Ex-USAFA Cadet, Now UC Berkeley Junior

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
1

<p>Hey let me start things off by introducing myself.<br>
My father was in the AF for about 29 years, reaching some high brass ranks and having a successful military career in the force. During my high school years I aspired to join the AF and my first notion was to do just that, apply to the USAFA and also various ROTC programs. I entered as a aeronautical E. major and received a Type I scholarship from AFROTC and also got an appointment from USAFA. I was pumped to say the least. Now as you all know there is a little something called BCT, commonly known as basic cadet training or beast. About 40 days at the Academy, divided into two phases. </p>

<p>Phase one being at the Academy-learning to drill, march, morning/afternoon/dinner formations, uniform etc.
Phase two- Jacks valley; this was madness. A remote area in the cuts of the Academy grounds. every freshman is required to go and live in a tent with about 12 other cadets. Not the most fun i’ve ever had but you gotta do what you gotta do.<br>
many stories/memories </p>

<p>But let me get to the point. After going through the various training excercises and phases of BCT, I decided that USAFA was just not for me. Being completely immersed in the gung ho military atmosphere was something that I really wasnt used to. I wanted a real college atmosphere, with freedom and the ability to do what I want when I want.</p>

<p>Not being able to have girls in your room, not being able to have a beer and watch the Steelers play the Cards, not being able to GO OFF CAMPUS unless you have the blessings of you squadron commander. It got to the point where I felt my freedoms had been stripped away from me as a student, let alone a person. </p>

<p>The school year started on the 8th, I was on a plane ride home on the 7th. Leaving my squadron was tough, especially after the newfound friends I’d made there. It wasnt an easy choice, but it definitely was the right one for me. Upon my arrival at home, it was tough at first. Leaving a $350,000 scholarship was tough, but letting my parents know…you get the picture. </p>

<p>The next phase in my life began where I enrolled in a community college, yes i know, a community college!!! It was a shock to me, knowing I’d be staying at home for another two years. But over time, I got used to it and I decided to make the best of the situation at hand. The years passed, slowly, and I ended up getting accepted to UC Berkeley (i know i know, extreme left compared to moderate right) for the coming semester. It was time to leave home…again haha But this time it was for good.</p>

<p>I’m just letting you guys know that even if you dont make it through BCT or are thinking about the leaving or applying to the Academy, give it another thought or two. I’m so happy with my decision to be at Cal, but at this point 3 years ago, I felt like a failure for letting the people down around me. But in the end it was my choice and what I really felt was right. O ya, I’m doin AFROTC up here too, got a scholarship and everything, trying to get that Pilot Slot!!
If you have any questions about USAFA, Berkeley, ROTC, BCT or anything, just post below or pm me.
Thanks</p>

2

<p>Good luck with everything man! Just be persistent and you’ll make it to the cockpit. I have a similar story actually.</p>

<p>I’ve wanted to fly my whole life; I’ve wanted to attend the Academy since about 6th grade. I was offered to go run track out there, and even went to the Summer Seminar and everything. I got accepted and attended the orientation in April. A week before I had to sign I decided it wasn’t for me. I wanted that normal college experience and to be able to do things for myself.</p>

<p>I had a Type I scholarship to go do AFROTC so I took that route. Midway through my first semester, and even during high school I started checking out the Guard route. I decided with all the cutbacks on the AD side and fighters being cut left and right that I would have a better shot picking up a fighter slot with a Guard unit.</p>

<p>I dropped my scholarship and am now looking to get picked up by a Guard unit flying fighters where I know when I graduate from UPT I will have a fighter waiting for me (granted I get a slot and pass UPT to begin with). And even if I don’t get picked up for a fighter unit I still have a chance to apply with other units for those slots.</p>

<p>There is more than one way to skin this cat. If you aren’t accepted to the Zoo or don’t feel it’s for you there is always ROTC, or the Guard or even the Reserve route. Ask any pilot on AD and they will tell you that the Guard is the best kept secret in the military. Who wouldn’t love to go to UPT knowing they have a fighter waiting for them. Then be able to fly twice as much as the AD guys and still be able to work a normal job and never have to move.</p>

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<p>I don’t think the academy is as restrictive as you make it out to be. Yes; you may not be allowed to come and go as you please. Especially your first couple of years. But the freedoms increase as you work your way up. Including being able to drink beer. I assume you’re speaking of when you turn 21 years old. But in that respect, the academy allows alcohol for those over 21. But you are correct that there are some restrictions. I’m happy that you have found a place in the civilian school system; and found a place with ROTC. The academy is definitely not for everyone. And your post is definitely a good sense of support for those who decided it wasn’t for them. Also glad to see you in ROTC. That shows that you applied to the academy for the right reason; and not just for a free education. Good for you.</p>

