Air Force Scholarships, Air Force Resources, Air Force Recreation, Air Force Life, Air Force Personals, Air Force Bases, Air Force ROTC

1. If I apply for the scholarship, am I obligated to the Air Force in any way?

No. Applying for an Air Force ROTC scholarship doesn't obligate you in any way. Four-year scholarship recipients do not incur any obligation until the start of their sophomore year in college.

2. Can I withdraw my application?

Yes. You may withdraw your application at any time by writing to the College Scholarships Selections Section, HQ AFROTC/RRUC, 551 East Maxwell Blvd, Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6106.

3. Can I apply for other officer training programs and military scholarships?

Yes. You may apply for any other officer training program (see list below) and even receive scholarship offers from more than one service. However, once you enroll in another program, you'll be removed from further Air Force ROTC scholarship competition. Notify the College Scholarships Selections Section immediately if you accept and enroll in another program.

Other officer training programs include:

U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Military Academy
U.S. Naval Academy
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Army ROTC Scholarship Program
Navy ROTC Scholarship Program
Marine Platoon Leaders Course
4. If I choose to leave one of the other officer training programs, can I still apply for an in-college Air Force ROTC scholarship?

Yes. You may apply for one of the Air Force ROTC scholarships of less than four years if a waiver is granted.

5. How do I check on the status of my scholarship application?

Air Force ROTC will contact you periodically on your status. Immediately notify the College Scholarships Section in writing if your name, current mailing address, social security number or telephone number changes during the application process. There are several other ways to check on the status of your application package:

Contact your Regional Director of Admissions>>.
Call 1-866-423-7682 and speak with a scholarship technician.
Go online>> to check the status of your application.
6. When and how will I be notified if I've been offered a scholarship?

If offered an Air Force ROTC scholarship, you'll be notified in writing after the scholarship selection boards meet.

For high school students who applied before December 4, 2001:

Boards convene on:
Release results by:

April 16-19, 2002 May 16, 2002
May 21-24, 2002 June 21, 2002

For high school students who applied after March 15, 2002:

Boards convene on:
Release results by:

August 19, 2002
September 19, 2002

September 22, 2002
October 19, 2002

October 21, 2002
November 12, 2002

November 15, 2002
December 12, 2002

January 7, 2003
January 31, 2003

February 25, 2003
March 24, 2003

7. If I'm offered a scholarship, how will it be presented?

Normally, an Air Force officer will come to your school and present the scholarship during your school's annual awards day at the end of the year. Even if you choose not to accept the scholarship offer, you can still have it presented at your school. Although you can choose not to have the scholarship presented, you deserve to be recognized for your accomplishments.

8. What kind of scholarships does Air Force ROTC offer?

We offer three types and two lengths in our College Scholarship Program. Our scholarships are offered in either 4-year or 3-year lengths. Our 4-year scholarships are activated in the fall of the freshman year while our 3-year scholarships are activated in the fall of the sophomore year.

Our three types of scholarships are:

Type I - Pays full college tuition, most lab fees and $510/year for books. Approximately 5 percent of our 4-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type I scholarship (mostly in Electrical Engineering and Meteorology).

Type II - Pays college tuition and most lab fees up to $15,000 and pays $510/year for books. Approximately 10 percent of our 4-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type II scholarship (mostly in technical fields). If a student attends an institution where the tuition exceeds $15,000, then he/she pays the difference. All 3-year scholarships are Type II.

Type VII - Pays full college tuition and most lab fees, but the student must attend a college/university where the tuition is less than $9,000 per year. The student cannot attend a more expensive institution and pay the difference. These students also receive $510/year for books.

Air Force ROTC scholarships aren't activated until the student enlists in the Obligated Reserve Section of the Air Force Reserve, signs a contract, and passes the medical, moral, fitness and physical qualifications for enlistment and contracting. Scholarship benefits are not payable until 45 days after the start of the fall term.

Upon activation, all scholarship cadets receive a nontaxable monthly allowance (stipend) during the academic year. Currently, the monthly stipend is $250 for freshmen, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors and $400 for seniors.

Air Force ROTC scholarships cannot pay for room and board.

9. What majors are eligible for this program?

Air Force ROTC offers scholarships in academic majors needed to meet the needs of the Air Force. This includes both technical and non-technical majors. In each year's scholarship cycle, we offer roughly 2,000-plus scholarships across the nation. We strongly urge you to carefully consider the choices you list for an academic major on this application. You may list up to three majors, but you should only list those you will be willing to pursue. You should also ensure the major you want to pursue is offered by the school you want to attend.

Special considerations for prospective engineering or science/technical majors:

For prospective engineering or science/technical majors, you must determine if your major is approved for an Air Force ROTC scholarship at the school you want to attend. You can look this up using the online Schools and Majors>> feature.

Special considerations for prospective premedical/dental or nursing majors:

For prospective premedical/dental majors, you should list a major in one of the nontechnical scholarship majors, which you may find using the online Schools and Majors>> feature. Prospective nurses should list Nursing. If you are awarded a scholarship in one of these fields, you will begin your college work in that major. After you complete your freshman, sophomore or junior years, you must then compete for a USAF designator (for Prehealth/Predental or Nursing, as appropriate) on a competitive selection board. This designator guarantees you will enter that specialty upon commissioning. If you are not awarded the designator, you will retain your scholarship and enter the Air Force as a line officer upon commissioning in a specialty based on the needs of the Air Force.

