Air Force Aerospace Studies
Commander, AFROTC Det 005
Professor of Aerospace Studies
Auburn University (334) 844-4355
Four-Year Program
The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is an educational program designed to give students the opportunity to become an Air Force or Space Force officer while completing an undergraduate degree. The Air Force ROTC program is designed to teach the necessary skills needed to accept the challenging opportunities encountered in the Air Force and Space Force. Air Force ROTC offers a pathway from college to many exciting career possibilities as an officer: flying, engineering, intelligence, computer systems, aircraft maintenance, management, etc. Interested students should contact the Air Force ROTC department (www.auburn.edu/afrotc); AFROTC.Recruiter@auburn.edu; 243 Nichols Center; 334-844-4355).
General Military Course (GMC)
The GMC is the first half of the program and is taken during the freshman and sophomore years. This program allows the student to “try out” Air Force ROTC without obligation (students on an Air Force ROTC scholarship incur an obligation upon the start of their second GMC year). During the first two years, the student will learn basics about the Air Force, Space Force, and the historical development of airpower. GMC students may be eligible to compete for an Air Force ROTC scholarship that pays tuition and fees, and provides both an allowance for books and a non-taxable monthly stipend while school is in session. The classes are one semester hour each. During the spring semester of the sophomore year, the student will compete for the opportunity to attend a fourteen day Field Training encampment (see Field Training section below for additional information). Successful completion of field training is mandatory for entrance into the Professional Officer Course (POC), the junior and senior years of the program. Qualified students may enroll in both freshman and sophomore classes at the same time and spend only one year in the GMC if they are already in college and need only three more years to graduate.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AIRF 1010/1020 | Heritage and Values I | 1 |
| AIRF 2010/2020 | Team & Leadership Fund. I | 1 |
Professional Officer Course (POC)
The POC is the second half of the program, taken during the junior and senior years. These classes are three semester hours each. POC students take on leadership roles, planning and running most cadet activities. This gives them valuable experience that prepares them to become an officer. Students in selected degree programs (e.g. engineering) may spend a third year in the POC to complete their degree. All POC members receive a monthly stipend, and those with an Air Force ROTC scholarship continue with their benefits (tuition, fees, books allowance). As a junior, the student will learn about various leadership roles and management techniques needed to become an effective Air Force officer. During the senior year, students will learn about foreign policy and national security while preparing them for entrance into active duty.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AIRF 3010/3020 | Lead People & Effective Comm 1 | 3 |
| AIRF 4010/4020 | Natl Sec. & Active-Duty Prep I | 3 |
Leadership Laboratory (LLAB)
Each Air Force ROTC student pursuing a commission in the Air Force or Space Force is required to attend Leadership Laboratory; students not qualified for or not pursuing a commission may not enroll. Leadership Laboratory consists of a two-hour class, two one-hour periods of Physical training (PT) and up to two additional hours of practical military training each week. Although no academic credit is awarded by the university, LLAB is an essential part of officer training. It is a cadet-centered program where the student will learn such things as military customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, and proper wear of uniform, as well as develop their physical fitness. On occasion, the student will have the opportunity to hear guest speakers discuss a variety of interesting and stimulating topics or participate in fun team-building activities such as bowling and paintball.
Curriculum for Leadership Laboratory
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AIRF 1011/1021 | AFROTC Leadership Laboratory I | 0 |
| AIRF 3011/3021 | AFROTC Physical Training I | 0 |
| Total Hours | 0 | |
Field Training (FT)
Cadets completing the General Military Course attend fourteen days of FT during the summer at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and Camp Shelby, Mississippi. This rigorous program of leadership training, physical conditioning and academics assesses the cadet’s potential to be an officer. Additionally, cadets also receive survival and firearms training, career information and one or more military aircraft orientation flights. Cadets receive travel pay and a daily allowance for attending FT.
Air Force ROTC Scholarships
Air Force ROTC offers scholarships on a competitive basis to high school seniors and college students. These scholarships are offered to highly qualified students, primarily in scientific/technical majors or nursing. Please visit www.afrotc.com for the latest information about scholarships.
Aerospace Studies Minor
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AIRF 1010 | Heritage and Values | 1 |
| AIRF 1020 | Heritage and Values | 1 |
| AIRF 2010 | Team and Leadership Fundamentals | 1 |
| AIRF 2020 | Team and Leadership Fundamentals | 1 |
| AIRF 3010 | Leading People and Effective Communication | 3 |
| AIRF 3020 | Leading People and Effective Communication | 3 |
| AIRF 4010 | National Security and Preparation for Active-Duty | 3 |
| AIRF 4020 | National Security and Preparation for Active-Duty | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |