Aerospace Studies
Lieutenant Colonel Nickolas Jeffers, Dept. Head (Washington State University, Kruegel Hall, phone 509-335-5598; www.afrotc.wsu.edu).
The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) offers eligible students education and training that leads to a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force. Air Force ROTC students may major in any degree program offered at U of I; they supplement their major curricula with the specialized aerospace studies courses to prepare for active commissioned service.
Four-Year Program (General Military Course and Professional Officer Course)
A formal application is not required for students entering the four-year program. They may register for the program at the same time and in the same manner as they enroll in their other college courses. During their freshman and sophomore years, students enroll in the General Military Course (GMC), and there is no military obligation. At the end of their sophomore year, they may compete for entry into the Professional Officer Course (POC), which is normally taken during the last two years of college. Selection into the POC is highly competitive and is based on qualification on an Air Force medical examination, cumulative grade point average, a physical fitness test, the recommendation of the professor of aerospace studies, scores achieved on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), and successful completion of a two-week field training course at an Air Force base.
Air Force ROTC also offers financial assistance to selected students in the form of scholarships and subsistence allowances. The students compete for the scholarships through a national screening process. The Air Force offers 1- to 4-year scholarships that cover tuition, fees, and a book allowance, and also provide a stipend allowance ($300-$500 per month, depending on their level in the program) for each school year a student is on scholarship. Students interested in applying for scholarships should get in touch with this department. Non-scholarship students still receive a stipend allowance ($450-$500 per month) while in the POC.
The Air Force places a strong emphasis on physical fitness, and all ROTC cadets are required to participate at least three times a week in an organized, early morning fitness program with other cadets as part of the Leadership Laboratory requirements.
Field Training
Air Force ROTC field training is offered during the summer months at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Students in the four-year program participate in two weeks of field training, usually between their sophomore and junior years. Field training is a mandatory program for all individuals qualified to pursue an Air Force or Space Force commission through AFROTC. The program is designed to evaluate military leadership and discipline, determine potential for entry into the POC, and stratify cadets among peers.
Leadership Laboratory
Leadership laboratories are taken for an average of two hours a week throughout the student's enrollment in Air Force ROTC. Instruction is conducted within the framework of an organized cadet wing with a progression of experiences designed to develop each student's leadership potential. The leadership laboratory involves a study of Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, career opportunities in the Air Force and Space Force, and the life and work of an Air Force or Space Force junior officer. Students develop their leadership potential in a practical, supervised laboratory. Additional opportunities include field trips to Air Force installations to gain familiarity with the operational Air Force. In addition, students are required to participate at least three times a week in an organized, early morning fitness program with other cadets.
Aerospace Studies Programs
The following program is designed to provide students with a good military and leadership foundation so that students completing them can serve as effective Air Force officers. It is not designed to be an academic major, and thus no bachelor's degree is offered.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AERO 1010 | USAF Heritage and Values I | 1 |
| AERO 1020 | USAF Heritage and Values II | 1 |
| AERO 1030 | Leadership Laboratory I | 2 |
| AERO 2010 | USAF Team and Leadership Fundamentals I | 1 |
| AERO 2020 | USAF Team and Leadership Fundamentals II | 1 |
| AERO 2050 | Leadership Laboratory II | 2 |
| AERO 3110 | USAF Leading People and Effective Communication I | 3 |
| AERO 3120 | USAF Leading People and Effective Communication II | 3 |
| AERO 3130 | Leadership Laboratory III | 2 |
| AERO 4110 | USAF National Security, Leadership, and Commissioning Preparation I | 3 |
| AERO 4120 | USAF National Security, Leadership, and Commissioning Preparation II | 3 |
| AERO 4130 | Leadership Laboratory IV | 2 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
For a student to receive an Air Force commission, they must have completed either the four-year program or the two-year program. Students may enter the program at points other than the two and four year points; however, this requires a specialized academic program and department head approval. Contact the department head for more information. Prior-service students should consult the department to find out what course of study will be required for them.