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Future Cadets

Future Cadets

Why Join?

Air Force ROTC will open the door to many exciting opportunities.  It is not just a program but a path to your future.

Students interested in challenging themselves and becoming the best versions of themselves while earning the opportunity of joining a world-class winning team should enroll in AFROTC.

Air Force ROTC Enhances Your College Experience

Air Force ROTC provides university students the opportunity to become an Air Force officer while completing an academic degree.  Our program provides cadets the opportunity to strengthen and develop leadership skills while maintaining a spirit of camaraderie.  From your first day in Air Force ROTC, you will be given the chance to grow individually and also gain a sense of belonging with fellow cadets who share common interests and academic goals.  Air Force ROTC will help you develop a healthy and fit lifestyle through morale building and motivating physical training.

During the school year, cadets experience real-world operations through base visits, paintball, expeditionary days, and much more!  In addition, cadets frequently have the opportunity to hear past and present Air Force leaders from all different career fields share their experiences and perspectives.

Want to travel for free over the holiday breaks?  Contracted cadets can take advantage of free travel on space-available (Space A) military flights.

Air Force ROTC Enhances Your Education

Complement your schedule with Air Force ROTC classes which may count as electives towards your degree!  Learn organizational and time management skills as well as teamwork and leadership skills which will help you in your other courses.  Receive valuable training for your Air Force career and experience that is highly marketable to civilian employers.

In addition, if you are a University of Oklahoma student, you will receive a minor in Aerospace Studies upon graduation.

Not sure what you want to do after college?  Air Force ROTC will prepare you to become an officer in the United States Air Force—a position of prestige and honor.  You will not have to attend countless career fairs or stress about finding a job after you graduate.  You will already have a job lined up in one of the most high-tech organizations in the world!  After completing all Air Force ROTC and academic degree requirements, you will accept a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force, appointed by the President of the United States.

Air Force ROTC Enhances Your Career

As an Air Force Officer, you will receive a great starting salary with regular pay raises.  You will also receive tax-free housing and food allowances and enjoy on-base shopping at reduced prices.

The Air Force offers comprehensive medical and dental care for active duty members and no/low-cost coverage for their dependents, as well as low-cost term life insurance.

Air Force members earn 30 days of vacation with pay each year.  In your off-time, there is never a dull moment, as each base is equipped with a wide variety of recreational facilities and programs available for free or reduced rates.  You may also take advantage of space-available (Space A) travel to worldwide destinations via military aircraft.

As an Air Force officer, you will be able to serve your country while having a challenging and satisfying career at the same time.  During your years in the Air Force, you will gain valuable experience which you can later apply in the civilian world.  Through your different assignments, you will have the opportunity to travel the world and work around the globe alongside some of the finest men and women in the country.


Am I Eligible?

To enroll in Air Force ROTC, you must:

  • Be a full-time student at OU or one of our crosstown schools (see list below)
  • Have a Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater for any previously completed college coursework
  • Be able to complete your undergraduate studies and commission before age 39* (up to age 42 with a waiver - restricted to high-quality applicants)
  •     *Rated Officers are limited to age 32. Prior military use an "adjusted age" for prior military service by subtracting years of satisfactory service, from the applicant’s age.
  • Be of good moral character
  • Be in good physical condition
  • Be a US citizen or in pursuit of US citizenship

Please see https://www.afrotc.com/what-it-takes for additional info.

Cadets Saluting Flag at a retreat.
Four Honor Guard Cadets marching in a single-file line.

How to Enroll

You MUST have a WINGS account to participate in AFROTC.

  1. Create a Wings account  
  2. Create your Profile in Wings
  3. Complete your application in Wings  **do not upload any supporting documents we will do all of that at NSOP

Click here to sign-up for New Student Orientation Program (NSOP)

Air Force ROTC is available to any eligible student admitted to the University of Oklahoma or one of our crosstown schools (Rose State College, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City University, and University of Central Oklahoma).

