The United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps: Looking to the Future

Abstract

Air Force ROTC is the result of a developmental process which began in the early 1800s. In 1947 it became a separate commissioning source which was initially modeled after its parent Army ROTC. Since its inception, the program has continually adapted to the changing needs of the Air Force. As a result, it has emerged as the primary source of line officers. Today there are 149 detachments with a total enrollment of more than 16,000 cadets. The future holds even more challenges for Air Force ROTC. Responding to the requirements to trim costs and reduce accessions, the Department of Defense has programmed a 19 percent cut in Air Force ROTC commissions by 1995. The number of detachments is also scheduled to decrease. If the Air Force expects its primary commissioning source to continue to produce high quality officers, it must investigate ways to efficiently and effectively conduct ROTC. This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of the current program and proposes an alternative commissioning model designed to maintain the present program's advantages, correct its deficiencies, and permit Air Force ROTC to meet the challenges of the future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 04, 1991
Accession Number
ADA236530

Entities

People

  • Charles A. Royce

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Classification
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Instructors
  • Law
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Training
  • Militia
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Reserve Officer Training Corps
  • Security
  • Students
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.