North Dakota State University

Aerospace Studies - Air Force ROTC

The Air Force ROTC mission is to commission second lieutenants through the campus program offered at North Dakota State University. Additionally, NDSU's Department of Aerospace Studies offers this program for students at Concordia College, Mayville State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, University of Minnesota Crookston, University of North Dakota, Park University and students at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Students enrolled in Air Force ROTC earn college credits that can be used to fulfill elective requirements or to obtain a minor in aerospace studies. All full-time students (including graduate students) enrolled at the above-named schools can pursue an Air Force commission. 

An Air Force commission is your ticket to work in top professional and management jobs in the United States Air Force. Only college graduates can obtain an Air Force commission, which is granted by the President of the United States. 

The Air Force owns the most modern aircraft in the world and has jobs available for pilots, navigators and air weapons controllers. Those who meet the demanding physical, medical and academic qualifications and are selected as pilot candidates will attend Air Force pilot training as their first active duty assignment. 

The four-year program begins with the General Military Course (GMC). It takes about five to six hours a week. Here, you’ll learn the mission and structure of the Air Force and take a look at military life. You will study the strategies, doctrines and missions of aerospace power from balloons to today’s use of space vehicles. You will learn about Air Force career opportunities, educational benefits and the life and work of an Air Force officer. 

The Professional Officer Course (POC) is a two-year course taken during the junior and senior years. You will begin this course with an in-depth look at leadership styles and their applications. You will analyze the role of the armed forces in today’s American society. You will examine a broad range of American domestic and international military relationships and the environmental context in which American national security policy is developed and carried out. The class is combined with the Leadership Lab where leadership and management theory are applied. You will take part in group discussions, case studies and individual and group problem-solving. Cadets also participate in creating the vision and strategic plan for the cadet corps. You earn three credits each term for the academic courses. You must apply for the POC as a sophomore, and only selected students are allowed to enroll in courses. 

The Air Force ROTC education program provides pre-professional preparation for future U.S. Air Force officers. It is designed to develop men and women who can use their education as commissioned officers on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. In order to receive a commission, Air Force ROTC students must complete all requirements for a degree in accordance with University rules and regulations as well as complete the following courses specified by the Air Force: 

Minor: Aerospace Studies

Please note this is a sample plan of study; actual student schedules will vary depending on start year, individual goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize their own plan of study.

All contracted cadets earn a stipend of $300 to $500 per month depending upon the academic year in which the student is enrolled. Contract cadets also earn $300 per semester for books. 

These days, a college education comes at a high price. Many students are stuck working their way through college or taking out loans they will spend the next 20 years of their lives paying back. Air Force ROTC can help you to overcome the financial hardships associated with college, and when you complete your degree, you have a guaranteed career after school. Air Force ROTC three to four-year scholarships are available on a competitive basis to high school and college students. Scholarship recipients are selected using the whole person concept. This includes subjective factors (interview evaluation). The Air Force ROTC Scholarship Program can provide full tuition, lab fees and money for books. 

You may have the opportunity to volunteer for Professional Development Training (PDT) programs. If selected, you spend varied amounts of time during the summer at an Air Force base. An active duty Air Force unit sponsors you and provides an excellent career orientation. You spend time with young officers (on the job and in social settings) and see, firsthand, what an Air Force officer does. Other PDT opportunities include free-fall parachute, glider and combat survival schools offered by the Air Force Academy. You can return to field training as a cadet training assistant, go to the Pentagon to see how the Air Force Headquarters operates or even go to a foreign country for a cultural immersion program. 

If you are not a scholarship student, you incur no obligation to the Air Force during your freshman and sophomore years of school or during summer field training. You are able to keep many options open while you take an in-depth look at the Air Force. The length of your active duty commitment after graduation is determined by the program you pursue. This commitment is normally four years for non-flying officers and longer for flying officers. 

Students who successfully complete all Air Force ROTC curriculum and degree requirements enter active duty as a Second Lieutenant. The Air Force offers a benefits package that is hard to beat. You can expect: 

- highly competitive salary and allowance package, 
- tax-free government housing and food allowances, 
- 30 days of vacation with pay each year, 
- unlimited, full pay sick leave, 
- medical care furnished at no cost, and 
- dental care furnished at no cost. 

AFROTC Detachment 610
North Dakota State University
Dept 2460 PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Phone: (701) 231-8186
Email: ndsu.afrotc@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/afrotc

or

Office of Admission
North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept 5230 PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Phone: (701) 231-8643 / Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/admission/

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