Aerospace Studies (AS) is the core academic component of Air Force ROTC, required for all cadets. These courses are divided into 100, 200, 300, and 400 levels, with fall and spring offerings. Each course has a lab (Leadership Lab) component must be taken every semester.

To participate in Air Force ROTC, you must be registered for at least one Aerospace Studies course and Leadership Lab (LLAB). Enrolling in an AS class and LLAB is one of the first steps toward joining the program.

General Military Course (GMC)

AS 100 & 200

The General Military Course (GMC) consists of four one-hour courses, introducing cadets to military fundamentals:
  • AERO 101 – Heritage and Values I
  • AERO 102 – Heritage and Values II
  • AERO 201 – Team/Leader Fundamentals I
  • AERO 202 – Team/Leader Fundamentals II
These courses follow a structured academic pathway to develop cadets into future Air and Space Force officers:
  • Heritage and Values courses cover the basics of military life, including doctrine, history, theory, customs, and courtesies.
  • Team/Leader Fundamentals courses focus on leadership theory, followership, and teamwork, preparing cadets for Field Training and leadership roles

Professional Officer Course (POC)

AS 300 & 400

The Professional Officer Course (POC) is for cadets who have completed Field Training and are preparing for commissioning. These courses are three credit hours each and focus on advanced leadership and military concepts:
  • AERO 301 – Leading and Communication I
  • AERO 302 – Leading and Communication II
  • AERO 401 – National Security/Leader Prep I
  • AERO 402 – National Security/Leader Prep II
POC coursework involves:
  • Advanced leadership training
  • National security policy studies
  • Simulated scenarios to prepare cadets for real-world military leadership roles.

How to Register

Registering for an Aerospace Studies course is just like enrolling in any other academic class. Simply:
  1. Log into your university’s registration portal.
  2. Search for the course code corresponding to your academic level.
    • If you’re new to Air Force ROTC, register for a 100-level course (AERO/AS 101 or 102).
    • Additional registrations may be required based on your student classification.
  3. Please note: The course catalog may list AS class differently for each university. For example, Samford University labels AS courses “AERO,” while UAB uses “AFS.”

Not sure which course to take? Need help finding it? Contact us for guidance!