FAQ

No. If you got a four-year scholarship from high school, then the first year of college is paid for, and you can leave at the end of your freshman year with no obligation. If you are receiving financial support from the military after your first year of ROTC and are unable to maintain standards and are removed from the program, the Air Force may request the funds back or make you enlist to pay off your debt.

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 of character for the Department of 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 three or more years remaining should be eligible. So if you are a second-semester freshman, a sophomore or otherwise and have at least three years remaining in your undergraduate studies, you are likely able to join the ROTC program.

Yes. You can enroll in Aerospace Studies 101 and Aerospace Studies 201 and be what we call dual enrolled.

Yes, you 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.

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 you to take a curriculum you are interested in and in which you have the capability to do well. Our main academic concern is that you maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) above 2.5 and attain your degree in the time period planned. The GPA requirements are different if you are applying for a scholarship and once you are on scholarship.

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

The test is offered several times during the academic year and can be taken up 3 times with a waiver with at least 90 days between tests.

Maybe. The Professor of Aerospace Studies may waive some of the GMC requirements if you are prior enlisted. This is determined by the amount and kind of experience you had when you departed prior service. You will need to attend the sophomore Air Force ROTC classes and/or the preparation sessions for Field Training with the sophomores to see what Field Training with Air Force ROTC is about.

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, the class will be considered an elective. If you 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 you have an Air Force ROTC scholarship. If you decide to stay and join the Professional Officer Course (POC); the last two years of the program), you will sign an allocation contract with the Air Force and then incur a service obligation. For Air Force ROTC scholarship students, you are obligated once you have activated the scholarship and have entered your sophomore year.

Other commissioning opportunities exist through the United States Air Force Academy.

Commissioning opportunities for college graduates also exist through Officer Training School, an intense 12-week program at Maxwell Air Force Base.

Reserve Commissioned Officer Training is a 13-day intensive program designed for hard-to-recruit Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard medical service officers.

Yes. There are several programs available. Some involve scholarship opportunities while others are at your own expense. Remember, the first step in any Airman-to-officer program is a stop at your base Education Office. Each of these programs has deadlines and age limitations, so check early.

Yes, you do. Three years of Junior ROTC (JROTC) are considered equal to three semesters of the General Military Course (GMC), and two years are equal to one year of the GMC. No credit is given for less than two years of JROTC training.

First, try your 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 you 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 your 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.

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

The only time cadets are required to wear their uniform is during physical training, Aerospace Studies class, and Leadership Lab. Occasionally, during special events or meeting with detachment cadre, you may be required to wear your uniform. Otherwise, you will be a normal college student.

The only required time is during your Air Force ROTC classes, Leadership Lab and physical fitness training. (This equates to approximately five hours per week for freshmen and sophomores, seven 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 well-being and progress.

Cadets can earn their uniforms after reaching milestones in the program such as completing a semester in the program and/or extra involvement within the detachment to include Color Guard, volunteer, and recruiting events. The standard uniform for those cadets who haven’t yet earned their uniforms would be a polo and khakis/jeans. The detachment will issue each cadet a polo upon onboarding.”

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

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

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

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.

You 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 your Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores, your camp performance rating, your Grade Point Average (GPA), your academic major, your Physical Fitness Test (PFT) score and the Detachment Commander ‘s rating. You will know your specific Air Force job category approximately six months before you 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.

AFROTC cadets normally get commissioned in a special ceremony within a few days of graduating college. Most cadets enter active duty within several months of completing the program and graduating. In rare cases, some enter active duty up to a year after commissioning.

Not necessarily. You may request an educational delay if you desire to attend graduate school at your own expense before going on active duty. If approved, the Air Force will postpone your active-duty tour. Delays are routinely provided if you 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 you can request an educational delay. This delay between the time of commissioning and reporting for active duty will be of sufficient length to allow you to fulfill the requirements for a professional or masters degree. You will assume all financial obligations. There are also Air Force Institute of Technology programs where the Air Force pays for your graduate school education. These programs are explained in detail in Air Force ROTC.

It depends. Check out the Flying Requirements for more information.

No. Your academic major plays a minor role in pilot and combat systems officer selection. You can major in any degree program and compete to receive a pilot or combat systems officer slot in Air Force ROTC. You 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, you must be able to complete your bachelors degree and be commissioned through Air Force ROTC before you are 39 years old. However, there are occasionally waivers granted for exceed this age limit.

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

No. Applying for an Air Force ROTC scholarship does not obligate you in any way. Four-year scholarship recipients do not incur any obligation until the start of their sophomore year in college.

Yes. You may withdraw your application at any time by emailing csp@maxwell.af.mil, sending a fax to 334-953-4384 or writing to the High School Scholarship Program at HQ AFROTC/RRUC, 551 E. Maxwell Blvd., Maxwell AFB AL 36112-5917.

Yes. You may apply for any other officer training program and even receive scholarship offers from more than one service. However, once you enroll in another program, you will be removed from further Air Force ROTC scholarship competition. Notify the College Scholarships Selections Section immediately if you accept and enroll in another program.