10. How do we award scholarships based on majors?

We plan to award scholarships to students in the following majors and in the following proportions:

25 Percent in Critical Need Fields: Electrical Engineering and Meteorology.

50 Percent in Science/Technical Fields: Architecture, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Chemical Engineering , Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering , Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering.

25 Percent in All Other Fields: Those coded as 0GYY in the print application or "any major not otherwise listed" in the online application.

11. Am I eligible?

To be eligible for a scholarship interview for an Air Force ROTC Scholarship, you must:

Become a United States citizen prior to the date you activate the scholarship.
Graduate from a high school or hold an equivalent certificate.
Be at least 17 years old on the date you activate the scholarship.
Be less than 31 years old as of December 31 of the year you will commission.
Be less than 27 years old as of June 30, 2005 (i.e., have a birth date of July 1, 1978, or later). If you have prior active-duty military service, write or call the College Scholarships Section about extending the age limit.
Not have enrolled full-time in a college or university prior to the Fall 2002 academic term (except for joint high school/college programs).
If you are a single parent, contact the nearest Air Force ROTC admissions representative to obtain a single parent care plan package.
You must complete the Physical Aptitude Exam and mail the PAE Letter of Certification to our headquarters prior to January 17, 2003.
You must take and receive the results of either the ACT or the SAT1. No later than January 17, 2003, you must have your ACT or SAT1 (either one or both) scores sent to Air Force ROTC. The Air Force ROTC test code is 0548 and our address is HQ AFROTC/RRUC, 551 East Maxwell Boulevard, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6106. Please note we do not accept nonstandard ACT or SAT1 scores. You can see your high school counselor or write directly to the testing agency for test dates and/or to order a score report. Their website addresses are: SAT- www.collegeboard.com and ACT- www.act.org.
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12. What kind of college entrance scores do I need?

We measure your academic performance based on a combination of your ACT or SAT1 scores and your high school unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA). We do not consider your academic performance in your senior year, so please don't wait until after the fall term of your senior year to send your transcripts to us. Minimum scores for academic eligibility are a 24 or higher ACT composite or an SAT1 combined score of 1100 or higher, and a 3.0 high school GPA.

13. What are the weight and fitness standards?

To apply for the scholarship, you must complete the Physical Aptitude Exam (PAE) and mail the PAE Letter of Certification to us.

If you are offered a scholarship, you must meet the Air Force Weight Standards>> prior to activating the scholarship.

If you are offered a scholarship, you must also meet the Air Force Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Standards>> prior to activating the scholarship. You must perform this test within a few days of starting college your freshman year.

14. What are the vision standards?

The refractive error in each eye cannot exceed +/- 8.00 diopters. Also, both eyes must be free of any disfiguring or incapacitating abnormality and acute or chronic disease. A history of corneal surgical procedures such as radial keratotomy (RK), even if refractive error improves, disqualifies you for Air Force ROTC. EXCEPTION: A history of photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) does not automatically disqualify you from entry; however, certain criteria must be met before being medically certified. Adequate color vision is a prerequisite to entry into many Air Force specialties.

15. Will I need to take a medical exam?

If you are selected to receive a scholarship, you will be scheduled to complete a medical examination. Scholarship winners and their parents are advised that NO SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE ACTIVATED UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL IS MEDICALLY QUALIFIED FOR A COMMISSION. The process is lengthy and may involve several months of processing and correspondence.

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) is the medical certification agency for Air Force ROTC scholarships. Scholarship winners will be scheduled for an examination by DODMERB and DODMERB will determine whether or not the individual is medically qualified for a commission. If you are found to be medically disqualified, but believe there are extenuating circumstances that justify consideration of a waiver of our medical standards, you should follow the DODMERB instructions (with the notification letter) regarding rebuttals and waiver processing. In such cases, DODMERB will discuss your case with AETC/SGPS, the medical waiver authority, to determine if a waiver to the standards is feasible. The final decision is based on the nature of your condition or defect and specific medical parameters and protocols that have been established.

For those selected to receive a scholarship, DODMERB will send you complete instructions. If you cannot meet the scheduled date, request another date. As a candidate, you're responsible for all costs of travel, food and lodging related to the medical examination and personal interview. If you wear hard contact lenses, remove them a minimum of 21 days before the examination; remove soft lenses 72 hours before the examination.

Once you've been scheduled for an examination, if you have a medical question, DODMERB is your only official source of information.

16. Does an Air Force ROTC scholarship pay for room and board?

No. Air Force ROTC scholarships do not pay for room and board. However, many colleges and universities offer subsidies to Air Force ROTC students on scholarship that can cover room and board.

17. Is it possible for me to change my academic major if on scholarship?

Yes, but this is a complex process and should be attempted only after you have given it much thought. Depending on your current major and your proposed major, you may lose your scholarship benefits. Call the detachment you will be attending for details and procedures.

18. Can home schooled students apply for the college scholarship for high school students?

Yes, home schooled students can apply for the Air Force ROTC scholarship. Click here>> for more information.