Professional Officer Course-Early Release Program (POC-ERP)
DESCRIPTION
The Professional Officer Course-Early Release Program (POC-ERP) offers active duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a commission who can complete all bachelor degree and commissioning requirements in 2 years as an Air Force ROTC cadet. Applicants are not authorized to pursue a second bachelors or graduate degree.
Note: Applicants within one year of completing their bachelor's degree, with a bachelor's degree or desiring to earn graduate degrees may not participate in this program. They should seek commissioning through OTS.
Those selected separate from the active duty Air Force, join an Air Force ROTC detachment and become a full-time college student. The Air Force provides them a monthly nontaxable stipend of $450-$500. Upon graduation and completion of the program, you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and will then be returned to active duty with a military obligation of 4 yrs active and 4 yrs Reserves.
Scholarships are awarded in a variety of fields.
Technical: Computer, Electrical, and Environmental Engineering Aeronautical, Aerospace, Architectural, Astronautical, Civil, Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and other Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)-accredited engineering majors.
Note: Technicalmajors must be ABET-approved at the university the applicant plans to attend and are limited to a maximum of 4 years.
Nursing: Degrees must be accredited by the National League of Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Note: Failure to pass the NCLEX may result in disenrollment from ROTC or commissioning as a general officer.
Non-technical: All other majors
How does the selection process work?
A selection board is held once a year. The board utilizes the "whole person" concept to evaluate applicants. As part of the board process, applicants will be evaluated on their ability to put their package together in the proper format in accordance with the ECP Package Checklist and directions on this site. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the package is complete. While the board considers all documents in an application package, they typically focus on the commander's recommendation, the airman's duty performance history, and the applicant's academic performance to determine the applicant's eligibility. ALL waiver requests are due to HQ AFROTC/RRUE NET 15 July and NLT 1 September each year. Application packages must reach HQ AFROTC/RRUE NET 1 September and NLT 15 October each year. Late packages or late waiver requests will not be accepted.
Note:The applicant is ultimately responsible for the completeness and accuracy of their package. The Education Center may assist the member in an advisory capacity only.
What are your chances?
POC-ERP BOARD
SELECTION PERCENTAGE
FY December 2009
100%
FY December 2010
100%
FY December 2011
50%
FY December 2012
86%
Are you eligible? To be eligible for this program you must:
Be a United States citizen.
Meet the age requirements. You must be under age 33 by the board convening date or have obtained a waiver [available if you can commission before age 35]. Check out the age requirements page for more details.
For applicants applying for Nursing: Title 10, United States Code (USC), Section 12201 authorizes the appointment of fully qualified health professions officers (Nurses) beyond age 35. Nurse applicants may be commissioned prior to their 42nd birthday, pending the needs of the Air Force. Applicants commissioning over the age of 35 will need to submit a waiver request to HQ AFROTC/RRUE. The waiver request will be forwarded to HQ AFPC/DPAMN for consideration and/or approval. HQ AF/SGC is the final approval authority for nursing age waivers.
Have at least one year Time-In-Service. (Waiverable)
Have at least one year Time-On-Station. (Waiverable)
Be recommended by your immediate commander.
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average of graded college work.
If you do not have graded college work, you must have earned an ACT composite score of 24 or higher or an SAT1 combined Verbal and Math score of 1100 or more.
Must be able to complete their degree in two to four years.
Be admitted to a school offering Air Force ROTC (including cross-town schools) and the academic major you desire to study.
Earn Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores of 15 or more on the Verbal scale and 10 or more on the Quantitative scale. NOTE: AFOQT scores may be waiverable for those who have taken the test twice and failed both times. Note that waivers are not guaranteed.
Meet all the requirements for commissioning (physical, moral, fitness, etc.) listed in AFI 36-2013, chapter 1, and AFI 36-2005.
Must not be selected for reassignment prior to submission of the application.
Meet the requirement for overseas retainability. For individuals at an OCONUS location, IAW AFI 36-2013, Table 1.1, rule 7, the applicant may not apply if the applicant does not apply before the 25th day of the 8th month before the date eligible for return from overseas month....translated: applicants must have approximately 8 months left on station by the package due date. The MPF can help the applicant determine what the new DEROS will need to be to be eligible to apply. If the applicant does not meet it, they must request an extension through their normal base channels. If the applicant does not have enough time remaining on their assignment, they will be ineligible to apply for a commissioning program.
Special rules apply for those who need a TOS or DEROS waiver. See the program application page for more details.
Note:Waivers are not guaranteed. Waiver requests must reach HQ AFROTC/RRUE postmarked NET 15 July and NLT 1 September.
How will you afford this program?
If selected, you will separate from the Air Force. You will no longer be collecting military pay and benefits and will be living on the civilian economy like any other college student.