Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz offers students the opportunity to join the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) through a crosstown agreement with Detachment 045 at San José State University (SJSU). This program prepares cadets for commissioning into the U.S. Air Force (USAF) or U.S. Space Force (USSF). In tandem with fulfilling their degree requirements, AFROTC cadets cultivate both physical and leadership capabilities essential for various career paths in the military upon graduation. AFROTC is a four-year, 16-unit program divided into the General Military Course (GMC) and the Professional Officer Course (POC):

• General Military Course (GMC): In the first two years, cadets attend classes and leadership laboratories focusing on Department of the Air Force (DAF) history, customs, and leadership principles.
• Field Training (FT): Between the sophomore and junior years, cadets participate in a rigorous 3-week “bootcamp” training program at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Cadets must successfully complete Field Training to commission through AFROTC.
• Professional Officer Course (POC): In the final two years, cadets assume leadership roles within the detachment, mentor junior cadets, and prepare for commissioning as officers. Once contracted upon return from Field Training, cadets incur a minimum service commitment of four years on Active Duty.

As a UC Santa Cruz student, you can enroll in AFROTC courses offered at SJSU. This involves commuting to SJSU for weekly Aerospace Studies (AS) classes, Leadership Laboratories (LLAB), and Physical Training (PT) sessions. While this commitment requires additional time and coordination, it provides invaluable leadership experience and the opportunity to serve as a commissioned officer upon graduation.

Weekly Training Schedule

Participation in AFROTC requires a consistent weekly commitment, typically totaling 6-10 hours per week, across three core components: Aerospace Studies classes, Leadership Laboratory, and Physical Training. The time commitment typically increases each year as cadets take on greater leadership responsibilities within the Cadet Wing. These activities primarily take place at SJSU, which serves as the host campus for Det 045. In addition, cadets may have opportunities to participate in occasional off-campus training events at nearby military installations, local parks, or crosstown campuses, which provide additional leadership experiences and exposure to operational environments. Each component serves a distinct purpose—academic instruction, hands-on leadership development, and physical conditioning. Together, they form a structured training program that cadets follow throughout the academic year in preparation for commissioning.

The table below summarizes the typical weekly AFROTC training schedule by academic year and enrollment track, providing an overview of class requirements, leadership labs, physical training, and total time commitments.

Aerospace Studies (AS) Classes

AS classes are the academic foundation of the AFROTC curriculum. These courses are taught by trained and experienced military faculty selectively assigned to AFROTC and are designed to provide cadets with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary for effective leadership. The 16-unit curriculum is divided as follows:

Freshman (AS100): Heritage and Values (1 unit / semester)
Sophomores (AS200): Team and Leadership Fundamentals (1 unit / semester)
Juniors (AS300): Leading People and Effective Communication (3 units / semester)
Seniors (AS400): National Security and Preparation for Active-Duty (3 units / semester)

Leadership Laboratory (LLAB)

LLAB is a hands-on, cadet-led training component conducted once a week, typically lasting two hours. It focuses on practical leadership experience, military customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, and other activities that prepare cadets for Field Training, leadership roles, and development as future military officers. Upper-class (POC) cadets are responsible for planning and executing LLAB sessions, providing them with valuable leadership experience while mentoring under-class (GMC) cadets. This structure allows cadets to take an active role in training and decision-making, with oversight and guidance from active-duty military professionals.

Physical Training (PT)

PT sessions are conducted twice per week and are designed to improve cadets' physical conditioning, endurance, and overall health. Activities may include running, calisthenics, and other exercises aimed at meeting the physical fitness standards required for commissioning. Regular PT sessions also help build camaraderie and teamwork among cadets. Cadets must take and pass the Department of the Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment every academic term to remain in good standing and continue progressing in the program.

Contact Information

To learn more about Detachment 045, AFROTC, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Space Force, visit their official websites:

Air Force ROTC Detachment 045 at SJSU
Air Force ROTC
Space Force ROTC
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Space Force

For more details or to express interest in joining AFROTC, please contact:

Air Force ROTC Detachment 045 at SJSU

Phone: (408) 924-2960
Email: afrotc@sjsu.edu
Website: SJSU AFROTC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjsuafrotc/
YouTube: Air Force ROTC Detachment 045 Campus Tour at San Jose State University

UC Santa Cruz Army ROTC

The Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) is one of the best leadership courses in the country and can be part of your college curriculum. UC Santa Cruz students have the opportunity to take ROTC courses with cadets from other local campuses, including Santa Clara University, Stanford, and San Jose State University. During classes, leadership labs, physical training, and field training exercises, Army ROTC students will learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, and conduct missions as an officer in the Army. Upon graduation from Army ROTC, students will earn the bar of a second lieutenant and be commissioned into the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

Army ROTC at Santa Clara University is a program that fosters the development of cadets' academic, athletic, professional, and mental strengths. Students attend class and physical training for three hours each week, along with a Wednesday lab session that features hands-on instruction regarding Army operations and leadership situations. This program is ideally designed as a four-year process. Cadets spend their first two years familiarizing themselves with the Army, and in their third year, they are expected to perform and improve as leaders in preparation for a summer leadership development camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. The fourth and final year of Army ROTC introduces cadets to the responsibilities of military staff, teaching them to plan, train, lead, and develop their junior cadets in preparation for their commission. A typical four-year education with Santa Clara University ROTC comes with a service obligation of four years in the Army.

Army ROTC also provides cadets with the opportunity to gain additional Army experience by earning appointments to Army training schools, where they can participate in parachute training from airplanes or rappel from helicopters. In addition, cadets are allowed a single quarter of study abroad, as well as the opportunity to participate in Army-funded immersion trips and internships to dozens of countries across the globe in the summer months.

Cadets who graduate from the program will compete for active duty, National Guard, and reserve positions across the Army. Active officers have a full-time position and serve for a minimum of three years (if Cadets receive an Army Scholarship, the minimum requirement is four years of active service). Reserve officers serve for eight years part-time in either the National Guard or the Army Reserve.

For more information about ROTC opportunities and scholarships contact Mario Morales by email at mcmorales@scu.edu or by phone at 408-554-6840, or visit the Army ROTC website at http://www.scu.edu/rotc/.

For more information regarding Army ROTC please visit the Army ROTC website at http://www.goarmy.com/rotc.html.