jjfly

DO IT. Unless you have a good job lined up and stuff to keep you busy, do it. I'm 10 days from my EAD, and all this summer has been for me has been working for family, struggling to pay the bills, and mooching off my parents. Now, if you're financially set and wanna go backpack around Europe, do that, but a lot of people can't do that. The pay would be really nice, and I think it'd help you kind of ease into AD life... especially if you're not staying at the debt you commissioned from, it'll expose you to a new commander, leadership styles, etc... and they KNOW that you're an idiot b/c they deal with cadets (and former cadets) all the time.

2 I'm gonna put my application in and see what happens. I can't imagine it'll delay UPT start date a whole year... I was thinking just a couple months which is fine... or at least that LT paycheck will console me in the mean time. If I can start the recruiting gig in June, take get out on the early side (9 months of the "9-12 monts"), then I'll just have ASBC, IFS, and hopefully get into UPT before August... Personally, for the extra pay, I'm ok with delaying a few months. UPT will still be around, and I think this sure beats having casual in Columbus, MS!

While there are only 6 true days of "in-garrison" stuff, the cadets will still be in the dorms more than 6 days. Instead of doing the BELPs, LRC, etc from BT, they'll now just go back to the dorms to sleep. That is a lot better. Not sure exactly how long that part is, but I think BT is 3 days of "deployment prep" before "deploying" to MS

i'll be there too, but just as a lowly spectator... maybe in a few years, I'll come back and revive this thread with something good...

2 that. When I first heard, I was sitting on the beach and got a call from a family member. I thought about the supposed C-17 crash in Texas the other day that CNN reported but didn't happen. I was sad to hear this report wasn't false. In a smaller matter, I hope this doesn't affect the chances to buy more, but I think it'll be used as an excuse or support for cutting the number at 183.

so, i heard this and had to see for myself if it really was true or not... FTM, page 65- "Cadets may have juice, coffee, etc. in addition to the required liquids." ETC-- so, soda too? chocolate milk? maybe at least they'll serve Ovaltine... because it's 40% better than Yohoo or whatever they say. WOW.

2009 FTM out-- wow... they got it out early this year. I browsed through it, and it looks like they changed a lot of the things... but some are still weird... I guess that's what happens when they try to align with OTS. 2009__FTM_HOLM_CENTER_T_203_DOT.pdf

hey, it built a lot of class unity...We have a very close class. If only we had gotten along better with the class above us! :)

When I went through, I was first rotation FLT/CC. My first TWO days sucked really badly, but after that, I didn't have another leadership position. It made the rest of the camp a lot better-- just being a good team player and follower. When I went back as a CTA this year, we were rough on the 1st rotation staff, especially FLT/CC, but you don't really expect much out them, so if they do ANYTHING right, it's amazing. Be careful asking for GP staff unless you really want it. Your life will be miserable, and usually the camp COCs are way worse than any FTO out there. Last thing- like all of FT, a lot of it will depend on your FTO. Some FTOs have it all laid out ahead of time... (i.e. 1st person gets FLT/CD, 3rd get FLT/CC, 4th gets Safety, etc) Others will actually go by what you ask for, but you'll probably never know which method they use. I'm sure you've heard this before, but whatever position you do get, just do your best with it!

I haven't heard this, but I think it's a good idea. When I was a CTA last year, we had some cadets fail both the FTM test and Airman's Manual (open book) tests!! As gay as FT may be, that's ridiculous. Maybe this will help some people take the preparation a little more seriously...?

our exec. said that it's 6 months still. So for most of us rated guys, we're looking at EAD 6 months from commissioning, a few months (hopefully) of casual at our UPT base, TDY to IFS, back casual, TDY to ASBC, back casual, and then UPT at some point...

