<p>It is my understanding there is some kind of letter, though it may be a long wait to get it because until the class is pretty close to complete they may continue to consider the candidate so they won't send the letter until they are certain they will not grant an appointment. </p>
<p>This is what I understand, though not from personal (or family!) experience. Similarly, I also understand that if you do not get a nomination they send a letter too which states you are not accepted because you have no nom...</p>
<p>If you have a nomination and are rejected for an appointment you will get a letter. If you do not have a nomination and are rejected for an appointment you will get a letter.
The rejection can come anytime. I think they try to tell you SOMETHING by May. They will not leave you hanging.
If your son would like he certainly may call admissions or his BGO and inquire about the status of his application.</p>
<p>Best piece of advice we were given...have a back-up plan. You have AFA so you have the plan. I hope your son gets whatever his dream is, since at the end of the day he will have 9 yrs of service :)</p>
<p>Nine years... yes, that is really something to consider. For a kid who is 17, it is more than 1/3 of his life, if his service ends at age 27 (not counting those add-on years of reserves, or consideration that he may continue for 10, 15 or 20+ years). When I was 17, I couldn't even imagine BEING 27! And, from the adult perspective looking backward (always an advantage), my life changed 1,000 times in those 10 years. College, dreams fulfilled and dashed, marriage, motherhood... voting! What a commitment these young men and women make.</p>
<p>Fencersmom, You can't look at it as 9 yrs. Just take each year as it comes. My husband ,USNA grad. did his 20. The first five after graduation. It really did go fast. Decided to do reserves for the rest of the time. Now we have all the benifits for later in life plus he has gone on to a wonderful career as an Attorney. Just think of each year as a step towards a wonderful and fulling opportunity. And also let him know that you are not committed till you enter your Junior year. He can always change his mind. But what an opportunity and education he will recieve!!!</p>
<p>You're right, go navy. I was just considering his future. S is very excited about all the possibilities in front of him! </p>
<p>My good friend was ROTC then Army JAG for 20 years. He has a great life now and has been a great influence and source of info for my kids. He, too, is loving those retirement benies</p>
<p>9 years? The committment is 8 years - unless Air Force is different than Army.
5 years AD and 3 years Reserve - but at least for Army don't count on reserve - they are deployed more than active. Many used to go IRR but that is hard to do with the WOT - yes all should consider it an 8 year committment.</p>
<p>Ahhh yes to be 27 again! Hardly anyone stays at the same job anymore. Most people have 3-4 careers and change jobs every 7-8 years - just how life is these days.
But those that make a career retire at age 42.
They receive a very nice pension and full priveleges (base) and health care (for now) for the rest of their lives - probably another 42 years. Not a bad deal at all.
Think about it - people are younger these days - many don't have kids/families until they are in their 30's now.
My sister-in-law joined the reserves at 17 - retired at 37 and has two toddlers. She served part time for 20 years mostly unencumbered by family and kids.</p>
<p>My dad retired at 42 then taught school for 18 more years. Retired completely at age 60 with two pensions and very nice health care for him and my mom. They have spent the last 16 years or so fully enjoying their retirement.
In the grand scheme of life - 8 years is nothing, really.</p>
<p>It's possible that fencermom was looking at 9 years as in "4 years of academy/college, and 5 years of active commitment." That would be the 9 years. Unless of course they want to be a pilot, then they can tack on a few more years to that.</p>
<p>Gotcha - was confused
oh yeah well then there is the 3 that must be served reserve or IRR.
Perhaps AF you can go reserves or IRR but Army - probably not at this time.<br>
yes Pilot would surely extend that.</p>
<p>Most people refer to me as the "Eternal Optimist". I wouldn't view it as 9 years. I would see it as 5. No matter if your son goes to the academy or a normal school outside of your home town, the first 4 years is already spoken for. The difference in the academy is that he'll learn more discipline and how to "Play well with others" (Leadership/Management) skills. These are things that the normal colleges don't teach. Other than that, you'll still see your son at Christmas, Spring Break, and Summer break.</p>
<p>For what it's worth; my daughter goes to the State "U". It's only 52 miles away. The first semester of her freshman year, we saw her every other weekend. Now that she's a junior and RA in the dorms, we see her at Christmas, Spring Break, and Summer vacation. So, consider the 4 years of school pretty much the same no matter where he goes. After that, he's already got a job lined up. If you live in Penn; and he gets stationed in Texas; it's no different that graduating college and getting a job offer in Texas.</p>
<p>Everything just needs to be looked at in perspective. All you need to look at is the first year. That is the hardest to get use to. My son, while uber excited about going to the air force academy and having the opportunity to be a part of the Falcon football team; has already said how he'll probably miss our "Saturday Family Movie Night". We have a "Theater" in our house and every saturday night the family always got together; including the kids girl friend/boy friend; and we ate spaghetti and then watched movies on the big screen. It was hard the first Saturday my daughter was gone to college. But you get use to it. Once my son leaves, I'm not sure if my wife and I will want to continue the tradition of the last 10 years. With empty nest, we should most definitely start finding things to do for us now.</p>
<p>Anyway; enjoy the rest of the year. Don't count the 4 years of academy. It's the same basically as any school. The time after that which is the commitment can be looked at as a Job. (A very important job, but a job none the less). Good luck...</p>
<p>I am then the pessismist, although I chose to say that I hope for the best and expect the worst. None of the time frame matters for us, since DS has already stated that he wants to do the 20+, so I have already accepted that we will be flying to the ends of the earth to visit him. And yes, I consider Cannon New Mexico the ends of the earth, along with Mt. Home Idaho, hopefully we won't have to go to Almogordo. :D</p>
<p>After being married to Bullet for 20, our first chance to step out is now at 20+. He went to UNT, then when his 1st committment was close to being over he transferred into the Strike from the 111, which incurred more committment. when that committment was almost up he accept his promotion, bonus and PME. When that committment was up he accept another promotion, he finally finished his last committment at 19 yrs.
