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Frequently Asked Questions
• Why pursue an Air Force Commission?
• What's the difference in earning a commission
through the Direct, ROTC or OTS programs?
• What's the time commitment to MIT's
ROTC program?
• What is the difference between the GMC
and POC?
• What are the eligibility requirements
to joining the GMC?
• How do I qualify for the POC?
• By joining ROTC, will I be committed
to joining the Air Force upon graduation?
• What are the benefits in the POC?
• What types of scholarships are available?
• How do I compete for a pilot or navigator
slot?
• After graduation, how much time must
I serve in the Air Force?
• What will I learn in the ROTC classes?
• What goes on in Leadership Lab (LLAB)?
• Are there any special organizations
I can join?
• What types of extracurricular activities
are there?
• Whom do I contact for more information?
Why pursue an Air Force Commission?
There are many diverse reasons why students seek an Air
Force commission. For many, it's service to our country and
working with professionals of high integrity and professionalism.
It's also for the many career-broadening opportunities, as
well as educational, retirement, medical and travel benefits.
Only college graduates can obtain an Air Force commission,
which is granted by the President of the United States.
The benefits afforded to our commissioned graduates include:
- The satisfaction of a challenging career and service to
country
- Good starting salary with regular pay increases
- Tax-free housing and food allowances
- 30 days of vacation with pay each year
- Comprehensive medical and dental care at no cost to you
- $250k low-cost life insurance for the military member,
$100k for the spouse, and $10k for each child
- Opportunities for higher education with tuition assistance
- Opportunity to retire after 20 years of service with a
percentage of base pay
- Promotions based on initial appointment, grade, and experience
- On-base shopping at reduced prices
- Wide variety of recreational, lodging and travel benefits
worldwide
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What's the difference in earning a commission
through the Direct, ROTC or OTS programs?
Direct Commission
Candidates for direct commission are college graduates,
who can apply to enter the USAF as trained professionals in
the medical, legal, engineering or religious fields. Special
consideration is given to their unique educational backgrounds
and experience, and as a result, direct commission candidates
are not required to undergo the standard military training
regimen. Only approximately 11% of officers entering the USAF
are judged eligible for Direct Commission. Candidates are
admitted via Direct Commission due to the Air Force's need
for their specialized professional skills; all are screened
quite thoroughly. As a result, only a recruiter will be able
to answer specific questions about eligibility as well as
questions about rank upon enlistment. Direct commission officers
typically make a standard 4-year service commitment.
OTS - Officer Training School
OTS candidates are also college graduates. The OTS program
is highly competitive, though the quickest route for graduates
to become USAF officers. Approximately twice as many candidates
become officers through OTS as through Direct Commission.
OTS is a flexible commissioning program; that is, based on
ROTC throughput, OTS is expanded or contracted based on the
number of qualified cadets in ROTC programs. Brig. Gen. Paul
Hankins, AFOATS commander stated, "Thirty percent growth over
the last three years in the number of young men and women
pursuing Air Force careers through ROTC allows us to decrease
the output from OTS and restore flexibility to officer production."
(January 3, 2003, "Air Force Reduces OTS Throughput.")
To be eligible for OTS candidates must have graduated or
be within 270 days of graduating from an accredited college
or university. Candidates entering Officer Training School
receive an intensive 14-week training program located at Maxwell
Air Force Base near Montgomery, Alabama, and upon its completion
they obtain full commissions as USAF officers.
ROTC - Reserve Officer Training Corps
The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at MIT
is an educational program designed to give YOU the opportunity
to become an Air Force officer while completing your degree.
The Air Force ROTC program is designed to prepare you to assume
positions of increasing responsibility and importance in today's
Air Force. In addition to this, you will also receive leadership,
time management, and organizational skills, which are vital
to success in college, the Air Force, and careers beyond.
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a government
program offering financial assistance to high school students,
college students, and Air Force personnel already on active
duty. ROTC is the primary producer of technically oriented
officers for the Air Force, where more than 2,500 officers
received their commissions through ROTC in fiscal 2002. The
Air Force ROTC program offers scholarships to college students
in their first, second, or third year of college.
Facts from the afrotc.com website regarding ROTC:
- Air Force ROTC is the largest and oldest source of commissioned
officers for the Air Force.
- Since 1947, Air Force ROTC has been a major source of
active-duty officers for the Air Force. A total of 211,984
Air Force officers have been commissioned since 1948.
- 100% of Air Force ROTC graduates that are commissioned
as officers secure a four-year job in the Air Force.
- Air Force ROTC has commissioned women on a continuous
basis since 1971.
- More general officers are Air Force ROTC graduates than
any other commissioning source in the Air Force.
- In 1998, Air Force ROTC commissioned 1,977 cadets, representing
60.1 percent of all Air Force officers commissioned during
that time period from Air Force ROTC, the Air Force Academy
and Officer Training School.
- Air Force ROTC units are located on 144 college and university
campuses nationwide, and have cross-town agreements with
over 900 additional institutions.
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What's the time commitment to MIT's ROTC program?
