Academic Programs Catalog

AFROTC offers qualified high school students the opportunity to compete for a four-year scholarship. High school scholarship applications may be submitted online beginning July 1 of the student’s junior year through December 31 of the student’s senior year. For more information and to apply for the High School Scholarship Program (HSSP), visit afrotc.com. 

In-College Scholarships (ICSP) are awarded on a competitive basis for periods ranging from two to three and a half years. Students competing for In-College Scholarships must be enrolled as AFROTC cadets and nominated by detachment cadre, including the professor, associate professor, or assistant professors of Aerospace Studies. Enrollment in AFROTC courses alone does not guarantee scholarship consideration. 

The General Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA) is an in-college scholarship available to qualified upper-class cadets who have successfully completed Field Training, entered the Professional Officer Course, and are not already receiving an AFROTC scholarship. The award is intended to support cadets selected to continue toward commissioning in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force. CMLA benefits may include tuition support or, when authorized, conversion to a housing benefit. 

AFROTC scholarships may cover tuition, fees, a book allowance, and a monthly stipend. Stipends generally range from $300 to $500 per month, depending on the student’s academic classification. 

The General Military Course consists of four 1-credit courses normally completed during the first two years of the AFROTC program. The AS 100-level course, Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force, introduces students to the Department of the Air Force and provides an overview of the characteristics, missions, and organization of the Air Force and Space Force. 

The AS 200-level course, Team and Leadership Fundamentals, builds a foundation in leadership and team development. Course topics help cadets improve their personal leadership, contribute effectively to teams, and prepare for Field Training. The course is designed to develop a leadership mindset and help sophomore cadets transition from AFROTC cadets to officer candidates. 

Students in the three-year program must enroll concurrently in both the AS 100-level and AS 200-level courses during each semester of their first year in AFROTC. 

Portions of the GMC may be accredited for students with prior military experience or for students who transfer from another ROTC program. 

Students are accepted into the Professional Officer Course on a competitive basis. To enter the POC, students must normally have at least two years of full-time undergraduate coursework remaining. Performance in the GMC and at Field Training are among the factors considered for POC selection. 

The POC consists of four 3-credit courses completed over a two-year period. The AS 300-level course, Leading People and Effective Communication, develops advanced knowledge and skills in leadership, management, and communication. Cadets apply these concepts in supervised leadership positions within the cadet corps. 

The AS 400-level course, National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty, is designed for senior cadets preparing to commission. The course examines the role of military officers in American society and addresses complex social, political, and professional issues facing the military. The final semester provides practical preparation for entry onto active duty. 

Students who successfully complete the POC and their degree programs commission as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force and normally enter active duty within one year. Delayed entry to active duty may be authorized for selected officers pursuing graduate or professional education. Career opportunities include, but are not limited to, pilot, space operations, missile operations, cyberspace operations, engineering, medical, and nursing career fields. 

Leadership Laboratory is a 1-credit course that accompanies the Aerospace Studies academic course each semester. Through Leadership Laboratory, cadets participate in an organized cadet corps and complete a progressive series of leadership experiences. These experiences are designed to develop each cadet’s leadership potential, military professionalism, communication skills, physical fitness, and understanding of Air Force and Space Force customs and courtesies. 

Cadets compete for selection to attend Field Training, a two-week program normally completed during the summer between the sophomore and junior years. Field Training is conducted at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and is required before entry into the Professional Officer Course. Field Training expenses are paid by the U.S. Air Force.

Professional Development Training programs are an important part of the AFROTC experience. PDTs are outside-the-classroom opportunities designed to motivate and inspire GMC cadets, further develop POC cadets, and connect academic instruction to operational application. 

PDT opportunities may include summer programs at or with the United States Air Force Academy, such as the USAFA Soaring Program, which introduces cadets to airmanship and the fundamentals of flight through glider operations; the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory; Operations Air Force at Air Force and Space Force installations; and internships with organizations such as the Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Global Strike Command. 

For more information, visit afrotc.msu.edu, email airforce@msu.edu, or call 1-517-355-2168.