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<p>I could write a book on why DS selected AFROTC over the AFA apptmt. It had nothing to do with drinking, everything to do with his major, the school and the fact that as an AD dep for 18 yrs he wanted to be a kid, he wanted to go out whenever he wanted.</p>

<p>In the next few months some of you will have to choose between an apptmt and a full ride scholarship. Choose your route because of your collegiate career, not b/c you are going to become a pilot. There are many hurdles to clear before that will occur, the most important one is graduating.</p>

<p>Before you believe that your career is over b/c you go ROTC instead of an SA, remember Colin Powell was commissioned through ROTC! The AFA opens doors, but it is what you do when that door opens that matters most.</p>

<p>Also, DS’s det commander knew he opted ROTC over the AFA, he came to him in Oct of his fresh yr and said if you want to reapply to the AFA I will nom you, he told him no. Point being if you don’t get an apptmt or you opted the route of ROTC you can change it and be none of the worse for wear</p>

<p>Bullet was commissioned through AFROTC, he retired a yr ago with over 2000 fighter hours (F-15E and 111). At DS’s det this yr, each and every cadet that requested UPT got it. However, for ROTC one thing you need to get it is a good det., strong gpa (over 3.0) and active participation. Don’t go ROTC thinking you can skate by and get your dream. You will need to prove yourself there too!</p>

<p>MOST IMPORTANTLY…Thank you for serving, thank you for making us all proud of the quality of our future military leaders. G Bless and G speed!</p>

<p>AIM HIGH…ABOVE ALL!</p>

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<p>calbear,</p>

<p>Quick question, did you also decide to go ROTC because the first time in your life, the AF was no longer 24/7/365. Many cadets, parents don’t get the fact that AD members have lived it for their entire life and they just want to know what it s like to be a “normal” kid. It really doesn’t have anything with drinking and partying, it has a lot to do with seeing the “real world” at least that was what it was for DS. For the 1st time in his life he was XXXX, not XXXX son of XXXX.</p>

<p>I totally get where he is coming from, remember you can leave as a pilot after 8, 12 including the AFA. Calbear and our son will have the 1st opportunity to leave at the age of 30-31, longer than an AD member, the fact that both of these guys have decided they want to serve long term, but acknowledge that they need a break shows their dedication in my mind to the AF.</p>

<p>He showed how valuable to the AF he will be as an officer by acknowledging that not every path is clear cut and to not give up on your dream.</p>

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<p>I am in a very similar situation, only I didn’t leave the Air Force Academy right away after Basic Training was finished. In fact, I didn’t leave at all during freshman, or sophomore years. I left the first week of classes as a junior.</p>

<p>Let me first say that USAFA is EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. The person up ahead is understating the facts by saying that there aren’t too many restrictions, or that they aren’t very restricting.</p>

<p>Unfortunately for me, information simply doesn’t exist out there on how to transfer out of the Academy and still become an officer. I’ve looked just about everywhere, talked to over a dozen recruiters, ROTC instructors, AETC staff…no one seems to know the answers.</p>

<p>So, let me write here what I have learned from my own discussions and personal experience of trying to become an officer after leaving the Academy:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I left because I couldn’t find the ability to focus on my major, and still succeed in everything else. I was a Foreign Area Studies major with a minor in Chinese (Asia/History track); Class of 2012; academic probation, but no trouble with any review boards or honor incidents.</p></li>
<li><p>After leaving the Academy ready to start my junior year, because of my academic probation, most schools turned me down for acceptance, didn’t see the Academy as more than an academic institution, and some even claimed that their curriculum was harder than USAFA’s in the first place. (And we’re not talking about Harvard here, we’re talking about public state schools, like Colorado State University and the University of Colorado at Boulder.)</p></li>
<li><p>Some ROTC detachments said that because of a completed Basic Cadet Training, if I transferred to ROTC, field training would be waived; others had never heard of that statement. Some ROTC detachments also said that as long as I left the Academy without an honor violation, transferring to ROTC would be automatic and guaranteed. This was not the case.</p></li>
<li><p>I found out that as a junior, I would have to spend a semester in ROTC without a scholarship to compete against everyone else for a scholarship, and that once I received a scholarship, it would be two more years before I would be allowed to graduate, and field training would not be waived. Well, I had already gone to school for two years before USAFA, had enough credits to graduate at any institution, and simply was not going to wait 2.5 (or more) years just to get a commission.</p></li>
<li><p>So, I started looking at OTS plans, and even looked at other ROTC possibilities. Navy ROTC won’t accept anyone who has more than 30 credit hours under their belt (exceptions occur, but rarely), and Army ROTC was the same as Air Force. That left one possibility - OTS.</p></li>
<li><p>So began my journey of trying to become a commissioned officer through OTS. First, the recruiters didn’t know whether to put me as prior service or not. Then, for a few weeks, they were telling me that because I was prior service, the Air Force was not re-taking prior service applicants at that time. Then, all of a sudden, they changed their statements and said that USAFA didn’t count for that rule. Then there was the matter of whether I would have to go Reserve or not, and the matter of finding all of my old personnel files which included the Defense Language Battery and other scores.</p></li>
<li><p>Throughout all of the struggle, I ended up transferring to an online college, the American Military University, where I will be completing a degree in International Relations in the next few months, set to ship out to Active Duty OTS and start a career as an Intelligence Officer with the Air Force.</p></li>
<li><p>I decided after all of the trauma while staying at the Academy probably would have been easier than the turmoil I went through, in the end, I will graduate and receive my commission almost 6 months ahead of my USAFA class of 2012. All those that said I would never make it were wrong, and a salute from former classmates will be bitter sweet.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>So, while leaving USAFA is a difficult decision to make for sure, if you do go and want to leave, if you completed Basic Cadet Training and especially Recognition, then trust me, your pains while there are all “sunk costs,” and you are not a failure for leaving. I will always be a member of the Class of 2012, and many of my friends will not even realize that I left once I see them in the operational field.</p>

