Department of Aerospace Studies

https://www.ncat.edu/provost/academic-affairs/rotc/air-force/index.php

Lt Col Mark D. Whisler, Professor

Objectives

The objective of the Department of Aerospace Studies is to develop leaders who will serve as commissioned officers in the United States Air Force (USAF) and the United States Space Force (USSF). To meet this objective, the department offers a four-year Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Program where students enroll at the beginning of their freshman year and continue through award of a bachelor’s degree and potentially commissioning into the USAF or USSF. The four-year program can be modified for students up until the beginning of the fall semester of a student’s sophomore year. This program is open to all students and does NOT require a commission into the military.

The AFROTC Program begins with the General Military Course (GMC). As freshmen, students attend a weekly one-hour class and two-hour Leadership Laboratory in addition to two one-hour physical training sessions. The freshman course, “Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force”, is a survey course designed to introduce students to the United States Air Force and provides an overview of the basic characteristics, missions, and organization of the Air Force. The sophomore course, “Team and Leadership Fundamentals”, provides a fundamental understanding of both leadership and team building. The lessons and course flow are designed to prepare students for field training and leadership positions in the detachment. The purpose is to instill a leadership mindset and to motivate sophomore students to transition from AFROTC cadet to AFROTC officer candidate. Students who compete favorably for the award of Professional Officer Corps (POC) status will attend a two-week summer Field Training Program at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, to give them a firsthand look at the Air Force environment.

During the junior and senior years, students begin and complete the POC Program, which is designed to equip them with the tools and strategies they will use on active duty. The junior course, “Leading People and Effective Communication,” utilizes student’s field training experience to take a more in-depth look at leadership. Special emphasis is placed on enhancing communication skills, and why that is important as a leader. Students have an opportunity to try out these leadership and management techniques in a supervised environment as juniors and seniors. The senior course, “National Security”, is designed for college seniors and gives them the foundation to understand their role as military officers and how they are directly tied to our National Security Strategy. It is an overview of the complex social and political issues facing the military profession and requires a measure of sophistication commensurate with the senior college level. Included throughout the four years is a “Communication Skills Plan” conisisting of mandatory briefings and leadership centered exercises which aim to develop officers and leaders with effective thinking, writing, and speaking skills. Finally, “Leadership Laboratory” puts the knowledge obtained and skills developed in the classroom into practical application.

When one successfully completes the AFROTC Program and receives a degree, they (depending on their contractual status in the program) are then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and serves a minimum of four years in the USAF or USSF. Everyone enters the respective branch in a specific career field, usually correlating to their field of their undergraduate degree program, but is always subject to the needs of the Air Force or Space Force. There are many exciting career fields for active duty officers including Engineering, Medical/ Nursing, Legal, Intelligence and Logistics, and Aviation.

For more information on the AFROTC Program, you may contact any instructor or the Recruiting Flight Commander in the Department of Aerospace Studies, Campbell Hall, telephone (336) 334-7707, or view the Air Force ROTC website at https://www.afrotc.com/.

Program Completion Requirements

The requirements for entry into the program are as follows:

Must be a full-time student of N.C. A&T SU, a Greensboro Consortium Institution, Winston-Salem State University, Salem College, Guilford Technical Community College, or Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - Greensboro.
Must be at least 14 years old to participate and at least 17 to receive a scholarship
Must be physically qualified
Must be a U.S. citizen or able to obtain U.S. citizenship by the time they contract with the military (see cadre for details)
Must pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test
Must complete summer Field Training
Must have 3 academic years remaining (undergraduate, graduate, or combination)
Must maintain a 2.0 GPA cumulative (If you are entering with prior college credit, your cumulative GPA must be a 2.5 or above)
Must be able to complete all commissioning requirements in accordance with the following:
- Rated (pilot, navigator, remotely piloted aircraft, air battle manager): commissioned before reaching the age of 32
- Scholarship applicants: be less than 31 years old as of December 31st of the year you will commission
- Tech, non-tech and non-rated: commissioned by age 39 (waiverable up to age 42)

Uniforms

All pursuing cadets will receive two ROTC uniforms and Physical Training wear at no cost to the student after completing certain requirements (e.g., meeting Air Force height/weight standards, passing the Air Force Physical Fitness Test, and turning in membership paperwork). The uniform must be dry cleaned prior to returning it. Each cadet is responsible for the maintenance and security of property they have been issued. All uniform items must be returned prior to the end of each academic year.

Scholarships

Scholarships may be granted for periods of two, two and a half, three, three and a half, and four years. All scholarship students, depending on classification, receive a monthly tax-free stipend of between $300 and $500. The Air Force pays tuition, laboratory fees, and a book allowance. For North Carolina A&T State University students, the University will provide free room and board for a limited number of four-year High School scholarship (HSSP) recipients at their discretion. Details on scholarships may be obtained by contacting the Recruiting Flight Commander in the Department of Aerospace Studies.

Directory of Faculty

Capt Geoffrey Adams; Assistant Professor
B.S.,Texas Christian University

Capt Myles Davis; Assistant Professor
B.S., Winston Salem State University

Lt Col Mark D. Whisler; Professor
B.S., Montana State University Bozeman; M.A., Trident at American Intercontinental University; M.A., Air University