AFROTC

haleym

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
417
Hello, I am doing AFROTC this coming year as a freshman in college. I've been trying to look into what exactly it is I will be doing, but I can't seem to find a whole lot on it. From what I've found I will only be taking one course related to AFROTC (field training isn't until after your sophomore yr) and I am admittedly confused because I thought there would be more. I'm hoping someone who has been through (or is currently in) AFROTC can provide some insight as to their experience their first year in the program. Thanks to all that can help! :smile:
 
I will be doing AFROTC this fall as a freshman too. Have you contacted your prospective detachment yet? Mine just emailed me a link on their website to a New Student Orientation(NSO) packet and it had a ton of paperwork and information in it. It says we take two classes and have to partake in at least 2 of the 4 scheduled PT sessions per week. One is Foundations of the AF I(one day a week) and the other is Leadership Laboratory(twice a week)
 
I will be doing AFROTC this fall as a freshman too. Have you contacted your prospective detachment yet? Mine just emailed me a link on their website to a New Student Orientation(NSO) packet and it had a ton of paperwork and information in it. It says we take two classes and have to partake in at least 2 of the 4 scheduled PT sessions per week. One is Foundations of the AF I(one day a week) and the other is Leadership Laboratory(twice a week)

I did actually, the officer I talked to only mentioned one class though and nothing else. I suppose it's possible it varies by school, but I doubt it. Think I'll be calling for a little more information soon :rolleyes: Any idea of when we get uniforms? Or is that after sophomore year as well? I'm more curious as to whether or not freshmen are able to be on the honor guard and such, and that requires uniforms, haha.
 
I did actually, the officer I talked to only mentioned one class though and nothing else. I suppose it's possible it varies by school, but I doubt it. Think I'll be calling for a little more information soon :rolleyes: Any idea of when we get uniforms? Or is that after sophomore year as well? I'm more curious as to whether or not freshmen are able to be on the honor guard and such, and that requires uniforms, haha.

Nah, I'm sure the class requirements the same everywhere, I saw those two classes mentioned in other threads. The times might be different though. My packet has seveal uniform sizing sheets too fill out and it suggests that I go to a tailor. We definitely get uniforms as freshmen, it'd just be cruel to make us wait a year to wear our gear proudly lol. I've heard of ppl getting theirs at student orientation, but theirs were 5 days long as opposed to my 1 day one so I think we get it either the 1st or 2nd day of AFROTC classes.

Edit: I think freshmen are allowed to do honor guard and such, but i'm not sure how likely it would be though. I'd assume its probably as likely as it is for a freshman in HS to make varsity football without yrs prior experience:rolleyes:
 
Nah, I'm sure the class requirements the same everywhere, I saw those two classes mentioned in other threads. The times might be different though. My packet has seveal uniform sizing sheets too fill out and it suggests that I go to a tailor. We definitely get uniforms as freshmen, it'd just be cruel to make us wait a year to wear our gear proudly lol. I've heard of ppl getting theirs at student orientation, but theirs were 5 days long as opposed to my 1 day one so I think we get it either the 1st or 2nd day of AFROTC classes.

Good to know! Thanks for the help. I'm emailing my detachment for more info right now. :thumb:
 
Sure thing, hopefully they'll be helpful. Though idk how helpful they'll be this time of night on a Friday lol
 
You will definitely have 1 AF academic class, plus lab, plus PT for which you will awaken at 0'Dark:30. You will also be required to wear your uniform to classes one or mire days a week. This is usually on the days you have lab. At lab there will be an inspection and you better be wearing your well pressed uniform correctly. You'll be taught how to do so at orientation. Make sure you understand what classes, including labs, you will need to sign up for as it will be your responsibility to do so.
 
My son didn't end up getting his full uniform this year until the beginning of the second semester.
 
He ends up having PT at 5:30 Tuesday morning, then he has Thursday afternoon for his class and for Lab followed by PT in the evening I think. He started this year as a sophomore, so he actually had two classes both semesters. I think he wears his uniform all day Thursday.
 
