If I join Air Force ROTC, does that mean I'm joining the military?
No. If you got a 4-year scholarship from high school, then the first year of
college is paid for and you can quit at the end of your freshman year with no
obligation. If you got a 3-year scholarship from high school or college then
you are not committed to the Air Force until you accept your scholarship
(usually in the fall of your sophomore year). If you didn't get any
scholarship, then you are not committed to joining the Air Force until you
start your junior year of college.
With Air Force ROTC, we provide you with lots of opportunities to see what the
Air Force is about before signing up. And while you're waiting, you are getting
college out of the way and having a lot of fun.
What is the
difference between Junior ROTC in high school and ROTC in college?
The mission of the high school Junior ROTC program is to build better citizens
for
Do I have to be in
Junior ROTC in high school to be eligible for ROTC in college?
No. In fact, the majority of students enrolled in college ROTC have never been
involved in the Junior ROTC program.
Do I have to join
Air Force ROTC as a freshman?
No. Any student (graduate or undergraduate) with more than two years remaining
should be eligible for our program. So, if you're a second-semester freshman, a
sophomore, or have at least two years remaining in your graduate studies, you
can join.
Can I enroll if I
didn't take Air Force ROTC as a freshman?
Yes. You can enroll in Aerospace Studies 101 and Aerospace Studies 201 and be
what we call dual enrolled. You can also elect not to take freshman ROTC,
however, you must attend a five-week summer camp during the summer of your
second year if you take this option.
Can I attend Air
Force ROTC without a scholarship?
Yes, you can. Many of our students do not start with a scholarship, but earn
one eventually. Still, at any given time, about 80% of our students receive
financial assistance.
I didn't receive an Air Force ROTC scholarship before I started college; are
there scholarship opportunities while I'm in college?
Yes. Depending on how many years you have left in college, you may qualify for
a one-, two- or three-year scholarship. For more details on scholarship
opportunities, please visit our Air
Force ROTC Scholarships>> section.
Is preference shown
toward scholarship cadets?
Definitely not! The fact that a cadet may have an Air Force ROTC scholarship
has no bearing on an Air Force career. Nor does it make any difference while in
the Air Force ROTC program.
Are there any
restrictions as to what students select as their academic major?
None at all. In fact, we encourage you to take a curriculum you are interested
in and in which you have the capability to do well. Our main academic concern
is that you maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) above 2.5 and attain your
degree in the time period planned. The GPA requirements are different if you
are applying for a scholarship and once you are on scholarship. Check our Scholarships
section>> for those specific requirements.
Can I pursue
graduate education after I'm commissioned?
The Air Force is education-oriented and financially supports graduate studies.
You can apply for the Air Force Institute of Technology to earn an advanced
degree on full scholarship. Additionally, most bases have graduate college
programs, and you may apply for the tuition assistance program that pays 100
percent of the tuition cost.
How often can I take
the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT)?
The test is given several times during the fall and spring and can be taken a
maximum of two times with at least 6 months between tests.
If I take Air Force
ROTC classes, am I committed to military or government service once I join?
There is no service commitment for students who take our classes with no
intention of becoming an Air Force officer. For these types of students, it's
only another class. If you are interested in becoming an officer, there is NO
service commitment during the first two years of the Air Force ROTC program
(the General Military Course) unless you have an Air Force ROTC scholarship. If
you decide to stay and join the POC (the last two years of the program), you'll
sign an allocation contract with the Air Force and are then under a service
obligation. For Air Force ROTC scholarship students, you're obligated once
you've activated the scholarship and have entered your sophomore year.
Is the Four-Year
Program more advantageous for students?
Yes, for the following reasons:
- It gives you more
time to participate in Air Force ROTC without obligation, to gain experience
and to decide whether you want to apply for the advanced program, the POC.
- You will have the opportunity to apply for scholarships if eligible.
- You can retake the Air Force Officer Qualification (AFOQT) test to improve
your scores
What is the
commitment to the Air Force upon graduation?
Most officers have a four-year commitment. For pilots, it's ten years after
pilot training, and it's six years for navigators after training. Air Battle
Managers have a six-year commitment. See the Service
Obligation section>>.
When do I know what job I will be doing for the Air Force as an officer?
