AFROTC is the largest source of commissioned officers for the Air Force.
So what is officer training? It's simple, really. The Air Force provides you with training and money to help you start a career and cover your college expenses. You, in return, commit to a term of service in the military after earning your degree. The military gets bright, young officers who are well-trained and well-educated, and you get a college education and a guaranteed career after graduation. As a Cadet you are not enlisted personnel, you are an officer candidate, a distinction created by congress.
AFROTC currently has 4, 3, and 2 year programs by which college students can become commissioned. You can enroll in AFROTC classes at the same time and in the same manner as you do for other college courses.
Scholarships
Air Force ROTC scholarships are broken down into the High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) and the In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP). More information about these generous scholarship programs can be found at http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/.
General Military Course
The first two years of the program, known as the General Military Course (GMC), consist of one hour of classroom work and two hours of Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) each week. LLAB is a cadet-centered activity held in conjunction with all courses listed above and required for all Air Force ROTC cadets. It provides leadership and followership training experiences which will improve a cadet’s ability to perform as an Air Force Officer. The GMC is an opportunity for students not on an Air Force ROTC scholarship to try out the program with no obligation.
Field Training
Field Training is also part of the schedule. This is a 4- or 5-week program during the summer between your GMC and POC years. It is similar to “boot camp” but with less focus on the physical training aspect and more focus on leadership and mental aspects.
Professional Officer Course
After completing the GMC and Field Training requirements, you move on to Professional Officer Course (POC). In the POC, you apply what you have learned in the GMC and at Field Training. And in POC you actually conduct the leadership laboratories and manage the unit's cadet corps. Each unit has a cadet corps based on the Air Force organizational pattern of Flight, Squadron, Group and Wing. Classroom topics include management, communication skills and national defense policy. Once you've enrolled in the POC, you're enlisted in the Air Force Reserve. This entitles you to a monthly $450-$500 nontaxable stipend during the academic year.
For more information, go to the AFROTC website at www.afrotc.com or the Manhattan College ROTC website.
