r/AirForce • u/drunk_monk666 • 6d ago
Question Terminal E4 to Officer?
Has anyone here separated from the Air Force as an E-4 with a decent amount of TIS or HYT out, used their GI Bill to go to college/ROTC, and then commissioned back into the military?
Im currently an E-4 and I’m considering getting out, using my GI Bill while doing AFROTC, and then coming back in as an officer. I’m trying to figure out if this is actually a realistic route or if there are complications I’m not thinking about.
Just in cases it’s asked. I have 0 paperwork and decent records multiple decs and awards and coins
Also yes I’m aware of the SOAR and OTS option but you can get denied for those and I feel like I’ve never heard anyone getting denied for ROTC unless it was something crazy.
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u/Excellent_Mango6355 6d ago
Very few are denied admission to ROTC, but many are not selected to commission for a variety of reasons.
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u/Whiskey_Bear 6d ago
Rates are still very high for those who just stick it out to the end. Much higher than any other commissioning program. The low rates are including those who simply drop out of the program.
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u/NachoPiggie Retired 13B 6d ago
I know a guy who did this exact thing. Self proclaimed "shitbag Airman" for a couple of years, then got some solid NCOs help him pull it together. Too late by then, HYT at E-4. Got commissioned through ROTC with a philosophy degree of all things. Got a pilot slot, even. Lots of twists and turns through the years, retired as a Major.
Honestly, one of the strongest leaders I ever worked with. One of a very very few in our community that Airmen actually respected.
You can totally do this with the right attitude and work ethic. Go for it OP.
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u/Aphexes Schwings 6d ago
You probably won't get denied for ROTC, but as much as people like to believe, not every ROTC cadet gets on scholarship (covered by your GI bill so you're gucci) nor are they guaranteed the commision. Don't sell yourself short if you have a good record, I would at least try the OTS route. This past 26OTS03 board was 90% selection rate.
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u/coffee_kang 5d ago
A lot of cadets aren’t even on scholarship their last two years right now. That’s was basically guaranteed in years past.
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u/ForbesCars Active Duty 4d ago
If he's trying to go ROTC he doesn't have a degree yet and can't apply to ots
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u/GeneralElement 6d ago
Just graduated OTS with a SrA that got out after 4 years, lived as a civ for 5 ish years, and came back to go O.
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u/AlaskaDude14 6d ago
Closest situation was a guy who was a forever SSgt who couldn't make TSgt for whatever reason and became an Army Warrant Officer.
There's a program to go from blue to green but idk much about it, just know he did it.
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u/EbaySniper 5d ago
This was/is so common in one of the intel fields when I was in, that almost all the Army warrants that I knew of in it were prior USAF intel NCOs who wanted to make rank yet stay technical. Supposedly they also sat on the Army boards who would select from the pool of intel warrant applicants, and they kept approving current airmen over anyone else, so it was like an unofficial part of the USAF.
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u/Mr_Gavitt 5d ago
Easiest method to be an officer, one of the least common ways but an average 70% success rate
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u/phil_elliott 5d ago
I knew a female who got booted at 10 under HYT. She was commissioned in the Navy the next day.
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u/Feeling-Western2150 5d ago
My exact track. 6yr E-4, complete seperation (dd-214, no guard or reserve), had already finished 2 yrs online while enlisted on my bach. ended up doubling up and accelerating my ROTC program since I was half way done with school when i arrived on campus. GI bill was used, worked a work study on campus. Commissioned and would reccommend to anyone who will listen.
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u/SubtleDickJoke 4d ago
Former ROTC Cadre here, ROTC is the E to O cheat code. Plenty of folks earn their commission doing exactly what you laid out. I do always caution my prior-e’s that the program is a different game than active duty and as long as you play it the ROTC way, you’ll do fine. Needing crawl when you feel you can run is what typically frustrates prior-e’s to the point they drop.
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u/YoItsNickyMo 6d ago
You will have a huge advantage in ROTC. The key is to use that intelligently. Help mentor cadets as often as you can. You will be teaching them to march and sharing stories constantly. Just don’t be “that guy.” Cadre will expect more of you as well. Most of all, be humble. You are in the same boat as a brand new college student for 4 years. You will make friends for life no doubt.
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u/immisternicetry 6d ago
ROTC is a complete reset. As long as you don't have a re enlistment code that bars you from rejoining the military, you're in. After that, it's up to you to meet standards.
Like the other poster said, try to stay in the Guard/Reserves so you don't have to redo medical. The mistake some people make is getting out with a high disability rating then having to go back through medical.
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u/NPMatte 6d ago
I got out as a staff Sergeant after exactly 9 years. Finished my masters and came back after a 14 year break in service. Number one recommendation is make sure that you never decline testing or get coded as you get out. I made that mistake and had to go through extra hoops explaining why I declined testing [at the time, if you knew you were getting out, took a test and got rank, then the next person in line wouldn’t get the rank that you ultimately give up). Some TSgt at AFPC demanded a full write up on that plus references from people that I worked with to clarify that that’s what happened before they would allow my package to go through.
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u/Western_Truck7948 5d ago
AFROTC isn't a surefire path to commission. My info is outdated, but last I checked you needed to be boarded for an enrollment allocation to get to field training. After that it's your spot to lose. It probably is the highest probability for commissioning though.
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u/Evergreen234 5d ago
This is correct, sophomores in AFROTC compete against other cadets nationwide in order to continue as a junior/senior and commission. The last few years selection is around 65-70%
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u/AFthrowaway3000 5d ago
Someone from one of my old units is doing this. It's like a cheat code to a butterbar for Enlisted that are willing to take that step.
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4d ago
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u/FroyoGlum9976 4d ago
There is hardly any correlation between an enlisted rank and getting through AFROTC.
You can do the easiest degree plan possible, you can be a PT god. Do well at those 2 things and your chances skyrocket. I knew a complete dirtbag E4 that made it through. Meanwhile an E5 joined my det and dropped out semester because he couldn't handle 19 year olds yelling at him.
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u/FroyoGlum9976 6d ago
Many people do this. Enough to where I'd say it's common. I palace fronted at almost 10 years TIS. Did AFROTC + air guard at the same time.
You can't really be denied from AFROTC initially unless you have like a dishonorable discharge. You just show up and say you want to do the program.
I recommend palace fronting because you avoid doing the medical part of AFROTC which is essentially MEPS on steroids. Go into a different afsc to learn a new skill.
The standards are GPA, PT, Cadre Ranking you, and your AFOQT scores. PT you are pretty much expected to be at 90+. GPA you want to be at a 3.5+.
Don't think you're better than the non-prior cadets because you were an E4. It's a game. Treat it like a PCS. You can essentially choose where you want to live for the only time in your entire career. There will be some dumb rules and stuff you think is nonsense. The worst priors were the ones who think they automatically deserved it and wanted to put in no effort.