Haleym,
I followed you and others on the AFA threads as you were awaiting news of an appointment. I was really pulling for you and was sadden to hear the news of the TWE. Glad to see you are continuing to chase your dream of becoming an AF Officer through the AFROTC program. I will be pulling for you again next year as you reapply for the AFA Class of 2017. Good luck and fingers crossed!:smile:
 
Haleym,
I followed you and others on the AFA threads as you were awaiting news of an appointment. I was really pulling for you and was sadden to hear the news of the TWE. Glad to see you are continuing to chase your dream of becoming an AF Officer through the AFROTC program. I will be pulling for you again next year as you reapply for the AFA Class of 2017. Good luck and fingers crossed!:smile:

Thank you for your support! :smile:
 
As others have stated it varies det by det. regarding times, but the consistent issues are you will have 4 things. Academics, LLAB and PT.

At our DS's unit it is 2 days a week he has something AFROTC. When he was a freshman, if you maxed the PT you did not have to go to the mandated PT at O'dark thirty, they trusted you to work out on your own. However, the following semester you typically became a flight PT instructor, which meant you were there at O'dark, 30 mins. prior.

They will give you everything, but your socks, shoes and sneakers, just like the guys. They will not charge you a penny for any of the items until you commission, and even than at is your choice to take what you have or the allowance to buy all new. DS is taking the allowance, but that is because he is going UPT.

I too am sorry you got the TWE. If you plan to re-apply for the AFA next yr., tell the det CC now or the 1st week at school. They will be able to give you an ROTC nom., but nothing will tick them off more than if you blindside and say "OBTW, can you give me an ROTC nom, it's due next week"

They want their cadets to attend the AFA if that is what their cadet wants. It will not upset or offend them, they will not see it as being disloyal to AFROTC. They will see it as maturity.

I would also suggest that if it is not too late to do the May or June SAT/ACT do it! This will help you in several ways.

1. AFA next yr., because finishing your SR yr in HS you should score higher than what you did the fall of your SR yr...thus, raising part of your PAR.
2. AFROTC does best sitting, not superscore. AFROTC will use these scores for:
~~~ IS Scholarship
~~~ FT as a 200.

I know you want the AFA, but you always have to keep planning at the same time for Plan B.

Statistically, the amount of TWE's that re-apply are low because once the cadet is at college, makes friends, in ROTC, sees the 300/400 cadets get their dream AFSC, and than have to add on the MOC essays, interviews, etc as a college student they change their mind. Thus, that is why taking the SAT/ACT now can help you a lot later on.

I am not saying you won't re-apply, I am just saying be prepared so you have a lot of options.

I would also advise that you work out all summer long for that PFT. It will really be the 1st time you can shine in a positive or negative manner. The AFROTC cadets will run PT and you don't want them to learn your name the 1st week because they are shouting at you to do the correct form for a sit up or butterfly kick. You don't want them to be behind you in the run telling you to pick up the pace.

Workout in every weather condition, including rain. They set the date for the PFT and if it is 90 degrees and 100% humidity at 6 a.m. they will still hold it, just like if it is raining and 40 degrees.

Good luck...Above All...Aim High

OBTW, many AFROTC dets have something called GMC nights. It is social just for 100 and 200's. It is a great way to bond with other cadets, especially if you are attending a very large university.
 
Statistically, the amount of TWE's that re-apply are low because once the cadet is at college, makes friends, in ROTC, sees the 300/400 cadets get their dream AFSC, and than have to add on the MOC essays, interviews, etc as a college student they change their mind. Thus, that is why taking the SAT/ACT now can help you a lot later on.

I am not saying you won't re-apply, I am just saying be prepared so you have a lot of options.

+1
 
As others have stated it varies det by det. regarding times, but the consistent issues are you will have 4 things. Academics, LLAB and PT.

