Do you dream of a career in the Air Force? Do you wonder if you should get through college first or enlist right away? AFROTC can be an incredible option for you as it gives you the best of both worlds, with loads of benefits. You get to go to college, probably with a scholarship and gain leadership and management skills, discipline, and experience. These are all a great head start for a military career. Let’s see What Colleges Have The Air Force ROTC Program?
What Colleges Have The Air Force ROTC Program?
Answer
With over 1,100 colleges and universities across the U.S. offering the Air Force Reserves Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program, AFROTC partners with indigenous institutions of higher learning to recruit, train, and commission enrolled students (cadets) by combining their academic program with professional development, leadership, and field training. Cadets are eligible for scholarships from the program based on their academic and military performance.
Between 1920 and 1923, AFROTC was founded at the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, and University of Washington. Today, every state in the U.S. has at least one institution that offers the AFROTC program. A few of these institutions have produced some of America’s most decorated Air Force officers. Topping the list is The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina), Virginia Military Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. They have all produced former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, members of the Joint Chiefs, Commanders of the U.S. Space Command, Directors and Deputy Directors of the CIA and NSA, and multiple Medal of Honour recipients (the U.S. government’s most prestigious military award). These Colleges Have The Air Force ROTC Program?
What Is AFROTC?
The Air Force Reserves Officer Training Corps came into existence when the Land Grant (Morrill) Act was passed in 1862. It allowed military training at land-grant colleges and universities. However, it wasn’t until 1916, with the passage of the National Defense Act, that the name ‘Reserves Officer Training Corps’ came to be.
AFROTC was one of three core commissioning sources for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force until it was merged with the Air Force Officer Training School in February 1997 to create the Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools (AFOATS).
Today, it has over 145 detachments across different institutions offering its program, four regional headquarters, and a higher headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
What Are The Requirements?
To qualify for selection in the program, you must be an American citizen at least 14 years old and not more than 39 years old by the time you’re to be commissioned into active duty and enrolled in a college that offers the program. Those who would apply for scholarships must be under 31 years of age. You must get a letter of attestation of character, meet the physical and health requirements, and undergo physical and medical tests. The academic requirement for selection is a minimum CGPA of 2.5, which must be maintained. Application for scholarships requires a minimum CGPA of 3.0 to be maintained if the scholarship is awarded.
The program runs for four years, split into two divisions:
1. The General Military Course (GMC) is conventional training, comprising an hour of classwork, two hours of leadership laboratory sessions, and three hours of physical drills every week. It runs for the first two years.
2. The Professional Officer Course (POC), which happens in the last two years, is for cadets who have completed the GMC and have met the requirements for entry into the POC. It requires factors such as grade point average, physical fitness, and the detachment commander’s evaluation. Selected cadets must complete summer field training at Maxwell Air Force Base. Cadets who succeed are commissioned and immediately mandated to serve a minimum of eight years in active service. This must include three years of field service for those who didn’t receive any scholarship, and four years for those who did.
Structure And Notable Graduates
Just like in the Air Force, AFROTC has a hierarchy. GMC cadets are non-commissioned officers, while POC cadets are commissioned officers. Cadets receive non-taxable monthly stipends, with AS100 (the lowest-ranked) cadets receiving $300 monthly, while POC cadets receive between $700 and $1100 monthly.
Some notable names have passed through the AFROTC program and gone on to have illustrious careers in the service of the United States.
Joseph W. Ashy, Gen. USAF (rtd.) former Commander U.S. Space Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Frank B. Campbell, Lt. Gen. USAF (rtd.) Director J-5, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Eileen Collins, Col. USAF (rtd.) Astronaut and first female Space Shuttle Commander. Lindsay Graham, Col. USAFR (rtd.) U.S. Republican Senator from South Carolina.
Conclusion
The decision to enroll in the AFROTC program depends on your ambitions and passion. It’s important to note that it’s not enough to join because of the privileges because there are steep
requirements and failure to meet them would result in disenrollment and where necessary, legal action. So if you sign up for the program, it’s a commitment you must follow through. Learn more about AFROTC on their website.
U.S. Air Force ROTC (afrotc.com)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the disadvantages of enrolling in the AFROTC program? Answer: There are a few.
First, you’re obligated to meet academic, medical, and fitness standards. You must be of good character, and failing to meet these standards will result in disqualification and some cases, legal repercussions.
All scholarship beneficiaries are mandated to sign legally binding contracts. If you are disqualified or if you drop out from the program, you’ll face legal consequences and even be mandated to pay back your scholarship. Then there’s obligatory active field service for all commissioned officers.
2. Can I participate in the program and not serve?
Answer: Yes, depending on how far you go in the program.
If you participate in the GMC alone and you were not awarded a scholarship, you’re not obligated to serve and you may pull out after this.
But if you’re on a scholarship or you enroll in the POC, then you will be mandated to complete the program and serve.