How to Join the Air Force Reserve As an Officer
Becoming an officer in the Air Force Reserve is an easily attainable goal. You only need to earn a bachelor's degree and successfully complete the Air Force Reserve's commissioning program. You can join the Air Force Reserve after completing your bachelor's degree, or you can join before completion of your degree and the Air Force will not only pay your tuition, but also give you a stipend for living expenses while you are in college. You only need to keep your grades above the Air Force's standard and commit to a four- or six-year service commitment after completing your degree.
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Instructions
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Sign up with one of the Air Force Reserve's two officer commissioning programs. The first is the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, (ROTC). Air Force ROTC is offered at most major universities. If you already have a degree, you may attend Air Force Reserve OTS and become a commissioned officer immediately upon completion of the program.
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Complete your undergraduate degree. This will normally take four years, though you can reduce the time you'll spend completing your degree if you have past college credits.
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Complete your Air Force Reserve service commitment. The standard service commitment for newly commissioned officers in the Air Force Reserve is 4, 6 or 8 years, depending upon the program you join under. During your initial service commitment, you can expect to reach the rank of O-3, or even O-4 if you are an outstanding officer.
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Tips & Warnings
ROTC will pay your undergraduate tuition expenses and give you a monthly stipend for books and other living expenses. To enroll in ROTC, talk to a guidance counselor at your high school or an adviser at your university.
If you have previous military experience, talk with your unit's education office about receiving college credit for your military service through the Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES), or taking College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams at no cost through your unit, and test out of many lower-level college courses.
Once your initial service commitment is complete, you may choose to continue serving in the Air Force Reserve, switch to another branch of the military, or return to civilian life and start a career in your chosen field.
References
- Photo Credit a10 air force attack plane image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
