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Information for Visitors
If you are looking for a career in the Air Force as an officer, then
AFROTC at the University
of Alabama is the
place for you. Detachment 010 is committed to producing the high
quality officers sought by the U.S. Air Force seeks.
The Cadet Wing is run by cadets with guidance from active duty
personnel assigned to Detachment 010. The active duty officers and
enlisted members help the cadets learn and refine their leadership
skills and supervise the cadet training environment.
Answers to some common questions
What is ROTC?
What are the qualifications?
How do I enroll?
What is the Physical Fitness Test?
What is the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test?
How do I become a pilot or navigator?
I have more questions. Who can I contact?
What is Air Force ROTC?
The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is an
educational program designed to give men and women the opportunity to
become Air Force officers while completing their degrees. The Air Force
ROTC program is designed to prepare you to assume positions of
increasing responsibility and importance in the modern Air Force. Air
Force ROTC offers three routes to an Air Force commission at over 600
institutions throughout the continental United States, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico - the Air Force ROTC Four-Year Program, Two-Year program
and One-Year Program.
Four-Year
Program -
The General Military Course is the first half of the Four-Year
Program and it's taken during your freshman and sophomore years. This
program allows you to "try out" Air Force ROTC for up to two
years without incurring any obligation unless you are on an Air Force
ROTC scholarship. As you attend class, you'll learn more about the Air
Force and the historical development of airpower. The last two years
are called the Professional Officer Course. These junior and senior
level classes cover leadership skills and national defense policy.
Two-Year
Program -
This program, also called the Professional Officer Course, is
primarily available to junior college transfer students, sophomores,
and veterans who have approximately two years remaining (undergraduate,
graduate, or a combination of the two) before entering the Air Force.
It's especially suited for those who major in selected scientific and
technical areas such as mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer
science. This program is highly competitive, so it's important to apply
early in your sophomore year. The leadership and national defense policy
courses are the same as those offered the last two years of the
Four-Year Program.
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General AFROTC Eligibility Qualifications
To be eligible to join AFROTC, the following is required:
- Be a U.S. Citizen
(Non-U.S. Citizens may participate under certain conditions.)
- Be age 14 or
older.
- Be a student
enrolled at an accredited college that hosts an AFROTC unit or a
college or junior college having a cross-town agreement with the
the host institution/AFROTC unit.
- Participate in
both Air Force ROTC courses and Leadership Laboratory.
- Be of good moral
character.
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How to Enroll
To enroll in Air Force ROTC at the University of Alabama,
you simply register for AFROTC classes as you would register for any
other course.
Fall Term
Freshmen register for AFS 110 and AFS 101
Freshmen register for AFS 120 and AFS 102
Spring Term
Sophomores register for AFS 230 and AFS 201
Sophomores register for AFS 240 and AFS 202
All others, including graduate students, should contact us at
205-348-5900 to see if you are eligible.
In addition to class, you will be required to attend physical
training three times per week.
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Questions
What is the (PFT) Physical Fitness Test?
The PFT is taken every fall and spring term while a cadet is
enrolled in Air Force ROTC. Cadets in the GMC not on scholarship must
attempt the test but do not have to pass. Scholarship cadets and cadets
in the POC, however, must pass the test each fall and spring term.
The PFT is composed of an abdominal circumference measurement and
three events in the following order:
- Push-ups
- Crunches
- 1.5-mile run
All events must be completed. There is a five minute rest period
between each event. You must meet the overall score of at least 75 points to
pass the PFT.
How to pass the PFT.
(You should consult with a physician before starting any exercise
program.)
- Take the entire
test early in order to get a baseline for improvement.
- Compare your
scores with the individual minimum scores for each event.
- Develop a plan
to improve your physical fitness.
- The plan
should include exercises to improve each event score.
- Identify the
events with the scores below or barely above the minimum. Place
added emphasis (extra exercises, repetitions, etc.) to improve these
event scores.
- Make the plan
a part of your lifestyle.
- If possible,
find a friend (or friends) to work out with on a regular basis.
- Stay positive
and stay with it.
- Set short-term
and long-term goals for yourself.
- Set six-week
goals, semester goals and Field-Training Board goals for
improving individual event scores and the overall score.
Work the PFT exercises and running into your overall
lifestyle. Use small amounts of time to improve overall fitness.
- Break periods of
study by performing individual exercises. (Read a chapter or
finish an assignment and do some push-ups.)
- Clear the mind
after a long study session by going for a run.
- You don't need
to be at a gym or fitness center to improve on your PFT. Be
creative.
- Work on sit-ups
and push-ups in your room.
Just remember that you don't need to be an athlete to pass the PFT.
You just need to get in and stay in "PFT" shape.
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What is the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test
The AFOQT measures aptitudes used to select candidates for officer
commissioning programs and specific commissioned officer training
programs. The test consists of 12 subtests. Subtest scores are
combined to generate one or more of five composite scores used to help
predict success in certain types of Air Force training programs.
Four-year college scholarship recipients must pass the AFOQT by the
end of their freshman year. All others must pass the AFOQT prior
to nomination for an AFROTC scholarship or nomination for a field
training allocation.
For a more detailed description and sample questions, click on the
following link: AFOQT
Pamphlet (requires PDF viewer)
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Questions
How do I become a pilot or navigator
Competition for rated slots is based on merit and is very
competitive. The Air Force seeks the highest qualified applicants for
Pilot, Navigator, and Air Battle Manager career fields. A selection
board at AFROTC Headquarters, not at local detachments, determines
rated positions. Selection for a rated position is based on a cadet's
Order of Merit, which is determined by the following criteria:
- Cumulative
GPA
- Physical
Fitness Test (PFT) results: based on a 100 point scale and
consisting of abdominal circumference measurement, push-ups,
crunches, and a one and a half mile run.
- Pilot
Candidate Scoring Method (PCSM) results:
Comprised of:
- Air Force
Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Pilot score: a standardized,
multiple-choice test similar to the SAT in format. AFOQTs are
administered several times during the school year. Cadets may
take the AFOQT twice (6 months apart) with the most recent score
being used towards the PCSM score.
- Basic
Attributes Test (BAT) score: Consists of subtests that
measure psychomotor skills, cognitive aptitude, and personality
traits.
- Total
flying hours: While flying hours contribute to the overall
PCSM score, they constitute only a small percentage of the total.
While helpful, it is not necessary to have flight hours to get a
rated position.
- Field
Training (FT) Results: Cadets train and are selected for FT.
This is a mandatory program designed to develop leadership and
discipline, and to determine potential for entry into the
Professional Officer Course. FT typically occurs between the
sophomore and the junior year using a standard 4-week or extended
5-week program at one of several Air Force bases.
- Commander's
Ranking: The Detachment Commander evaluates cadets based on
the "whole person" concept and ranks them in relation
to their peers. Overall officership potential is determined based
on (but not limited to) a cadet's maturity, judgment, and overall
performance within cadet corps.
NOTE: Academic major is NOT a factor for rated selection,
contrary to popular belief. A cadet interested in a rated slot and
majoring in Aeronautical Science or Aerospace Engineering, for example,
is not given higher consideration over a cadet majoring in Psychology.
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Contact Information
If you have more questions please contact our Unit Admissions
Officer at 205-348-5900 or afrotc@aalan.ua.edu
for more information.
You can also find answers to many common questions at www.afrotc.com/faqs/index.php
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Current as of June 2008
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