Every week, cadets attend military classes and leadership
lab (LLAB). For the freshmen and sophomores, classes are 1-hour
per week and 2 hours of LLAB. Freshmen can also volunteer
for jobs within the cadet wing or join any of the special
programs and extracurricular activities throughout the year.
For juniors and above, cadets attend class 3-hours/week and
attend the same LLAB. Juniors and seniors will most likely
hold a position within the cadet wing, which varies in time
commitment based on the job description. In addition, cadets attend one-hour physical training (PT) sessions twice each week.
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What is the difference between the GMC and POC?
The GMC, or General Military Course, represents the first
two years in the 4-year ROTC program. This is a period to
build your competitive profile, whether you are seeking an
in-college scholarship, a pilot or navigator slot, or qualifying
for POC selection in your junior year. Successful completion
of the GMC requirements and the four-week field training exercise
qualifies a student to apply for entry into the POC.
The POC, or Professional Military Course, is reserved for
those students with less than two-years prior to graduation.
You must apply for the POC as a sophomore and only selected
students are allowed to enter. For new students at the junior
level and above, you would compete for a POC allocation. Acceptance
into the POC will incur a post-graduation service commitment
with the Air Force. If accepted into the POC, you would receive
a tax-free monthly stipend (juniors - $350/month, seniors
- $400/month) and are guaranteed a job in the Air Force after
graduation, if meeting all requirements.
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What are the eligibility requirements to joining
the GMC?
- Be a full-time student at MIT, Harvard, Tufts or Wellesley
- Attend both the Aerospace class and Leadership Lab each
semester
- Be at least 14 years old
- Be of good moral character
- Be in good physical condition
Visit http://www.afrotc.com/admissions/genReq.php
for more details on GMC General Requirements.
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How do I qualify for the POC?
- Meet all qualifications for the General
Military Course
- Be a United States citizen
- Have at least 1 academic year remaining in a Bachelor's
degree program (law students in their first or second year
are also eligible to apply)
- Be in good academic standing
- Be 18 years old (or 17 years old with a parent or legal
guardian's consent)
- Be physically qualified
- Meet Air Force Height and Weight Standards
- Pass the Air Force Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
- You will also need to pass a military certified/qualified
physical
- Meet the age requirements
- Rated (pilot or navigator) - commissioned before reaching
the age of 29
- Scholarship applicants - be less than 31 years old
as of December 31 of the year you will commission
- Non-rated, commissioned by age 30 (waiverable)
- Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test
- Be interviewed and selected by a board of Air Force officers
- Complete Field Training
- If you are single with a dependent or married to a military
member with dependent, a dependent care plan must be completed.
A dependent is defined as anyone incapable of self-care:
e.g., child, parent, etc.
Visit http://www.afrotc.com/admissions/genReq.php
for more details on POC General Requirements.
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By joining ROTC, will I be
committed to joining the Air Force upon graduation?
You are committed to entering the Air Force when you sign
the AFROTC Contract, Form 1056. Cadets in the Professional
Officer Course and scholarship cadets are called contract
cadets. There is no service commitment until you are on contract.
After completing all Air Force ROTC and academic degree requirements,
contracted cadets accept a commission appointed by the President
of the United States as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
For scholarship recipients, the Air Force may require recoupment
of scholarship money or call you to extended active duty at
an enlisted grade if you disenroll before AFROTC commissioning.
For 4-year scholarship recipients, these provisions are in
effect after the first aerospace studies class or leadership
laboratory session of the second year. You have the right
to relinquish scholarship benefits and be disenrolled without
obligation any time during the freshman year. However, such
action will most likely jeopardize your future entry into
a commissioning program.
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What are the benefits in the POC?
Once accepted into the POC, you will have made a significant
leap to your future as a commissioned Air Force officer. You
will receive a year-round, tax-free monthly stipend of $350
($400 for seniors and above) and be ensured a job in the Air
Force upon commissioning. There are also over 13 Professional
Development programs you can apply for in your summer following
your junior year, to include flying, parachuting, oversees
language immersion and Pentagon internships, to name a few.
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What types of scholarships are available?
As a high school or in-college scholarship applicant, your
best source for general information can be found at the AFROTC
website at www.afrotc.com.
If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements, apply
for a scholarship through the AFROTC website. Be sure to select
one of our 4 schools - MIT, Harvard, Tufts or Wellesley -
and we will receive your application for review. If you have
specific questions prior to applying online, you can send
them directly to airforce@mit.edu, subject line "Scholarship."
For direct inquiries, please include the following:
- Current grade level - specify high school or college
- College major, projected or current
- GPA - specify high school or college
- SAT or ACT score (high school only)
- Year you expect to graduate from college
- Citizenship
- Date of Birth
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How do I compete for a pilot or navigator slot?
Categorization normally occurs in your junior year based
on a very competitive selection process. Factors considered
include military performance, leadership ability, academic
performance, and physical fitness.
