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Department of AEROSPACE STUDIES
AIR FORCE ROTC
The Department of Aerospace Studies provides precommissioning education for qualified male and female students who desire to serve as commissioned officers in the United States Air Force. The department offers both a two-year and a four-year commissioning program, each with its own special advantages. The two-year program allows junior college transfer students and other students with two academic years remaining, either in undergraduate or graduate status, and who have met required qualifications, to obtain an Air Force commission while completing their studies. The four-year program provides on-campus study during the freshman through senior years. Both programs provide the opportunity to compete for full academic scholarships. The aerospace studies curriculum is divided into two phases: 1) the general military course; and 2) the professional officer course. Students are invited to write, visit, or call the Department of Aerospace Studies (850) 644-3461 to obtain additional information.
General Military Course
This program of instruction is open to any student and consists of the first- and second-year courses for students in the four-year Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC) program. These courses deal with the Air Force in the contemporary world and the development of air power. They strengthen interest in becoming a professional Air Force officer, develop knowledge of world military forces, and enable the student to understand how the United States Air Force supports national objectives and policies. Students on scholarship must successfully complete a course in English composition during these two years.
Professional Officer Course
Aerospace studies courses offered during the third and fourth years make up this program of instruction, which must be completed by all students who seek a commission through AFROTC. Course continuity is designed to prepare selected college students to serve as active duty Air Force officers upon graduation and commissioning. The curriculum stresses national security forces in contemporary American society, leadership, management, and professionalism. Special emphasis is placed on developing the cadets communicative skills. Students entering this course must be selected in accordance with the prerequisites listed below.
Prerequisites for Admission to the Professional Officer Course
Leadership Laboratory
Leadership laboratory is open to students who are members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps or who are eligible to pursue a commission as determined by the professor of aerospace studies. Leadership laboratory is the formalized phase of leadership training conducted by the cadets. It is scheduled for 75 minutes each week for both the general military and the professional officer courses. All uniforms and equipment required for cadet activities are furnished.
Monetary Allowances
All students enrolled in the professional officer course or on academic scholarship receive a tax-exempt monetary allowance of $150.00 per month.
AFROTC College Scholarship Programs Financial assistance is available in the form of AFROTC academic scholarships. Under this program, the Air Force pays for full tuition and fees and provides an allowance for books, supplies, and equipment. In addition, the student receives a $150 per month tax-exempt allowance. Scholarships may be awarded for either two, three, or four years. Four-year scholarships must be applied for in the calendar year prior to enrollment as a freshman. Other scholarships may be applied for after enrolling in aerospace studies courses. Scholarships are available for students attending a historically Black college or university if the student has a 2.65 or higher cumulative GPA.
Professional Officer Corps Scholarships: All juniors and seniors who maintain a 2.35 term GPA, regardless of academic major, will receive
$1,000.00 per semester. There are also numerous national scholarships that students may compete for as a member of Air Force ROTC.
Summer Training
Students in the two-year program must complete a six-week field training course before they may formally enroll in the professional officer course. This course includes career training, physical conditioning, and the general military course academics. Academic credit for up to four (4) semester hours may be given for cadets attending a six week Field Training and who have not previously completed AFR 1101, 1102, 2130, and 2140. See the Professor of Aerospace Studies for further information and to apply for the credit.
Cadets enrolled in the four-year AFROTC program are required to attend a four-week field training course before they may formally enroll in the professional officer course. Summer field training provides a better understanding of the United States Air Force mission, increases the cadet's proficiency in junior officer training areas, and stresses the importance of physical conditioning.
All field training courses are conducted at active Air Force bases. Students attending these courses receive pay for the encampment plus travel allowances.
Officer Commissions
Upon graduation from the University, cadets who complete the professional officer course are appointed Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force. All new lieutenants will be on active duty within sixty (60) days of commissioning. As reserve officers they incur an obligated active duty tour of four years for nonflyers, six years for navigators, and eight years for pilots. They are given the opportunity during this period to obtain a regular commission and to remain on active duty for a full career.
Minor
A minor in aerospace studies is offered and may be selected by the student with the approval of the major department and the Department of Aerospace Studies. Requirement for a minor is twelve (12) semester hours.
Special Activities
Special activities provide for the development of teamwork and esprit de corps. Included are the Arnold Air Society, a national AFROTC honorary organization, and the FSU/FAMU AFROTC Silver Eagles Drill Team, an armed precision drill unit. Students who want to fly can participate in a flying program with the Florida Civil Air Patrol, paid for by Air Force ROTC.
Awards and Decorations
Awards and decorations, made available by national organizations, The Florida State University, and local/national military organizations, are presented to both general military course and professional officer course cadets each year. These plaques, trophies, medals, and ribbons symbolize superior achievement in AFROTC and other University academic courses and in outstanding campus and cadet corps leadership.
Definition of Prefix
AFR -- Air Force ROTC
Undergraduate Courses
AFR 1101. USAF Strategic Forces (1). This course deals with the Air Force in the contemporary world through a study of the total force structure, strategic offensive and defensive forces, general purpose forces, and aerospace support forces.
AFR 1102. USAF General Purpose and Support Forces (1). This course is a continuation of AFR 1101.
AFR 2130. Development of Airpower I (1). This course, along with AFR 2140, is a study of airpower from balloons and dirigibles through the jet age, a historical review of airpower employment in military and nonmilitary operations in support of national objectives, and a look at the evolution of airpower concepts and doctrine.
AFR 2140. Development of Airpower II (1). This course is a continuation of AFR 2130.
AFR 2940. Basic Aerospace Internship (4). (S/U grade only.) [AFROTC Field Training (six weeks).] Prerequisites: Selection for the two-year AFROTC program and permission of the professor of aerospace studies.
AFR 3201.Air Force Management (3). Prerequisite: Selection for the professional officer course. This course is the initial semester of a study of leadership and management fundamentals. Material deals with general managerial and leadership concepts and theories and relates them to the Air Force junior officer. A block on communicative skills is included in this course.
AFR 3202. Air Force Junior Officer Leadership (3). Prerequisite: AFR 3201. Continuation of the study of leadership and management begun in AFR 3201.
AFR 4211. U.S. Defense Policy and Strategy Formulation (3). Prerequisite: AFR 3202. This course, along with AFR 4212, includes an examination of the need for national security, analysis of the evolution of the American defense strategy and policy and of the methods for managing conflicts, and a study of the formulation of American defense policy and strategy.
AFR 4212. U.S. Military Professionalism and Military Justice (3). Prerequisite: AFR 4211. Continuation of AFR 4211.
Note: if stated prerequisites are not met, permission of the professor of aerospace studies is prerequisite to all courses.
AFRICAN HISTORY: see Black Studies; History
AFRO-AMERICAN STUDIES: see Black Studies