They have standardized PT at the HQ level to make PT the same for all encampments (which is crap). But if you're lucky and get a good FTO and CTA, you'll have evening PT/warrior runs too. I sure as heck plan on doing that w/ my flight... One of the FTOs from M-2 told me that he took his flight on warrior runs so that he wouldn't gain any weight while he was there... 30 min. of PT in the morning just isn't enough in my opinion...

yeah... I've seen some complete idiots make it through. I'm sure everything'll be okay. Usually if they're going to fail, they'll just send 'em home. It's a little more rare to have them go all the way through all 25 days, send you home, then tell you that you didn't pass. BUT... that does happen. If you got that letter before she left for Blue Thunder, that was a while ago. They're almost done there. She'll be home in a few days, so hopefully things have gotten better for her. Also, she'll be able to call you as soon as they load up on the buses to leave base, so you'll have some notice before she gets home.

I'm southeast region- all the non-rated types found out today. I heard that there may have been a mix up with S&M though-- there were 162 AFROTC spots for S&M this year according to the spreadsheet I've uploaded on here for the FY09 splits. Rumor has it that the computer gave out about 250 S&M spots, so our guys (we had 5 at my det) who got it were told it might switch... I love this "Smooth Flow" initiative ! wtf...

they're in... my cadre's on the phone letting everyone know as we speak!

Umm... so there's this guy at my det, and he's so weird... he's such an idiot. All he talks about is how good he is and how far he's come... But seriously, Leadeagle's advice is solid. Remember to have fun too!

Hey, I'm a cross-towner about 30 minutes away of 0500 w/o traffic and about 1 hr 15 min away if you catch traffic. I'm finishing up my 300 yr, and I haven't had a problem with it affecting my ranking. I just got a pilot slot, and it won't hurt you too much, but you have to make an effort to take up jobs, even as a freshman or sophomore, and stand out. Your AS class instructor is the one who'll rank you most of the time, so don't worry if you don't run in to the Colonel all the time. Just remember, don't be a douche-- help out your friends. Don't focus on what your ranking is going to be, just do your best.

you can... i've been with USAA for 2 years as a cadet... you can take advantage of all their services.

Here are a few other things that have changed: they'll get issued camelbacks instead of canteens and web belts... (good idea) They'll be released the morning of TD-27 (so, it's 2 days shorter) They can only bring their carry-on and their issued duffle-bag (no other luggage authorized) As said before, they travel in SS Blues with boots, so they can't bring any civvies no SQ CTAs CTAs can't fill out 341s (i think that'll help with unstandardized training some...) Leadership positions rotate 5 days instead of weekly They have to bring 2 mouthguards that are already boiled and formed (hand-to-hand combat training???) There's only one PFA on TD-4... so you better pass that one.

I'm on FTP staff... CTA at M4 this summer, so I have a little bit more info here: 1) I have seen a powerpoint slide my COC has from HQ on the new plan and it did propose "Expeditionary Training" and "Expeditionary Training Units" (instead of our FTUs) 2) It will all be at Maxwell.... 6 encampments though. 3) I think they're shortening it by 2 days to 26, plus the travel day on each side. 4) Half of it will be in-garrison in the OTS complex. The second half will be expeditionary skills training. 5 or 6 days will be spent at an on-base deployment location. Then the rest of the time will be a "possible off-base deployment." This is according to the SE Region CC. There is also the possibility of airlift to the "undisclosed deployment location." Then, they'll return to OTS complex for 1 or 2 days before leaving for good. 5) Everything is ready to go at Ellsworth just incase the plan falls through, and HQ has to revert to the old way. 6) I was also told there are no more SQ CTAs anymore. I remember Maj Gen Flowers telling us last yr at M3 that he wanted fewer CTAs too. I know it sucks that we don't have new FTMs yet, but if you learn leadership you'll be ok. And with the IDEs, they were such a minor part of your FTPR to begin with, it shouldn't matter how gay that are or not (even though they are). They're like 1/5 of one of like 40-some parts of the FTPR.... not a big deal at all.

My roommate last yr commissioned as an ABM. He got his Top Secret back within a few months. Another career field that needs it is OSI, by the way.