Commissioning program available for active-duty Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Calandra Battle
  • Air Force ROTC Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  In 2001, Second Lt. Christiane Makela was one step away from leaving the Air Force. At the time, she was a staff sergeant assigned to the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

She changed her mind and traded her stripes for gold lieutenant bars via the Airman Education and Commissioning Program.

Lieutenant Makela was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at Arizona State University in 2004 and is now assigned to the 366th CES at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to pass up,” she said. “I was able to go to school full time and not have to worry about financial matters due to the fact that I was still receiving a regular paycheck.”

The program offers active-duty enlisted Airmen the opportunity to attend college on a full-time basis, complete degree requirements and earn a commission through Air Force ROTC.

“Airmen selected for this program must pursue one of the Air Force’s sought-after technical degrees and join an Air Force ROTC program,” said Col. Steve Wayne, Air Force ROTC national commander.

Airmen selected for the program remain on active duty and are administratively assigned to an Air Force ROTC detachment, he said. Besides full pay and benefits, they receive a scholarship of up to $15,000 per year for tuition and fees and an annual textbook allowance of $600.

Airmen may participate in the program for one to three years, depending on their major, previous academic preparation and age. They attend school year-round except for the one summer they attend field training.

To qualify for this program, Airmen must apply for one of the following majors:

-- Meteorology.

-- Nursing. Degrees must be accredited by the National League of Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

-- Foreign languages. Choices limited to Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian, Hindi, Pashto, Armenian, Georgian, Azeri, Kazakh, Indonesian, Swahili, Hebrew, French and Turkish. All other languages will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of the Air Force.

-- Foreign area studies. Options limited to Middle East, Africa, Asia and Russia/Eurasia. Area studies degree programs must include a requirement for foreign language courses in the region of study.

-- Mathematics.

-- Physics.

-- Computer science.

-- Engineering. Any program and concentration accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. All technical majors at the university the applicant plans to attend must be approved by the Air Force Institute of Technology.

The application deadline is March 1, and a selection board meets in April with results released in early May. Airmen selected will start their studies and Air Force ROTC participation in the fall 2005 academic term.

For eligibility requirements and more information, visit the base education office or go online to the military-restricted Web site at http://afoats.maxwell.af.mil. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)