AIR FORCE ROTC

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps is available to Birmingham-Southern students through a cooperative program with Samford University. Air Force ROTC courses are taught on the Samford University campus. Students enrolling in Aerospace Studies courses must contact the Office of Records and Research to register.

The Air Force ROTC program provides college men and women the opportunity to compete for and attain a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force upon graduation from college. The program is divided into the General Military Course and the Professional Officer Course. The General Military Course includes the courses offered during the first two years of the program and is open to all students without military obligation. This program is designed for first-year and sophomore students. The Professional Officer Course includes the junior- and senior-level courses and is restricted to those who meet entry requirements or through special permission from the Professor of Aerospace Studies. Air Force ROTC students gain confidence, leadership training, communications skills, and an appreciation for the role of the military in contemporary society.

General Military Course

The General Military Course is open to all students regardless of qualifications for military service or intent to compete for a 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 communications skills, and receive an introduction to total quality management. Each course earns one hour of credit and is accompanied by a weekly two-hour leadership laboratory.

Field Training

Air Force ROTC field training is offered during the summer months at selected Air Force bases throughout the United States. Students who have completed all courses in the General Military Course may elect to participate in four weeks of field training. This training normally occurs between the sophomore and junior years in college. Students who have not completed all of the courses in the General Military Course may participate in a five-week field training. The additional week of training will provide the student with the basic knowledge and skills offered in the General Military Course. Field training is an intense training environment designed to orient students toward service in the United States Air Force. The major areas of study in the four-week field training program include officership training, aircraft and aircrew orientation, career orientation, survival training, Air Force environment, and physical training. The major areas of study in the five-week field training program are essentially the same as those conducted in the four-week field training with the addition of areas studied during the General Military Course.

Professional Officer Course

The Professional Officer Course is usually restricted to students who have completed field training. Students enrolling in these courses are generally committed to service on active duty in the United States Air Force. Other students desiring to enroll in these courses must first secure the permission of the Professor of Aerospace Studies, Samford University. The Professional Officer Course program is designed to provide students with advanced leadership training, application techniques for a quality culture, study of military history with particular attention paid to the role of air power, and a complete understanding of the national security process. The Professional Officer Course prepares men and women with the skills necessary to be leaders in the United States Air Force.

Scholarship Programs

Four year college scholarships are available to highly qualified high school seniors. Interested students should contact their High School Counselor, a local Air Force recruiter or the nearest AFROTC program for application booklets. Applications are due by December 1 of their senior year in high school. Three year and two year scholarships are also available to college students. Air Force ROTC scholarships are applied to college tuition, books, and some university fees. Scholarship students also receive a $150 monthly tax free stipend. Unlike most academic scholarships, family income has no bearing on qualifications.

All qualified students enrolled in the Professional Officer Course not on scholarship will receive $3,450 per year to apply to tuition and books. These qualified cadets also receive a tax-free $150 monthly stipend. Veterans receive this allowance in addition to their normal veteran benefits. Uniforms and textbooks for all Aerospace Studies courses are provided at no charge.