At our DS's unit it is 2 days a week he has something AFROTC. When he was a freshman, if you maxed the PT you did not have to go to the mandated PT at O'dark thirty, they trusted you to work out on your own. However, the following semester you typically became a flight PT instructor, which meant you were there at O'dark, 30 mins. prior.

They will give you everything, but your socks, shoes and sneakers, just like the guys. They will not charge you a penny for any of the items until you commission, and even than at is your choice to take what you have or the allowance to buy all new. DS is taking the allowance, but that is because he is going UPT.

I too am sorry you got the TWE. If you plan to re-apply for the AFA next yr., tell the det CC now or the 1st week at school. They will be able to give you an ROTC nom., but nothing will tick them off more than if you blindside and say "OBTW, can you give me an ROTC nom, it's due next week"

They want their cadets to attend the AFA if that is what their cadet wants. It will not upset or offend them, they will not see it as being disloyal to AFROTC. They will see it as maturity.

I would also suggest that if it is not too late to do the May or June SAT/ACT do it! This will help you in several ways.

1. AFA next yr., because finishing your SR yr in HS you should score higher than what you did the fall of your SR yr...thus, raising part of your PAR.
2. AFROTC does best sitting, not superscore. AFROTC will use these scores for:
~~~ IS Scholarship
~~~ FT as a 200.

I know you want the AFA, but you always have to keep planning at the same time for Plan B.

Statistically, the amount of TWE's that re-apply are low because once the cadet is at college, makes friends, in ROTC, sees the 300/400 cadets get their dream AFSC, and than have to add on the MOC essays, interviews, etc as a college student they change their mind. Thus, that is why taking the SAT/ACT now can help you a lot later on.

I am not saying you won't re-apply, I am just saying be prepared so you have a lot of options.

I would also advise that you work out all summer long for that PFT. It will really be the 1st time you can shine in a positive or negative manner. The AFROTC cadets will run PT and you don't want them to learn your name the 1st week because they are shouting at you to do the correct form for a sit up or butterfly kick. You don't want them to be behind you in the run telling you to pick up the pace.

Workout in every weather condition, including rain. They set the date for the PFT and if it is 90 degrees and 100% humidity at 6 a.m. they will still hold it, just like if it is raining and 40 degrees.

Good luck...Above All...Aim High

OBTW, many AFROTC dets have something called GMC nights. It is social just for 100 and 200's. It is a great way to bond with other cadets, especially if you are attending a very large university.

Thanks Pima! Helps a ton. And I'm also planning on applying for scholarships again as well, so back ups with be set! :smile:
 
For the first year of ROTC they are trying to ease you into the college routine. they expect very little of you. they understand you are just coming out of high school so the expectations arent too high. I appoligize in advance if i'm being redundant or talking below your knowledge base. Each university differs but here's my experience:

Academics
Like others have said you will have 1 Aerospace class in addition to your other college classes (whatever your major is). this will be a 50 minute class once per week. It will be called Introduction to the Air Force or Introduction to Officership or something along those lines. Your classmates will be other freshman that go to your school. You'll learn about rank, career opportunities, customs and courtesies, wing structure, and so on. The "tests" will be multiple choice; it will be really easy and you'll get an A.

LLab
Leadership Laboratory (abbreviated LLab) is a once a week get-together that lasts 2 hours. Allllll the cadets (fresh, soph, junior, and sen) gather toghether at some location to take part in various activities. Your first one will either be a welcome bbq/pizza/meetNgreet or Commanders Call where everyone wears there service dress (formal wear) and dies via power point briefings. The LLab could be lots of different things. It could be a physical fitness assessment (PFA), marching practice, Formal inspection (where everyone lines up and youre asked various questions and physically checked), or just about anything else.

