FAQ – Parents

No. If you got a four-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 three-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 did not 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 are waiting, you are getting college out of the way and having a lot of fun.

The mission of the high school Junior ROTC program is to build better citizens for America. The mission of the college ROTC program is to produce leaders for the Air Force.

No. In fact, the majority of students enrolled in college ROTC have never been involved in the Junior ROTC program.

No. Any undergraduate student with more than two years remaining should be eligible for our program. So if they are a second-semester freshman or a sophomore, then they can join.

Yes. They can enroll in Air Force ROTC.

Yes, they 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.

Yes, they 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.

Yes. Depending on how many years they have left in college, they may qualify for a two- or three-year scholarship.

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.

None at all. In fact, we encourage cadets to take a curriculum they are interested in and in which they have the capability to do well. Our main academic concern is that they maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) above 2.0 and attain their degree in the time period planned. The GPA requirements are different if they are applying for a scholarship and once they are on scholarship.

The Air Force is education-oriented and financially supports graduate studies. They 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 they may apply for the tuition assistance program that pays 100% of the tuition cost.

The test is given several times during the fall and spring and can be taken a maximum of two times with at least six months between tests.

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 is only another class. If they 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 they have an Air Force ROTC scholarship. If they decide to stay and join the Professional Officer Course (POC); the last two years of the program, they’ll sign an allocation contract with the Air Force and then incur a service obligation. For Air Force ROTC scholarship students, they are obligated once they have activated the scholarship and have entered their sophomore year.

First, they should try their Air Force ROTC detachment instructor. While the instructor may not have a psychology degree, he or she does have experience in counseling and can direct them to the proper resources. Air Force ROTC instructors try to develop a strong professional rapport with each cadet. Each university also offers various resource offices for their students and many services are free as part of the student fees.

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.

Most officers have a four-year commitment. For pilots it is 10 years after pilot training and six years for combat systems officers after training. Air Battle Managers have a six-year commitment

They 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 their Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores, their camp performance rating, their grade point average (GPA), their academic major, their Physical Fitness Test (PFT) score and the Detachment Commander’s rating. They will know their specific Air Force job category approximately six months before they are commissioned.

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 workforce, there is an Air Force officer counterpart performing a similar job.

Cadets normally get commissioned in a special ceremony the same day they graduate. They can expect to enter active duty about 30 days after graduation.

Not necessarily. They may request an educational delay if they desire to attend graduate school at their own expense before going on active duty. If approved, the Air Force will postpone their active-duty tour. Delays are routinely provided if they select to attend dental or medical school. Scholarships also exist for students accepted to medical school.

Yes. The Air Force offers several opportunities to do so. In many cases they can request an educational delay. This delay between the time of commissioning and reporting for active duty will be of sufficient length to allow them to fulfill the requirements for a professional or master’s degree. They will assume all financial obligations. There are also Air Force Institute of Technology programs where the Air Force pays for their graduate school education. These programs are explained in detail in Air Force ROTC.

No. Academic major plays a minor role in pilot and combat systems officer selection. Cadets can major in any degree program and compete to receive a pilot or combat systems officer slot in Air Force ROTC. They 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.

To compete for the pilot or combat systems officer categories, a cadet must be able to complete their bachelor’s degree and be commissioned through Air Force ROTC before they are 29 years old.

No. In fact, many companies prefer to hire former officers over new college graduates (even those with masters degrees). Their Air Force experience, the management skills they have gained on active duty and their active-duty educational benefits can give them the competitive edge they need.

The Academy, ROTC and Officer Training School all produce qualified Air Force officers. The Air Force achieves better diversity and talent by getting officers from more than one commissioning source. Once on active duty, the most important factor in promotion is job performance.

Hair must be kept in accordance with Air Force guidelines when in uniform.

No. Cadets are only required to wear their uniform to their Air Force ROTC classes and on Leadership Lab day once a week. Occasionally, during special events, they may be required to wear their uniform.

The only required time is during your Air Force ROTC classes, Leadership Lab and physical fitness training. (This equates to approximately four hours per week for freshmen and sophomores; six hours per week for juniors and seniors.)

Very well. Many detachments assign cadet sponsors to new students. They can help students find classes, get textbooks, learn to wear the uniform correctly, meet other cadets and learn basic customs and courtesies. It is also the responsibility of the cadet’s flight commander to help new cadets fit into the program. Many detachments also have tutoring programs and other forms of assistance. Hazing is not permitted! You will find the cadet staff and detachment staff are concerned about your child’s well-being and progress.

Not as much as you may think. Marching/drill is sometimes practiced during squadron time at Leadership Laboratory. There are no mandatory drill sessions outside of LLAB.

Within the first couple of class periods, we will issue cadets a complete uniform and tell them how to arrange for having alterations completed (at no cost to them). However, they are responsible for keeping the uniform clean and presentable.

Their first and foremost concern is attending classes and maintaining good grades. After this, they will certainly want to examine some of the various activities sponsored by both their university and Air Force ROTC. There is something in our program of interest to everyone.

Yes. Generally, extracurricular campus activities and Air Force ROTC are perfectly compatible – as long as they do not overload with extracurricular activities. A serious physical injury while participating in intercollegiate or intramural athletic activities may cause them to be un-enrolled from Air Force ROTC because of a change in their physical profile.