Department of Aerospace Studies

About the Department
Course Descriptions

Christopher M. Palacios, Lt Col, Chairperson

Professor: Lt Col Palacios
Assistant Professors: Capt Webb, Capt Nall, Capt Brown

CONTACT INFORMATION: Air Force ROTC Det 820 | Box 45009 | 003 Holden Hall | Lubbock, TX 79409-5009 | T 806.742.2143 | F 806.742.8048 | www.depts.ttu.edu/afrotc

About the Department

Organization. AFROTC is the largest and oldest source of commissioned officers for the Air Force. AFROTC is designed to recruit, educate, and commission officer candidates through academic education, field training, and professional development training programs based on Air Force requirements. Students can attend classes through host or cross-town enrollment programs or consortium agreements. Cadet enrollments have ranged from a high of 23,605 in 1986 to a low of 10,231 in 1993.

History. ROTC was established with passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. The first AFROTC units were established between 1920 and 1923 at the University of California at Berkeley, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois, the University of Washington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College.

After World War II, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, chief of staff of the War Department, signed General Order No. 124, establishing AFROTC units at 78 colleges and universities throughout the nation. Eligible Air Force enlisted men and women pursuing a college degree who were interested in becoming commissioned officers were given that opportunity through competition in the AFROTC Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program, established in 1973.

In 1978, Air Training Command assumed responsibility for AFROTC programs. On July 1, 1993, Air Training Command merged with Air University to form Air Education and Training Command. Air University became a direct reporting unit under Air Education and Training Command and AFROTC realigned under Air University.

In February 1997, AFROTC and Officer Training School merged under the newly created parent organization, Headquarters Air Force Officer and Accession Training Schools. This restructuring placed oversight for three-quarters of Air Force officer production under one command and facilitated the sharing of manpower and expertise with minimum effect on the day-to-day operations of either organization. In June 2008, AFOATS was re-designated as the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development.

AFROTC Program. The first two years of AFROTC’s four-year program, the General Military Course (GMC), consist of one hour of classroom work, two hours of leadership laboratory, and three hours of physical conditioning each week. Upon completion of GMC requirements, cadets who wish to compete for entry into the last two years of the program, the Professional Officer Course (POC), must do so under the requirements of the POC selection system. This system uses qualitative factors, such as grade-point average, detachment commander’s evaluation, aptitude test scores and physical fitness test scores to determine a student’s officer potential. After selection, students must successfully complete summer field training at Maxwell AFB.

Field training is a required integral component of the AFROTC curriculum that typically occurs after the cadet has satisfied the GMC program requirements and before entry into the POC program. It consists of a series of strategically planned events with the purpose to train, evaluate and grow cadets through a transformational experience. Field training culminates in a graduation event that includes an interactive leadership development course focused on preparing cadets for leadership challenges at their detachments.

In the POC, cadets attend class three hours a week, participate in a weekly leadership laboratory lasting two hours and perform three hours of physical conditioning per week. Cadets apply what they have learned in the GMC and at field training. Under the guidance of detachment cadre, POC cadets conduct leadership laboratories and manage the unit’s cadet corps. Each unit has a cadet corps based on the Air Force organizational pattern of flight, squadron, group, and wing. POC classes are small, with emphasis on group discussions and cadet presentations. Classroom topics include leadership, communication skills, and national defense policy. Once enrolled in the POC, all cadets are enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and assigned to the Obligated Reserve Section.

Awards and Recognition. A number of awards, trophies, and decorations are presented each year to outstanding Air Force ROTC cadets during a suitable military ceremony by military and civilian leaders. The awards, presented to recognize achievement and encourage competition, are given to recipients chosen by the professor of aerospace studies, detachment staff, and the cadet staff.

Sabre Flight Drill Team. The Sabre Flight Drill Team is an integral part of the program, and its basic mission is to promote interest in the Air Force ROTC. Members of the flight participate regularly in color and honor guard formations and precision drill activities.

Arnold Air Society. This professional honorary service organization of selected Air Force ROTC cadets participates in a variety of service functions for the university and the community. Its objective is to create a closer and more efficient relationship within the Air Force ROTC and to promote interest in the Air Force.

Silver Wings. The Silver Wings is a national, coed, professional organization dedicated to creating proactive, knowledgeable, and effective leaders through community service and education about national defense and is open to all students.

Air Force ROTC Professional Development Training. There are numerous program opportunities available for cadet participation on a voluntary basis within the Professional Development Training (PDT) Program. PDT is a collection of summer programs available for Air Force ROTC cadets. These programs are conducted at a variety of locations in the United States and overseas. Travel to training location is provided. Room and meals are provided during training. Cadets can expect to shadow Air Force officers to see their day-to-day responsibilities. There are numerous opportunities to interact with flying, engineering, medical, legal, and many other career fields. Flying and parachuting opportunities are available for freshman cadets.

Air Force ROTC Field Training. Field Training is a program that cadets participate in during the summer at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is usually between the sophomore and junior year. Being selected to attend Field Training is a competitive process and cadets compete nationwide to attend. In order to attend, cadet’s must have passed the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test, have an approved Department of Defense Medical Review Board physical and met all the General Military Course requirements. Additionally, Field Training is a requirement to commission as an officer through Air Force ROTC. The major areas of study in the field training program include junior officer training, career orientation, survival training, base functions and the Air Force environment, and physical conditioning.

AERS 820 Leadership Laboratory. Instruction is within the framework of an organized cadet wing with a progression of experiences designed to develop each student’s leadership potential. Leadership Laboratory involves a 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 their leadership potential in a practical, supervised laboratory that typically includes field trips to Air Force installations and visits by Air Force officers in various job specialties. Students who enroll in aerospace studies courses must also enroll in a corresponding Leadership Laboratory section. Contact the Department of Aerospace Studies for details.

Courses

AERS - Aerospace Studies (Undergraduate Courses)