Air Force Studies at UConn

Under Public Law 88-647, the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) offers courses to prepare interested college students for United States Air Force officer commissions; other college students who have no interest in military commissions may also take these courses for credit.  Qualified students may apply for Air Force ROTC scholarships.  Current Air Force ROTC memberhip isn't necessary to apply for these scholarships; however, a student who receives and accepts an AFROTC scholarship must participate in the AFROTC program while in college and serve in the Air Force as an officer upon graduation and commissioning.

The basic Air Force ROTC course, called the General Military Course (GMC), covers the freshman and sophomore years; juniors and seniors and others may also participate.  Unless they've already accepted AFROTC scholarships, students aren't obligated to the Air Force at this time.  During the first two years, students take a one-credit Air Force ROTC class each semester; we recommend the following sequence:  AIRF 1000, 1200, 2000, and 2200.  They also attend Leadership Laboratory, a cadet-run, two-hour-per-week session.

The advanced course, called the Professional Officer Course (POC), covers the junior and senior years.  Before entering this phase, students must secure an Air Force officer candidate allocation and successfully complete four weeks of summer field training.  Students who do not complete the entire GMC enroll the same way, but attend field training for six weeks.  If interested in an Air Force commission, cadets sign a contract obligating them to service in the Air Force at the beginning of their junior year unless they have previously agreed to the commitment through acceptance of a scholarship.

In the POC, students take a three-credit class every semester and attend Leadership Laboratory (other students may take only the academic classes without obligation to the Air Force.)  Cadets must maintain full-time student status.  Students in the POC receive a non-taxable stipend of $350 - $400 per month.  The Air Force commissions these students as second lieutenants after graduation and completion of all AFROTC requirements.  For most AFROTC graduates, there is an initial obligation of four years on active duty in the Air Force.

Please contact the Air Force ROTC office at the University of Connecticut at (860) 486-2224 or AFROTC115@UConn.edu for further information.  Additional information can also be found at www.airforce.uconn.edu.