The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) is an educational program that develops future leaders for the Air Force. It offers men and women the opportunity to become Air Force officers while completing their college degrees. Cadets receive military training while attending university, and the program typically lasts three to four years. Any student with more than three years remaining in their degree program may be eligible for ROTC.
As a freshman cadet, you will take a 1-hour class each week to learn basic Air Force knowledge. As a sophomore, you will take a 1-hour class on the history of air power. There is no commitment for the first two years unless you are on scholarship. The academic courses, along with the weekly Leadership Laboratory, make up the ROTC curriculum.
Between your sophomore and junior years, cadets attend a four-week Field Training camp, often referred to as “boot camp.” Physical conditioning, an aircraft orientation flight, and weapons practice are among the activities you will experience. Field Training is conducted over the summer at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. The Air Force covers your plane fare, lodging, meals, and provides you with a stipend during your time at Field Training.
For cadets who remain committed to becoming Air Force officers after Field Training, the Professional Officer Course (POC) begins in the junior year. This 3-hour course, taken each semester, offers advanced training in leadership, management, and communication skills. After one year in the POC, cadets are informed of their job assignments in the Air Force. Enrollment in the POC obligates cadets to serve on active duty for four years. Upon graduation, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants and begin their careers as officers.
As a second lieutenant just out of college, you can expect to earn about $47,000 a year. Your pay as an officer will vary based on your rank and time in service. If you are a doctor or a pilot, you may receive special pay considerations and bonuses. After four years, you could be making around $74,200 as a captain.
In addition to your base salary, you will also receive allowances. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) ranges from approximately $650 to $1,200 per month, depending on your station location. The Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is around $225 per month for officers. Both BAH and BAS are tax-free and are included in the total compensation package. For current pay information, you can refer to the official pay charts available from the U.S. Department of Defense at www.dfas.mil.
Aerospace Studies (AFAS) 101 and 201 are available to all freshmen and sophomores, whether or not they are cadets. You can register for these courses just like any other class. Non-cadets are not required to participate in the Leadership Laboratory portion of the program. All aerospace studies classes are held in Hoskins Library. There is no service commitment for students taking these courses who do not intend to pursue a commission in the Air Force or Space Force.
You will incur a commitment once you begin your junior year or activate a scholarship. This process is known as “contracting.” Upon graduation, you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the active duty Air Force or Space Force, with a commitment of four years, regardless of whether you are on scholarship. However, certain career fields require an extended commitment. Pilots serve a minimum of ten years, while combat systems officers, remotely piloted aircraft officers, and air battle managers have a six-year commitment. Doctors and lawyers are required to serve the equivalent of the number of years they spent in education for their respective fields.
No—not in college. Depending on Active Duty assignments and locations, you may be placed in a dorm similar to a barracks. While rare, in more austere environments it is plausible.
No, not while you’re in college. However, depending on your Active Duty assignments and locations, you may be assigned to accommodations similar to a barracks. While it’s uncommon, in more austere environments, this type of housing may be a possibility.
Yes. There is no commitment to the Air Force until cadets “contract,” which typically happens after Field Training or once they receive a scholarship. During this time, the classes offer general information about the Air Force and allow you to explore whether ROTC and the Air Force are the right fit for you, without obligation. AFROTC is also the current commissioning source for the new United States Space Force, so depending on your job selection, you could join the USSF.
If you enter the program with a four-year scholarship, you can choose to leave after the first year without any obligation. If you receive a three-year scholarship, there is no commitment until you accept it. If you choose not to accept the scholarship, there is no commitment until you sign a contract.
Yes. Hair must be kept in accordance with Air Force guidelines, AFI36-2903 concerning grooming standards when in uniform.
Marching and drilling is a small part of our overall program. This is practiced during Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) and also at Field Training. There are no mandatory drill sessions outside of LLAB.
Yes, you may play sports, join a fraternity or sorority, play in the marching band, work, and generally fill your spare time as you desire. We encourage cadets to be well-rounded and involved on campus. The total time commitment for AFROTC (including classes, leadership lab, and meetings) is about three to six hours a week for freshmen and sophomores. For juniors and seniors who assume leadership roles in the corps, the commitment is approximately five to eight hours a week.
Absolutely not! All cadets, regardless of their year, are treated with dignity and respect. This is not a harsh, boot-camp-style environment. Senior cadets are trained to guide and mentor new cadets, offering support and leadership. Our detachment cadre, which includes active-duty commissioned and noncommissioned officers, cares about you as an individual, a student, and a cadet. We are your ROTC family, and your well-being and success are our top priority.
Yes! Scholarships are available regardless of what field you major in. Scholarship types vary from year to year. Contact our office at afrotc@utk.edu or visit afrotc.com.
“Lead Lab” is our Leadership Laboratory, planned and run by junior and senior cadets, and attended by the entire cadet corps in uniform. It takes place from 2:10 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. During Lead Lab, both scholarship and nonscholarship cadets (ROTC students) learn essential Air Force skills, including drill and ceremony, customs and courtesies, and other practical leadership abilities necessary for success as an Air Force officer.
No. Cadets who are on scholarship select a major according to their scholarship type. Otherwise, cadets are free to major in anything they want. You must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to participate in the program.
No. All uniform items and gear are provided free of charge. After the program and before going on active duty, cadets have the option to buy their uniforms at a reduced rate.
No. All materials are electronic and provided.
Yes. Scholarship cadets have their tuition paid as well as a textbook entitlement ($900 a year) and a monthly stipend ($350–$500 a month). Contracted cadets (those who have committed to joining the Air Force, but who may or may not have a scholarship) receive a monthly stipend of $450 a month as a junior and $500 a month as a senior.
The total time commitment for ROTC for freshman and sophomores, including classes, leadership, and meetings, is approximately three to six hours a week. For juniors and seniors who assume leadership roles in the corps, the commitment is approximately five to eight hours a week.
Cadets wear the Air Force uniform to all required AFROTC functions, including aerospace studies and Leadership Laboratory, and during special events.