Air Force Reserve Direct Commissioning Program

The next step after you get ‘settled' into your mission is to start building your own personal awareness of what your options are for commissioning. There are a number of programs available to enlisted Airmen. I wish I was an expert on them all, but my expertise is centered solely on Officer Training School. You can apply to OTS if you are within one year of completing your bachelor's degree. If you are no-where close to that it may be worth exploring some of your other options. The base education center is your point of contact for assistance with understanding these programs.

1. Air Force Reserve Officer Commissioning
2. Air Force Reserve Direct Commissioning Program Requirements
3. Air Force Direct Commissioning Programs
4. Air Force Reserve Commissioning Requirements

Successful completion of a four-year accredited degree program and AFROTC leads to a commission as a second lieutenant in the best Air Force in the world. Contact AFROTC for more information: AFROTC, Recruiting Branch, 60 West Maxwell Boulevard, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, call toll-free 1-866-4AFROTC (1-866-423-7682) or go to. The Air Force has a program for enlisted members who want to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing and become a commissioned officer. The program is called the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program, or NECP. Those selected for the program attend college full-time at an accredited college while remaining on active duty.

Here is a link to the Air Force page which covers many (but not all) of your enlisted commissioning options. There are two very important options which are not on the list which I will discuss in detail below.

• LEAD Program
• Scholarships For Outstanding Airmen to ROTC (SOAR)
• Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program (ASCP)
• Professional Officer Course-Early Release Program (POC-ERP)
• Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP)
• Physician Assistant Training Program
• Officer Training School
• Senior Leadership Enlisted Commissioning Program (new)

Air Force Reserve Officer Commissioning

The three commissioning methods for all Air Force officers are as follows. This basic understanding will help you decipher the different options listed above. All of the above programs will get you to one of the below programs, it will be your job to determine which path is best for you. The only exception would be the medical programs which commission through a different version of OTS (I think it is called Commissioned Officer Training or COT).

• U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) – The USAF Academy is in Colorado Springs, CO. It is the Air Force's version of West Point or the Naval Academy in Annapolis. If accepted, the USAFA is your college and you will live and breathe the Air Force Academy environment for fours years. An academy education is well respected both in and out of the service so it can set you up for success with whatever path you choose. The USAFA program is four years.
• AF Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) – Instead of being immersed in the Air Force environment 24/7 there are colleges all over the country who have ROTC detachments. You will do your normal college for the majority of your time and throughout the week you will also have a ROTC class. All of your Air Force learning such as academics, drill, etc. will be centered around the class. I am sure there are extra-curricular requirements as well but you won't be completely immersed in the environment like at USAFA. I think most ROTC programs are four years, but I heard it can be three depending on if you have prior education.
• Officer Training School (OTS) – If you are within one year of completing your bachelor's degree you can apply for OTS both as a civilian or as an active duty Airman. After you have your degree you will attend the course and be commissioned at the end. Officer Training School is at Maxwell AFB, AL and the course is currently 9.5 weeks long.

Senior Leadership Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) – The last program I want to address is a newer program called Senior Leadership Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP). This is a program where each MAJCOM commander has the authority to select one enlisted Airman each year for selection to OTS. I am not sure what the selection criteria will be because every MAJCOM will be different. The way this probably works (I am speculating) is each year the MAJCOM commander will send out a call for nominations to subordinate commanders, and in turn there will be a process for subordinate commanders to identify potential selectees for this program. Unfortunately I am not familiar with any of the timelines or requirements so you will have to see if there is anything on the airforceots forums. Shoot me an email if you can't find any information.

I wasn't sure how deep to go with this post and in the end I decided not to try to explain every different enlisted commission program such as SOAR, LEAD, etc. It can be very confusing so if you have any questions at all or have no idea what your options are, just shoot me an email and we will try to figure it out together.

There are four ways to join the Air Force as an officer. While each way differs slightly, they all ultimately allow you to begin your career as a leader.

1. 01

   Attend Officer Training School after earning college or postgraduate degree.

   Upon earning a college or postgraduate degree, you can take the steps to enter the Air Force as an officer.
   See Steps below for more information.

2. 02

   Attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.

   Intensive and competitive, the prestigious United States Air Force Academy offers a world-class education with fully paid tuition, cost-free room and board, cost-free medical care and a monthly cash stipend in exchange for your commitment to serve.

   Find out more
3. 03

   Join AFROTC in college.

   Available at colleges and universities all over the country, Air Force ROTC offers tuition assistance while you earn your degree and experience college life.

   Find out more
4. 04

   Enlist and work toward becoming an officer.

