I'm currently a contracted Army ROTC cadet with a full four year scholarship. I just completed my first year as an MS1 and it was a great experience, but after a whole year, I'm still not sure it fits. I contracted early on in the school year, however, as a freshman I'm entitled to break my contract up until August, when I return back to school for my second year. Before getting an ROTC scholarship I had pretty much made up my mind to enlist in the air force.
I haven't fully figured out if my heart's in Army ROTC, and I've been considering breaking my contract to enlist in the Air Force. Any thoughts or advice on this? What is life in the Air Force like for an enlisted airman?
Some people think it's crazy to give up my scholarship and my opportunity to be an officer in the military rather than an enlisted, but I'm young and to make a commitment to the next 3 years of ROTC, 4 years active service after, and 4 years inactive versus just 4 years of the air force is difficult when I'm still not sure what I want to do.
Either way, I definitely appreciate the benefits of being in the military and I absolutely intend on staying in, regardless of which branch I end up with. I'm just at a loss for what to do, with so little time to make this decision (my contract locks up in August).
I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, or information anyone has for me... Thanks!
Giving up the chance to be an officer to be a dud in the AF? Dude, if you actually have to ask the question, then you need to choke yourself. What a dumbass!
wow, this guy is confused. I think either way he is screwed. Army Officer Corps won't want him because he is to computer dumb to post a AF question in an AF Forum and the AF won't want him for the same reason.
Dude I think your chances of success are slim so you should try the Civil Air Patrol or the Coast Guard....Reserves...Auxillary......
Why not at least enlist in the Army? Why would you do Army ROTC instead of AF ROTC if you liked the AF?
You are young. It is natural to be unsure of what you want to do. It is natural to feel intimidated by what is expected of a 2nd LT. in the Army. However, you will be well trained, everything you need to know, you will be taught. You have a long time before you get commissioned, so relax. Do not give up your scholarship, you will regret it. Just enjoy college. If you are having problems, talk to higher ranking ROTC cadets or the cadre. They can help you.
Originally posted by foxred03: Why would you do Army ROTC instead of AF ROTC if you liked the AF?
+1
------------------------------------------------ "I don't mind falling down and scraping up my knees. Scars and stitches always fade and only strengthen me." -Guster, Scars and Stitches
I joined ROTC with this guy who earned a 4 year scholarship. After a couple months, he started acting like a useless and highly distracted POS. I asked him what was bothering him. The response was unbelievable. He became disillusioned with AROTC because...I kid you not...he found out he couldnt fly F15s in the Army!!! He quit after that semester and transferred to another school.
Well I knew I should not have come over here but could not help myself. Almost 4 years on these boards and I have been good about this. O well there goes that.
Up front guys he posted this in the AF forums as well but because it does have to do with Army since he is in line to be an Army officer, he also posted it here as well. Wow you guys are testy here much like you are in real life.
Now the dud comment about being enlisted in the Air Force. See that exactly sums up your problems in the Army. You assume that all E 4 and below are duds. Maybe you are right but that’s definitely not my call. In the Air Force however we do have our share of duds but the average airman is a technically proficient and skilled troop who knows his job. I have been around the Army enough both in Germany and on this deployment to know that is not always the case for you guys.
Do you know that the Air Force has the highest rate of enlisted people with bachelor’s degrees? Last time I checked all you needed to be an Army officer these days was at least 2 years of college completed with the caveat that you finish your bachelors before you make Captain which only takes 2 years in and of itself. (I heard this but would like to have it confirmed because it was my main reason for business in your neck of the woods until I saw this onslaught.)
You guys recruit at the lowest standards and have the audacity to fire comments at a guy who could be giving you commands in a few years? Its that mentality that continues to plague the Army. I was treated like crap so when I get into a position of authority I will do the same.
I will admit up front that you guys have been screwed over in these wars with both number of deployments, lengths of deployments, and mission requirements. I will also admit and applaud many of your world class warriors for their service and work as many are some of the best people I have ever met, and my friends whom I would do anything for. I would never join the Army, suggest the Army for anyone I know, but cannot knock some of the work that those who are in the Army do. We all must live with our choices though.
