ROTC vs Cot

Specialties Government

Published

I am a prenursing student and am planning to join the Air Force after i graduate. My main question is about choice of base on my dream sheet. If i decide to do ROTC rather than going to COT will i pretty much lose my chances of getting one of my top choices of bases (or any for that matter)? Just curious because I am afraid of passing up on ROTC and then not being able to get into COT. Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wish I had done ROTC. You'll probably end up with more money doing ROTC. I think they give a monthly stipend plus pay for your schooling. As for assignments, regardless of when you accept your commission you still only have so much choice in the matter. You go, where the air force needs are. If your dreamsheet has a need on it, then you will go. I think overall the AF wants to see you happy and wants to put you where you want to go. I've only read of one person not getting their dreamsheet and they worked with the person to find an assignment that had a need on it. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ROTC would pay for your schooling, give you a stipend, and virtually guarantee you a commission. COT (As far as I understand it which is not a lot) would depend on what recruiting was like when you graduate, so no guarantees. I would personally choose ROTC for the guarantee, the money, and the peace of mind if you really want to go into the military.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ROTC guarantees you a commission if you (a) graduate, and (b) complete the ROTC core with satisfactory grades. It too is subject to recruiting and manning issues within the Air Force itself. My understanding is there aren't a whole lot of nursing slots for ROTC students in the AF, since the AF meets most of its recruiting numbers through COT.

And not all ROTC slots are funded. You can do ROTC and never get a dime from the USAF. All ROTC scholarships (i.e., funded slots) are competitive, just like any other scholarship (and in some ways even more cutthroat - I know, I applied twice with a 3.8 GPA and a stellar military record and was turned down twice - COT was my FOURTH attempt at a commission), and in recent years the stipend has been quite small and in many cases not enough to live on.

I'm not trying to drag you down or be Nellie Negative, but my point is ROTC money isn't something they just hand out - it's hard as he*l to get. And in this economy it's even harder.

If the money becomes less of a draw or they accept you into ROTC without money and you still want a commission - KEEP IT, keep the slot; you'll earn a commission in two years and you don't have to fool around with the song and dance that OTS can be. Worse case you'll still be borrowing cash to go to school BUT you're guaranteed a job at graduation, which is more than a lot of your classmates would be able to say.

That said, apply anyway. What's the worst they can say - NO?? If they did, you're no worse off than you are now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I should add I did Army ROTC for my undergrad degree and short of failing out of school or ROTC, I knew the first day I walked into class that I had a job when I graduated. I had a couple of friends in AF ROTC and they liked it very well. If you apply and get ROTC now your worries would be over, vs waiting until you are closer to graduation to apply for COT. As Carolinapooh said not everyone gets the scholarship but you would know that going in vs hoping for the best with COT. I don't think you would really go wrong either way, but I would have greater peace of mind with ROTC. Also, Army ROTC sends you to cool places- I went to airborne school and spent a month in Germany. I am sure AF has similar programs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Actually the scholarship is not a concern since I am using the GI bill. So I'm more concerned with getting the commission.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU.

I got my initial commission through ROTC (got "re-commisioned" when I became a nurse and went into the nurse corps). From talking to the folks I work with who went through COT I think my experience taught me so much more about not only leadership, but how the AF generally works. My rec is to take the ROTC deal if you can get it. That way you can see bits of the AF first-hand before you actually commission. It may save you some of the anxiety that I see in my peers who went through COT...at least the ones with no military experience. They all describe an uncomfortable transition from civilian to military life. As an ROTC student, the transition is much more gradual...over the course of years instead of weeks. May not seem like a critical difference, but on my unit there were 6 nurses who commissioned around the same time. After 2 years of service (deployments and all), none of them are committed to staying in the AF. There are lots of factors that play in to each one of their situations, but none of them felt confident that they knew what they were getting into. Try to come into the AF with eyes wide open...ROTC helps you do that a little better.

Keep in mind that I am totally biased...and I know there are folks who have had a great experience with COT...I just don't work with any of them. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU.

If you're using the GI Bill, then you must have some prior service. Maybe you mentioned that and I missed it..sorry. In that case you know very well what you're getting into. I still think the ROTC route is a more reliable way to get a commission. You may not be able to collect the accession bonus from ROTC, but the scholarships can come close to that over time in many cases.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The scholarship would just be a nice plus. im more interested in getting into ROTC in general. And yes your assumption is correct. I was enlisted for 4 years and am familiar with how the AF works. My main curiousity came from the fact that i recall seeing a posting that said " if you are non-ROTC you will be more likely to get one of your base choices". in other words they made it seem as if going through COT usually gets you a better selection. Just a thought

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The scholarship would just be a nice plus. im more interested in getting into ROTC in general. And yes your assumption is correct. I was enlisted for 4 years and am familiar with how the AF works. My main curiousity came from the fact that i recall seeing a posting that said " if you are non-ROTC you will be more likely to get one of your base choices". in other words they made it seem as if going through COT usually gets you a better selection. Just a thought

My experience was with Army not AF, but when I got my ROTC commission I made a list, just like you do for you recruitment packet. I got my first choice as did most of my peers. I don't know why you would be more likely to get your choice with COT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Carolina, i noticed you said that the scholarship slots were very difficult to get, but what about the non-scholarship slots? I would be excited to get a slot in general. So how competitive would a non-funded slot be?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They're all competitive, but the scholarship slots are especially hard to get because there aren't that many of them anymore. It used to be that ALL ROTC slots were funded, and everyone who went ROTC got some form of cash money, but it doesn't work that way anymore.

Your best bet is to call a detachment and ask the cadre themselves.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment