Department of Aerospace Studies (AFROTC)

Faculty: Professor (USF) Wright; Assistant Professors (USF) Moreno, Newsome, Stallworth.

The Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC) is offered under an intercampus agreement with the University of South Florida. Most courses and the Leadership Lab are taught at USF; a general military course (i.e., either AFR 1101, 2130 or 1120, 2140) is taught on the UT campus. Registration for all courses is through The University of Tampa, and UT grants course credit.

The curriculum includes 12–16 course hours of instruction by active-duty Air Force officers over a two- to four-year period. A student who completes the AFROTC program receives an Air Force commission as a second lieutenant and is guaranteed 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 two- or 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 two-year program gives students who do not enroll in AFROTC during their freshman or sophomore years the opportunity to take AFROTC. Students should apply for the two-year program by December of their sophomore year. Students attend a six-week field-training encampment in the summer prior to program entry. Upon entering the program, students complete all undergraduate degree requirements and 12 credit hours of AFROTC courses.

ROTC students 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 or who are eligible to pursue commissions, as determined by the professor of aerospace studies.

AFROTC four-, three- and two-year scholarships are available for eligible applicants. Depending on student qualifications, these scholarships pay all tuition, fees and books and provide a monthly tax-free stipend. Those interested in more information about scholarship criteria should contact the AFROTC department at USF through Capt. Newsome, AFROTC Det 158 Unit Admissions Officer, at cnewsome@afrotc.usf.edu.

Students interested in enrolling in the four-year or two-year program can begin registration procedures through the ROTC office in CWY 407 at USF before registering for the appropriate AFR course through The University of Tampa. Veterans, active-duty personnel and graduate students are encouraged to inquire about special accelerated programs designed for them. The AFROTC phone number is (813) 974-3367.