The United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) is a nationwide program that allows students to pursue commissions (become officers) in the United States Air Force (USAF) or United States Space Force (USSF) while simultaneously attending college. The program consists of three-year, four-year, or five-year academic programs depending on the student's major. The program is broken into two distinct segments; the General Military Corps (GMC) and the Professional Officer Corps (POC), both of which are taken on-campus. In addition, prior to admission into the POC, AFROTC cadets must complete a two--week field training encampment off-campus.
AFROTC classes are held on college campuses in the United States and Puerto Rico, and students register through normal course registration processes. AFROTC consists of Aerospace Studies classes (Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force, Team and Leadership Fundamentals, Leading People and Effective Communication, and National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty), and a corresponding Leadership Laboratory for each year whereby students apply leadership skills, demonstrate command and effective communication, develop physical fitness, and practice military customs and courtesies. College students enrolled in the AFROTC program are known as “cadets.” Cadets who successfully complete both AFROTC training and college requirements will graduate and simultaneously commission as Second Lieutenants in the active duty Air Force.
Scholarships
The AFROTC program offers qualified high school applicants the opportunity to compete for a 4-year scholarship. The application may be submitted online from July 1st of the student’s junior year through December 31st of their senior year of high school. Visit www.afrotc.com for more information and the application for the High School Scholarship program.
In-College Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis for 2 to 3.5 years. Applicants competing for In-College Scholarships must be enrolled as a cadet and nominated by a member of the detachment cadre (professor, associate, or assistant professors). Enrollment in AFROTC courses alone does not constitute grounds for scholarship consideration.
Scholarships cover tuition, fees, a book allowance, and a monthly subsistence allowance referred to as a “stipend.” Stipends range from $300-$500 monthly depending on the student’s academic classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).
General Military Course (GMC)
The GMC consists of four 1-credit courses, normally completed during the freshman and sophomore years. The AS 100 level, "Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force," is a survey course designed to introduce students to the United States Air Force and provides an overview of the basic characteristics, missions, and organization of the Air Force. The AS 200 level, "Team and Leadership Fundamentals," focuses on laying the foundation for teams and leadership. The topics include skills that will allow cadets to improve their leadership on a personal level and within a team. The courses will prepare cadets for their field training experience where they will be able to put the concepts learned into practice. The purpose is to instill a leadership mindset and to motivate sophomore students to transition from AFROTC cadet to AFROTC officer candidate.
Students in the three-year program must be concurrently enrolled in both the freshman (100-level) and the sophomore (200-level) courses each semester of their sophomore year.
Portions of the GMC may be accredited for students with prior military experience or for students who transfer from another ROTC program.
Professional Officers Course (POC)
Students are accepted into the POC on a competitive basis provided they have at least two years of full-time undergraduate course work remaining. Performance in the GMC and the Field Training encampment are among the factors considered.
The POC consists of four 3-credit courses that extend over a two-year period. The AS 300 level, "Leading People and Effective Communication," teaches cadets advanced skills and knowledge in management and leadership. Special emphasis is placed on enhancing leadership skills and communication. Cadets have an opportunity to try out these leadership and management techniques in a supervised environment as juniors and seniors. The AS 400 level, "National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty," is designed for college seniors and gives them the foundation to understand their role as military officers in American society. It is an overview of the complex social and political issues facing the military profession and requires a measure of sophistication commensurate with the senior college level. The final semester provides information that will prepare the cadets for Active Duty.
Students who successfully complete the requirements of the POC and their degree programs will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force and will enter active duty within one year. Delay of entry to active duty to study at the master’s or doctoral level may be permitted. There are many career opportunities individuals can qualify for, including but not limited to pilot, space and missile operations, cyberspace operations, engineering, medical and nursing career fields.
Leadership Laboratory
Leadership Laboratory consists of a series of 1-credit hour labs that accompany the academic class each semester throughout the program. As part of the GMC and POC, the student is a member of an organized cadet corps that conducts a leadership laboratory. Instruction is conducted within the framework of the cadet corps with a progression of experiences designed to develop each student’s leadership potential.
Field Training
Students in the program compete to attend a two to three-week field training encampment at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. Students attend this encampment the summer between their sophomore and junior years. Encampment expenses are paid for by the U.S. Air Force.
Professional Development Training (PDT)
PDTs are an integral component to the AFROTC curriculum and are comprised of outside-the-classroom events intended to motivate and inspire GMC cadets and to further development and enhance leadership skills for POC cadets. PDTs are designed to progress cadets from academic experience into operational application and understanding of the Air Force. Opportunities include Summer Programs at or with the United States Air Force Academy such as SOAR, Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory, Operations Air Force at various bases around the globe, or internships with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Global Strike Command, to name a few. For more information, visit http://afrotc.msu.edu; email airforce@msu.edu; or call 1-517-355-2168.