Yes. You may apply for one of the Air Force ROTC scholarships of less than four years if a waiver is granted.

Go Online to check the status of your application.
Call 866-423-7682 and speak with a scholarship technician.
Contact your Regional Director Of Admissions.

Immediately notify the High School Scholarship Program in writing or csp@maxwell.af.mil email if your name, current mailing address, social security number, telephone number or email address changes during the application process.

If offered an Air Force ROTC scholarship, you will be notified in writing after the scholarship selection boards meet.

If you receive an HSSP and are in the local area, a member of the Air Force can come to your school and present the scholarship during your school’s annual awards day at the end of the year. If you earn a scholarship during your time in the AFROTC program, you will be recognized in front of your peers upon receipt.

• We offer three types and two lengths in our High School Scholarship Program. Our scholarships are offered in either four-year or three-year lengths. Our four-year scholarships are activated in the fall of the freshman year while our three-year scholarships are activated in the fall of the sophomore year.
  Our two types of scholarships are:
• Type 1 – Pays full college tuition, most lab fees, and $900/year for books. This is known as a High School Scholarship Program, or an HSSP.
• Type 2 – Pays college tuition and most lab fees up to $18,000 and pays $900/year for books.
• Air Force ROTC scholarships are not activated until the student enlists in the Obligated Reserve Section of the Air Force Reserve, signs a contract and passes the medical, moral, fitness and physical qualifications for enlistment and contracting. Scholarship benefits are not payable until 45 days after the start of the fall term.
• Upon activation, all scholarship cadets receive a nontaxable monthly allowance (stipend) during the academic year. Currently, the monthly stipend is $300 for freshmen, $350 for sophomores, $450 for juniors and $500 for seniors.
• Air Force ROTC scholarships cannot pay for room and board. Although at Syracuse University, SU offers scholarship students a grant that will cover their room and board for the full four years.

Air Force ROTC offers scholarships in academic majors needed to meet the needs of the Air Force. This includes both technical majors and nontechnical majors. We strongly urge you to carefully consider the choices you list for an academic major on this application. You may list up to three majors, but you should only list those you will be willing to pursue. You should also ensure the major you want to pursue is offered by the school you want to attend.

Special considerations for prospective engineering or science/technical majors: For prospective engineering or science/technical majors, you must determine if your major is approved for an Air Force ROTC scholarship at the school you want to attend. Special consideration for prospective foreign language majors: For prospective foreign language majors, you should list a major in one of the foreign language scholarships.

The High School Scholarship program awards scholarships based on technical or non-technical degree options.  You can find a list of majors at the following link: https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/desired-majors/

To apply for the scholarship, you must complete the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA). For instructions, refer to the website where you apply online. If you are offered a scholarship, you must meet the Air Force Weight Standards prior to activating the scholarship.

If you are offered a scholarship, you must also meet the Air Force Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Standards prior to activating the scholarship. You must perform this test within a few days of starting college your freshman year.

The refractive error in each eye cannot exceed +/- 8.00 diopters. Also, both eyes must be free of any disfiguring or incapacitating abnormality and acute or chronic disease. A history of corneal surgical procedures such as radial keratotomy (RK), even if refractive error improves, disqualifies you for Air Force ROTC. EXCEPTION: A history of photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) does not automatically disqualify you from entry; however, certain criteria must be met before being medically certified. Adequate color vision is a prerequisite to entry into many Air Force specialties.

If you are selected to receive a scholarship, you will be scheduled to complete a medical examination. Scholarship winners and their parents are advised that NO SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE ACTIVATED UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL IS MEDICALLY QUALIFIED FOR A COMMISSION. The process is lengthy and may involve several months of processing and correspondence.

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) is the medical certification agency for Air Force ROTC scholarships. Scholarship winners will be scheduled for an examination by DODMERB and DODMERB will determine whether or not the individual is medically qualified for a commission. If you are found to be medically disqualified, but believe there are extenuating circumstances that justify consideration of a waiver of our medical standards, you should follow the DODMERB instructions (with the notification letter) regarding rebuttals and waiver processing. In such cases, DODMERB will discuss your case with AETC/SGPS, the medical waiver authority, to determine if a waiver to the standards is feasible. The final decision is based on the nature of your condition or defect and specific medical parameters and protocols that have been established.

For those selected to receive a scholarship, DODMERB will send you complete instructions. If you cannot meet the scheduled date, request another date. As a candidate, you are responsible for all costs of travel, food and lodging related to the medical examination and personal interview. If you wear hard contact lenses, remove them a minimum of 21 days before the examination; remove soft lenses 72 hours before the examination.

Once you have been scheduled for an examination, if you have a medical question, DODMERB is your only official source of information. Yes, but this is a complex process and should be attempted only after you have given it much thought. Depending on your current major and your proposed major, you may lose your scholarship benefits. Call the detachment you will be attending for details and procedures.

Yes, but this is a complex process and should be attempted only after you have given it much thought. Depending on your current major and your proposed major, you may lose your scholarship benefits. Call the detachment you will be attending for details and procedures.

You must obtain a BA or BS in the specific foreign language major.

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