There is however a major service (cultural more than anything) battle between the AF and the Army with the Army having the huge chip on the shoulder. I believe that our CSAF and SecAF got the boot partly because of their non conformist demeanor when it came to the Army. Now our new SecAF is prior Army so we shall see where that goes. I have a feeling though they will all be replaced sometime early next year.
Anyway I need to wrap this up so I pose this question for you. If you got a young smart kid like amsu11 asking a regular question from those who have served about which way he should go, even if the question is naïve, which response will generate the best reaction?
1. Your are an idiot and might as well join the AF because there is no difference blah blah blah blah……
OR
2. While the AF enlisted are treated at a decent level there is nothing like being an officer in any service, especially the Army. You will have a chance to travel the world, gain rank fast, command troops and pursue your education beyond that of a bachelors. I would keep plugging away at your AROTC and look forward to becoming Army strong.
Does the Army not have it in them to put together a collective and positive comment for their fellow soldier (OK working on soldier anyway)? You guys continue to amaze me which is why I continually hear: I should have joined the Air Force. I have already shown which choice I would make but I will take it one step further in a crude, ignorant, and negative language to which you can relate: If I had to choose between cleaning toilets at Wal Mart for a living or being in the Army (enlisted or officer no matter) I would be proud to clean toilets for America’s second largest employer!
Originally posted by PSUJOZZ: If I had to choose between cleaning toilets at Wal Mart for a living or being in the Army (enlisted or officer no matter) I would be proud to clean toilets for America’s second largest employer!
Originally posted by PSUJOZZ: Well I knew I should not have come over here but could not help myself. Almost 4 years on these boards and I have been good about this. O well there goes that.
Up front guys he posted this in the AF forums as well but because it does have to do with Army since he is in line to be an Army officer, he also posted it here as well. Wow you guys are testy here much like you are in real life.
Now the dud comment about being enlisted in the Air Force. See that exactly sums up your problems in the Army. You assume that all E 4 and below are duds. Maybe you are right but that’s definitely not my call. In the Air Force however we do have our share of duds but the average airman is a technically proficient and skilled troop who knows his job. I have been around the Army enough both in Germany and on this deployment to know that is not always the case for you guys.
Do you know that the Air Force has the highest rate of enlisted people with bachelor’s degrees? Last time I checked all you needed to be an Army officer these days was at least 2 years of college completed with the caveat that you finish your bachelors before you make Captain which only takes 2 years in and of itself. (I heard this but would like to have it confirmed because it was my main reason for business in your neck of the woods until I saw this onslaught.)
You guys recruit at the lowest standards and have the audacity to fire comments at a guy who could be giving you commands in a few years? Its that mentality that continues to plague the Army. I was treated like crap so when I get into a position of authority I will do the same.
I will admit up front that you guys have been screwed over in these wars with both number of deployments, lengths of deployments, and mission requirements. I will also admit and applaud many of your world class warriors for their service and work as many are some of the best people I have ever met, and my friends whom I would do anything for. I would never join the Army, suggest the Army for anyone I know, but cannot knock some of the work that those who are in the Army do. We all must live with our choices though.
There is however a major service (cultural more than anything) battle between the AF and the Army with the Army having the huge chip on the shoulder. I believe that our CSAF and SecAF got the boot partly because of their non conformist demeanor when it came to the Army. Now our new SecAF is prior Army so we shall see where that goes. I have a feeling though they will all be replaced sometime early next year.
Anyway I need to wrap this up so I pose this question for you. If you got a young smart kid like amsu11 asking a regular question from those who have served about which way he should go, even if the question is naïve, which response will generate the best reaction?
1. Your are an idiot and might as well join the AF because there is no difference blah blah blah blah……
OR
2. While the AF enlisted are treated at a decent level there is nothing like being an officer in any service, especially the Army. You will have a chance to travel the world, gain rank fast, command troops and pursue your education beyond that of a bachelors. I would keep plugging away at your AROTC and look forward to becoming Army strong.
Does the Army not have it in them to put together a collective and positive comment for their fellow soldier (OK working on soldier anyway)? You guys continue to amaze me which is why I continually hear: I should have joined the Air Force. I have already shown which choice I would make but I will take it one step further in a crude, ignorant, and negative language to which you can relate: If I had to choose between cleaning toilets at Wal Mart for a living or being in the Army (enlisted or officer no matter) I would be proud to clean toilets for America’s second largest employer!
