Department of Aerospace Studies

Departmental Office
AFROTC Building, Room 123

AFROTC-Det 835

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305400
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2074

Lt Col Sandra Bonney, Chair

Faculty

Bonney, Hood, McCombs, Kuruvilla

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program (Aerospace Studies) recruits, educates and commissions officer candidates as an integral part of the UNT curriculum. The Air Force ROTC program consists of three parts: the General Military Course (first two years); Summer Field Training (two weeks over the summer); and the Professional Officer Course (last two years). Students enroll in AERO classes at the same time and in the same manner as other UNT courses. AERO courses normally receive academic credit as part of a student’s electives. Each instructor is an active duty Air Force officer.

Four-year program

The first two years of the Air Force ROTC four-year program—the General Military Course (GMC)—consist of one hour of classroom work and two hours of leadership laboratory each week. Cadets who wish to compete for an enrollment allocation and entry into the last two years of the program—the Professional Officer Course (POC)—must do so under the requirements of the Professional Officer Course Selection Process. This process uses qualitative factors such as grade point average, unit commander evaluation and aptitude test scores to determine a student’s officer potential. After POC selection, students must complete the two-week Field Training encampment at an assigned Air Force base. Cadets enrolled in the POC attend class three hours a week and participate in a weekly leadership laboratory lasting two hours. All GMC and POC cadets must also participate in weekly physical training consisting of at least two sessions lasting one hour each.

In the POC, cadets apply what they have learned in the GMC an at Field Training. The AFROTC detachment at UNT has a cadet corps based on the Air Force organizational pattern of flight, squadron, group and wing. POC cadets are assigned to leadership positions, conduct the leadership laboratories and manage the unit’s cadet corps.

Once enrolled in the POC, cadets are enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and assigned to the obligated reserve section. This entitles them to a monthly, non-taxable allowance during the calendar year.

Two- and three-year programs

The last two years of the AFROTC program consist of the Professional Officer Course (POC). Students with at least two undergraduate academic years remaining at UNT may apply for a two- or three-year program, sign up for GMC courses, and compete for an enrollment allocation for entry into the POC. Entrance into the POC is highly competitive; two- and three-year applicants must be selected through the selection process described above.

Leadership Laboratory

Cadets must take a required Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) that consists of a two hour block per week throughout their enrollment in AFROTC. LLAB is conducted within the framework of the cadet organization with a progression of experiences designed to develop each student’s leadership potential. The curriculum involves study of Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, career opportunities in the Air Force, and the life and work of an Air Force junior officer. Students develop leadership in a wide variety of practical, supervised environments.

Physical Training (PT)

Each cadet must attend at least two one-hour Physical Training (PT) sessions per week. PT is designed to motivate cadets to pursue an active, physically fit lifestyle. Cadets must meet Air Force physical fitness requirements to attend Field Training, enter the POC and to be commissioned.

Uniforms and textbooks

Uniforms and textbooks for AFROTC courses are issued at no cost to the cadets.

Scholarships

Current emphasis in the Air Force ROTC college scholarship program is to award scholarships to candidates pursuing undergraduate engineering or other scientific and technical disciplines. Nearly 90 percent of Air Force ROTC scholarships are awarded in these disciplines. However, students in every degree program enjoy scholarship opportunities as the Air Force seeks to engage students who excel both academically and militarily. Scholarships are awarded at various amounts in increments of four, three and two years and entitlements may be extended to cover a fifth year of school if the student is taking an approved technical major.

Eligibility requirements

Air Force ROTC is open to any male or female UNT student completing any undergraduate academic degree. Graduate students may be eligible for the Air Force ROTC program, but should consult the UNT Air Force ROTC recruiting officer for additional details due to the program’s unique requirements.

GMC entry requirements include:

full-time student status (minimum 12 hours);
good physical condition;
being of good moral character; and
being able to compete for POC before reaching 29 years if programmed for flying training or 39 years if programmed for non-flying training.

POC entry requirements include:

requirements 1–4 above;
U.S. citizenship;
at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average;
at least two undergraduate academic years remaining at UNT;
passing score on the Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment;
pass Air Force medical examination; and
completion of Summer Field Training.

Contact the Aerospace Studies department at 940-565-2074 for additional information on how to join.

Active-duty service commitments

Cadets in the POC and second-year Air Force scholarship cadets are contract cadets who agree to accept a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force after completing all Air Force ROTC and academic degree requirements. Most cadets incur a four-year, active-duty commitment which begins after commissioning, but may extend to up to ten years of active duty if if selected for certain career fields (e.g. pilot).

Credit for University Core Curriculum

With written approval from the student’s major department, completion of upper-division AERO courses may be substituted for up to 3 hours credit toward the Political Science requirement of the University Core Curriculum.

Courses of instruction

All courses of instruction are located in Course descriptions .

The GMC curriculum includes 1000- and 2000-level AERO lecture courses with associated lab (LLAB) and recitation (PT) hours. The POC curriculum includes 3000- and 4000-level AERO lecture courses with associated lab(LLAB) and recitation (PT) hours.

Programs

Minors

Aerospace Studies minor

Courses

Aerospace Studies

Quicklinks

Catalog