We have been very fortunate and never got hit with a remote. Those were our choices to accept promotions and xtraining. I have never regretted one moment and I am sure that is why DS says he wants a career. My DD just informed me the other day she expects to marry someone in the military because she loves the life and would be bored if she had to stay in one place...I'll remind of her that as she packs and unpack 20k pounds of household goods ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
I wouldn't view it as 9 years. I would see it as 5. No matter if your son goes to the academy or a normal school outside of your home town, the first 4 years is already spoken for.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Christcorp - our thinking is pretty much the same but it really isn't 5 years it is 8 years. Don't forget the 3 years Reserves.
In the past some got out at 5 and joined the IRR - and never were heard from again. But who knows what the world situation will be like in 10 years or so? With the WOT - the reserves is turning into active duty and there are plenty of IRR who are getting/ have gotten "the phone call".
Heck - you can even be called up out of retirement.</p>
<p>Having retired from the military, the 3 years of inactive reserve is a little misleading in understanding. While it is possible to be called back during those 3 years, it's not like you are "Actually in the Reserves". You don't go one weekend a month and all that. You're just subject to being recalled. "Can't remember the last time it actually happened". I had been retired about 1 year when 9/11 happened. Nothing happened. This also brings up the point that if for some reason a person decides to do their 5 years after the academy, then they re-enlist for 4 years; then they get out. Well, the 3 years of inactive are no longer required because you spent 4 more in. The same works for enlisted active duty enlistments. Everyone is subject to being recalled. Stop loss and such is different. With that, they just DON'T let you get out when you're scheduled. That's different from being recalled.</p>
<p>All that aside, most people who apply and attend the different academies are of a different breed. They are a different type officer than the typical ROTC and definitely different that the regular college graduate who did OTS. Not saying that every academy graduate is going to do 20. They all aren't. But any commitment they have is not a problem. They are probably looking at it in a different perspective and respect. Those who realize that the academy and service after isn't really for them have usually bailed out of the academy by the 2nd year and don't have any commitment.</p>
<p>If thinking about ANY type of commitment; during or after the academy; is really a concern, then you really should be re-thinking the academy in the first place. I know parents have concerns, but that is just a parent acting normal and being concerned for their kids. If your kids are truly determined to go to the academy, then the commitment is not an issue to them. They are there for the right reasons and knows what their doing.</p>
<p>This is not the way things work for officers. Even though they have a set commitment, they serve at the mercy of the President and must submit a letter of resignation in order to leave active duty. During their period of service, they will be up for orders to change duty assignments. Often, the acceptance of these orders is contingent upon remaining active duty throughtout the period required to carry out these orders. Example: After four years, the initial tour of duty is up. Acceptance of the subsequent set of orders will require an agreement to remain on active duty for another three years. If this occured, the only way to get out after the 5 yr initial commitment, would be to refuse the follow-on assignment. Officers do not ReENLIST.</p>
<p>The Army has called up plenty from the IRR - you are correct you dont drill and don't get paid. Some of these guys had been "out" of the Army for quite a few years and found themselves with orders.</p>
<p>A woman I know retired as a LtCol in the Army 2 years ago. after a year she got a phone call - looking for "volunteer" for the troop surge. She has been in Baghdad since last summer.</p>
<p>Probably not so much AF or Navy but USMA has been telling cadets to think of it as a full 8 year committment.</p>
<p>The Navy is getting it's fair share. Know a few in Iraq right now who 'fived and dived.' They seem to be enjoying it much more than their wives.</p>
<p>"I also understand the list is independent, but if you come from our state, where you can get 3 noms b/c the MOCs do not meet, whereas TN MOCS meet, you MAY have more of a chance. I know that CO also is like TN, where the Sen. meet, but not the Congressional (parents were told that by them at the interview)"</p>
<p>FWIW - We live in TN and the MOC offices do "coordinate" their nominations. However, it is possible to receive more than one nomination from the TN MOCs. I know this because this has happened to my son the last two years. For the Class of 2011 is was one of the 474 3Q'd with a nomination (2 Actually, one Senator and Congressman). For the Class of 2012, he just received word this week that one Senator and his Congressman have both nominated him for USNA, the only SA he applied to. Now he just has to wait for the appointment! <g></g></p>
<p>"The Navy is getting it's fair share. Know a few in Iraq right now who 'fived and dived.' They seem to be enjoying it much more than their wives."</p>
<p>I had to giggle. The first time I read this as they were enjoying being in Iraq more than being with their wives. Got it now. :)</p>