   The Air Force has unprecedented growth opportunities, and any enlisted Airman can take the steps necessary to work toward officer status. Download free watch live tv.

   Find out more

We take care of the needs of every Airman

When you join the Air Force with a college degree, you can enter as an officer and a leader. We'll provide you with training to develop the skills and character you need to become a world-class officer prepared to lead your fellow Airmen.

To begin your career as an officer, you'll either need to be a graduate of the Air Force Academy or AFROTC or go through additional training. Before you apply, take the time to make sure you meet all of the basic qualifications for the path that's right for you.

Officer

For those joining with a college degree or enlisted Airmen who have worked toward becoming an officer, you must:

• Be between 18 and 39 years of age.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have at least a bachelor's degree.

Specialty Careers

Download free picaview. For healthcare, legal and ministry professionals only, you must:

• Be between 18 and 48 years of age.*
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have a career-relevant degree or postgraduate degree.*
• Be licensed and eligible to practice in your field.

*varies among fields

Download free picaview. For healthcare, legal and ministry professionals only, you must:

• Be between 18 and 48 years of age.*
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have a career-relevant degree or postgraduate degree.*
• Be licensed and eligible to practice in your field.

*varies among fields

Air Force Officers are evaluated on their leadership potential, moral standards and academic strengths. Each candidate must go through a selective process to ensure they meet our requirements and have what it takes to become an officer.

1. Requirement 01

   Qualifying Test*

   Anyone striving to be an Air Force Officer must pass the Air Force Qualifying Test—a multiple choice test with topics ranging from verbal and math skills to questions covering specific fields of interest. This test can only be taken twice, so it's essential to study and prepare wisely.

   *Does not apply to healthcare, legal and ministry professionals

2. Requirement 02

   Physical and Mental Screening

   Your recruiter will make an appointment for you at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to have your physical and moral standards assessed to ensure they are in line with the specifications set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.

3. Requirement 03

   Passing the Selection Board

   Every officer application is reviewed by either the Officer Training School Selection Board or Air Force Recruiting Services, depending on your path and profession. Each committee evaluates on both objective and subjective factors to determine if a candidate is a proper fit. No one factor can cause selection or rejection.
   Selection boards are held biannually in February and August. Applications will be accepted through your local Line Officer recruiter. You must submit all application materials on or before the following dates to be considered.

   Board schedules

   Winter Board Schedule:

   Active Duty* board application deadline: No later than midnight October 1, 2019
   Selection board review dates: November 4–15, 2019
   Estimated selection board decision date: December 13, 2019
   Estimated Total Force Officer Training start date: January–April 2021
   *The Active Duty application is open to current enlisted Airmen only.
   Civilian board application deadline: No later than midnight on January 23, 2020
   Selection board review dates: February 24–28, 2020
   Estimated selection board decision date: March 27, 2020
   Estimated Total Force Officer Training start date: January–April 2021

   Summer Board Schedule:

   Active Duty* board application deadline: No later than midnight April 7, 2020
   Selection board review dates: May 11–22, 2020
   Estimated selection board decision date: June 19, 2020
   Estimated Total Force Officer Training start date: May–August 20211
   *The Active Duty application is open to current enlisted Airmen only.
   Civilian board application deadline: No later than midnight on July 16, 2020
   Selection board review dates: August 17–21, 2020
   Estimated selection board decision date: September 18, 2020
   Estimated Total Force Officer Training start date: May–August 2021

   Critical Accessions Degrees (CAD)

   Applications for Critical Accessions Degrees (CAD) are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Please check with your local Line Officer recruiter to discuss which degrees are considered CAD.
   Please note that all dates are based on U.S. Air Force needs and are subject to change.

4. Requirement 04

   Preparing for Officer Training

   Once you've passed all the necessary requirements and are accepted into the Air Force, you'll enter the Delayed Entry Program while you wait for your departure date to either Officer Training School or—for medical, legal and ministry professionals—Commissioned Officer Training.

• Daily Quizzes
• Flash Cards
• Packing Lists
• Drills
• Fitness/ Nutrition
• Reporting Statements

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Joining the Air Force is an important, life-changing decision, and you'll likely have questions along the way. Connect with us for the information you need to make the choice that's right for you.

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Air Force Reserve Direct Commissioning Program Requirements

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Air Force Direct Commissioning Programs

Want to learn more about how to become an officer?

There are several paths to becoming an officer. From joining ROTC in college to attending Officer Training School, the key is finding the path that's right for you.

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In addition to a competitive salary and excellent healthcare, you'll enjoy other benefits such as tuition assistance, 30 days of vacation with pay each year and more.

Air Force Reserve Commissioning Requirements

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