Department of Aerospace Studies (AFROTC)
Faculty: Professor (USF) Cardoso; Assistant Professors (USF) Blanchard, Reimer and Beck.
The Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC) is offered under an intercampus agreement with the University of South Florida. All courses and the Leadership Lab are taught at USF. Registration for all courses is through The University of Tampa, and UT grants course credit.
The curriculum includes 12-16 credit hours of instruction by Air Force officers over a three- to four-year period. A student who completes the AFROTC program receives an Air Force commission as a second lieutenant and a position in the active-duty Air Force at a starting salary of approximately $45,000 per year, not including basic allowance for housing.
AFROTC is offered as either a three- to four-year program. The four-year program normally requires students to successfully complete all degree requirements for a bachelor’s degree, 16 credit hours of AFROTC classes and a four-week field-training encampment between the sophomore and junior years. The three-year program gives students who do not enroll in AFROTC during their freshman year the opportunity to take AFROTC. Cadets attend a four-week field-training encampment in the summer prior to entering the junior class.
ROTC cadets take a 1.8-hour noncredit leadership laboratory in addition to the academic classes. Students wear the Air Force uniform during these periods and are taught customs and courtesies of the Air Force. Leadership Laboratory is open to students who are members of ROTC and are eligible to pursue commissions, as determined by the professor of aerospace studies.
AFROTC three- and two-year scholarships are available for eligible college applicants. Four-year scholarships are available to highly qualified high school students who complete the scholarship application process during their senior year of high school. Depending on student qualifications, these scholarships pay tuition, most fees and a book allowance. Additionally, a scholarship student receives a monthly tax-free stipend. Those interested in more information about scholarship criteria should contact the USF AFROTC department at (813) 974-3367.
A new student to this program must complete a pre-screening process in addition to a paperwork session the semester prior to enrolling in Air Force ROTC classes. Contact the Air Force ROTC Department at (813) 974-3367 for additional information including the pre-screening process and paperwork session dates. Active-duty enlisted personnel are encouraged to contact the education office at their military installation for information regarding enlisted commissioning programs.