Originally Posted by
Planespotta
So you can actually see if you will get a pilot slot before you decide if you want to go to OTS? Doesn't that sound a little too good to be true?
Also, on wantscheck it says:
Your chances of getting a pilot slot (and a commission in general) out of ROTC are much better than OTS.
How much better?
If I went ROTC without a scholarship, I would have until the end of sophomore year to make a decision if I wanted to stay or not -- right?
Thanks for all your help so far, guys
All the services will generally offer guaranteed pilot slots to "walk-in" candidates off the street. Otherwise they would lose qualified folks who want to fly, but do not want to risk 4-5 years as a ground-pounder.
The walk-in slots are more competetive, but if your only interest in military service is flying, there is less chance that you will get NPQed and stuck on the ground. Why? Because there is less time for things to go medically wrong between committment and completion of flight training. Vision changes often occur during the college years. Ask me how I know this
I'm not certain today, but during my brief ROTC stint a non-scholarship cadet could participate up to graduation, and then decide to accept or not accept a commission...assuming one was offered. The scholarship people generally all get comissioned first (whether they wanted to or not) and then non-scholarships fill in the remaining need.
I'd probably go talk to the OIC of your nearest AFROTC/NROTC unit to get the latest.