there (English Dept. perhaps?) that I experienced, but overall a very conservative and patriotic campus and community.

 

[AROTC-dad]

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

The Service Academies have served this function since USMA in 1802. USMA, USNA and USAFA are basically a top level college education as @Stealth states, FREE of tuition, in exchange for military service.

In addition as @Heatherg21 mentions, there are SIX senior military colleges, five of which are publicly owned. All of these institutions tend to be highly supportive of our military and their cadets/midshipmen do receive a good portion of ROTC scholarships.

Senior Military Colleges

• Norwich (private)
• VMI
• Virginia Tech
• The Citadel
• Texas A&M
• University of North GA (Army only)

My own DS, who is now an Army 2LT received nothing but support at a Public State University out in the west. While this is anecdotal, the atmosphere at most college campuses are more open about ROTC programs.

The bottom line is that if your DS wants to be an officer, a four year degree is the most likely way to achieve this. Are there exceptions as @Impulsive states? Yes, but these are significantly fewer in number, especially in the Army, Navy, and AF.

 

[SunnyCal]

It would be nice if the military had their own comparable (and affordable) colleges that promoted the USA, armed forces, etc. to counter this.

The military does have there own colleges, i.e., United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Spring, CO, United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY.

Although all these schools have very different curriculum and career outcomes, they have important similarities. Each academy will provide physical activities to train students for the careers they’ll be going into. All service academies require usually a minimum of five years of active duty. Tuition, room and board will be paid for by the Federal Government. Of course, these colleges are highly competitive.

 

[Tbpxece]

No college = No officer

Not true. Neither the LDO nor the WO/CWO route require college degrees.

 

[SunnyCal]

As Impulsive and Tbpxece have mentioned above, there are ways to become a kind or type of officer, but neither are referring to a traditional commissioned officer. If your son was interested in becoming a Warrant Officer, he would need to first become an Army enlisted member for several years until he reached the rank of E-6 or higher to be considered for selection. Likewise, if your son was interested in becoming a Navy Limited Duty Officer, he would need to first become an enlisted member of the Navy for several years. Once he at least reached the rank of E-6 (who are selection board eligible for E-7), he would then become eligible. No college is required for either of these.

No college = No commissioned officer

Warrant Officers

Advance your career as an Army Warrant Officer. Qualified enlisted Soldiers with the passion, focus, and drive to become technical experts in their field can pursue this highly respected role.

www.goarmy.com

What Does the Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program Entail?

Take a closer look at the Limited Duty Officer Program, which provides commissioning opportunities to qualified senior enlisted personnel and CWOs.

www.thebalancecareers.com

 

[ProudDad17]

If I wanted to drive from San Francisco, CA to Teaneck NJ, the surest, most direct route is to get on interstate 80 and keep heading east. Could I get there by detouring through Seattle, Memphis, Dallas, Green Bay, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc? Sure I could still end up there, but it extends the time to get there and increases the chances of breaking down or getting stuck in one of these places. On the flip side, I'd see some pretty cool stuff along the way and have some experiences I would not otherwise have.

 

[Tbpxece]

@SunnyCal : unfortunately, you are still incorrect. Fortunately, all of this is covered in standard officer training (regardless of branch), which you may have the opportunity to enter after finishing high school.

Until then, I'd suggest holding off on commenting on aspects of military policy where you have no experience unless you can actually point to the written policy or guidance itself.

No college = No commissioned officer

All LDO's and all Warrant Officers (with the exception of the quasi-training grade of W-1) are commissioned officers.

They take the same oath of office as any other commissioned officer, set forth in 5 USC 3331, and receive their commission from POTUS.

If your son was interested in becoming a Warrant Officer, he would need to first become an Army enlisted member for several years until he reached the rank of E-6 or higher to be considered for selection.

The Army allows direct accession to WO without a college degree and without prior service-- the various programs governing this have been discussed elsewhere on this site.

If I wanted to drive from San Francisco, CA to Teaneck NJ, the surest, most direct route is to get on interstate 80 and keep heading east. Could I get there by detouring through Seattle, Memphis, Dallas, Green Bay, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc? Sure I could still end up there, but it extends the time to get there and increases the chances of breaking down or getting stuck in one of these places. On the flip side, I'd see some pretty cool stuff along the way and have some experiences I would not otherwise have.

@ProudDad17 is completely correct-- the common (and typically fastest) way to a commission as any officer (regular, direct-commissioned, warrant, or limited duty) is to earn a degree and complete branch-specific officer training.

 

[SunnyCal]

In the Army, Commissioned Officers are educated professionals, trained to lead other soldiers in all situations. They receive training in general leadership and management, with increased levels of command experience as they advance. You can become an Officer by following one of four paths, i.e., Army ROTC, Direct Commission, Officer Candidate School & United States Military Academy.

Warrant Officers are the technical experts in the Army. They have specific technical or tactical specialties, e.g., helicopter pilots, and manage and maintain many of the Army’s combat systems, vehicles and networks. Once they reach the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2), the President of the United States gives them the same status as a Commissioned Officer.

Again, while a chief warrant officer 2 may receive the same status as a commissioned officer, they are certainly not traditionally commissioned officers. Moreover, I don't think the OP was interested in the Coast Guard, Limited Duty Officers or Warrant Officers. Interestingly, Warrant Officers make up 2.5% of the Army, much more than I would have guessed.

Path for Army Officers

Stand among the fearless leaders of the Army. The ones with the expertise to confidently guide missions for our nation’s success.

www.goarmy.com

 

[SunnyCal]

As a side note, I do find this great entertainment value for myself. It's funny to see these disgruntled forum members, with obvious inordinate amounts of time on their hands, feeling threatened by someone in high school that they feel compelled to scour the Internet and read all my previous postings in a desperate attempt to discredit my postings, even if off topic. To me, it appears as some egos get bruised easily. I feel like I walked into a private club without a tie on and and all the country club members sitting down just looked up at me with distain. But I also feel a bit sad because I feel sorry for them.

 

[unkown1961]

There is some entertainment value here, but I don't think it's from the perspective you're seeing.
People aren't discrediting your postings, but clarifying and correcting. And doing so from a position of experience, both as parents and as military members. You provided incorrect or misleading comments and these were corrected. A simple "thanks for the correction" would be a good move.
Along with that, look up the definition of "deference." This is particularly a good move when trying to offer advice along with board members who have had much more direct experience than you have. I've helped three kids obtain both NROTC and AFROTC scholarships (the most recent being a senior in high school), but I still defer to people like Tbpxece and Kinnem who are on the inside and experienced. There are times I feel like offering input, but if these two or others are taking the lead, it's best to let things roll.
Finally, as a tip for college, use quotes around any comments you post that are taken directly from websites you're using as references - even if you include the link. As a college instructor, I can assure you that is considered a form of plagiarism, albeit unintentional due to a lack of experience or education (not all high schools emphasize the same writing lessons.)
And maybe your experience is the same as walking into a club without a tie on, but that would also be due to inexperience. Much like using "distain" when "disdain" would be more appropriate.
Good luck in your scholarship attempts, but learn to know when to back off and defer.