AFROTC Myths
The following are some myths that you might have heard about Air Force ROTC:
1. Scholarships are impossible to get and are the only way to join AFROTC.
WRONG! The last AFROTC "In-College-Scholarship" board selected over 200 candidates for 2 and 3 year scholarships for a net selection rate of more than 30%. If you do not receive a scholarship you may still join AFROTC by signing up for the class and lab.
2. The Air Force is only interested in engineers.
INCORRECT! Over half of AFROTC students are in non-technical majors.
3. The only way to be a pilot is to go to the Air Force Academy.
THINK AGAIN! The Air Force selects many students in AFROTC who chose to compete for pilot slots. Equally important, the number of pilot slots is growing--we need students interested in being pilots. For pilot/navigator physical prerequisites click here.
4. You owe your life and first born when you join AFROTC.
FALLACY! First--there is no commitment to the Air Force by a college student until their junior year or when a scholarship is utilized. Second--the ROTC commitment is just 4 years service-short by many standards. Students successfully completing flight school (a 2 year active duty program) and achieving an aeronautical rating do incur an 8 year commitment. When you consider the world-class training, and the opportunity to fly ... 8 years is a drop in the bucket (especially given the significant training investment the Air Force has afforded you). With the exception of pilots, navigators, and some medical career fields, most ROTC graduates incur an active duty service commitment of ONLY 4 years.
5. The pay is nowhere near as high as civilian jobs.
ERRONEOUS! The starting salary for an ROTC graduate will be near $33,000 and will increase to over $50,000 (not including flight pay!) in just 4 years. A large portion of this salary is even tax free. Active duty personnel and their families also will be covered by an excellent medical program for pennies. ***Please note everyone receives at least the above income (if not more if living in a high cost area or receiving flight pay) whether they are a psychologist, engineer, teacher, nurse, or pilot.***
6. AFROTC requires a tremendous amount of time.
NOT! 1st and 2nd year ROTC cadets take only one ROTC class (1 hour a week) plus a hands-on leadership lab (2 hours a week). 3rd and 4th year cadets meet once a week for 3 hours plus the leadership lab. Finally, physical training takes two to three hours a week. The average cadet spends six to eight hours a week on ROTC, but this includes work out time and classes for college credit.
7. There are no scholarship opportunities for students already in college.
NOPE! College students can compete each year for scholarships. Those who already have a scholarship can compete for In-College scholarship upgrades. Click here for the full details.
8. The AFROTC program is for military fanatics who love to do pushups.
NOT TRUE! Each University's ROTC program is run by a Colonel, or Lieutenant Colonel, and is specifically designed to limit antics like hazing and unprofessional treatment. True, there are some physical requirements, but these are not the sole focus of a cadet's training -- we just focus on a healthy lifestyle.
9. Only students who want to be pilots join AFROTC.
NO! There are more people working to design, build, supply, support, and maintain the Air Force's aircraft than there are who fly the aircraft. Jobs in the Air Force range from technical engineering to clinical psychology.
10. Cadets always have to wear a uniform and have a crew cut.
BUSTED! While cadets must remain within Air Force Dress and Appearance Standards, it is not all about shaving your head. In addition, the uniform, which is worn with a great deal of pride, is only worn on days of leaderships labs (once a week) and during a cadet's respective AS Class.