Good evening all, my name is Evan Wallace and if I am to return to school in the fall I will be a 2nd year AS200 AFROTC cadet. I left my current school and applied to 2 others and just got denied by my number 1 choice. If I do not get accepted into the other I am almost definately going to have to drop ROTC and enlist CCT for 4 years. My dad is retired AFSOC Lt. Col and I have spoken with him and 1 active duty Captain STO to get their advice, but my question is, if I want to sign a 4-year CCT contract then get out, go back to school and commision STO, will it happen like that? I have heard through all my training I will sign for additional yearly commitments and will stretch my enlisted tenure long farther than 4 years and be far behind on my career. Is it possible to do 4 years CCT and honorable discharge then go back to my ROTC scholarship? Anyone have experience or know anyone who did so? Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks to all in advance.

V/r,
Evan Wallace

You can definitely do four years as a CCT and choose not to reenlist. You also have the option of taking courses through Air Force tuition assistance (up to $4,500 a year) and get your degree that way, although it is certainly more difficult, and it can be tough at times given the operations tempo of CCT these days...but it can be done. Another consideration is the reenlistment bonus typically offered to CCT which is substantial.

Bottom line, you can do four years, get out and go to school but you have many other options to work towards a commission while doing the mission. Additionally, there is no guarantee that you will be selected for STO even with a CCT background...it will certainly help, but be sure to read the STO application and Guard MC's 123 STS information posted in the ST documents section of the forum to see what STO is all about.

TE,
Thanks for the input, that helped clear things up a bit. I've checked out the application, believe me I've researched this a ton as well as having a couple STO contacts from the 24th to try and guide me in the rigt path. What exactly are you suggesting when you say the reenlistment bonus is substantial? Sign on a few more years and get my degree that way? If so that seems to be the extension of my enlisted career I was concerned about? Thanks for the help.

Yes, you have to reenlist to get the bonus...right now for zone A - 21 Months - 6 Years of service, the multiplier is a 7 for CCT (now). It is computed by taking one month's base pay, multiplied by the number of years reenlisted, multiplied by the SRB multiple. Roughly computed as a Senor Airman with over 3 yrs service when you reenlist = $2199.90 x 6 (years you reenlist) x 7 = $92,395.80 or 61,597 for a 4 year reenlistment. The maximum authorized bonus right now is 90K...but in either case, if you reenlist overseas in a combat zone, that 60K to 90K is tax free...that is a good chunk of change for a 4 - 6 year commitment. Just something to consider and if you are really concerned about doing only 4 years, you can get out as stated in my original post. Also the bonus multipliers are updated annually and can go up or down but for CCT and PJ especially, the will likely stay the same.

That's a giant chunk of change, sounds pretty appealing I'm just worried about impeading my officer career. If I sign that 4 year plan I can work to get my degree then attend OCS in that time to commision? Basically how many years if I do reenlist until I commision? Apologies for the 21 questions, simply trying to have a firm grasp on my predicament. Thanks

You have to apply to OTS and there is no guarantee of selection...you can apply when applications are being taken (varies)...and you need a good recommendation from your commander. If you reenlist, get the bonus, then go OCS you will likely have to repay a portion of that bonus depending on current policies...another consideration.

Due to the ops tempo and roughly 2 years of training just to become a 3-level CCT, it is unlikely you will have enough time to finish a degree in the first enlistment (even with a year under your belt), but it could be done.