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<p>Bravo zulu on getting the job done. Sounds like quite the process, which I can’t say really surprises me.</p>

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<p>Be careful here. The only difference between you and USAFA '12 is that you’ll be beginning the journey six months earlier. You have not “one-upped” the rest of the bunch until you start earning commendations (DG, PME in res., etc.) and strong OPRs. Just be wary of that mentality.</p>

<p>Also “former classmates” and “I will always be a member of the Class of 2012” don’t quite seem to match up.</p>

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<p>afuller
I thought OTS was cancelled for fy10 and fy11?</p>

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<p>I know that they canceled the OTS non-rate board last summer and stated that those applying could apply for the Jan. board. The problem is with a 10% acceptance rate, having fewer boards will mean more competition.</p>

<p>I think that is where you maybe confused. Schools are still going because they have to get through the back log from previous board selections. In essence, what they will do is stop having boards, and slow the incoming classes down until they get the numbers back in line.</p>

<p>[Air</a> Force cancels another non-rated OTS board - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times](<a href=“http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/04/airforce_ots_board_042410w/]Air”>http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/04/airforce_ots_board_042410w/)</p>

<p>I would bet they will even slow it down more since they are slowing down ROTC scholarships already, and allowing some cadets to leave with no commitment or scholarship pay back. They need to try these methods so they won’t have to go through a bigger RIF.</p>

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</p>

<p>Hopefully BEFORE your obligation to pay back your education costs began.</p>

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<p>what they need to do is cut down on acceptances into USAFA. They are over the number permitted by Congress, are having upperclassmen triple up on rooms, and are just overcrowding themselves. Safe everyone the headache and go back to what the numbers should be.</p>

<p>As far as leaving the academy and what not, here’s my 2-cents:</p>

<p>For me, USAFA fit me perfectly. As much as I complained about everything, its what fit my personality best. I would give up the opportunities for the world. And personally, it would have been harder for me to leave than to stay, even if I had wanted to. I have a lot of respect for my friends who realized it was not for them and left.</p>

<p>Now, on the flip side of things, I am getting a more “regular college experience” post-USAFA with graduate school. Although I am at AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology) and wear a uniform everyday, I have relatively a lot of freedom. It’s definitely taken some getting used to for me, but I am enjoying it. Still though, I would not have traded my time at the Academy.</p>

<p>I entered with a section of 26 other students to receive the same degree with me. This includes civilian, foreign nationals, and military. Military range from butter bars like me to Majors, 61s, 62s, and pilots (and pilot trainee :)), Academy, ROTC, and OTS. Obviously everyone has different backgrounds. From the military side though, when it comes to classes, everything is thrown out the window. People don’t care your rank, commissioning source, or what car you drive. It all comes down to how open you are to getting help and how much you try to help others. Now I have already begun to experience the bond that grads share together that other people just don’t quite get. There are graduate groups that get together to watch games and things like that. In fact, I am getting ready to head to a tailgate of grads for the AF v WSU basketball game tonight (Wright State University, near Dayton, OH).</p>

<p>So I guess what I’m getting at is just just to pursue whatever path feels right at the time. I definitely did not see myself coming to grad school instead of going straight to UPT. But (aside from the anger I have about my take home test I’m struggling with at the moment) I am really happy I came here first because of the experience I’m learning from others. So no matter what path you choose, you’ll always have something to gain from it.</p>

<p>But enough of me rambling. Best of luck to those currently pursing the Academy or a commission. The Air Force is a great family.</p>

