Air Force ROTC
(Cooperative Program with University of Houston)
To register for courses, inquire in the Department of Social Sciences, 713-221-8014. For all other purposes, contact the Air Force Science program at UH, 713-743-4932.
Col. Catie Hague, Commander
The Air Force Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) program prepares men and women of character, commitment, and courage to assume leadership positions as commissioned officers in the active duty United States Air Force. Upon completion of the curriculum, students will have a thorough understanding of the core values, leadership, teamwork, and other requirements to be an effective officer in the US Air Force.
All courses and physical training sessions take place at the University of Houston. Flight orientation occurs at airports in the Houston metro area.
Course Credit
ROTC classes may be taken for elective credit toward any degree plan at the University of Houston-Downtown. Freshman and sophomore level classes are open to all students. No military obligation is incurred as a result of enrollment in these courses. Junior and senior level courses are more restrictive and do require a military obligation. ROTC scholarship students also incur a military obligation.
Four-Year Program
The General Military Course (GMC) is the first half of the four-year ROTC program and is taken during the freshman and sophomore years. This program allows the student to experience Air Force ROTC without obligation (unless the student is on an Air Force ROTC scholarship).
Each semester of the GMC consists of one classroom hour of instruction as well as Leadership Laboratory each week. During the first two years, the student will learn about the Air Force and the historical development of aerospace power. During the summer preceding the junior year, the student will compete for the opportunity to attend a four-week Leadership Evaluation and Development (LEAD). Successful completion of LEAD is mandatory for entrance into the Professional Officer Course (POC), the junior and senior years of the four-year program.
As a junior, the student will study the core values, leadership, teamwork, and management tools required to become an effective Air Force officer.
During the senior year students study the national security policy process, regional and cultural studies, and complete final requirements for commissioning as second lieutenants. Enrollment in the POC is open to graduate students if they have four semesters of school remaining. Each semester of the POC consists of three classroom hours of instruction as well as Leadership Laboratory each week.
Leadership Laboratory
As an Air Force ROTC cadet, each student is required to attend an additional two-hour class known as Leadership Laboratory.
Although not part of the academic class requirement, it is an essential element of officer training. Leadership Laboratory is an intensive, military training program in which students gain invaluable leadership and managerial experience while learning about the Air Force way of life. Students have numerous opportunities to hear guest speakers and panel discussions, participate in field trips, and experience practical leadership exercises.
AFROTC Scholarship Opportunities
Air Force ROTC offers various scholarship opportunities for students at the University of Houston-Downtown:
- In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP)-is a highly competitive scholarship program aimed primarily at college freshmen and sophomores in any major. The ICSP awards cover tuition.
- The Express Scholarship Program-is operated on a fully qualified basis: those who meet the qualifications are awarded the scholarship. Though the list of eligible college majors differs from year to year, the express scholarship pays up to $15,000 tuition per year and $750 for books. Recent majors which qualified for express scholarships included electrical engineering, computer science, and strategic foreign languages. The processing of the scholarship award is completed at the local detachment.
- Stipend: All AFROTC scholarship recipients and POC cadets receive a nontaxable monthly stipend. The annual stipend amount ranges from $2,000 per year to $4,000 per year depending on the recipient’s enrollment year.
- For additional information on AFROTC scholarship opportunities, please visit the AFROTC website at www.afrotc.com or call 1-800-4AFROTC.
Leadership Evaluation and Development (LEAD)
Cadets completing the General Military Course attend four weeks of field training (FT) during the summer at a selected Air Force base. Those who have not completed the GMC attend an extended FT Unit. This rigorous program of leadership training, physical conditioning and academics assesses the cadet’s potential to be an Air Force officer.
Cadets also receive survival and firearms training and career information. Cadets receive travel pay and daily pay for FT.
Physical Fitness Training
Cadets meet three times per week at 0600 at the University of Houston to perform physical fitness training. The training is mandatory and emphasizes push-ups, sit-ups, and running in order to pass the USAF physical fitness test.
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