<p>How can enlisting in the Air Force help me academic wise, unless I join the Air National Guard. Does any of the prep schools have a service academy preparatory program that I can still recieve college credit. Is it possible to complete a year of college while in the SAP?</p>
<p>Enlisting in the Air Force and doing well shows that you have what it takes in the military and desire to be an Air Force Officer.
The USAFA Prep school is a one year program that you will attend before the Academy to prepare you academically. If you pass the prep program you will get an appointment.
The USAFA Prep school is not a year of college.
Some prep schools are junior colleges that give you college credit, others are not.
MMI for example is an accredited junior college and you will earn college credit that may be transferrable.
Northwestern Prep will not give you classes for college credit.</p>
<p>I will be a member of this years class attending Northwestern Preparatory School. I am also a recipient of a Falcon Foundation Scholarship. If you're objective is to serve your country, you have many options available. If you want to serve as an officer - you should really consider all options except enlisting. Enlisting can get you to the AFA, but the chances are not so well. However, you could go under OTS (Officer Training School) or many, many other programs to get you to be an officer. </p>
<p>I have talked to prior graduates from NWP, and I hear that it's a wonderful school. When I talked to Mrs. Durbeck, she had told me all but one student whose received a Falcon Foundation scholarship has made it to the Academy - simply due to her own faults and choices. </p>
<p>As for AFROTC, or any other ROTC scholarships for that reason, they are definately an excellent route if you're objective is to be an officer in the military. If that's not your goal, you're doing this for the wrong reasons. I received an AFROTC Type II scholarship and turned it down for my slot at Northwestern Prep. School in hopes of gaining entrance to the Class of 2013. However, I know for a fact that you may reach the highest jobs in the military by going through ROTC, you don't need to be an Academy graduate. It comes down to the choice of how bad you want something and how much this really means to you. I wouldn't say you're "better off using that and going to college and doing well than you are at prep school." That comes down to you're choice. ROTC will be easier than an Academy, no doubt. I chose the Academy route because it is that much more challenging, but again, that's you're decision. </p>
<p>If you have any other questions let me know. If you are attending NWP this year (2008), I would enjoy talking with you if you would like, just message me.</p>
<p>Options for commissioning as an enlisted member can be found here U.S</a>. Air Force - Enlisted Education - Enlisted Commissioned Programs</p>
<p>I still wouldn't recommend enlisting unless you WANT to be enlisted. I am third generation military and the first one in my family that enlisted. I still think that if the AF was keeping my career field I would have stayed enlisted for my career. It has to be something you want to do or you will spend your whole time thinking about how to get out. Please don't do that to yourself.</p>
<p>Nothing against recruiters, but don't let them sway your judgement. My recruiter tried to do the same thing, and I really thought about enlisting. After talking to two Majors and two Captains in the Air Force, however, you have many more opportunites to become an officer than you think - if that is your objective. However, that's their job and they must do it.</p>
<p>I found this article where it showed me what career fields are in need and which have a surplus. Could be a great assest if anyone is planning to enlist, like me. </p>
<p>There are many options for commissioning - in all branches of the military. All require a college degree. If you enlist you may go to college and then OCS and work your way through.
If you are highly qualified scholastically you may be awarded an AFROTC scholarship. Not all pay the full cost of college - for someone without ANY means of financing college this may not be feasible.
If you are highly qualified scholastically you may win an appointment to a Service Academy -
the questions is - how to get to the Academy.</p>
<p>As I said before - enlisting may or may not get you to the academy - even if it does not it does provide options.
One reason why enlisting is helpful is that Congress sets aside 85 nominations each year for enlisted airmen. I don't know about USAFA but USMA has not filled the 85 slots for many years. </p>
<p>If attending college without a full AFROTC scholarship is not possible then there are options available to enlisted airmen that can make a college degree possible.</p>
<p>Schools that prep candidates for service academies are very risky for those who are NOT sponsored by that academy's foundation.</p>
<p>Hanson_C9 - for you - having received a falcon scholarship- attending a prep school was the best route for you. My daughter did the same thing, for West Point. Being sponsored by your academy put you in a different application pool that those who are not sponored.<br>
The chances of receiving an appointment after attending NWP if you are NOT sponsored by the academy are muc hlower than for those who have a foundation scholarship.</p>
<p>There is no one good option for everyone. Each option needs to be weighed against financial resources, any academic, athletic or leadership "deficiencies", desire to be in the military, desire to be an officer.
One must know and weigh all options carefully.</p>
<p>FYI JustAMom hit the nail on the head. On the Air Force portal this year (too late to apply) they put an advertisement trying to get more airman to apply. I would also like to add that even if you do apply, and there is a spot, you still have to show that you can succeed at the academy before they will give you a spot. </p>
<p>The prep school has 50 slots for priors and they also compete for the 85 nominations to the academy.</p>
<p>My question is that is do the Academy prefer active duty over reserves or ANG, cause my back up plan if I dont get ROTC scholarship or Falcon Foundation Scholarship was to enlist in the ANG and go to college.</p>
<p>Thanks BlueSuiter -
I don't know how many go from enlisted straight to the academy but for USMA most go to prep first. It depends on academic background, SAT's and how long a soldier has been out of school. It is safe to say that getting to prep - is a huge leap. If you pass the prep year then you are in like Flynn.</p>
<p>The US Code also allows 85 slots from the Reserve component. This is trickier. All the kids who get appointed to the prep school are counted as Reserves. I think all the enlisted that go the prep school get counted as active duty.</p>
<p>There are way more than 85 kids who get appointed to the prep school - out of high school. Of course they also qualify for MOC nominations but the point is the competition for a nomination from the Reserves is a little steeper. Not to say it can't be done.</p>
<p>Every step of the way it is important to think of your back up - what if you enlist and don't get an appointment - know that you have to finish your enlistment. Of course there are plenty of educational benefits that go with that as well.<br>
The biggest problem with ANG and college is that if your unit deploys then you deploy - even in the middle of the semester.</p>
<p>FYI, we had a person last year who ended up a lil over 2 GPA but scored well on SAT's, he had a Falcon. Ask USAFA, that's how he recieved his. About 95 were handed out last year, not the total 100</p>