Fitness
You'll have physical fitness (or PT) sessions up to 3 times throughout the week. These will each last an hour. Each detachment has different times and rules regarding attendance. PT won't get you in shape, but it will maintain your fitness. You'll have to take a physical fitness assessment each semester (if your school has trimesters or quarters I'm not sure how its broken down.) which consists of the 1 minute pushups, 1 minute situps, 1.5 mile run, and waist measurement.


You will belong to a Flight which will consist of anywhere from 10-40 people depending on your Detachment size. Your flight mates may be freshman only or a mix of freshman and sophomores. The flight commander (dude/dudette in charge of the flight) will be an upperclassmen who most likely just got back from field training.

The easiest ways to stick out in a positive way during your freshman year: get good grades in your other classes. max the physical fitness test. volunteer for whatever you can in your det. Opportunies will pop up all the time.

the majority of complaints from first year cadets are "it wasn't hardcore enough. i want more responcibility." Your frehsment year is not meant to stress you or test you. It's for students to test the waters, to see if the life of an af officer is what they want. they turn up the dial in subsequent years.
 
LLab
Leadership Laboratory (abbreviated LLab) is a once a week get-together that lasts 2 hours. Allllll the cadets (fresh, soph, junior, and sen) gather toghether at some location to take part in various activities. Your first one will either be a welcome bbq/pizza/meetNgreet or Commanders Call where everyone wears there service dress (formal wear) and dies via power point briefings. The LLab could be lots of different things. It could be a physical fitness assessment (PFA), marching practice, Formal inspection (where everyone lines up and youre asked various questions and physically checked), or just about anything else.

Lead Lab is essentially Powerpoint Lab - Briefings of some sort or another seem to take up most of LLAB on most LLABs
 
Hello, I am doing AFROTC this coming year as a freshman in college. I've been trying to look into what exactly it is I will be doing, but I can't seem to find a whole lot on it. From what I've found I will only be taking one course related to AFROTC (field training isn't until after your sophomore yr) and I am admittedly confused because I thought there would be more. I'm hoping someone who has been through (or is currently in) AFROTC can provide some insight as to their experience their first year in the program. Thanks to all that can help! :smile:

It varies slightly by Det. However, you can expect a class plus PT and participation in Leadership Lab (how to march, salute, etc). There is not much expected by a Freshman. However, this may be the key to your success. Remember the saying about first impressions lasting. Find a way to show leadership. Volunteer to help with projects, show you want to succeed. Push yourself to be the best with PT scores. Everything you do as a freshman will help you compete for summer camp after your Soph year. I've been told that if you don't have a 90+ on PT and are not in the top 25% your won't go to camp. With all that said....don't forget your grades and above all HAVE FUN! As a ROTC grad (20 years ago) I can tell you that your attitude will go long way toward your success.
 
One other thing your det may do which will require mandated service, is their EC's.

At DS's det., they clean the FB/BB stadiums about 2-3 times a semester. The det. actually is paid a fee by the college to do this, and this is how they raise money for det. scholarships.

It will occur on a Sunday at 7 a.m. and it takes hours to clean (5-6 hrs). It is not a volunteer, sign up to do thing. It is you will report at 7 a.m.

So add that into your schedule.

If you join certain military fraternities, like Honor Guard, it is also not uncommon for them to do some outside jobs for money. When Bullet and I got married back in the stone ages, I hired the HG to be at the O'Club for when the guests entered. It was 2 hrs on a Sat. night.

Than on top of this there is the philanthropic arm, which both the det. and the military fraternities may do during the course of the yr. At DS's det. they do the Susan G. Kohlman run. I can't recall what AAS does, but I do remember it had, at least a few yrs ago, ties to the inner city schools.

Finally, depending on how active you want to be, you can find yourself doing something AFROTC connected 4 or 5 days a week.

Gen Fadok at the dining out last weekend stated it the best when he said people ask him what can they expect to get out of ROTC? He replied, whatever you put into it!

Some will walk away with less just because they did the mandated things and called it a day, some will walk away with bonds and memories of a lifetime because they were in the non-mandated things.
 
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