WAMom68

I was told that not all of last year’s graduating class was commissioned because there was not enough officer slots available in the AF. Is this true? If it is, what do they do about the service commitment of the graduates not commissioned?

Viper24

if they don't get commissioned, they do not have the commitment to AF. they are able to go into the civilian world and make their career there.

packermatt7

So how do they decide who doesn't get commissioned? And how many does that happen to?

stvblm

May I ask where you heard that? What about the ROTC guy's? I am sure the government would commission USAFA grads over the ROTC grads if that were the case.

Viper24

i heard that from a colonel here. i have no idea how they determine who is commissioned or not...i'd probably say how high you rank in the class and how many slots your AFSC has open that year will probably play a huge role.

BlueSuiter

Even though there is a decent chance of it happening again, at the moment this kind of thing has been halted.

There were a lot of Force Shaping initiatives last year, my unit lost all three of our LTs for example, and that was one tool at their disposal. Some ROTC grads were offered the same thing. One possibility if this happens to you, and you want to serve, you could always concider blue to green.

WAMom68

I heard it from someone that usually has very accurate information but I haven't been able to find anything about it on the internet. I am interested in verifying the truth of it because my younger son is planning on doing AFROTC. I am concerned that not all ROTC grads would be commissioned if they aren't even commissioning all academy grads.

AC232323

If this were to happen at all (which I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY) doubt, it would be based on overall class rank. So even if it's true, don't try to dissuade your youngest son from doing AFROTC, unless he plans on being in the bottom quarter of all ROTC grads.

hornetguy

Don't count on it. Secretary Gates has halted force shaping and has a goal to increase the numbers in the AF (look it up on google for exacts) by 2010. That means the chances of not commissioning now have slimmed a LOT.

raimius

I've hear this rumor a few times, but I've never actually known someone who graduated but was not commissioned.

ds52262

Urban Legend. You graduate you commission, and get ready to give back that five years at least. Even in the bath tub years people were left with a reserve commitment.

Now for future classes 2014 and beyond things might get fuzzier. Congress could change the law and reduce the number of annual commissions. We can expect changes in the DoD and all branches. Sec. Gates may or may not be allowed to remain, no matter though becuase congress will be much more hostile to any military requests.

flieger83

Not true.

USAFA ALO

ds52262

Which part? Graduate with no commitment or future changes?

iflyusafa

Not true. I graduated in 2008 and we had one person graduate but not commision due to medical reasons. Other than that, everyone who graduated commissioned.

On a side note, eight people commissioned into other services (3 Navy, 5 Army).