ROTC

[BCTAv8r]

Once again the ROTC topic comes up. Sorry if it has been beaten to death but I'm starting to think about doing ROTC versus taking my chances with the guard.
I wear glasses and I don't know if the guard has the PRK waiver. Even if they do, why would they pick a candidate with glasses when there are many others with perfect vision?

Given the above I am considering more and more going to another in-state college and doing ROTC. I really want live at a college and make the transition from kid to adult while there. If I stay at home nothing will change. So since I want to fly in the Air Force (would prefer the ANG) anyways, I figure why not just go through ROTC?

Is the PRK guaranteed? I won't become a citizen for at the most another 4 years, can I still get a scholarship? What should I do now?

[BCTAv8r]

It looks like I'm not eligible for a scholarship because I'm not a citizen. That's just complete BS. Is there a point to being in ROTC if they aren't gonna give me a scholarship?

[Timbuff10]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

It looks like I'm not eligible for a scholarship because I'm not a citizen. That's just complete BS. Is there a point to being in ROTC if they aren't gonna give me a scholarship?

There is always that whole service before self thing... And the point of ROTC is to produce officers, not people that got a free ride through college.

[BCTAv8r]

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

There is always that whole service before self thing... And the point of ROTC is to produce officers, not people that got a free ride through college.

I want to be an officer. I have no problem with the service before self thing. But I can't attend a college that has ROTC because I don't have the financial capabilities to pay for housing, and the university I'm going to doesn't have AFROTC.

[Timbuff10]

Become a citizen asap, and you can do ROTC and they will pay for nearly all of your college plus they may even give you the stipend that gives you a few hundred bucks extra a month. Just gotta get that scholarship they offer. It isn't really that hard to get either, just gotta make that commitment is all.

I don't know if every school is like that but all that I looked at were. Colorado, UCLA, Colorado State, University of North Carolina, and I think even University of Florida.

[Timbuff10]

http://www.colorado.edu/AFROTC/prosp...cadets/faq.htm

http://www.colorado.edu/AFROTC/index.html

There are some links for you from my school. I am sure other schools have the same pages, you will just have to search for them.

[BCTAv8r]

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

Become a citizen asap, and you can do ROTC and they will pay for nearly all of your college plus they may even give you the stipend that gives you a few hundred bucks extra a month. Just gotta get that scholarship they offer. It isn't really that hard to get either, just gotta make that commitment is all.

I don't know if every school is like that but all that I looked at were. Colorado, UCLA, Colorado State, University of North Carolina, and I think even University of Florida.

That's the problem. I could become a citizen before I get comissioned, but not to enter the program. You have to wait 5 years to become a citizen after naturalization so I still have 3 years to go.

[vabantha]

You take more of a chance with ROTC than the guard. You apply for pilot positions with each guard unit and if unsuccessful, you have no commitment. With ROTC you are not selected for a pilot spot until late into your 3rd year (at least that's the way it was 10 years ago). If you don't get selected you still have a commitment. All of the physical requirements are the same across the board.

The first two years of AFROTC is called GMC (general military course). If you don't have a scholarship when you start, you can always earn one with good grades, afoqt scores and performance within the unit. Your last two years are called POC (professional officer course). All POC cadets get some sort of tuition assistance, and therefore, incur some sort of commitment.

If you can't afford a four year college, try to find a community college close to a university that offers ROTC. We had several cadets from the local c.c. that belonged to our unit. This will give you the opportunity to earn money and/or a scholarship for the university.

My experience has been that the Air Force is looking for officers first. If you go into an interview emphasizing the fact that you want to be a pilot, you better be prepared to tell them why they should offer you a scholarship when only a small percentage of cadets get selected for pilot training.

I don't know about the citizenship thing. I'm pretty sure that you have to be one before you can get contracted (scholarship). We were sworn in during our initial orientation, so you will need to have citizenship before commissioning.

It sounds like your best bet may be to join a guard unit as an enlisted airman. You can gain experience, money, and invaluable contacts. When selecting someone to go to pilot training they are always keen to send their own guys first.

Again, I went through ROTC in the mid-90's so things might have changed a bit.

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Once again the ROTC topic comes up. Sorry if it has been beaten to death but I'm starting to think about doing ROTC versus taking my chances with the guard.
I wear glasses and I don't know if the guard has the PRK waiver. Even if they do, why would they pick a candidate with glasses when there are many others with perfect vision?

Given the above I am considering more and more going to another in-state college and doing ROTC. I really want live at a college and make the transition from kid to adult while there. If I stay at home nothing will change. So since I want to fly in the Air Force (would prefer the ANG) anyways, I figure why not just go through ROTC?

Is the PRK guaranteed? I won't become a citizen for at the most another 4 years, can I still get a scholarship? What should I do now?

