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Commissioning source for US Air Force and Space Force officers

The Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFROTC) is one of the three primary commissioning sources for officers in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, the other two being the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and Air Force Officer Training School (OTS). A subordinate command of the Air University within the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), AFROTC is aligned under the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. The Holm Center, formerly known as the Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools (AFOATS), retains direct responsibility for both AFROTC and OTS. AFROTC is the largest and oldest source of commissioned officers for the U. S. Air Force AFROTC's stated mission is to produce quality leaders for the U. S. Air Force and U. S. Space Force. AFROTC units are located on 145 college and university campuses with 1100+ additional institutions of higher learning participating in cross town agreements that allow their students to attend AFROTC classes at a nearby "host" college or university. The National Defense Act of 1920 continued ROTC, and units to train aeronautically rated officers for the then U. S. Army Air Corps were created. By 1926, seven such units existed, at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, the University of California, the University of Illinois, and the University of Washington. A lack of funds and facilities to support flight training near the colleges during the interwar period and the meager output of the programs (about fifty lieutenants a year combined) in relation to manpower requirements for the number of Air Corps Reserve units forced the units at Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, and the University of Washington to cease in 1928, with the remaining units subsequently training only non rated (i. e., ground) officers. Since the Air Corps had virtually no requirements for non rated officers, it closed the units at Illinois in 1931, the University of California and New York University in 1932, and MIT in 1935. Air Corps officers were subsequently accessed via either the U. S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York or via the Aviation Cadet Program at locations in Texas, California, and Alabama. As opposed to USMA, whose graduates all received bachelor's degrees and were commissioned as Regular Army officers, Aviation Cadets could be accessed without undergraduate college degrees and were all commissioned as Reserve officers. This remained the norm for the Army Air Corps and its successor, the U. S. Army Air Forces, through the end of World War II. After World War II, General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, as Chief of Staff of the Army, signed General Order No. 124, establishing Army Air Forces ROTC units at 78 colleges and universities throughout the nation. The relationship(s) of AFROTC, OTS and AFJROTC to AETC and the Holm Center remained unchanged. In 2020, United States Space Force officers also began commissioning through the AFROTC program. The AFROTC detachment's cadet wing or cadet group is separated into two divisions: the General Military Course (GMC) consisting of the first two years of training, and the Professional Officer Course (POC) consisting of the last two years of training. The AFROTC program is also divided into two training functions: the Academic Classroom Program (Aerospace Studies classes) and Cadet Activities (i. e., Leadership Laboratory, Physical Training, and other training).

Aerospace Studies (AS) classes are the academic portion of AFROTC. The General Military Course (GMC) is a two year course, consisting of AS100 and AS200 cadets, designed to motivate and prepare cadets for entry into the Professional Officer Course (POC). Each AS100 and AS200 course is designed as a weekly, one academic hour course. The POC is a two year course, consisting of AS300 and AS400, designed to prepare cadets for active duty as Air Force officers. Each course in the POC is designed as a weekly, three academic hour course. Specific topics covered in the AS classes are as follows:

AS100 – Heritage and Values of the Air Force: Structure and missions of Air Force organizations, officership, and professionalism. Introduction to communication skills. AS200 – Team and Leadership Fundamentals: Beginnings of manned flight and the development of aerospace power from World War I to present day current operations. AS300 – Leading People and Effective Communication: Anatomy of leadership, role of discipline in leadership situations, and the variable affecting leadership. Case studies and practical application in Leadership Laboratory (LLAB). The current AS300 curriculum was previously taught as the AS400 curriculum until the 1990s, when it was shifted to the junior year. AS400 – National Security Affairs/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. The National Security Studies portion of the current AS400 curriculum was previously taught as the AS300 curriculum until the 1990s, when it was shifted to the senior year. The AS400 program previously included a single academic term Flight Instruction Program (FIP) private pilot ground school course taught by an aeronautically rated USAF officer on that AFROTC detachment's staff. This course was mandatory for all cadets slated for undergraduate pilot training on graduation who did not already hold an FAA private pilot certificate or higher and was optional for all other cadets. AFROTC cadets who lacked an FAA private pilot's certificate or higher initially received 38 flight hours of USAF funded flight instruction in light aircraft from a civilian contractor near the college or university. In 1974, this was reduced to 25 flight hours, ensuring that these cadets were able to safely solo. With increasingly fewer aeronautically rated USAF officers assigned to AFROTC instructor positions and the subsequent establishment of Initial Flight Training (IFT) for all USAF 2d Lieutenants commissioned via USAFA, AFROTC, and OTS slated for undergraduate pilot training or undergraduate navigator training (now known as undergraduate combat systems officer training), FIP was eliminated from AFROTC in 1991.

Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) is a weekly 2 hour pass/fail class that trains and prepares cadets for Field Training (FT), develops leadership skills, and promotes esprit de corps among all cadets. At some universities, credit hours may be given for completing LLAB; often universities only give credit hours for completing AS classes. For GMC cadets, LLAB provides new cadets with basic skills and knowledge to be a functional member of the cadet corps, prepares them in Warrior Knowledge and Drill and Ceremonies (marching), and teaches leadership, followership, and teamwork skills. For POC cadets, LLAB furthers leadership and followership skills learned at FT by planning and implementing the activities under the supervision of the active duty cadre.

General Military Course cadets (formerly Cadet Airmen) are all cadets who have not satisfactorily completed Field Training. AS100 IMT cadets hold the Cadet Fourth Class (C/4C) rank while AS200 FTP cadets hold Cadet Third Class Rank (C/3C). GMC cadets are not committed to joining the Air Force unless on AFROTC scholarship. If contracted, AS100 cadets receive a monthly tax free stipend of $300 while AS200 cadets receive $350. GMC cadets on contract are also considered to be inactive enlisted members in the Obilgated Reserve Section (ORS) of the Air Force Reserve serving without pay. Their Air Force Reserve enlisted ranks will range from Airman Basic (AB, pay grade E 1) to Staff Sergeant (SSgt, pay grade E 5) with higher grades based on prior enlisted military experience in the Active Component or Reserve Component of the U. S. armed forces or other qualifying credentials (i. e., senior Civil Air Patrol cadets or former high school AFJROTC cadets with four years of participation enlisting at Airman First Class {A1C, E 3}, etc. ).

Professional Officer Course cadets (formerly Cadet Officers), AS300 (ICL), AS400 (SCL), and AS700 (ECL), are cadets who have satisfactorily completed Field Training or have received a Field Training deferment. POC cadets wear cadet officer rank (Cadet Second Lieutenant (C/2d Lt) – Cadet Colonel (C/Col)). Unlike the Air Force Academy, for juniors and seniors there is no rank of Cadet Second Class or Cadet First Class, respectively. With some exceptions, all POC cadets are considered to be "on contract" and are committed to being commissioned as officers in the Air Force or Space Force upon completion of their academic degree. Like GMC cadets on contract, POC cadets are considered to be inactive enlisted members of the Air Force Reserve, serving without pay between the grades of E 1 and E 5, with said enlisted status terminating upon commissioning. However, POC cadets are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and thus in strictly legal cases (such as sexual assault occurring within the cadet corps) they are considered as "civilians." As contracted cadets, AS300 cadets also receive a monthly tax free stipend of $450 and AS400 cadets receive $500. As a prerequisite, cadets must have a certified DoD physical or a sports physical on file at the detachment and must complete an AFROTC Physical Health Screening Questionnaire. Before the beginning of exercises, cadets receive a safety briefing on the "importance of hydration, heat stress disorders, and prompt reporting of any problems to a cadre member." Under the supervision of qualified cadre, the PT program is organized and led by AS300 and AS400 cadets. Contracted cadets (i. e. those on scholarship/receiving stipend) must pass the FA. Contracted cadets that fail the FA are subject to discipline. Two consecutive failures can result in dismissal from the program. Non contracted cadets must attempt the FA each semester. Within 72 hours of taking the FA, cadets have their height, waist, and weight measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). The FA consists of the BMI measurement, one minute of push ups, one minute of sit ups, and a 1.5 mile run. Maximum points for each area is 20 for BMI, 10 for push ups, 10 for crunches, and 60 for the 1.5 mile run. To pass the FA, cadets must obtain a composite score of at least 75 and meet the minimum score requirements in each category.