Did someone on the internet hurt your feelings?
You want a good cry?
You SecAF and your CSAF got fired because they were ****ing jokes. They sent nukes accidently to Taiwan not because of their attitude towards the Army, what do you expect to happen to them?
Whatever the Army does wrong, at least we didn't ship nuclear weapons to the wrong continent.
Wow, sure didn't mean to make anyone cry. I'll withdraw the dud comment. I try not to write an essay when someone who has the chance to be an officer wants to be enlisted, period. It's just a no brainer! But since this guy made the question, maybe being an officer is a bad idea.
Originally posted by amsu11: I'm currently a contracted Army ROTC cadet with a full four year scholarship. I just completed my first year as an MS1 and it was a great experience, but after a whole year, I'm still not sure it fits. I contracted early on in the school year, however, as a freshman I'm entitled to break my contract up until August, when I return back to school for my second year. Before getting an ROTC scholarship I had pretty much made up my mind to enlist in the air force.
I haven't fully figured out if my heart's in Army ROTC, and I've been considering breaking my contract to enlist in the Air Force. Any thoughts or advice on this? What is life in the Air Force like for an enlisted airman?
Some people think it's crazy to give up my scholarship and my opportunity to be an officer in the military rather than an enlisted, but I'm young and to make a commitment to the next 3 years of ROTC, 4 years active service after, and 4 years inactive versus just 4 years of the air force is difficult when I'm still not sure what I want to do.
Either way, I definitely appreciate the benefits of being in the military and I absolutely intend on staying in, regardless of which branch I end up with. I'm just at a loss for what to do, with so little time to make this decision (my contract locks up in August).
I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, or information anyone has for me... Thanks!
-AM
Hey buddy whats going on, I'm in Army ROTC myself and can fully understand the kind of pressure that your under. Listen you have to do what you feel is right for yourself and make the right choices so that you don't look back and have regrets. In my opinion it would be better for you and open up more opportunities for yourself if you remianed in ROTC. You have to look at the long term benefits as being an officer and also remember that there aren't that many chances to become an officer. If I may ask are there any other reasons that you are considering leaving ROTC? Is it your major? The school your at? You don't have to answer answer these questions publicly, if you want you can send me a private mesage to ask for any other advice. Good Luck to which one you choose.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: SWDmeansKILL,
I also would like to point something out here to everyone, this guy here is considering being an officer or being an enlisted guy, at least he has decided that he really wants to join the service in some form. That is a HELL OF ALOT more then I can say for most other people my age!
Now the dud comment about being enlisted in the Air Force. See that exactly sums up your problems in the Army. You assume that all E 4 and below are duds. Maybe you are right but that’s definitely not my call. In the Air Force however we do have our share of duds but the average airman is a technically proficient and skilled troop who knows his job. I have been around the Army enough both in Germany and on this deployment to know that is not always the case for you guys.
Airman, you need to stay in your lane, you are way out of line. A little interservice rivalry is alright, I get picked on for having been in the Air Force. It's all in good fun, and I make fun of the Air Force since I have seen it and the stupid things they do.
Don't for one second think the average Soldier is less than the average Airman. Remember I have been in both and my Soldiers and my Airmen are equally competent. The culture is different, the Army isn't as sugar coated with good reason. If you think you are smarter, better, or above the Soldiers you need to think again.
The AFN comment is a nice one. Thanks azmax64 as I am sure all of the soldiers who run AFN in Europe would agree they have no honor, or as much as AAFES as well. You are a class act.
Look I ended my comments on the AF version of this thread and will do the same here. I totally agree with nspreitler's above post. I did not make the dud comment though which is why I made the original statement. I also stated in a previous post that I have many soldier friends and have a ton of respect for them. I guess the cultural differences are ones that I will never understand and could never heed to in the Army so good on you guys.
azmax64 there are many people, including myself who take much pride and honor in working for AFN no matter our service. In almost 4 years on this board that’s the cheapest shot. Say what you want about my job fine. I would probably agree with most of it in comparison to the average soldier's job but to question honor without knowing someone? Come on I would hope you can do better than that.
Damned skippy I took a cheap shot at you. You said we (army) are all dumb on OUR board. Far from it jack. I never came to the AF to start anything, you came here and you threw in your trash.
