Air Force and Army ROTC

The United States Air Force offers Air Force ROTC courses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). The procedures for registering for ROTC courses are the same as registering for any other Bethune- Cookman University course. The student simply signs up for the ROTC course during registration. Transportation will be provided from Bethune-Cookman to ERAU (and back) for the AFROTC courses. AFROTC may be taken for academic credit only if a student so desires. Any student may enroll in a freshman or sophomore AFROTC course, not just individuals who wish to become commissioned officers in the USAF. The junior and senior AFROTC courses are available to only those students who have committed themselves to becoming commissioned officers. Remember, students who take the freshman and/or sophomore ROTC courses are under no obligation to the Air Force. A student may withdraw from an AFROTC course following the same procedures as one would in dropping any other university course. Upon graduation, those students wishing to pursue a commission in the Air Force and who successfully complete AFROTC receive commissions as officers in the United States Air Force.

Any qualified student may pursue this opportunity provided he or she has a minimum of four semesters remaining at the University. AFROTC courses, incidentally, are not offered at ERAU during the summer semester. The curriculum offers choices however, of either a two- or four-year program.

Air Force Scholarships

Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) offers scholarships covering a student’s college education for two, three, and four years. Each scholarship pays for full tuition (up to $15,000 per year), laboratory, fees, textbooks, and also includes a monthly tax-free subsistence allowance. Three and four-year scholarships are available, on a competitive basis, to high school seniors. Students never enrolled in a college or university as full-time students are eligible for the four-year scholarship, provided they can complete their four-year degree before their 27th birthday. High school students interested in a four-year scholarship must apply to Air Force ROTC Chairquarters, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 36112, before December 1 of their senior year. Application forms for the scholarship are available at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 36112, before December 1 of their senior year. Application forms for the scholarship are available on-line at www.afrotc.com. The Air Force also offers a noncompetitive Historically Black College or University (HBCU) scholarship to students attending B-CU. The scholarship pays tuition (up to $15,000 per year), $510 for books and a monthly on-taxable allowance. To be eligible students must be a U.S. citizen, pass the AFOQT and a physical fitness test, have a minimum 2.5 GPA and pass the height, weight and medical requirements. For more information, contact AFROTC Detachment 157, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114-3900, (386) 226-6880.

Finances

Textbooks for all AFROTC courses are free. Students enrolled in the POC receive a $350-$400 permonth tax-free subsistence allowance. In addition, those attending summer field training receive travel pay to and from the Air Force base hosting the session, free room and board, and pay while attending the session.

Army ROTC

Army ROTC stands for Reserve Officers Training Corps and it is a course which men and women may take, freshman through senior year that may lead to a commission as a lieutenant in the US Army. Army ROTC enhances a student’s education by providing unique leadership and management training, along with practical experience. The curriculum is designed to be exciting, educational, and flexible enough to meet scholastic requirements while helping to accomplish student’s academic and personal goals. Classes and training include: map reading, land navigation, rappelling, rifle marksmanship, patrolling, tactics, drill and ceremony, military history, ethics and military law. Students may earn 16 hours of academic credit for completing four years of Army ROTC. All uniforms, military text books, and equipment are issued to cadets at no charge. This program is available thru Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida. All classroom, labs, and physical training are conducted at ERAU.

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program provides an opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for commissioning as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The program offers both a four-year and two-year option. The two-year option allows students with at least two academic years remaining in either undergraduate or graduate studies to meet all requirements for commissioning. The ROTC courses may be applied toward open elective requirements in any degree program. Students desiring to enroll in the Army ROTC Basic Course are required to present a copy of their latest medical physical (no more than one year old) and a copy of an official birth certificate to the ROTC Office. All information can be faxed.

Benefits

All contracted military science students receive a tax-free monetary allowance of $200 per month. Four and three-year scholarships are available to those who qualify. Academic excellence is essential to any future career and especially in a highly technical Army. Naturally, the higher GPA and test scores, the better chance exists of being selected as a scholarship recipient. Minimum requirements are:

U.S. Citizen
Be under 27 years of age the year of college graduation (waivers possible for prior service)
Meet required physical standards
Have a cumulative academic GPA of 2.7
Have an SAT score of 920 or ACT score of 19

Scholarship benefits include:

$64,000 - Tuition paid at the rate of $16,000 per school year
$ 8,000 - Subsistence allowance paid at the rate of $200 per month, up to ten months of the School year.
$ 1,800 - Books paid at the rate of $225 per semester.
$73,800 - TOTAL not including uniforms and other items of military equipment that are issued at no expense to the cadet.

Admission to the Basic Course

Requirements:

Enrollment in a baccalaureate or master’s program.
At least 17 years of age at time of entry but not more than 30 years of age at time of graduation.
U.S. Citizenship

Admission to the Advanced Course

Requirements:

Successful completion of the basic course or equivalent.
Successful completion of Army physical examination.
Selection by the professor of military science.
Agreement to complete the advanced Major Requirements and serve on active, reserve, or National Guard duty as commissioned officers.
Maintain a 2.0 overall academic GPA and a 3.0 ROTC GPA.

All of the above are subject to the control of, and are administered by and under the rules and regulations of, the Department of the Army and are subject to change from time to time.

Advanced Military Science

The advanced military science courses are taken during the junior and senior years. These courses specialize in small unit tactics, preparation and conduct of military training, military justice system, staff procedures, decision making and leadership, managerial concepts, problem analysis, military writing, the ethic of the professional soldier, and physical training. The courses consist of both classroom instruction and a mandatory lab. This phase requires attendance at a six-week advanced camp conducted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during summer following the junior year.

Basic Camp

A summer training program is offered for students who will be academic juniors without previous ROTC or military training. This consists of a six-week course at Fort Knox, KY, during the summer following the sophomore year. This will qualify a student for entry into the Advanced Course, thus allowing completion of all requirements for commissioning within two years. Students attending the summer course at Fort Knox receive approximately $800 pay.

Basic Military Science

The basic military science courses are offered during the freshman and sophomore years. These courses address military organization, equipment, weapons, map reading, land navigation, use of compass, grade structure, the threat, communications, leadership, and physical training. The courses consist of both classroom instruction and a mandatory lab. A lab fee is accessed every student enrolled in Army ROTC classes to cover the cost of equipment maintenance and other cadet activities.