The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program provides college men and women with the opportunity to compete for a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force upon graduation. The program is divided into the General Military Course and the Professional Officer Course. The General Military Course includes courses offered during the first two years of the program and is open to all students without military obligation. The Professional Officer Course includes junior and senior level courses and is restricted to those who meet entry requirements or have special permission from the Professor of Aerospace Studies. Air Force ROTC students can gain confidence, leadership training, communication skills, and an appreciation for the role of the military in contemporary society. Call (205) 870-2859 for complete information.
Visit AFROTC.COM for general infomation, or visit AFROTC Det 012's website to learn more about UAB and Samford's joint Air Force ROTC program
General Military Course
The General Military Course consists of AFS 101, AFS 102, AFS 103, AFS 201, AFS 202, and AFS 203. These courses are open to all students regardless of qualifications for military service or intent to compete for commission. As part of the General Military Course, students examine the basic organization and structure of the Air Force, appreciate the historical significance of air power, apply basic communication skills, and receive an introduction to total quality management. Each course is one semester hour credit.
Additional Programs
ROTC cadets also compete for additional training programs such as FREEFALL (parachuting), SOAR (glider training), ASSIST (Officer Shadow Program), Nurse Orientation Program (NOP), Flight Nurse NOP, Survival Training, Overseas Base Orientation, Pentagon Shadow Program, and Engineering Orientation Program. These programs take place between the freshman-sophomore and junior-senior years. They allow cadets to see real-world Air Force officers operating on a daily basis and provide exposure to opportunities they might not otherwise receive.
Scholarship Programs
Four-year college scholarships are available to highly qualified high school seniors. Interested students should contact their local Air Force recruiter or the nearest Air Force ROTC program for application instructions. Or visit AFROTC.COM to complete the application online. Applications are due by December 1 of the senior year in high school.
Three-year and two-year scholarships are also available to college students. Air Force ROTC scholarships pay college tuition, laboratory fees, incidental fees, and books. Scholarship students also receive a monthly tax-free stipend. Family income has no bearing on eligibility for an award. There are also special scholarship opportunities for minorities in all majors. For additional information, contact the Aerospace Studies Department at (205) 870-2859.
All students with a minimum 2.0 GPA accepted in the Professional Officer Course receive stipend as juniors and seniors regardless of whether they are on scholarship or not. Veterans receive this allowance in addition to their normal veteran benefits. Uniforms and textbooks for all aerospace studies courses are provided at no charge.
Leadership Laboratory
Leadership Laboratory is an integral part of the Air Force ROTC program. It provides an opportunity for students to apply classroom teachings to actual environments. Each course has an associated leadership laboratory. The laboratory meets for two hours each week during the term. Instruction is conducted within the framework of an organized cadet corps with a progression of experiences designed to develop leadership potential. Leadership Laboratory involves a study of the life and work of Air Force junior officers. Students develop their leadership potential in a practical, supervised laboratory, which typically includes field trips to Air Force installations throughout the United States. The first two years of Leadership Laboratory involve activities classified as initial leadership experiences. This includes studying Air Force customs, courtesies, drill, and ceremonies; giving military commands; instructing, correcting, and evaluating the preceding skills; studying the environment of an Air Force base; and learning about career opportunities available to commissioned officers. The last two years of Leadership Laboratory consist of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences. They involve planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, and controlling the military activities of the cadet corps; preparing and presenting briefings and other oral and written communications; and providing interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets.
Field Training
Air Force ROTC field training is offered during the summer months at selected Air Force bases throughout the United States. Students in the four-year program participate in four weeks of field training, usually between their sophomore and junior years. Students applying for entry into the two-year program must successfully complete six weeks of field training prior to enrollment in the Professional Officer Course. The major areas of study in the four-week field training program include officership training, aircraft and air-crew orientation, career orientation, survival training, base functions and the Air Force environment, and physical training. The major areas of study included in the six-week field training program are essentially the same as those conducted in four-week field training and in the General Military Course including Leadership Laboratory.