<p>-eagle</p>

12

<p>I bet this yr because the AF pipeline is slowing down due to force shape re-structuring, you will see less apptmts go out in hopes of less acceptances. I doubt you will see the traditional 1600 apptmts from yrs passed, but more in the 1400-1500, thus, reducing the class size starting in the 1300 range, but closer to 1100-1200.</p>

<p>For anyone in the academic system right now, the AF is not the safe decision as it was yrs ago when it comes to a career. The economy is having a huge impact because AFMPC expected people to dive at 5, and they aren’t since there are no jobs out there. That clogs up the pipeline, which means they need to be more selective and reduce the incoming classes, while they also release some already there.</p>

<p>There were signs out there that this was going to happen, but nobody want to see them.</p>

<ol>
<li>UPT classes for AFA grads, have slowed down dramatically.</li>
</ol>

<p>~~~Yrs ago when the economy was in great shape and airlines were hiring. You graduated and your RNLT date was July, maybe Aug. Now, AFA grads can wait 6-9 months before their RNLT on casual status.</p>

<p>~~~Bust a section in UPT and at best you would wash back, at worst they would change your AFSC, but you were still serving. Now, they may decide to just release you.</p>

<ol>
<li>AFROTC scholarships are no longer being offered in college. There is a freeze.</li>
</ol>

<p>~~~ In other words, they already have enough for 13/14, yr groups. </p>

<ol>
<li>AFROTC has released scholarship recipients for 10/11 yr groups.</li>
</ol>

<p>~~~No payback owed. They do this because their numbers for company grade are too high, and to keep from having to RIF more, it is better to take this loss now than in the future.</p>

<ol>
<li>AFROTC has had the lowest selection rate for summer field training in yrs.</li>
</ol>

<p>~~~ The rate was down 20%, what that means is the AF has enough in the pipeline…beware when you go up for your AFSC board as a cadet, now you have a big whole where an X was suppose to exist…see #3.</p>

<ol>
<li>OTS non-rated boards were canceled this past yr.</li>
</ol>

<p>~~~They canceled in 05 and looking back they also did a RIF that yr for certain yr groups with certain AFSC codes. In other words, they were out of line.</p>

<ol>
<li>SERB</li>
</ol>

<p>~~~The AF did a SERB for Field in 07. It takes that long to trickle down. The SERB or reduction of 8K officers. allowed Company grade to be promoted, which delayed the newest round of RIF because they were hoping by now those eligible to dive at 5 would, but the economy has not recovered, thus, now they are in jeopardy.</p>

<p>Here is an interesting read
[Officials</a> announce fiscal 2010 force management measures](<a href=“http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123177979]Officials”>http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123177979) </p>

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<p>You didn’t hear it from me, but word on the strips is that they’ll only be taking 900 this year.</p>

<p>Edit: And by word on the strips, I mean word from my former ALO.</p>

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<p>WOW…900 that is very interesting!</p>

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<p>That isn’t shocking to me, think about it they are only allowed 4400 cadets, and currently they have 4700 at the AFA. If you do the math, and say 1100 are commissioning this yr, that would still leave them with 3600, so 900 would than put them back at the number they need to be at legally.</p>

<p>Also, I have heard some MOCs have stated that they were not submitting a slate this yr. I heard that back a few months ago, and was stunned to hear that, but I also know that the AFA has an office at the Pentagon. This office is in charge of briefing the staffs of the MOCs every yr. They may have come in and said we need to slow the pipeline down. Maybe they asked the MOC’s that have the ability to put up 2 slates, to just put up 1 this yr.</p>

<p>That’s just my guess, but I bet that is how they will come around to the 900 number. Candidates need to remember just because an MOC can be charged UP to 5 cadts, it doesn’t mean they are using that option.</p>

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<p>900 sounds extreme to me
Perhaps that was 900 graduating?</p>

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<p>I was told that the goal was to have around 900 show up on day one.</p>

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<p>That sounds reasonable to me. I have been wondering why they didn’t lower the numbers for 2013 and 2014. It has been pretty overcrowded and I don’t see why it is necessary or even smart (my personal experience with this is living in a 3 man room with another sophomore and a JUNIOR last year…)</p>

19

<p>The numbers were lower for the Class of 2014. 1294 started Basic for the class of 2014 whereas 1367 started Basic for class of 2013.</p>

<p>A poster on another forum stated the 4400 goal number count was at the end of the academic year. If that is the case, the parent newsletter had the cadet wing at 4509 the end of May 2010 (counting graduates and not counting incoming class) so that is not too far off from the 4400 goal.</p>

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<p>Hi, this is a very old thread but I thought I’d at least give it a try when trying to contact someone @Calbear627. I’m thinking about joining AFROTC at Cal. If you see this it’d be great to talk to you. I’ll send you a message. If anyone else has joined UCB AFROTC I’d like to talk to ya’ll too, thanks =)</p>