Cadet Life!

Life as a Cadet

When you become an Air Force ROTC cadet, school is your first priority. You are here to get your degree and secondly to train to become an officer in the Air Force. While you are on this journey we also want you to have FUN!

There are about 60 cadets in Detachment 860 at Utah State University so almost everyone knows each other. There is a great camaraderie among the cadets.

AFROTC Classes & Lab

During your time as a cadet you will learn about the Air Force through a hands-on leadership lab where you will apply leadership and management skills. During this time you will learn about career opportunities, physical fitness activities, and military ceremonies. You will develop friendships that will last a lifetime. You will work together, compete together, and succeed together.

You will learn about leadership and the Air Force from experienced instructors in the classroom. You will spend 3 to 5 hours a week attending your classes and lead lab.

At the completion of Air Force ROTC you can receive a minor in Aerospace Studies. If you successfully complete AFROTC you will have the satisfaction of serving and defending your country after you are commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Other Activities

Air Force ROTC strives to provide you with a wide variety of professional and social activities. You can choose to be involved as much or as little as you want in these other activities. These are great opportunities to meet other people and have a lot of fun.

Dances, Dinners, Picnics and Parties - During the year, formal and informal activities are planned to complement the academic schedule. Don't miss these activities because they are a lot of fun!

Pershing Rifles/Honor Guard - This is a team of proficient cadets that perform in various formal ceremonies, sports events and parades throughout the year.

Base Visits - Every year we are allowed one formal base visit where cadets visit at least one Air Force Base and see first-hand how the Air Force functions. If there is an opportunity we may even fly to our base visit on an Air Force plane.

Service Organizations - Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings are two voluntary organizations that provide many social and community service activities to develop your professional abilities. As a member of one of these organizations you can further hone your leadership skills.

Civil Air Patrol - Any cadet can participate in the Civil Air Patrol, where you can fly with experienced pilots. When flying with an experienced instructor pilot you can even log those hours.

Flight Activities - As a cadet you will be part of a flight of 12 to 15 cadets. You will meet together weekly to become better friends, work on projects, practice your military skills, and compete against other flights.

Service Projects - You will get the chance to volunteer to help out your local community in a variety of ways. Our goal is to have at least one formal service project each semester.

Facilities - In the Military Science Building, there is a computer room just for the cadets, a pool table and a Warrior Room where the cadets can relax and spend time together watching TV or playing video games.

Physical Fitness - Cadets are required to participate in weekly physical fitness sessions as part of their leadership lab requirements. We usually meet for three 1-hour sessions a week. Cadets are required to take at least one Physical Fitness Assessment each semester. By working out hard you can challenge yourself and improve your score and help motivate each other to do better.

PDT - During the summer there are various opportunities to expand your Air Force experience. Some of these are: Cultural Immersion, Foreign Language Immersion, USAF Academy Freefall Parachute Training, Space Orientation, or shadow an Air Force officer or NCO in a duty area which interests you.