Expert: Tom Whiting - 5/18/2010

Question
To: Tom Whiting
Sorry if i don't address you correctly.
I really appreciate the time you take out to
answer questions like the one i'm asking now.

I am a 11th grader in high school and to be honest i'm a little worried about college, my parents cant afford to send me to college at the moment so i'm trying my best to get scholarships and grants and other things. Many recruiters have been coming to me left and right i crossed out the Marines, Navy, National Guard, and I am left with The Air Force.

My question is, if I do go to the Air Force what would be a good job for me? (I know its a very vague question)
My specialties are computer graphics, computer science (c++,minor Java), web design, Band 4 years (trumpet,guitar,piano etc...)

I just thought it would be better to get real advice from someone who's been in the Air Force.

If you have time for a second question here it is.
If i do end up going to college what are the benefits of me joining a ROTC program will it rank me higher or is it just a waste of time?

Regardless or not if you can answer my questions, thank you for taking your time out and reading this and serving our country.
-Clinton Yadao

Answer
Hi Clinton,
Thank you for the question with regards to the USAF.
Well, your very best thing to do is apply to the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado
Springs.  You should apply in the spring semester of your Junior year, which is... right now.
Get on the USAFA website to see how to apply; you'll want to contact your nearest Air Force Academy Liaison Officer and let him know of your interest in making the Air Force a career as an Officer, and interest in attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He will walk you through the application process, making sure you "fill all the squares" out.
(That's his JOB).
As you know, the Air Force will not charge you anything to attend the Air Force Academy, and you'll also get a top-notch 4 year education... I suggest you stay with what you are good at, computer science. or math major. (Any science is better than a humanities major, including music).  (So make music your hobby, and plan to join the USAFA band)!
At the same time, you can apply for a 4 year AFROTC scholarship, generally the fall semester of your Highschool senior year... your liaison officer will know how this is done, and your high school guidance counselor should also know the procedure.  (Your guidance counselor should also know, and has met with, the local Air Force Academy Liaison Officer too... so let your counselor know of your strong intentions for attending the USAFA... and applying for AFROTC scholarships.
Let them both know what you want to do... also apply for a 4 year ROTC scholarship. You have to pick colleges that offer Air Force ROTC and you'll also have to declare a major (they base their scholarships on the needs of the Air Force)... a very good one we use to advise is Meteorology,
but times have changed and I don't know the current service needs...your liaison officer will know that.

Now the nice thing being...even if you aren't successful at either of those, you can continue to re-apply to the USAFA in Colorado Springs again and again, until I believe you are 22 years old,
(even if as a last resort you "sign up" as an enlisted man) providing you haven't accrued any dependents (married or children).
With AFROTC, if not successful, go to that college anyway (apply and get accepted and pay for the 1st semester)... then once on campus, go up to the Professor of Air Science and request to apply for either a 3.5, 3, or 2.5 or 2 year AFROTC scholarship.  Now the competition is not against every graduating highschool student out there, but ONLY those going to college AND enrolled in AFROTC... it's much easier to get one because there is not the extreme competition
of every senior highschool student in the country! But only those students enrolled in college
AFROTC!

Just "joining up" with "the recruiter"... is a very VERY last resort. (and you can do that anytime)!  You want to be an Air Force Officer and not just an enlisted man... the pay is much better as an officer, and the assignments are also much better and the benefits are much better. But, as you know, it takes a 4 year college degree (in any major) to become an officer in any branch of the military service... so that should be your goal. And the sooner the better. 20 years as an officer will earn you a nice lifetime pension, medical benefits, and at 41 or 42, you're still young enough to even get another job upon retirement in your early 40's! Plus with the contacts you make as an officer, and retiring as a Major or higher, you're in good stead for a job somewhere in civilian life, with your experience by then. (That was the route I went, AFROTC at college, Pilot, then decent civilian job after 20 years in the Air Force). Astronomy is just my hobby.

Of course, you'll need a few "tickets" to do all this... superior grades (upper 15% of your class or higher)... the average cadet at AFA has an SAT score of 1260 or better (under the old scoring system which is the only one I know), medically acceptable, some leadership position in school (Eagle Scout, junior leader of the local 4-H club, head of your band, president of Chess Club, President of the Computer Group, etc... any leadership position qualifies... (the military wants their Officers as LEADERS, not "joiners"), and good physical shape... (You'll be asked to take a real physical...pushups, pull ups, a short timed run, situps, etc) for qualification to the Air Force Academy. (not ROTC scholarships). Oh, no criminal record is allowed and no drug usage either.  For flying (if you desire to be a pilot) no allergies, no family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or any super-bad ailments.  20/20 or better vision, preferably 20/15 or better, no hearing degradation either (so stay away from loud concerts too)... Oh, and no lost teeth either I believe.  But pilot status is a tough requirement to meet. (Besides, do you want to fly?... you don't have to as there are many jobs in the Air Force.)
So work hard to improve your grades and class standing, take all the 'heavies'... 2 years algebra, trig, pre-calc, chemistry, and physics, and even if you can get some college acceptance courses at your particular highschool... they all count!  (Avoid the 'easy' courses like home Economics, underwater basketweaving, and water polo).  If your school offers Junior ROTC, then join it. That counts too!  (If you're really interested in a military career, why didn't you join your Junior ROTC program at your highschool?... that question will eventually come up in an interview!)   Well, those are just some pointers, and my opinion.

As a very very last resort... join up as an enlisted man, but keep applying to the Air Force Academy.  A certain quota has to be filled every year from the enlisted ranks that go to the Air Force Academy, but of course you have to have the "tickets" (qualifications) mentioned above.
If you're a little short on the SAT scores, then take them over and over.  I believe you're allowed to take them as many times as you want to, now. (Couldn't do that in my days).
Good luck to you and thanks for writing.  Keep in touch if you like, as I'd like to know how youy are doing and if you're successful in what we talked about above.
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting, Major, USAF (retired)... and former AFA Liaison Officer for Erie County, PA
(and you can use my name and former position when writing to the Air Force Academy if you wish)

PS:  Oh, and don't worry about what your "job" will be in the military as that's far down the road... education comes first, job comes last. Besides, the military will train you for what they want YOU to do anyway.) Your task (job) now is becoming an officer in the Air Force through one of the above mentioned methods... and let the AF recruiter who is 'bugging' you know that...
that you've decided to apply to AFA and AF ROTC scholarships instead of just joining up as an enlisted man.  That will stop them cold from bugging you!  And don't sign in the event you're not successful... you can do that... anytime.  They'll try to get you to sign for that, just to fill "their" quota.