My son just finished BMT and is at tech school. He doesn't have a computer so I wanted to ask this for him:
Turns out he loves the A.F. and wants to be an officer in the regular Air Force and possibly even become a pilot. I know the Army has a program where they can be in the guard and simultaneously be in ROTC while getting their degree and thus earning a commission. I have searched the internet and I can't find any mention about whether you can do this in the Air Force. Does anyone know if this is possible? If not, does ANG have a ROTC program he could enter? I know that ANG units normally select their officers from their enlisted ranks but I dont think that will work for him because he is is in a RED HORSE unit and you have to have a degree in engineering to become an officer (he is weak in math). Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Also, FWIW he is right out of high school and hasn't started college yet.
Yes; your son can be in Air Force ROTC at the same time. All it takes is a signed AF 1288(conditional release) from the wing commander to be able to do it. I don't think they would have any problem with any other ROTC programs either. I don't see any issues with them signing it. It is rare that a commander would hold up someone's career. Keep in mind that he may lose some ANG education benefits if ROTC. He would need to talk to a AF ROTC Program individual for all the specifics(and his retention office manager (ROM)). Engineering is one of there hot picks by the way.
Wish him the best of luck from me. As a prior Red Horse member myself he has entered in to a whole new world. Life will be exciting!
While in the Guard or the Reserve the first two years of ROTC are no problem to be in both. To enter the Junior and Senior years of ROTC you must sign up and be under contract so he would need to be released from the Guard though it is posible to delay signing for a year and get another year in the Guard. Getting the release is no problem as the reg states that a comander must release the individual to enter a commisioning program he does not have to like it but he must do it.
