Cadet Life at Air Force ROTC Detachment 790

The General Military Course: The Freshman and Sophomore Program

What is the GMC program?

The General Military Course (GMC) is the portion of Air Force ROTC for collegiate underclassmen. It is designed to serve as an introduction to AFROTC and to demonstrate how the program functions. Absolutely no obligation to the Air Force is required in order to participate.

What Classes Would a GMC Cadet Take?

Freshmen new to ROTC (sometimes referred to as AS100’s) will take AERO1010 their first semester and AERO1020 their second. These courses are designed to educate cadets on the basic principles of the Air Force and the United States military as a whole. As a sophomore in the GMC program (or AS200), cadets will take AERO2010 their first semester and AERO2020 their second. The second year of classes covers the history of air power and the United States Air Force in depth. These classes meet once a week, immediately prior to the start of Leadership Laboratory, and are worth one credit hour. Classes are offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each week; cadets are required to attend one class session, which they can choose depending on their own personal schedules at their respective universities.

Leadership Laboratory

In addition to being enrolled in a one-hour lecture, AS100 and AS200 cadets participate in AERO1011L and AERO2021L, respectively. These classes are known as Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) and are taken once a week. Freshmen and sophomores are organized into “flights,” or a group consisting of about 15 cadets, and participate within their flight in a myriad of different activities, including drill and ceremony practice, briefings on Air Force ROTC regulations and organization, and leadership-building exercises. Guest speakers and wing-wide functions are also common. Leadership Laboratory emphasizes teamwork, knowledge, and drill proficiency. Cadets are required to wear their issued Air Force uniforms to both LLAB and class. One college credit is awarded for the successful completion of Leadership Laboratory as a GMC cadet. Again, LLAB is offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each week; cadets are required to attend one LLAB a week, which they can choose depending on their own personal schedules at their respective universities.

What are the objectives of LLAB for freshman and sophomores?

Freshman (Initial Military Training): Designed to teach the basics of military customs and courtesies, uniform wear, military rank structure, and fundamental knowledge of the Air Force as a branch of service.

Sophomore (Field Training Preparation): Designed to build upon what was learned in the IMT program, including more advanced drill and ceremony training, and to prepare the individual for Field Training.

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