Wilkes University Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps

AIR AND SPACE STUDIES MINOR (AIR FORCE ROTC)

Chairperson: Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kaster

FACULTY

Professor: Lieutenant Colonel Kaster

Assistant Professors: Captains Sanfilippo and Marsh

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program at permits students to earn commissions as officers in the U.S. Air Force while pursuing a university degree. Students interested may call the detachment and query staff regarding additional programs available (570 408 4860).

BENEFITS

The U.S.  Air Force supplies all uniforms, equipment, and textbooks required for AFROTC at no cost to the students.  Some Air Force ROTC scholarship recipients could be eligible to receive free room and/or board. Contact the Admissions Office or the detachment for details.

SCHOLARSHIPS

AFROTC full and partial tuition scholarships for which quali­fied students may compete, if they enroll in AFROTC. All scholarship awards are based on individual merit, regardless of financial need, with most scholarship recipients determined by central selection boards. Since scholarship applicants must meet certain academic, physical fitness and medical requirements to be considered by the scholarship boards, contact the Air and Space Studies Department early in the fall semester.

High school students wishing to compete for AFROTC college scholarships must complete and submit an application early in the fall term of their senior year. Contracted cadets also receive a monthly stipend and a book allowance.

GENERAL MILITARY COURSE

The first two years of the four-year program constitute the General Military Course (GMC). GMC courses are open to any university student. Students enrolling in these courses do not incur any military service obligation--to except scholarship recipients.

The GMC classes consists of four one-credit Air and Space Studies courses; a non-credit leadership laboratory each semester, which introduces students to U.S. Air Force history and environment, customs, courtesies, drill and ceremonies, and leadership skills; and Physical Training (PT) twice weekly

FIELD TRAINING

Field training consists of a four-week, three credit Air and Space Studies course or a six week, three credit Air and Space Studies course conducted at selected Air Force bases. It provides students an opportunity to observe Air Force units and people at work; to participate in marksmanship, survival, athletics, and leadership training activities; to experience aircraft orientation flights; and to work with contemporaries from other colleges and universi­ties. Transportation from the legal residence of the cadet to the field training base and return, food, lodging, and medical and dental care are provided by the Air Force.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICER COURSE

The Professional officer Course (POC) constitutes a four-semester program, normally taken during the junior and senior years, leading to commissioning as a US Air Force officer. The POC concentrates on concepts and practices of management and leadership, national defense policy, and communicative skills. It consists of four three-credit Air and Space Studies courses, a non-credit leadership laboratory each semester, and PT twice weekly. POC cadets earn a variable, tax-free subsistence allowance during the academic year and incur a military obligation. To be accepted into the POC, students must pass a physical examination, an officer qualification test, a physical fitness test, and meet academic and military retention standards.

COMMISSIONING

Students who satisfactorily complete the POC curriculum requirements are commis­sioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force and will serve on active duty in a career specialty they have chosen, consistent with USAF needs. Qualified students may compete for duty as pilots, navigators, engineers, missile or space operations officers, nurses, engineers, meteorologists, computer analysts, lawyers, security forces or any of a number of other career fields.