Aerospace Studies

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Introduction

Air Force Reserve Officer Training (AFROTC) is an educational program designed to give men and women the opportunity to become Air Force officers while completing their college degrees. The Air Force ROTC program is focused on preparing cadets to become leaders in today’s high-tech Air Force. Upon completion of the AFROTC program and the attainment of a baccalaureate degree, the graduate receives a commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. A monthly subsistence is provided during the junior and senior years. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis in increments of four, three, and two years.

Program Eligibility

The program is open to qualified men and women representing of all academic majors of the university. To qualify for membership in the AFROTC program, a student must be a citizen of the United States and by their junior year be at least 17 years of age, physically qualified, and enrolled as a full-time student. All UNLV students are eligible to register for AFROTC academic courses even if they are not members of AFROTC. UNLV students who desire a varied aerospace education without seeking a commission are encouraged to enroll in classes on a space-available basis for the purpose of academic credit only. These students are not required to attend traditional AFROTC activities.

AFROTC Scholarships

Competitive scholarships are made directly to students by the Air Force in accordance with Department of Defense policies. All AFROTC scholarships and stipends involve transactions between the programs and the student without university intervention. Although the university will not supplement AFROTC scholarships directly, students enrolled in the AFROTC program are eligible to apply for merit-based university and college scholarships as well as need-based and merit-based state and federal assistance programs.

Aerospace Studies Minor

Program Objectives

The objective of the Air Force ROTC program is to educate and train cadets to become outstanding leaders in the United States Air Force and to guide and motivate cadets to embrace the Air Force core values of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.”

Program Overview

AFROTC is typically a four-year program, but it is possible to complete the core requirements in as little as three years. A student with prior active-duty military experience can complete the program in just over two years.
The program is divided into two distinct sections, the General Military Course (GMC) and the Professional Officer Course (POC).

General Military Course

The first two years of the Air Force ROTC program, the General Military Course, consist of one hour of classroom work and two hours of leadership laboratory each week. The General Military Course is an opportunity for students not on an Air Force ROTC scholarship to try out the program with no obligation. After completing General Military Course requirements, if you wish to compete for entry into the last two years of the program, the Professional Officer Course, you must do so under the requirements of the Professional Officer Course selection system. This system uses qualitative factors, such as grade point average, physical fitness scores, unit commander evaluation and aptitude test scores to determine if you have officer potential. After selection, you must successfully complete a four-week field training encampment (during the summer break prior to your junior year in the program) before entering the Professional Officer Course. Once you are enrolled in the Professional Officer Course, you must attend a three-hour class each week and continue to participate in the weekly leadership laboratory.

Professional Officer Course

In the Professional Officer Course, you apply what you have learned in the General Military Course and at field training. In the Professional Officer Course, you actually conduct the leadership laboratories and manage the unit’s cadet corps. Each unit has a cadet corps based on the Air Force organizational pattern of flight, squadron, group and wing. Professional Officer Course classes are small. Emphasis is placed on group discussions and cadet presentations. Classroom topics include management, communication skills and national defense policy. Once you have enrolled in the Professional Officer Course, you enter into a contract with the Air Force stating that you agree to complete the remainder of the program and commission into the Air Force. As part of the contract, you are enlisted into the Air Force Reserve and assigned to the Obligated Reserve Section. This entitles you to a monthly $300-$500 non-taxable stipend during the academic year.

Partnership with College of Southern Nevada (CSN) or Nevada State College (NSC).

Students enrolled full-time at either the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) or Nevada State College (NSC) may enroll in the AFROTC program at their respective colleges, while attending AES classes at UNLV.
Program Objectives

Department Policies

Students pursuing a commission in the USAF must enroll in the class and leadership lab. Students not pursuing a commission can enroll only in the class.

Textbooks, Uniforms and Equipment

The U.S. Air Force provides students with required textbooks at no additional expense. Uniforms, uniform items, and equipment will also be issued to qualified cadets at no additional expense.
Uniforms are for use during AES class, Leadership Lab, and other training conducted by the program. Uniforms will be turned in at the end of each semester.

Aerospace Studies Minor (16 credits)

AES 110/120, 111/121, 230/240, 231/241, 351/361, 352/362, 471/481, 472/482. Sixteen credits of AES classes: 100 and 200 level classes are not prerequisites and can be taken concurrently with any other AES classes for students not pursuing commission and therefore not eligible to enroll in the labs.

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