The Air Force ROTC program takes four years to complete, so it is ideal to start as a freshman, but you may also begin the program in the Fall of your sophomore year and compress the requirements into three years. In some cases, students can start in their junior year if they have enough credits remaining in their degree plan to stay full-time students (enrolled in 12 credit hrs/semester) for at least five semesters. Another option for students who start after sophomore year is to take graduate courses during the final year of Air Force ROTC. However, there is no guarantee that a student can finish a graduate degree. Cadets are expected to commission as soon as their Aerospace Studies classes and undergraduate degree requirements are completed.

University of Oklahoma students enroll in Air Force ROTC classes like any other class.

Crosstown students must contact admissions to apply to OU as an Undergraduate Visitor.

Freshmen, or students who have four years of undergraduate work remaining, should enroll in AERO 1011 (Fall) or AERO 1021 (Spring) along with the co-requisite of AERO 1300, Leadership Laboratory.

Sophomores enrolling in the Fall, or students who have three years of undergraduate work remaining, should enroll in AERO 1011 and AERO 2011 (Fall) along with the co-requisite of AERO 1300, Leadership Laboratory.

If you are not a freshman or sophomore and have less than three years remaining in your degree plan but would still like to join Air Force, AFROTC may not be able to support your goals to commission in the U.S. Air Force and Officer Training School may be a better option. 

All cadets must enroll in AERO 1300, Leadership Laboratory, every semester. Leadership Laboratory is a mandatory co-requisite for all AERO classes.

If you are starting the program in the Spring, please contact us afrotc@ou.edu to set up an appointment to complete the initial AFROTC enrollment paperwork (getting set up for a physical, etc.). You should schedule this appointment a few weeks before the start of the semester. Students who are starting the program in the Fall will accomplish their initial paperwork at the New Student Orientation Program.

When you are signing up for classes, please remember that the Aerospace Studies academic classes and Leadership Laboratory co-requisite are both mandatory for cadets.  Below is a list of the Aerospace Studies courses.

If you have 4-years remaining in your degree plan.

  • AERO1011 + AERO1300

If you have 3-years remaining in your degree plan

  • AERO1011 + AERO1211 + AERO1300

What to Expect

First, you are not joining the Air Force when you sign up to take ROTC classes.  You are simply trying out Air Force ROTC and deciding if Air Force officership is right for you.  The commitment comes when you are offered a scholarship and accept it, or at the start of your junior year (after attending Field Training).  You may be able to try out Air Force ROTC for two whole years with no obligation!

Air Force ROTC is a professional training environment.  Hazing, maltreatment, disrespect, or physical discipline are not tolerated.

Physical training (PT) is part of the Air Force ROTC experience.  Cadets that attend OU are expected to attend PT sessions twice per week during the academic term.  PT is conducted from 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

You will be issued uniforms shortly after the semester begins.  Cadets are required to wear their uniforms to classes on Wednesdays between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM.

Time

Cadets are college students first. Your primary mission is to earn a degree! ROTC commitments will take up some of your time, but you should still have plenty of time to study for your other courses and hang out with your friends. The time commitments involved with ROTC include an academic class, a weekly Leadership Laboratory, and twice-weekly PT attendance. 

First- and second-year students will attend a one-credit Aerospace Studies academic course each week, along with Leadership Laboratory (LLAB). The academic class introduces aerospace studies and a background in aerospace history. It can be taken on either Tuesday or Thursday. The two-hour Leadership Laboratory occurs once a week on Wednesday mornings at 6:00am.. 

Juniors and seniors will attend a three-credit Aerospace Studies academic course each week, along with Leadership Laboratory. The Aerospace Studies classes and LLAB provide the instruction and training you need to succeed as an Air Force officer!

As a cadet, part of leading is knowing how to follow and function as part of a team. You will be part of a team called a flight. Each flight typically has a short weekly meeting, much like a club on campus.

Once a semester, you will be required to attend an evening event, either a combat dining-in or formal dining-out.