Frequently Asked Questions
What is the service commitment upon contracting/committing to the military?
What is the difference between Junior ROTC in high school and ROTC in college?
Do I have to be in Junior ROTC in high school to be eligible for ROTC in college?
Do I need to be a freshman to join AFROTC?
What class do I need to register for?
Can I join ROTC without a scholarship?
I didn’t receive a scholarship while in high school. Are there scholarship opportunities while I’m in college?
Am I required to major in a specific degree?
Can I pursue a master’s degree after I commission?
Do I have to take the ASVAB?
What are my weekly obligations as a cadet?
Can I join the Space Force through AFROTC?
What jobs are available in the Air Force through AFROTC?
When do I know what job I will be doing for the Air Force?
Question and Answer
If I join Air Force ROTC, does that mean I'm joining the military?No. If you received a 4-year scholarship from high school, then the first year of college is paid for, and you can quit at the end of your freshman year with no obligation. If you got a 3-year scholarship from high school or college, then you are not committed to the Air Force until you accept your scholarship (usually in the fall of your sophomore year). If you didn’t get any scholarship, then you are not committed to joining the Air Force until you start your junior year of college after completing Field Training.
What is the service commitment upon contracting/committing to the military?Once contracting, you will incur a 4-year active duty service commitment upon successful graduation and completion of all AFROTC program requirements. A select few careers have longer service commitments. Example: Pilots will incur a 10-year service commitment after pilot training.
What is the difference between Junior ROTC in high school and ROTC in college?
The mission of the high school Junior ROTC program is to build better citizens for America. The mission of the college ROTC program is to produce leaders for the Air Force. If you are interested in starting an Air Force Junior ROTC program at your high school, visit AFJROTC.
No. In fact, the majority of students enrolled in college ROTC have never been involved in the Junior ROTC program.
Do I need to be a freshman to join AFROTC?No. Any student (graduate or undergraduate) with at least three years remaining should be eligible for our program. So, if you’re a second-semester freshman, a sophomore or have at least three years remaining in your graduate studies, you may be eligible. Students must be full-time for at least five semesters and may be part-time for the final semester before graduation. If you have concerns with academic eligibility, please contact the detachment.
What class do I need to register for?1st year cadets in the 4-year program will take AFSC 1201 with lab in the fall. 1st year cadets in the 3-year program will take both AFSC 1201 and 2201 with lab in the fall. Note: The 3-year program combines the first two years of the 4-year program into one to allow students with three years of school remaining to complete all program requirements.
Can I join ROTC without a scholarship?Yes, you can. Many of our students do not start with a scholarship. After a full-semester in the program, eligible students can compete for a scholarship.
I didn’t receive a scholarship while in high school. Are there scholarship opportunities while I’m in college?Yes, active cadets who participate in the program for at least a full semester may become eligible to compete for a Type 1 or Type 2 scholarship. Cadets must meet all medical, academic and physical requirements to be eligible. For more information, please see the AFROTC scholarship page.
Am I required to major in a specific degree?
No! As an AFROTC cadet, you have the freedom to select whatever major you prefer. We recommend you major in a field you are passionate about, would consider entering as a backup plan and excel in. Our main academic concern is that you maintain above a 2.5 cumulative GPA. To be competitive for continuing the program and job selection, you should strive for the highest GPA possible.
Can I pursue a master’s degree after I commission?
The Air Force is education-oriented and financially supports graduate studies. You can apply for the Air Force Institute of Technology to earn an advanced degree on full scholarship. Additionally, most bases have graduate college programs, and you may apply for the tuition assistance program that can pay up to 100 percent of the tuition cost.
Do I have to take the ASVAB?
No. The ASVAB is a standardized test used to determine enlisted job eligibility. Through AFROTC you are working to commission as an officer, which is a separate path than enlisting. To successfully complete the AFROTC program you will need to pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT). You will take this test while you are an active cadet. To best prepare, you can research AFOQT or SAT/ACT test prep materials. For more information on the AFOQT you can visit the AFROTC Academic Standards page.
What are my weekly obligations as a cadet?The AFROTC program is comprised of three main components on a weekly basis all held on the main campus at the University of Houston. Each cadet will participate in Physical Training (PT), Leadership Laboratory (LLAB), and an Aerospace Studies class. PT is offered at 6:00am-7:00am and required three times a week. All cadets are required to attend LLAB every Wednesday from 2:30pm-4:30pm. Aerospace Studies courses are academic classes designed to educate cadets on topics such as Air Force history, team and leadership fundamentals, and national security. The first and second year courses are 1 hour each week offered either Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon, and the third and fourth year courses are 3 hours offered on Wednesday mornings.
Can I join the Space Force through AFROTC?Yes! Air Force ROTC is the largest source of newly commissioned Officers into the Space Force. If interested, you will apply for the Space Force during your junior year. Current Space Force Officer careers include: Space Operations, developmental engineer, acquisitions, cyberspace operations, and intelligence.
What jobs are available in the Air Force through AFROTC?There are over 30 Officer careers in the Air Force. Officer jobs include: pilot, public affairs officer, nurse, security forces officer, lawyer, cyberspace operations officer, and many more. For a full list of officer careers you can visit AF Careers or Life After ROTC.
When do I know what job I will be doing for the Air Force?You will compete in a selection process during your final AFROTC year. The factors to be used will include your Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores, Field Training performance, Grade Point Average (GPA), academic major, Physical Fitness Test (PFT) score, and ranking within your class given by the Detachment Commander. You will know your specific Air Force job category approximately six months before you’re commissioned.
Air Force ROTC
University of Houston | 3875 Holman Street Room 109 | Houston TX 77204-5048
Phone: 713-743-4932 | afrotc@uh.edu
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