Asked By: hughes2564 - 11/29/2009

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

*******IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are seeking a scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year, you have until TOMORROW (Dec 1st) to apply for it!! See below under enrollment!!********

Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) is pretty straight forward for the most part. You will attend college at your chosen university for the 4 years (or possibly 5 if you have a very technical major such as Engineering). Each year you are a different level of cadet. The first two years you are in the General Military Course (GMC) and after attending Field Training you will be in the Professional Officer Course (POC).

Each year you will attend both academic classes which you attend twice a week and a Leadership Laboratory (LLab) that is usually held once a week. The academic courses are fairly easy and teach you the basics of the Air Force that you will use later in your career as an officer. The LLab is the application of personal leadership skills, demonstration of command, effective communication, individual leadership instruction, physical fitness training, and knowledge of US Air Force customs and courtesies. Basically the LLab in your 100 and 200 years will be marching, PT and basic leadership building skills preparing to attend Field Training, a 28 day training course the summer between your 200 and 300 year (Sophomore and Junior year) which is held at Maxwell AFB in Alabama (much like Basic Training just more leadership based).

Here's the basic of what your academic classes will entail:

1st Year - AS100 - Foundations of the Air Force: Structure and missions of Air Force organizations, officership, and professionalism. Introduction to communication skills.
2nd Year - AS200 - The Evolution of Aerospace Studies: Beginnings of manned flight and development of aerospace power from WWI to current operations.
3rd Year - AS300 - Leadership Studies: Anatomy of leadership, role of discipline in leadership situations, and the variable affecting leadership. Case studies and practical application in Leadership Laboratory (LLAB).
4th Year - AS400 - National Security Studies and Preparation for Active Duty: The role of the professional military leaders in a democratic society, international developments on strategic preparedness, and active-duty assignment preparation
5th Yeah (if needed) - AS700 - No classes required. May have to be involved in LLab.

After Field Training you become a Cadet Officer (POC) and will be and will be given more responsibility, such as training the GMC(100's and 200's) or be responsible for some other aspect of running the detachment. You will be required to hold at least one leadership position during your POC time.

There are two basic organizations that can be involved with within your detachment beyond the two required classes. These organizations help build you as a cadet and will make you a more competitive cadet in being selected for summer programs and eventually in job selection (what you will do in the Air Force). Joining these will make you that much more likely for being selected for Pilot Training if you are wanting to become a pilot. Some ROTC detachments will have other opportunities beyond these.

Arnold Air Society - Is a professional, honorary, service organization advocating the support of aerospace power. Basically they do a lot of community service.
Drill Team - Is marching unit that performs routines based on military drill. Military drill teams perform either armed or unarmed.

There are also several summer programs that you can attend called Professional Development Training(PDT) that you can attend during the summer (except during your Field Training summer) - Link below
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ENROLLMENT:
To be enrolled in ROTC I would suggest contacting AFROTC Recruiter at the university you want to attend. They will help you through the application process. If you are seeking a scholarship to help pay for school there are many different types of scholarships that you can receive from AFROTC. You WILL enlist if you receive and accept a scholarship.
If you want a 4 year scholarship, you have until Dec 1st (TOMORROW) to apply for a 2010-2011 school year scholarship. You can apply by going to the scholarship link below and selecting "Apply/Track Application"

There are 3 types of 4 year scholarships:

Type 1 - Pays full college tuition, most fees and $900 per year for books. Approximately 5?
Type 2 - Pays college tuition and most fees up to $18,000 and $900 per year for books. Approximately 20?
Type 7 – Pays college tuition up to the equivalent of the in-state rate and $900 per year for books

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Where you go when you gradate depends completely on what job you are awarded towards the end of your 300 year. They will also give you your duty station unless you are going to Pilot Training, Navigator Training or a few other career fields. After you graduate you will attend the needed training to get you up to the needed level and then head to your duty station. Most officers have a 4 year commitment, Pilots have a 10 year after flight training and Navigators have a 6 year.

If you have any other questions, just ask

EDIT FOR ETHAN:
1. Yes, I very much enjoyed AFROTC. I was not able to finish due to a medical reason (Sleep Apnea)
2. There are many flight opportunities. Pilot, Navigator and others. They aren't that difficult to get as long as you are medically qualified and put the work in. You can't just show up to your classes the 1st and 2nd year and that's it. Be active. But you have to learn to balance your school with ROTC commitments. You put your package in for a pilot slot in the middle of your third year and what the commander has to say about you makes a big difference. I think I have about 30 or so friends from ROTC that are pilots or navs now. Not bad out of the 80 or so people.
3. I think it's a better route than the Academy. I think you are more rounded officer if you experience real life while going to school.

Answered By: ds_bear - 11/30/2009