Ballman

For the most part. If you have medical issues, they won't want you. You will start competing for a Field Training spot (Enrollment Allocation or EA) on day one. Your EA package gets sent to HQ ROTC around Dec/Jan and you find out in Mar/Apr. So, effectively, you'll only have your first semester to compete for an EA. If you don't get an EA, then your future depends on how your detachment operates. They could invite you back to compete the next year or they can chose to not let you come back. It's subjective and each detachment does things differently. When you contract, you're agreeing to some sort of commitment. If you graduate and make it through the program, then you commission. If you somehow manage to get dis-enrolled during your last two years of ROTC, they could technically force you to enlist. For the most part, this doesn't happen anymore. If the AF paid for 3-4 years of your schooling then they could ask you to repay or enlist. In terms of scholarships, you are only eligible BEFORE you contract. You can't get a scholarship as a junior or senior in the program. So for you, you will compete for a scholarship during the Fall semester. If you don't get it, but receive an EA, then you will compete during the Spring. After that, no scholarships. What you need to do is contact the Unit Admissions Officer (UAO) at your nearest detachment and schedule an appointment with them. Their job is to find suitable cadets who have potential. This forum is a great source of info, but only the UAO knows exactly what is going on. They'll make sure that you'll leave with all your questions answered.

There was a BBP floating around with the parameters for DG. IIRC, 1. your two graded assignments, 2. your ranking in team challenge, Icarus, and the stupid computer game 3. your mid-term and final peer evals, 4. your mid-term and final FLT/CC eval.

I've seen people start UPT about 2.5 months after commissioning and I've seen someone start 14 months after commissioning. I'm sure others on this board has seen extremes on both sides. It's random and I definitely wouldn't put any thought or worry into when you start.

I was a CTA last summer and uniform standardization was impossible. There were mixes of BDUs and ABUs, along with different types of sage boots. So you'll probably get away with wearing your own boots. Nearly everyone will be ABUs now, so you may stand out. I wouldn't worry about that....the type of boot you wear won't hurt your ranking. But your boots WILL be destroyed by the end of JFTC.

Oh yeah. Just do ROTC.

You're not contractually obligated to the Air Force until a) You accept a scholarship or b) You enter the POC (After Field Training, which is after sophomore year, at the earliest). Enroll in ROTC and apply to Guard units during the first two years. I've got a pilot slot and I'm in my 10th and final semester in AFROTC. I will be commissioning in May. I definitely recommend the route I took. I matured, learned a lot, and made some great friends.