How will you afford to participate in Air Force ROTC?
The tables below show the types of financial assistance available to a typical Air Force enlisted member enrolling in Air Force ROTC through the Enlisted Commissioning Programs. These tables should be used only as a general guide. You should adjust the figures to reflect your specific situation(state of residency, part-time employment, other sources of income, significant expenses, if you don't qualify for the MGIB, etc.). Please note, income from a spouse is not reflected in the data in the tables below.
ASCP/SOAR
INCOME SOURCE:
Money:
Montgomery GI Bill*
$10,750.00
ROTC Stipend (will range between $3000 and $6000 depending on the AS year)
$2,500
Scholarship**
$18,000.00
Books
$510.00
Part-time job***
$6,000.00
TOTAL
$34,760.00
* If you met the program's eligibility, participation, and contribution requirements while serving on active duty
** Note: this amount is the maximum amount available for tuition ...at schools with less than $18,000 tuition, AFROTC will only pay the cost of tuition. Tuition is paid directly to the school
*** Assumes a job earning $6.00 per hour, averaging 20 hours a week for 50 weeks
POC-ERP
INCOME SOURCE:
Money:
Montgomery GI Bill*
$10,750.00
ROTC Stipend (will range between $3500 and $4000 depending on the AS year)
$3,500.00
Part-time job**
$6,000.00
TOTAL
$20,250.00
Montgomery G.I. Bill. The Montgomery G.I. Bill (MGIB)
On 1 Oct 06, the GI Bill payments went up to $1,075.00 per month for a full-time study during the school year. If you elected to participate in the MGIB while on active duty and met the eligibility, participation, and contribution requirements, you could receive $10,750.00 each year. Also, the MGIB Buy-In which could bring the MGIB up to $1,225 monthly for a full-time student. http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
ROTC Stipend. All scholarship and POC students receive a nontaxable stipend (paid at a rate between $300.00 to $350.00 per month) during the school year. Stipend is paid during the months of the school year (typically 9-10 months) for scholarship freshmen and sophomores and for the entire year for juniors, seniors and graduate students (up to a max of 600 consecutive days; up to a max of 900 consecutive days for SAF-approved fifth year majors). The rate for AS 100 and AS 300 cadets is $350.00 per month, the rate for AS 300 cadets is $450.00 per month, and the rate for AS 400 cadets is $500.00 per month.
Part-Time Employment. Many Air Force ROTC cadets work at a part-time jobs. A job earning just $6.00 per hour (a little over minimum wage) and averaging 20 hours per week for 50 weeks (remember you will be able to work full-time during part of the summer (i.e., when not attending field training)) will pay $6,000 per year!
University-based funding. A number of schools have financial incentives for Air Force ROTC cadets. They are listed on the Air Force ROTC Subsidy List below. Two colleges, the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and Angelo State University have scholarship subsidies specifically geared to serve Air Force enlisted members:
UMC Scholarship Subsidy and in-state tuition. Non-Minnesota residents enrolling at the University of Minnesota, Crookston through the Enlisted Commissioning Programs will be charged in-state tuition rates. The university will award a $1,500.00 scholarship supplement to those who are on scholarship or receive the POC Incentive. Check out the Detachment 610 website for further details.
Carr ROTC Scholarship at Angelo State University is available to qualified full-time students enrolled in the ROTC program and offers up to $1,500 per academic year. The Carr Academic scholarship is available to qualified students and ranges from $1,500 to $6,000 per academic year for full-time undergraduate students and $1,500 to $4,500 per academic year for full-time graduate students. Additionally, ROTC contract cadets qualify for in-state tuition rates. Contact Detachment 847 for details.
Other sources of funding. You may also be eligible for financial aid awards from the Federal Government (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, etc.). Applications are available at the Base Education Office or the financial aid office at the school where you are applying.
What's the pay differential? Think of earning a commission as an investment in your future. Can you live on a smaller budget for a few years and then rejoin active duty at a substantially increased pay? Will you be able to pay off loans you took out to help you through school with your increased salary? Check out the table below. It lists the annual income for a married Staff Sergeant with 7 years in the service who commissions as a Second Lieutenant. This individual realized a $12,000 annual pay increase by earning his/her commission.
Income Source:
Income Source:
SSgt
2d Lt
Capt
Military Pay*
$24,444.00
$32,952.20
$52,860.00
Housing Allowance*
$8,544.00
$10,200.00
$11,784.00
Subsistence Allowance*
$2,913.72
$2,006.40
$2,006.40
TOTAL
$35,897.72
$45,158.60
$66,650.40
* Assumes a married SSgt/2d Lt with 7 years in the service and the pay of a Captain at 11 years (the same 2d Lt would be promoted to Captain 4 years after commissioning), living in Montgomery, Alabama.
Do the math for yourself! Check out your own potential pay increase at the DFAS web site.