The Learning Curve: Commissioning programs available to enlisted

  • Published
  • By Airman Alex Martinez
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  The Air Force has several programs tailored specifically for enlisted Airmen who wish to earn a commission. In the past three years, the Air Force has selected about 20 Warren Airmen for a commissioning program.

One of the primary and most identified tools for Air Force commissioning is the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The academy is a four-year military college designed to provide cadets with an academic education, leadership development and physical benefits through athletic participation. Every year, about 1,200 cadets graduate and earn commissions as second lieutenants. What many Airmen might not know is 85 active-duty Airmen and an additional 85 Airmen in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard can receive appointments to the academy.

"[The academy] is an excellent opportunity for an all expenses paid, top-notch and prestigious education," said Sharon Edwards, education center chief of education and training.

There are also 50 slots a year reserved for Airmen in the Academy Preparatory School. The school's mission is to prepare, motivate and evaluate selected candidates for admission to and success at the academy. It's a one-year program, and upon completion, Airmen can decide whether to attend the academy or go back into their career field with no consequences. Applications are available at the education center and must be completed by Jan. 31 for a June start date.

Another way to earn a commission is to take advantage of a ROTC program.

There are many ROTC programs available for Airmen. All Airmen can apply whether they only have a year left from receiving a bachelor's degree or have never taken college classes.

"The commissioning workshop here is a good place to start for Airmen who are interested," Mrs. Edwards said. "[Attendees] are introduced to all the programs available and the requirements they have to meet."

The Airmen Education and Commissioning Program allows Airmen to stay on active duty and continue to receive an income while attending college full time as an Air Force ROTC cadet to complete a bachelor's degree. Participants receive tuition and scholarship fees for up to $15,000 a year as well as a textbook allowance of $600 per year. AECP is only offered for specific majors including certain foreign language and foreign-area studies specialties, most engineering majors, math, meteorology, nursing and physics.

The Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program is about the same as the AECP, only people in the program do not receive an income while attending college. Airmen in the ASCP can use their Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits and receive a tax-free monthly stipend of $250 to $400 depending on what year of school they are in.

The Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development Program gives commanders the opportunity to appoint outstanding and deserving qualified Airmen to the academy and Air Force ROTC scholarship programs.

Fifty spots are available each year for Airmen to be nominated for the Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen to ROTC program that allows participants to separate from the Air Force while they earn their bachelor's degree. The program pays for most tuition and all fees. The Air Force considers Airmen in all levels of education.

Mrs. Edwards said another common way enlisted members earn a commission is by finishing their bachelor's degree and attending Officer Training School.

There have been quite a few people who have been selected to go to OTS, Mrs. Edwards said. The Air University Associates-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program is a good way to get a degree and apply to OTS. Airmen should do as well as possible in order to keep their grade point averages up.

"There is a lot of competition for the programs so the higher the GPA, the more competitive you'll be," she said.

All programs mentioned require those interested to take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test except for the academy and Academy Preparatory School. For more information on commissioning programs, visit the Air Force Virtual Education Center through the Air Force Portal or call the education center at 773-2117.

(Editors note: This is part two of a three part series on education programs and benefits.)