[BCTAv8r]

Thanks a lot for the info, vabantha. I always wanted to go the Guard route but since I wear glasses I'm not sure if the PRK waiver works with them as well.

[vabantha]

Like I said, the physical requirements are the same for all avenues. Air Force flight school is Air Force flight school regardless of where you will eventually end up. So if PRK can be waivered for SUPT in general, then it does not matter if you are guard, active, or reserve.

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Thanks a lot for the info, vabantha. I always wanted to go the Guard route but since I wear glasses I'm not sure if the PRK waiver works with them as well.

[BCTAv8r]

But considering they have equally qualified candidates with perfect vision, they would probably be chosen over me, correct?

If I was to enlist do you think I'd have a better chance with the PRK thing?

[MDPilot]

Brian, I hate to get into this discussion, but exactly how bad are your eyes? AF requirements are for 20/20 near, and 20/70 distant (correctable to 20/20.)

The max waiverable for distant is 20/200 (correctable to 20/20) as long as you have no greater than +/- 3.00 diopters astigmatism. That's all without PRK needed.

If you are greater than 3.0 dipoters, you can go up to -5.50 pre-op then correct with PRK and get the PRK waiver. But PRK waivers are much harder to get than just a plain 20/200 waiver.

[MDPilot]

On another topic, you can do AFROTC while you are at FAU through the crosstown affiliate program with the Univ of Miami. http://www6.miami.edu/aerospace-studies/ Call them for details.

[BCTAv8r]

Originally Posted by MDPilot

Brian, I hate to get into this discussion, but exactly how bad are your eyes? AF requirements are for 20/20 near, and 20/70 distant (correctable to 20/20.)

The max waiverable for distant is 20/200 (correctable to 20/20) as long as you have no greater than +/- 3.00 diopters astigmatism. That's all without PRK needed.

If you are greater than 3.0 dipoters, you can go up to -5.50 pre-op then correct with PRK and get the PRK waiver. But PRK waivers are much harder to get than just a plain 20/200 waiver.

My eyes are a little better than 20/200. Is it possible to go to a military doctor to see if I would be disqualified?

[vabantha]

Well, of course, if you have two identical candidates the one with better eyesight would have an advantage. However, there are rarely two identical candidates. Same thing with enlisting. If you have two identical guys, one with prior service in your unit, then he would have the advantage, but then they wouldn't be identical would they? You can't do anything about your eyes, but you CAN do everything else performance based. Get good grades, afoqt scores, bat test, high pft scores, lots of flight time, active involvement in your unit, etc. etc. Good luck.

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

But considering they have equally qualified candidates with perfect vision, they would probably be chosen over me, correct?

If I was to enlist do you think I'd have a better chance with the PRK thing?

[BCTAv8r]

Originally Posted by MDPilot

On another topic, you can do AFROTC while you are at FAU through the crosstown affiliate program with the Univ of Miami. http://www6.miami.edu/aerospace-studies/ Call them for details.

Sadly it seems like it's not an option for me. I have to be a citizen to get in the program and won't become one till 2009. Now only if the military could expedite things a bit.

[ColMustard]

Guard or Reserves sounds more like what you are looking for. The previous post is right on about the AFROTC breakdown. First two: no committment, after that you start to commit time (or money), but only about 5-10% get selected for pilot slots out of ROTC. The pecking order for pilot slot giveaway is as follows:

Air Force Academy grads
ROTC
Reserves
Air National Guard

By the time you get down to the reserves and guard, there are little slots (if any) left, depending on the "needs of the Air Force". But once you qualify, and the unit takes you, you have it made!

With the Guard or Reserve you commit yourself to a unit, and prove to them that they should hire you (thats essentially what they are doing, hiring you for their unit/squadron).

The biggest catch of them all is definitely the physical. If you are interested in pursuing the guard or reserves, contact the local squadron and get a contact on a base. You'll probably need to have the AFOQT, physical, and a recruiter helping you out. But if things don't work out for whatever reason, you have no committment. Just need the four-year, and then get the ball rolling.

-ColM

[frog_flyer]

im gonna do rotc in the fall. Joining as a sophomore isnt a big deal at all, just double up on classes.

I'd wait it out and go guard if i could, but i have a better shot via ROTC.

My eyes were 20/40 at my last checkup (got my 3rd class medical without correction) but i think theyre slippin a little more. Oh well, it is what it is.

I'm going to ask my det. if i can get a flight physical before i do anything, but don't know if that will fly (pun intended). Anyone have any exp with this?

There is at least 1 guy on this board who didnt get a pilot slot via rotc, and commissioned into the reserves and is now flying. How does that work?

[ColMustard]

Originally Posted by frog_flyer

im gonna do rotc in the fall. Joining as a sophomore isnt a big deal at all, just double up on classes.

