FAQs

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a commissioning program designed to give college students the opportunity to train to become Air Force or Space Force officers while completing their undergraduate degree. The AFROTC program is designed to prepare men and women to assume positions of increasing responsibility and importance in the Air and Space Forces. Air Force ROTC is a four or five-year program that can be condensed to three years, if necessary. Students are allowed to “try out” AFROTC for up to two years without incurring any military obligation (Exception: scholarship students fall under different rules). All cadets that are contracted with the Air Force and obligated to serve active duty following graduation and commissioning. For further information please visit www.afrotc.com.

The only time anyone in the program incurs a commitment to the Air Force is if they have signed a contract with the Air Force. Contracts are only signed to accept an AFROTC scholarship or for a student to join the POC following Field Training. All other students can walk away from the program at any time without incurring a financial or military obligation.

Yes, in order to enroll in Air Force ROTC classes with Det 160, you must be a full-time UGA student.

Yes, the program requires a minimum of six semesters for a student to commission. As long as you have six semesters’ worth of credit hours left (a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester) in your degree program, you can join the program as an AS250 student and take your AS100 and AS200 classes at the same time.

Yes, you need a minimum of six semesters worth of credit hours left (a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester) to get students all the way through the AFROTC curriculum. For specific questions, contact the Recruiting Officer – [email protected]

Yes, but you must complete a minimum of seven full-time left academic semesters left in your degree program, in order to complete the AFROTC program.

To enroll in Air Force ROTC at UGA, you simply register for Air Force ROTC classes as you would register for any other course.

Fall Term

Freshmen register for AIRS 1001 (CRN: 26018 or 25975) and Leadership Lab 1001L (CRN: 26133)

Spring Term

Freshmen register for AIRS 1002 (CRN: 27100 or 27118) and Leadership Lab 1002L (CRN: 27233)

Leadership Lab is a cadet-run program taken each semester for cadet participation in AFROTC. POC, or upper class, cadets plan, manage, and execute LLAB activities each week. LLAB is a two-hour course that you will register for each semester. It is a pass/fail course with the university and requires successful completion in order to move forward in the AFROTC program. In short, LLAB is the hands-on version of what you learn about in your Air Force class. LLAB is also to prepare you for field training.

Field Training is AFROTC’s version of “boot camp” with a heavy leadership component. Students will be put under stress, have their military discipline tested, and challenge their emerging leadership abilities. Field Training varies in duration but is typically between 2-4 weeks long and takes place between a student’s second and third year in the program. Not every student will attend Field Training; students must compete against cadets from around the country who also want to attend Field Training. For those selected to attend, your transportation to and from the encampment (at Maxwell AFB, AL) will be paid for.

To qualify for the General Military Course (your first two years in AFROTC), you must:

1. Be a full-time student at UGA (12 semester credit hours, minimum)
2. Be a United States citizen (to contract with the Air Force)
3. Meet Air Force ROTC height/weight standards
4. Have good moral character
5. Be at least 14 years old (17 to contract with the Air Force) but not older than 30 years old by the time you commission

For more information please visit www.afrotc.com/what-it-takes/.

You must maintain these standards while in Air Force ROTC:

1. Be enrolled as a full-time student
2. Be in good academic standing with the college and Air Force ROTC
3. Make satisfactory progress toward degree requirements to graduate when contracted and in the major you selected to enter the POC (changes must be approved)
4. Attend Aerospace Studies (AIRS) classes and Leadership Lab
5. Wear your uniform to Leadership Laboratory and to AFROTC classes as directed by your AFROTC instructor
6. Meet the same dress and appearance standards as active duty personnel, including haircuts
7. Remain physically qualified, and maintain required physical fitness and weight standards
8. Comply with the Air Force drug abuse policy
9. Enlist in the Obligated Reserve Section of the Air Force Reserve

After graduating from college and completing all Air Force ROTC requirements, you’ll be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force or Space Force. Non-rated officers serve 4 years on active duty, navigators serve 6 years after training, and pilots serve 10 years after training.

Yes! Your GPA is one of the most important metrics you are rated by. Your GPA is used in nearly every aspect of AFROTC including field training acceptance, cadet wing jobs, and career job boards. Having a high GPA is important throughout your college career.

The PFA is taken every fall and spring term while a cadet is enrolled in Air Force ROTC. All cadets must pass a physical fitness assessment before the end of each semester with a minimum composite score of 75 in order to remain eligible to participate in the program.

