Department of Aerospace Studies (AFROTC)
Faculty: Professor (USF) McElroy; Assistant Professors (USF) Llewellyn, Moreno, Lorenz.
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 credit hours of instruction by active-duty 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 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 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. Students attend a four-week field-training encampment in the summer prior to entering the junior class.
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 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 AFROTC department at USF at (813) 974-3367.
A new student to this program must complete 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 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.