I'd wait it out and go guard if i could, but i have a better shot via ROTC.

My eyes were 20/40 at my last checkup (got my 3rd class medical without correction) but i think theyre slippin a little more. Oh well, it is what it is.

I'm going to ask my det. if i can get a flight physical before i do anything, but don't know if that will fly (pun intended). Anyone have any exp with this?

There is at least 1 guy on this board who didnt get a pilot slot via rotc, and commissioned into the reserves and is now flying. How does that work?

Probably commissioned, serverd his four, joined the reserves with a specific squadron, and had that squadron sponsor him when applying for a pilot slot.

With the reserves and guard, they should know if they are about to be alotted a few pilot slots, they begin interviewing, and choose a couple out of the bunch. I came within one slot of joining a squadron, but had some "discrepancies" shall we say? when I was in ROTC. They usually only interview ever 6 months or so, and then from that bunch, take only a couple. Pretty competitive.

-ColM

[vabantha]

Also when the guard is interviewing, they are usually doing so for a spot that is about 18 months in the future. You need to be able to enter flight school before age 30 (used to be younger), so keep in mind that if you are older than 28 1/2 your chances are pretty slim. I'm not sure if they waiver something like that.

Originally Posted by ColMustard

Probably commissioned, serverd his four, joined the reserves with a specific squadron, and had that squadron sponsor him when applying for a pilot slot.

With the reserves and guard, they should know if they are about to be alotted a few pilot slots, they begin interviewing, and choose a couple out of the bunch. I came within one slot of joining a squadron, but had some "discrepancies" shall we say? when I was in ROTC. They usually only interview ever 6 months or so, and then from that bunch, take only a couple. Pretty competitive.

-ColM

[vabantha]

They way I understood it back in the day the order was a little different. Active duty hierarchy was academy, rotc, ots. The reserves and guard were selecting from a different pool since each unit had its own needs and you couldn't go straight into the guard from the academy or rotc back then. I'm not sure whether that has changed.

The nice thing about the guard is that you fly (assuming you don't wash out of upt) whatever plane that squadron has regardless of your flight school ranking. Normally, a graduating class has a list of available planes/helos that they pick from according to their ranking. However, if a f-16 guard squadron sponsored you, then that's what you would get even if you were ranked last. So the moral of the story is, if you think there is only one type of plane that you want to fly, apply to only the units that have those planes.

Originally Posted by ColMustard

Guard or Reserves sounds more like what you are looking for. The previous post is right on about the AFROTC breakdown. First two: no committment, after that you start to commit time (or money), but only about 5-10% get selected for pilot slots out of ROTC. The pecking order for pilot slot giveaway is as follows:

Air Force Academy grads
ROTC
Reserves
Air National Guard

By the time you get down to the reserves and guard, there are little slots (if any) left, depending on the "needs of the Air Force". But once you qualify, and the unit takes you, you have it made!

With the Guard or Reserve you commit yourself to a unit, and prove to them that they should hire you (thats essentially what they are doing, hiring you for their unit/squadron).

The biggest catch of them all is definitely the physical. If you are interested in pursuing the guard or reserves, contact the local squadron and get a contact on a base. You'll probably need to have the AFOQT, physical, and a recruiter helping you out. But if things don't work out for whatever reason, you have no committment. Just need the four-year, and then get the ball rolling.

-ColM

[ColMustard]

Originally Posted by vabantha

They way I understood it back in the day the order was a little different. Active duty hierarchy was academy, rotc, ots. The reserves and guard were selecting from a different pool since each unit had its own needs and you couldn't go straight into the guard from the academy or rotc back then. I'm not sure whether that has changed.

The nice thing about the guard is that you fly (assuming you don't wash out of upt) whatever plane that squadron has regardless of your flight school ranking. Normally, a graduating class has a list of available planes/helos that they pick from according to their ranking. However, if a f-16 guard squadron sponsored you, then that's what you would get even if you were ranked last. So the moral of the story is, if you think there is only one type of plane that you want to fly, apply to only the units that have those planes.

My bad, you have it right. I forgot about OTS. Yes that IS the hierarchy for active duty, and then like you mentioned, regardless of your class ranking, whatever equipment your squadron has, you will be assigned. I've heard its a little more fun for those guys, cause they don't have to worry too much about being number 1, just graduating is enough.

-ColM

[BCTAv8r]

How are the reserves compared to ANG? Does the hiring process work the same way?

[vabantha]

I'm not exactly sure, but I don't think many people go straight into the reserves for pilot training without prior service. Usually they can find enough pilots who are making the transition from active duty to fill their ranks without having to spend the money to train a new pilot.

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

How are the reserves compared to ANG? Does the hiring process work the same way?

[BCTAv8r]

Are the chances of getting a pilot slot in OCS allright? How does it work?