Program Overview

Air Force ROTC Program

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program is a supplemental academic leadership program designed to prepare University students to become Air Force officers. The program provides students with an opportunity to earn an Air Force commission while completing University requirements for a bachelor's degree in their chosen area of study.

Admission Policies

To be admitted to the Air Force ROTC program, students must:

• Be enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University
• Fill out an Air Force ROTC application
• Enroll in an Air Force ROTC class and corresponding leadership lab
• Maintain a 2.0 or greater GPA (grade point average)
• Be physically fit, meet height and weight standards

General Military Course Requirements

Any full-time student, male or female, who is in good academic standing, a U.S. citizen, in good health, and pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher may join the General Military Cadet (GMC). The Professional Officer Corps (POC) membership, which is comprised of juniors and seniors, is competitively selected.

Professional Officer Course Requirements

The Professional Officer Course is offered to juniors and seniors who have already committed to a four-year post-graduation service commitment with the Air Force. To be eligible, students must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Have a military certified/qualified physical
• Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test
• Be selected by a board of Air Force officers
• Complete an Air Force ROTC Field Training course the summer after their sophomore year
• Be of legal age as required by the state in which they will be attending ROTC or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent
• Be in good academic standing
• Have two academic years remaining in a degree program (undergraduate, graduate or combination of both)
• Participate in both aerospace studies classes and leadership laboratory each semester
• Be physically fit
• Meet Air Force height and weight standards
• Pass the Air Force Physical Fitness Test

Aerospace Studies

A minor in aerospace studies is a four-year program available through Southeast Air Force ROTC with 16 semester hours of aerospace studies courses.

Student Organizations

The Air Force ROTC program has several student organizations, including:

• The Arnold Air Society: an honorary organization within ROTC that serves both the University and the community
• The Blue Lightning Color Guard: a voluntary program active throughout the year in providing color guards for most sporting events, parades, ROTC activities, and community and University programs
• Aerospace Club: a service organization made up of cadets and students with an interest in aerospace studies

Field Training

Field Training is a four-week course that occurs the summer before entering the POC program. It allows students to earn experience in survival training, junior officer training, physical training, and first-hand familiarization with the organization and function of an Air Force base. Field Training is held at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Career Opportunities

There are many paths open to commissioned Air Force officers, including technical, scientific, specialty, and health care fields. Students can choose from a variety of career opportunities, including pilot, operational, and nursing fields.

Commitment and Obligation

Unless students are receiving an AFROTC scholarship, there is no military commitment while they are enrolled in the GMC (the first two years of the AFROTC program). Students receiving an AFROTC scholarship and those selected for the final two years of the AFROTC program (the POC) incur a minimum four-year active duty service commitment after graduation and commissioning.

Time Commitment

The time commitment for Air Force ROTC varies depending on the year of study. For the GMC (first 2 years), students can expect to spend around 5 hours per week on Air Force ROTC activities, including a 1 credit-hour academic class and a 2-hour leadership lab. For the POC (last 2 years), students can expect to spend around 6 hours per week on Air Force ROTC activities, including a 3 credit-hour academic class and a 2-hour leadership lab.

Benefits

Upon graduation, students will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (officer) in the Air Force and will receive a starting base salary of over $35K, increasing to over $62K after 4 years of active duty. They will also receive a generous housing allowance, medical/dental benefits, and a defined benefits plan after only 20 years of active service. Additionally, many AFROTC cadets receive a dorm room scholarship of up to $3K.