In order to apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be enrolled full-time in school and qualify for our ROTC
program
- Be physically qualified
- Achieve qualifying scores on the Air Force Officer Qualifying
Test (AFOQT)
- Take the Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS)
- Maintain a minimum 2.0 grade-point average
- Receive a waiver for any civil involvement
- Be commissioned prior to reaching 29th birthday
AFROTC pilot candidates complete an Enhanced Flight Screening
Program. This must be accomplished prior to completing Specialized
Undergraduate Pilot Training. The program includes both ground
and flight training. The ground training is taught by Air
Force personnel and includes basic aerodynamics, aircraft
systems and emergency procedures.
If you are not selected for a pilot or navigator allocation,
you are still required to complete your AFROTC training and
serve on active duty for a minimum of 4 years.
After graduating from college and completing all AFROTC
requirements, you'll be commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the Air Force. Navigators must serve a minimum of 6 years
on active duty after completing training, and pilots 10 years
after training.
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After graduation, how much time must I serve
in the Air Force?
Most cadets incur a four-year, active-duty commitment. However,
pilots incur a ten-year active-duty service commitment after
successfully completing Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training,
and navigators incur a six-year commitment after successfully
completing Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training. The
minimum service obligation for the Air Battle Management career
field is six years.
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What will I learn in the ROTC classes?
In the first 2 years of the General Military Course or GMC,
cadets learn about life in the Air Force, customs and courtesies,
career opportunities, dress and appearance, military history
and prepare for field training. Topics include Air Doctrine,
Air Force Mission Structure, Organization, the Nature of Conflict,
Air Power Development, National Security, the Evolution of
Air Power and more.
The POC is the advanced Aerospace Studies curriculum for
juniors and above. Cadets must compete to enter into the Professional
Officer Corps. The curriculum prepares cadets for entry into
the Air Force as commissioned second lieutenants. Fundamentals
of leadership and management, ethics, staffing, planning,
coordinating, the need for national security, policy direction
and implementation, and actual leadership case studies are
examined. Cadets also participate in creating the vision and
strategic plan for the cadet corps. You earn three credits
each term for these courses.
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What goes on in Leadership Lab (LLAB)?
Leadership and management experience is gained in ROTC through
a series of Leadership Laboratories (LLAB). The cadet corps
staff manages LLAB with a detachment officer overseeing all
activities. LLAB is held once a week to practice and demonstrate
practical command and staff leadership skills, drill and ceremonies,
customs and courtesies, and career decision-making. LLAB may
also integrate squadron competitions, physical fitness exercises,
guest speakers, warrior runs, and service-oriented outings,
to name a few. While freshmen practice military fundamentals,
sophomores focus on skills to prepare them for field training.
At the same time, juniors are working on building leadership
skills as new POCs, and the seniors are managing, mentoring
and training others altogether.
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Are there any special organizations
I can join?
Yes. Three of our special organizations include Arnold Air
Society (AAS), Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and the Color Guard.
AAS is a professional, honorary service organization, where
our members practice leadership and communication in campus
and community projects. AAS is also active with the Air Force
Association (AFA) and other veteran organizations.
Every year, Det 365 participates in the CAP program, at
no cost to participating cadets. This program was formed to
encourage cooperation between AFROTC Detachments and local
CAP squadrons. The program currently offers four, front-seat
and four backseat sorties in a small aircraft. Det 365 participates
via the Hanscom Flight Training Center, located just outside
of Hanscom Air Force Base about 12 miles from campus.
The Color Guard is a joint ROTC service group that participates
in honoring our flag and organization with past traditions.
Ceremonies performed in the Boston area include the induction
for Postmaster of Cambridge, honoring Veterans Day celebrated
at Harvard and Tufts, and representing the flag and armed
forces in Boston parades. They are active Air Force ROTC ambassadors
on campus by providing support for home sporting events.
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What types of extracurricular
activities are there?
Extracurricular activities provide cadets the opportunity
to participate in Air Force and tri-service events, which
would include our neighboring Navy and Army ROTC units. In
the fall semester, this begins with the New Student Orientation
(NSO), which is a weekend retreat for new cadets interested
in joining the program. We continue in the fall with the formal
Dining-In and POW/MIA vigil on campus. The spring semester
includes Area Field Day, the Tri-Service Military Ball and
concludes with the Tri-Service Pass-In-Review (Parade).
The cadet wing also coordinates two base visits each year.
Some past base visits have included flying out to Colorado
Springs for three days at Peterson Air Force Base and flying
out to Las Vegas for three days at Nellis Air Force Base.
Through base visits, cadets get a firsthand look at the daily
operations, career opportunities, local amenities and active
duty lifestyle from a specific installation.
In between all the major events, the cadets will also organize
informal events to build esprit de corps. This includes a
variety of social functions, such as pizza parties, movie
trips, and playing paintball.
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Whom do I contact for more information?
You can call Detachment 365 during business hours at 617-253-4475
or e-mail our general box at airforce@mit.edu and your message
will be forwarded to the appropriate contact. Additional contact information is as
follows:
Mailing address is:
AFROTC Detachment 365
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building W59-114
Cambridge, MA 02139-4310
Phone: 617-253-4475
DSN: 955-4993
FAX: 617-753-4993
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