AFROTC and Pararescue

[Silver Sky]

I'm writing this in part as a question, and also as information to any others considering/taking the same rout I am.

I will be starting college this fall and my plan had been to enter the Air Force ROTC program so that I could gain the basic knowledge and skills that I would need for Military life. I am now though, unsure about entering the ROTC program as the Captain at my college informed me that if I completed the ROTC program but then enlisted, instead of accepting the commission, it would be considered a breach of contract. If that were to happen I may not even be considered for enlistment.

So while I want the training that I would gain in AFROTC, I'm uneasy with the thought of entering the program only to "drop out" a year or so before completion.

All thoughts are on this are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
Silver

 

[AWP]

I'm writing this in part as a question, and also as information to any others considering/taking the same rout I am.

I will be starting college this fall and my plan had been to enter the Air Force ROTC program so that I could gain the basic knowledge and skills that I would need for Military life. I am now though, unsure about entering the ROTC program as the Captain at my college informed me that if I completed the ROTC program but then enlisted, instead of accepting the commission, it would be considered a breach of contract. If that were to happen I may not even be considered for enlistment.

So while I want the training that I would gain in AFROTC, I'm uneasy with the thought of entering the program only to "drop out" a year or so before completion.

All thoughts are on this are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
Silver

You're overthinking this.

Do you want to be an officer or enlisted? In other words, the job you want to do...is it an officer or enlisted AFSC?

Using ROTC as a training method prior to enlisting is...I'll be charitable and say "a poor idea."

 

[Silver Sky]

Enlisted AFSC, I've no interest in being an officer.
Thank you for the advice.

 

[AWP]

Enlisted AFSC, I've no interest in being an officer.
Thank you for the advice.

De nada and you have your answer. ROTC exists to prepare officers. Entering ROTC with the goal of bailing to enlist takes away from the other cadets. Besides, you'd go into a SOF careerfield and you quit on your first exposure to the military? Whatever the reasons it doesn't look good.

We have whole threads on this, but the short version: do PT, live your life, and read some books if you must (the services all have a reading list broken down by rank. Start there). The rest will come in due time.

 

[Silver Sky]

Thank you.

 

[Johca]

if I completed the ROTC program but then enlisted, instead of accepting the commission, it would be considered a breach of contract. If that were to happen I may not even be considered for enlistment.

The critical status is "completed ROTC". It's actually a bit more complicated as there is possibility a 4-year ROTC, 2-year ROTC scholarship being involved or being enrolled in the final two years (Junior, Senior year) of the ROTC program. It is this contractual obligations that brings with it the very legal breech of contract risks.

ROTC is a Basic Officer Training program. Its purpose is to train individuals to lead as officers and not to give entry vocational or occupational training (Entry level Air Force Specialty training) or job placement into a specific military occupation (MOS, AFSC, NEC, Rate).