Forum: Future F-16 crew

Quick question for anyone who may know. Do you have to contract with ROTC before finding out if you got a pilot slot? For example, you put your package in for a pilot slot, attend field training and come back. Do you sign a contract right after this and then find out if you got the pilot slot, or do you find out if you got the slot and then sign your contract?

Thanks all,

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Contract first (for ROTC), then slot...sorry. Can't just quit if you don't get to fly.... (don't get me started)

Cylon

As far as I know, you even contract before field training.

I contracted first (freshman year) and was awarded a pilot slot my first senior year (I'm on the five-year plan Wink

). I think I see where this question is going, so I'm going to be perfectly honest with you here. If you were planning on completely bailing from the military if you don't get a pilot slot, don't even bother joining ROTC. We want people who want to be officers first, getting a desired career field is secondary. It's a waste of everyone's time if all you want out of the program is a pilot slot.

My advice to you is to really ask yourself what you want to do, serve your country, or fly airplanes. If the answer is to serve, join ROTC and give it 110%. I promise that good things will happen to you provided you give it your all. If the answer is to fly airplanes, go to the FBO down the street and start taking flying lessons there.

Not trying to attack you, but it makes me angry when people join ROTC for the wrong reasons.

-- The Battle Axe

BA, you sound like a AFROTC cadet Wink

Sabooth, ROTC is not you're only option although it is one of the best outside of the Academy. There is OCS of course, but for a pilot slot, from what I"ve heard ROTC is the better option. I have a couple of close friends who have gone through Marine OCS and both have pilot slots. One always wanted to be a Marine, and the other wanted to be a pilot for any branch, so he jumped at the chance when the Marines offered it. If you consider the Marines though, remember that most of their aviation slots are for rotary wing AC. I have another close friend who is currently at AVOBC at Ft Rucker. He hopes to fly UH-60s when he finishes that. I don't really have many friends in the Navy, so if you want further info on Marine or Army aviation, just ask. Good luck, which route you choose.

KPDiamond17 is talking about the PLC program. Of which I have personal experiance. Its a good program provided you speak Recruiter (something aquired when most of your family members are military).

Basics:

1. Aviation Slot can be guaranteed. Almost nobody else will do this mainly because they dont have to, they've got people standing in line where the Marines are starting to run dry on pilots. Only thing is you have to be approved, which means good test scores on both your applied Aviation portion of the testing and your OAR score (officer aptitude rating). Me, I scored an 8/8 overall for the test so they jumped at me, a 5/8 is minimum and you probably wont make it if there arnt alot of slots available.

2. Financial Assistance available. Keep in mind one thing, to recieve it while in college you have to be on delayed entry, that means screw up and your enlisted into whatever field they want. You can opt to recieve the money at graduation also, I did this and it payed off when I walked away to go fly for the Navy.

3. Make sure your talking to an officer, this is recruiting and they are in the buisness of putting bodys into slots, not making your dreams come true. There are plenty of good folks in the field trying to get you where you want, but there are lots more that could really care less if your happy with the next 8 years of your life. So research everything they tell you and get any promise they make in writting. If they wont write a guarantee for aviation, tell them to have a better day because there screwing you over.

4. As soon as you go to Quantico (you train over 2 summers during college) you are officially in the Corps, so you get time in grade upon commision. Go your freshmen year and you start as a 3rd year 2nd Lt. Nice little bonus and you still arnt commited till your junior year if your not on delayed entry.

5. If its so good why did I leave? As I said before I was an 8/8, accepted in 2001 for aviation upon graduation. I got out because I saw the writting on the wall. The Harriers are approaching the end of there service lives, The Legacy Hornets they have are almost as old as me in many cases, they cant afford the Super Hornet when there the ones that it would do the most good for, and other then praying for a JSF slot around 2014 the only thing around with alot of availability will be the Osprey.... something I really dont want to fly. So I traded up with the Navy. It'll cost me a little more money for college, but I dont want to fly rotory wing, I would be happy with anything else.

The way you should look at it is simple. The Military is going to get everything they can out of you in the time your in, make sure your getting everything you can out of them. And good luck with the AFOQT

KP, you caught me! Sounds like lawman has a good idea how the PLC program works, never heard of it myself. Personally I've always been skeptical of the "guaranteed pilot slot" the day you walk in there, but maybe that's just me. Make sure you read the fine print.

-- The Battle Axe

_________________ LET'S ROLL! SPIRIT OF 9-11-01

Do all high schools and colleges have an ROTC program? I haven't heard of one at my high school here in Illinois. Is ROTC a good place to get into the Air Force?

Thanks

not every high school has a JROTC program and not every college or university has a ROTC program. Don't know how many AROTC battalions there are nationwide, but I think there are about 140 AFROTC DETs in the country.

Just a reminder: Even if a recruiter "puts it in writing" they are not authorized to contract you catorization in the military, regardless of branch of service. If they PROMISE you'll fly jets, it may end up as "needs of the service..." Writing in regards to assignment type means NOTHING to the courts...

Cylon

Sabooth, BattleAx said it right. As an AFROTC, your FIRST goal is to become a 2nd Lt in the Air Force. Earning a pilot slot is great, but its not #1. If you join ROTC, they will ask you this in your interview. They want to know that you're not trying to get things from the Air Force, but rather give the Air Force everything you have.

I understand your feelings though- I'll be categorizing in February, and I'm extremely anxious about it.

And yes, you absolutely have to contract before you are even eligible for pilot slots. I'm on a 3-year scholarship, so I contracted the beginning of sophomore year. If you don't get a scholarship, you'll contract once you return from Field Training. Every member of the Professional Officer Corps (upper classmen) is contracted.

Grunt, of course I'm biased a bit, but I believe ROTC is the absolute hands down best way into the Air Force. It allows you to enjoy a normal college life as well as give you more time to decide whether the Air Force is really right for you. Also, the environment is fantastic. My ROTC detachment contains over 600 members, but we all love what we're doing and the friends we have here. I know once I go active duty that I'll be keeping in touch with alot of them in their careers.

Forum: Future F-16 crew

ROTC contract