FY10 Scholarships For Outstanding Airman To ROTC (SOAR) The applicant is ultimately responsible for the completeness and accuracy of their package. The Education Center will assist the member in an advisory capacity only.
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.
Personnel within one year of completing their bachelor's degree or desiring to earn graduate degrees may not participate in this program. They should seek commissioning through OTS.
Description.
The Scholarships for Outstanding Airman to ROTC (SOAR) offers active duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a commission while completing their bachelor's degree as an Air Force ROTC cadet.
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 with a tuition/fees scholarship of up to $18,000 per year, an annual textbook allowance of $900, and a monthly nontaxable stipend of $250-$500. Students may not pay the difference to attend higher cost schools. This scholarship will be awarded for two to four years, depending on how many years you have remaining in your bachelor's degree program. Airmen with some or no college credit may apply for the program. A limited number of SOAR selects will be offered a scholarship with no tuition cap.
This program is open to students in ANY MAJOR.
Upon graduation and completion of the program, you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and will then be returned to active duty (typically within 60 days of commissioning) with military obligation of 4 yrs active/4 yrs Reserves.
How does the selection process work?
A selection board is held once a year. SOAR is a commander's program to select top-flight enlisted members for commissioning. Selections are made at the MAJCOM level for most airmen (those assigned to AFSOC, AFSPC or FOAs/DRUs other than AIA are selected from a Small Units selection board that meets at HQ AFROTC at Maxwell). Three allocations are set aside for enlisted recruiters selected by the Air Force Recruiting Service (AETC/RS). Applicants must be nominated by their wing commander (or equivalent). There are 54 SOAR allocations and they are divided among the MAJCOMs/FOAs/DRUs based upon MAJCOM enlisted strength. The following table shows the distribution of SOAR allocations:
MAJCOM/FOA/DRU
SOAR ALLOCATIONS
ACC (Includes Cyber Cmd for FY 10)
15
AETC
7
AFMC
4
AMC
8
PACAF
5
USAFE
4
AETC/RS
3
Small Units
(AFSPC-3, AFSOC-2, AFDW-2, others-1)
The MAJCOM/FOA/DRU/Small Units boards utilize the "whole person" concept to evaluate applicants. While selection boards consider 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. Airmen selected for SOAR will begin classes the following fall term. MAJCOMs/FOAs/DRUs set application deadlines to bases/wings under their command. BESOs should contact their respective MAJCOM as application deadlines can vary by commands. Waivers are due to HQ AFROTC/RRUE postmarked NET 15 July and NLT 1 September.
Each MAJCOMs/FOAs/DRUs (and the Small Units board) submits the nomination packages for their SOAR winners NLT 15 October to a follow-on board at Maxwell in November. This follow-on board selects the top 10% of the SOAR winners to receive a Type 1 (uncapped tuition) scholarship. This board will also evaluate (at the request of HQ AFROTC) any qualified nonselects forwarded by the MAJCOMs/FOAs/DRUs and the Small Units board. If any allocations are unfilled, or if HQ AFROTC awards additional SOAR allocations (depending on officer production at the time), this board may award additional SOAR scholarship offers to these nominees.
Are you eligible? *waivers must be in:
Plain brown folder (letter size) with label to include: First Line - Last Name, First Name, and Rank; Second Line - Waiver type; Third Line - Program applying for
Be under age 31 on December 31 of the year you will graduate and earn your commission. (NOT WAIVERABLE) Check out the age requirements page for more details.
Have at least one year Time-On-Station (Waiverable--Note that waivers are not guaranteed).
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. This requirement is not waiverable.
Be admitted to a school offering Air Force ROTC (including crosstown 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 waivered for those who have taken the test twice and failed both times--however 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. (Waiverable--Note that waivers are not guaranteed)
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, 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 members who need a TOS or DEROS waiver. See the program application page for more details.
How will you afford this program?
If selected for SOAR, 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. Check out our page on how you can afford to participate in Air Force ROTC.
How do you apply? Check out our program application page.
