Air Force Officer Education Program
Students who enroll as cadets in the Air Force Officer Education Program, which is known nationally as the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC), and successfully complete the program receive a University degree and are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.
Career Opportunities
Students can serve in a wide range of technical fields such as meteorology, research and development, communications and electronics, engineering, transportation, logistics and intelligence as well as in numerous managerial and training fields such as administrative services, accounting and finance, personnel, statistics, manpower management, education and training, investigation and information services. There are also opportunities in the pilot, combat systems officer, space operations and nuclear and missile career fields. Advanced education or technical training for these career areas may be obtained on active duty at Air Force expense.
Four-Year and Three-Year Programs
Students may choose one of two program options as described in the general introduction to Military Officer Education Programs. The four-year and three-year program options include a summer field training course at Maxwell Air Force base between the sophomore and junior years. Students must compete nationally to attend field training; selection for field training and successful completion of field training is required for continuation in the program. Students electing to take the three-year program will be required to take the basic course sequence in one year instead of two years. No military obligation is incurred during the freshman year for scholarship recipients and none during the freshman or sophomore years for non-scholarship recipients.
Financial Benefits and Scholarships
For a detailed description of the available financial benefits and scholarships, consult the appropriate sections in the general introduction to the Military Officer Education Programs or visit afrotc.com.
Course of Study
Students enroll in one course in Aerospace Studies (AS) during each term of participation in the program for a total of 16 credit hours.
- Basic course sequence (first and second year): Aerospace Studies 101, 102, 201, 202 (4 hours).
- Advanced course sequence (third and fourth years): Aerospace Studies 310, 311, 410, 411 (12 hours).
This sequence of courses attempts to develop an understanding of the global mission and organization of the United States Air Force, of the historical development of air power and its support of national objectives, of concepts of leadership, management responsibilities and skills, of national defense policy and of the role of the military officer in our society.
Military Obligation
Upon commissioning, graduates of the program will be called to active duty to serve in the Air Force or Space Force. The period of service is four years for non-flying officers, six years for combat systems officers and air battle managers after completion of their training, and ten years for pilots after completion of flight training.
Air Force Officer Education Course Listings
(Subject = AERO)
Course descriptions are found on the College of Engineering website and at the LSA Course Guide.