BF2S Forums Military: Before or after college?

RAIMIUS wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Yeah, I know enlisted can't be pilots. What I wanted to do was join when I'm 18, get my degree while I'm enlisted, and then move up to officer once I'm able to. Is that possible?

The only reason I'm considering enlisting after high school is because I was told that I'd be able to get everything I'd get in college (education wise) for free. No student loans? No debt? Sounds good to me. Of course, he was probably bullshitting me, but whatever.

Yes, you can do that.  However, it is a more complex route.

USAFA has no tuition.  Room and board are covered, plus cadets get paid.
AFROTC has varying scholarships that can cover tuition and books.  Also, some schools will cover any expenses not covered by the ROTC scholarship (I'm not sure about ERAU, but at least one school I considered would have done that).
Also, USAFA and AFROTC get over 80% of the Air Force's available UPT slots.
Roughly 50% of USAFA cadets can get pilot slots.
About 40% of ROTC cadets can get pilot slots.
I don't know what ratio of OTS candidates can get slots.

Poseidon wrote:

RAIMIUS wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Yeah, I know enlisted can't be pilots. What I wanted to do was join when I'm 18, get my degree while I'm enlisted, and then move up to officer once I'm able to. Is that possible?

The only reason I'm considering enlisting after high school is because I was told that I'd be able to get everything I'd get in college (education wise) for free. No student loans? No debt? Sounds good to me. Of course, he was probably bullshitting me, but whatever.

Yes, you can do that.  However, it is a more complex route.

USAFA has no tuition.  Room and board are covered, plus cadets get paid.
AFROTC has varying scholarships that can cover tuition and books.  Also, some schools will cover any expenses not covered by the ROTC scholarship (I'm not sure about ERAU, but at least one school I considered would have done that).
Also, USAFA and AFROTC get over 80% of the Air Force's available UPT slots.
Roughly 50% of USAFA cadets can get pilot slots.
About 40% of ROTC cadets can get pilot slots.
I don't know what ratio of OTS candidates can get slots.

Well, ERAU has the best AFROTC program of any college (so I've heard), so I'd definitely do that. They have something like 100-something cadets?

http://www.det157.com/ - I think this is the site.

Poseidon wrote:

cowami wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Well, ERAU has the best AFROTC program of any college (so I've heard), so I'd definitely do that. They have something like 100-something cadets?

http://www.det157.com/ - I think this is the site.

there's a fuckload of 'em

course a good number of them tender their resignations within the first week (my friend next door gave his in the day after they shaved his head )

Well, whichever one seems the best, I'd go for.

AFTER they shaved his head? What a waste..

How is it so far, btw?

cowami wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

cowami wrote:

there's a fuckload of 'em

course a good number of them tender their resignations within the first week (my friend next door gave his in the day after they shaved his head )

Well, whichever one seems the best, I'd go for.

AFTER they shaved his head? What a waste..

How is it so far, btw?

yeah, he was told to sit at the ROTC briefing, sat, and next thing he knew, the guy took a shaver to his head

anyway, it's fine, workload isn't too bad yet

cowami wrote:

FEOS wrote:

Was it AF ROTC or another branch? Which school?

afrotc, at embry-riddle

Icleos wrote:

I'm actually somewhat in the same boat but I've already made my decision.
I attended college for about two years and decided that the direction I was heading wasn't what I want.
I've just sent off my paper work to my recruiter and should be heading off to meps as enlisted for the USAF in about a week or so.  I have enough college credits that once I get out of basic I will be an E-3 rank with respected pay while I train for my assigned field of work.
I plan on going through ROTC later on though to get a full degree and become an officer.  Military provides a lot of benefits and joining the Air Force is something that I honestly look forward to.