The Air Force has several programs enlisted members can use to become commissioned officers. Unmarried enlisted members can apply to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado. However, the selection process is very, very rigid, and only the very best are accepted (this applies to civilian applicants, as well as enlisted applicants).
All of the Air Force enlisted commissioning programs are very, very competitive. In fact, it's probably harder to get a commission in the Air Force than any other service branch. Except for rated commissions (pilot, navigator, air battle manager), the Air Force likes their officers to have technical or "hard science" degrees, such as aerospace engineering, physics, computer science, chemestry, ect. They also like these officers to have a very high college GPA (3.2 or above is considered competitive). For fliers, while a technical degree is not required, one still needs a very high GPA, and high score on the Pilot/Nav sections of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) to be selected.
Enlisted members who possess or earn a bachelor's degree can apply for selection to the Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), after one year of active duty service. Other Air Force enlisted commissioning programs include:
- Scholarships for Outstanding Airman to ROTC (SOAR)
- Airman Education and Commissioning Program
- Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program (ASCP)
- Physcian Assistant Program
- Professional Officers Course Early Release Program
Want to read more about the pros and cons of choosing the Air Force?
- Recruiting Environment
- Enlistment Incentives
- Job Opportunities
- Basic Training
- Assignment Opportunities
- Deployments
- Quality of Life
- Promotion Opportunities
- Educational Opportunities
Interested in the pros and cons of the other military branches?