The PFA is composed of a Body Mass Index evaluation and three events in the following order:

• 1 minute: Push-ups

• 1 minute: Sit-Ups

• 1.5-mile run

All events must be completed. There is a rest period between each event.

Yes, group PT (Physical Training) is held twice per week from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and is designed to help cadets prepare for the official FA (Fitness Assessment).

You’re required to wear your uniform on the day you have Leadership Lab typically Tuesdays as well as during your weekly ROTC class period. There are also certain military social events (Military Ball, Dining Out, etc.) that require uniform wear.

All required uniforms are free of charge and will be issued to students while they are in the GMC portion of the course.

No. Air Force ROTC provides all materials required for our classes, so books and uniforms will be issued to you.

Yes. Hair must be kept in accordance with Air Force guidelines, AFI 36-2903 concerning grooming standards when in uniform.

No! As a cadet, your first priority is to be a student first. Being in an AFROTC program replaces your requirement to go to Officer Training School (OTS), the officer version of boot camp. Your GPA heavily matters when applying for selection boards including Field Training and job opportunities. Upon commissioning you will enter active duty.

Enlisting in the Air Force is done through a local recruiter, followed by basic training and prospective technical training. This avenue does not require a college degree.

AFROTC is one of three commissioning sources for the United States Air Force:

• Air Force Academy (USAFA)
• Air Force ROTC (AFROTC)
• Officer Training School (OTS)

Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree and AFROTC, you will be commissioned as an officer, followed by specific training in a career field. Officers are trained to be the leaders and supervisors of enlisted personnel. Rank, pay and career opportunities for officers are commensurate with their elevated level of responsibility.

Your weekly requirements with AFROTC will amount to 5-6 hours of time at the Detachment. You can put as little or as much time into Air Force ROTC as you want beyond that, as long as you satisfy all academic, Leadership Laboratory, and physical fitness requirements. The ROTC staff knows your studies are critical for your success in college, your success in the ROTC program, and your success in the future.

Yes! We encourage cadets to be involved and well-rounded through the many clubs and organizations available on campus. We have had students who were actively involved in clubs intramural sports, Redcoat Marching Band, chorus, fraternities, sororities and various other organizations.

You will compete in a selection process that rank orders you amongst all the cadets seeking Air Force jobs in your graduation year. The factors to be used will include your AFOQT scores, your GPA, your academic major, your Physical Fitness Assessment score and the Detachment Commander’s rating. You will also be asked to rank order your desired career fields in the Air Force, and YES, they do look at your preferences. You will know your specific Air Force job category approximately one year before you are commissioned.

The Air Force is in the business of flying, but not everyone in the Air Force flies planes. Besides pilots and navigators, there are missile launch officers, airfield management, cyber-operations officers, nursing, technical and non-technical career fields. Nearly every career area found in the civilian economy is also found in the Air Force. Additionally, a limited but growing number of opportunities are to be found in the Space Force. To get a better idea of how many jobs are available to you, see the official websites at www.airforce.com/careers and www.spaceforce.com/careers.

The Air Force is education-oriented and financially supports graduate studies. You can apply for the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to earn an advanced degree on full scholarship. Additionally, most bases have graduate college programs, and you may apply for the tuition assistance program.

Cadets are encouraged to choose a major they are interested in. We only care about cadets maintaining a high GPA.

Cadets on scholarship (all juniors and seniors) receive an increasing monthly living expense stipend ranging from $300/month to $500/month.

Yes. We realize the vast scope of the Air Force is difficult to visualize in the classroom. Therefore, we attempt to provide you the opportunity to visit an Air Force base for a firsthand look at how it operates. You’ll be accompanied by an experienced, active duty Air Force officer. Every year we offer the opportunity to participate in a base visit.

Students who are seniors in high school can apply for a scholarship from May 1 to Dec. 1. These scholarships are very competitive and will require not only an application but also a resume and an interview with the Air Force ROTC detachment near their home. Interviews do not have to take place at the school you wish to attend unless it happens to be the one that is closest to your home.

Yes, absolutely! Most students who enter the program do so without a scholarship. We will work hard to qualify you for potential in-college scholarships, if you desire.

No, the scholarship does not pay for your room and board. However, you can request that it does if you are on another type of academic scholarship.

As a scholarship cadet, your monthly stipend starts when you contract with the Air Force. This stipend amount varies depending on your academic year. In addition, cadets on scholarship receive about $900 per academic year for textbooks. You’ll need to have an active bank account for the Air Force to directly deposit both allowances in your account.

Yes, but it’s difficult and should be attempted only after a lot of thought and with a valid reason. The Air Force offers scholarships only in specific majors.