You will compete in a selection process much like the one of an enrollment
allocation as an officer candidate. The factors to be used will include your Air
Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores, your camp performance rating,
your Grade Point Average (GPA), your academic major, your Physical
Fitness Test (PFT) score, and the Detachment Commander's rating. You will
know your specific Air Force job category approximately six months before
you're commissioned.
Do I have to become
a pilot or navigator?
No. The vast majority of Air Force jobs do not involve flying at all. In the
civilian world there are thousands of jobs and careers - doctors, lawyers, law
enforcement, engineers, financial careers, food-service management - the list
is endless. For almost every civilian out in the work force, there is an Air
Force officer counterpart performing a similar job. For more information about
the many careers available, check out our Careers
section>>.
Can I fly?
Possibly - you must qualify by passing a physical exam, passing a Physical
Fitness Test and earning certain scores on the Air
Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT). Also, available pilot and navigator
slots will be increasing in numbers over the next few years.
When do I actually
receive my commission as an Air Force officer?
Cadets normally get commissioned in a special ceremony the same day they
graduate. You can expect to enter active duty about 60 days after graduation.
Must a student go on
active duty in the Air Force immediately following graduation and
commissioning?
Not necessarily. You may request an educational delay if you desire to attend
graduate school at your own expense before going on active duty. If approved,
the Air Force will postpone your active-duty tour. Delays are routinely
provided if you select to attend dental or medical school. Scholarships also
exist for students accepted to medical school.
Can I continue my
education beyond the baccalaureate level?
Yes. The Air Force offers several opportunities to do so. In many cases you can
request an educational delay. This delay between the time of commissioning and
reporting for active duty will be of sufficient length to allow you to fulfill
the requirements for a professional or master's degree. You will assume all
financial obligations. There are also Air Force Institute of Technology
programs where the Air Force pays for your graduate school education. These
programs are explained in detail in Air Force ROTC.
I don't have 20/20
vision. Can I still fly?
It depends. Check out the Flying Requirements>> for more information.
Do I have to major
in Aeronautical Science to become a pilot or navigator?
No. Your academic major plays a minor role in pilot and navigator selection.
You can major in any degree program and compete to receive a pilot or navigator
slot in Air Force ROTC. You can even be on an Air Force ROTC scholarship in an
engineering or science major and compete on an equal basis for a flying
position.
What are the age
limits for a cadet to compete for a pilot or navigator position?
To compete for the pilot or navigator categories, you must be able to complete
your bachelor's degree and be commissioned through Air Force ROTC before you
are 29 years old.
How much do I get
paid?
Upon commissioning, you will earn approximately $40,000 per year. By the time
you finish your active duty commitment you will be earning more than $60,000
per year.
Will I be behind my fellow nonmilitary graduates after I complete my service
obligation and decide to get out?
No. In fact, many companies prefer to hire former officers over new college
graduates (even those with master's degrees). Your Air Force experience, the
management skills you've gained on active duty and your active-duty educational
benefits can give you the competitive edge you need.
Do I have to cut my hair?
Hair must be kept in accordance with Air Force guidelines when in uniform.
Do I have to live in
barracks?
No. Cadets can live wherever they choose.
Do I have to wear a
uniform to class every day?
No. You are only required to wear your uniform to your Air Force ROTC classes
and on Leadership Lab day once a week. Occasionally, during special events, you
may be required to wear your uniform on other days.
Can I participate in
other student activities on campus?
Definitely! Many of our cadets are involved in other student organizations
including fraternities/sororities, athletics, and intramurals. You're only
limited by your time and energy. We stress academics, first and foremost.
How much time do I
have to spend with Air Force ROTC each week?
The only required time is during your Air Force ROTC classes, Leadership
Lab, and physical fitness training.. (This equates to approximately five hours per week for freshmen and
sophomores; seven hours per week for juniors and seniors.)
How much marching
and drilling will I have to do?
Not as much as you think. Marching/drill is sometimes practiced during your
squadron time at Leadership Laboratory. There are no mandatory drill sessions
outside of LLAB.
When will I receive
my Air Force ROTC uniform?
After you have completed all AFROTC membership paperwork, we will issue you a complete uniform
and tell you how to arrange for having alterations completed (at no cost to
you). However, you are responsible for keeping the uniform clean and
presentable.
