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dmorrison · #13 10-23-2003, 11:44 PM

The desision is all yours, but make it an informed decisioin. I did 2 year AFROTC. 3 years 9 months active duty and then Air Force Reserves after 1 year of pilot training. Total time in the Air Force/Reserves 10 years.

What is it your joining for?? You question the mission of the military but you want to join this organization that owns you completely for 4 years.

As an Officer in the military you are at the " wishes and desires of the military" This means that what ever they want to do with you you have to do it. Shipped off to Tule, Greenland, you go or face court martial. disobey a lawfull order and again a court martial. All orders must be lawfull or you may and are required to disobey them. The My Lai insident re-affirmed this part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Now the reality of the military. They have you working as a computer program specialist. Well they are not going to give you a gun and make you a foot solder. They need you working and maintaining the computer system you are assigned to. On active duty I was a Forecaster. I had a degree in Meteorology and they sent me to Pope AFB all the way form Raliegh NC to active duty. It 57 miles from Raleigh to Fayettville NC where Pope is located. I did all my active duty time there. You will be in a highly technical field, computers, so your fellow officers and enlisted troups will be intelligent and motivated. It will be more of a office working environment. Except they choose your clothes and how long you can grow your hair. Where you live, if on base, or what town you will be in if you live off base. So the life style is not like anything you see in the movies.
Yes you have to follow orders and salute. Well you will have to do this same kind of thing in the civilian life. Follow your boses request, think orders, and get involved with certian activities and social clubs.

Many of the kids I was in ROTC with were very laid back and not the "Nedermeyer" of the movie Animal House.

Navy and Army are a lot more "military" Coast Gaurd is another more laid back service.

Additionally. You don't have to go ROTC to be a commissioned Officer. You can always go OTS after you graduate. They will take officers for a couple of years after you graduate. So you do not have to decide right now. Keep an eye on the ROTC program and learn then if you do want it, go OTS.

10 years of Air Force and I never shot anyone, Never was shot at and only carried a gun on certian missions on the C141. I have more desire to carry a gun now, with the Airlines, then I did in the Air Force.

You have a lot of reservations about signing the line. I would suggest you not do it if your not sure, because you will be obligated to serve your time. Either as an officer or as an enlisted if you refuse the commission.

Dave