Prior to Field Training, AS200 Cadets will express preference in Air Force or Space Force career fields. Most cadets will apply for their initial AFSC career field towards the end of their first semester in their AS 300 (junior) year. AFROTC cadets can apply for various career fields, to include aeronautically rated Pilot, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Navigator/Combat Systems Officer and Air Battle Manager (ABM) slots, as well as non rated slots such as Missile Operations or Missile Maintenance, Space Operations, Intelligence, Aircraft Maintenance, Meteorology, Civil Engineering, Security Forces, Admin/Personnel, etc. Cadets will be notified of their prospective AFSCs during the following semester. The eventual duty station/ base of assignment for these various AFSCs will not be determined until midway through their first semester of their final year in school.

Prior to 1991, AFROTC also conducted a Flight Instruction Program (FIP) parallel to the Pilot Indoctrination Program (PIP) at USAFA. Although often touted as a means for AFROTC cadets to earn a free FAA Private Pilot Certificate while in college, the actual intent of the program was to provide an additional flight training screening process for prospective USAF pilot candidates who had no prior flight experience. In AFROTC, FIP consisted of two blocks, the first being a private pilot ground school course taught by an aeronautically rated USAF officer assigned to the AFROTC detachment's cadre. The ground school course was also given an AS400 series designation and open to all AFROTC cadets in their senior year regardless of selection or non selection for USAF undergraduate pilot training. Cadets who had prior civilian flight training and/or civilian pilot certifications could also enroll in the FIP ground school and the course was also offered as option for Army ROTC cadets, Naval ROTC (NROTC) midshipmen on both Navy and Marine Corps commissioning tracks, Naval Aviation Reserve Officer Candidates (AVROC) and Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class Air (Marine PLC Air) officer candidates slated for flight training in their respective services following graduation. The flying portion of FIP was typically conducted by civilian instructors under USAF contract at a nearby civilian airport, normally employing light general aviation aircraft such as the Cessna 150 / Cessna 152 series, Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, or other similar aircraft. Since FIP was designed as a washout/attrition device, AFROTC cadets who already held an FAA Private Pilot's Certificate or greater were not eligible for any actual flight time via FIP. Those cadets without prior flight experience initially received 38 flight hours, but post Vietnam War defense cutbacks in the mid 1970s resulted in FIP being reduced to a "safe for solo" program with 25 hours of funded flight time. FIP was discontinued in 1991 when it was replaced by the single site Enhanced Flight Screening Program (EFSP) at Hondo, Texas.

With the demise of FIP and PIP in 1991, the 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) at Randolph AFB, Texas initially assumed responsibility for the Enhanced Flight Screening Program (EFSP) of all candidates for UPT from all USAF commissioning sources (AFROTC, USAFA and OTS). This training was conducted for these officers following graduation and commissioning at Hondo Municipal Airport, Texas in T 41 Mescalero and T 3 Firefly aircraft until 1998. Following several fatal mishaps with the T 3 Firefly, the program was transferred from the 12 FTW to a civilian contract operation under AETC auspices at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Colorado. The Pueblo program employs civilian Diamond DA 20 aircraft and is officially known as Initial Flight Training (IFT) for USAF specialized undergraduate pilot trainees and Navigator Introductory Flight Training (NIFT) for USAF specialized undergraduate navigator/CSO trainees.

AFROTC ribbons are awarded for many various achievements. The complete list is below as per AFROTCVA 36 3, 4 May.

In addition, cadets who have completed Advanced Course in Engineering (ACE) or have attended AFIT courses on information assurance are authorized to wear the Cadet Master Cyber Badge.