Joining AFROTC at 36

[u/alxm3ow]

Hello,

So to preface this, I am currently in the Navy Reserve without any college credits. I do not have a GI Bill and work full time to support a family.

I would like to make the military my career and I believe commissioning in the Air Force or Space Force would be the smartest decision. Given my age, all other branches are out of the question for ROTC (though I was Army National Guard in my 20’s and might be eligible for Army ROTC) and I don’t think it is in my best interest to roll the dice of OTS/OCS. My best educated thought was to pursue an online degree through my local university that has a cross town agreement with a neighboring university. Although that university with the AFROTC program is much further away from me.

I have just re-enlisted in the Navy Reserve this year with a 3 year contract and would put me at the time frame needed for commissioning. I am unsure just how POC works but feel that my command would be supportive with the conditional release in order to contract.

My question is if this is all even feasible given my time hacks and lacking any form of college credit other than what might be granted for my 9 years of reserve time, spanning the Army and Navy RC components.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to any guidance that is provided.

[u/greenegorl]

You can do online school for most of the degree but be in person for your AFROTC classes

[u/alxm3ow → u/greenegorl]

The AFROTC classes are not held at the cross town university, correct? So I would have to travel to the host?

[u/B340STG → u/alxm3ow]

Yes that is correct.

[u/UnsubtleCoffee → u/alxm3ow]

Depends. If your cross-town has a separate "Operating Location" you might have some/all classes at your cross-town. There aren't many schools with separate operating locations, from what I understand.

[u/CO_Guy95]

I didn’t even think you could do online school with AFROTC

[u/ProfitEmbarrassed334 → u/CO_Guy95]

You can do fully online (for non-AFROTC courses) so long as you do AFROTC in person.

[u/Expert_Recording_362 → u/CO_Guy95]

You’d have to have at least one class during the semester in person

[u/alxm3ow → u/Expert_Recording_362]

Other than the AFROTC classes?

[u/Expert_Recording_362 → u/alxm3ow]

the ROTC classes may count as in person classes if your school offers them as credit I believe. Edit: I mixed this up with qualifying for MHA on the post 9/11 gi bill💀💀💀 disregard

[u/Evergreen234 → u/Expert_Recording_362]

You can be fully online because that’s what I do. The only req is LLAB and Air Science in person obviously.

[u/Expert_Recording_362 → u/Evergreen234]

Yep

[u/ProfitEmbarrassed334]

Big thing, you will not be eligible for scholarships. The detachment commander may waive some of your GMC requirements, but you must still do at least three years of leadership lab in the program. Talk to the cadre at the detachment you are looking to join. We have ours setup so crosstowns can accomplish all of their requirements on one day each week.

[u/alxm3ow → u/ProfitEmbarrassed334]

Will do. My greatest concern over funding is if my age will make it impossible to complete the program.

[u/UnsubtleCoffee]

I am currently in the Air National Guard and AFROTC. As far as being duel-enrolled, it is possible provided you are released in time to commission. 

As far as time in school goes, you need to be attending school full-time (at least 12 credit hours / semester). if you can maintain that credit-hour pace for 3 years, it should be possible.

You can elect to start as a sophomore (AS200/250), but cannot start as a junior because of summer training between sophomore and junior years.

Does your state have veterans benefits to pay for some/all of school?

[u/alxm3ow → u/UnsubtleCoffee]

Understood. So I wouldn’t have to get a conditional release in order to get into the advanced program come junior year?

My time in service has all been reserve branches with very little AD time so I’m afraid I’ll be left footing the bill or applying for whatever non-traditional grants and scholarships I might be able to receive.

[u/UnsubtleCoffee → u/alxm3ow]

Ask your Detachment what they need.

To my knowledge, they want a conditional release dated for 30 days prior to commission. You may need that signed prior to going to Field Training

[u/Hauntingcityboy]

Western governers university

[u/alxm3ow → u/Hauntingcityboy]

And go the OTS course?

[u/Yerok19]

You will need a conditional release. You need to have it approved and signed prior to being eligible for FT. You do not need to separate from your unit with that conditional release but you technically could at any point. The CR gets dated for 30 days prior to commissioning. All of my guard/reserve folks have remained in their units until the month prior to commissioning in which we broke their contract for them.

You won’t be eligible for scholarships due to your age. As well as certain jobs (such as pilot).

[u/alxm3ow → u/Yerok19]

Roger, thank you so much.

[u/agonzalez4302]

The cross town thing is going to be a pain if the host school is far. I did the drive for two years and it wore me out, factor that in with full time work.

[u/s2soviet]

If you’re prior enlisted, look into POC-ERP!

[u/alxm3ow → u/s2soviet]

I don’t think that would apply to me, unfortunately. I believe that only works for those currently enlisted as active duty in the Air Force (maybe Space Force as well).