Frequently Asked Questions: Here’s additional information to help answer the most frequently asked questions regarding preparation for the course and to make your transition from civilian to military life a smooth one.
IMPORTANT: All attendees should have a statement on their orders that direct the need for “Essential Unit Messing.” This means that officers pay the discounted meal rate in a Government mess and are not entitled to any reimbursement of meal expenses.
You need to be in good physical shape when you arrive at COT. If you have not already done so, we recommend you start a good physical fitness program concentrating on aerobic, anaerobic, and flexibility exercises before your arrival. Your program should include running, biking or other aerobic activities, and a strength-building regimen such as weight training. You will participate in a structured early morning physical conditioning program 5 days a week while at COT. We take physical fitness very seriously and encourage that our officers stay fit. You should bring comfortable, well broken-in, conservative (in appearance) running shoes and a pair court shoes for other physical activities. A pair of cross trainers (all purpose shoes) will meet the requirements for both court and running activities. If you wear foot appliances (shoe inserts) in any of your shoes--bring them!
Some key ingredients for physical preparation are:
Great upper body strength
Flexibility
Stamina/Endurance
While your fitness test includes a 1.5 mile run, you should be able to complete a 3 mile run prior to arriving to COT.
For more information concerning weight standards and Physical Fitness Test (PFT) rules, please check out the following link on our website ‘Fitness Program ’. Attachment 12 shows fitness assessment score charts.
You will incur a number of expenses immediately upon your arrival at COT.
(NOTE - this list is not all-inclusive).
Approximate expenses are:
Item(s)
Estimated Amount
Optional Purchase
Comment
Timeframe Funds Needed
Uniforms (certain accessories may be optional)
$2,000.00
Mandatory
Estimate is based off all required items purchased
Upon Arrival
Sundry items (detergent, toothpaste, shampoo etc)
$25.00
Optional
Average amount, individual preference on items
Upon Arrival
Dining Facility Meals (3 times a day at $3.50 per meal)
$313.50
Mandatory
Average meal price used
Daily ($10.00) immediately
OTS Mugs - optional
$5.00
Optional
2nd Week of Training
Dining In Ticket ($25.00) per trainee/guest
$25.00
Mandatory
Additional funds required if you invite a guest
3rd Week of Training
Flight Photos
$10.00
Optional
Optional packages are also available at additional fee
3rd Week of Training
OTS Coins - optional
$5.00
Optional
4th Week of Training
Graduation Reception
$3.00
Mandatory
Purchases beverages/snacks for distinguished visitors at graduation
4th Week of Training
Class Charity Donation
$5.00
Optional
Average donation amount is $5.00 per trainee
4th Week of Training
Flight Meal/Flt CC memorabilia
$30.00
Optional
5th Week of Training
Estimated Total Amount:
$2,421.50
Notes:
-AAFES Star Card application requires credit check and no guarantee trainee will be authorized card
-Dining Facility accepts cash only
-Meals ready to eat (MRE's) are $3.65 per meal and my replace Dining Facility meals during various training events
-Most uniform items are mandatory and bought within 48 hours of arrival, cash, check or credit card must be immediately available for use
-Arrive with no less than $35.00 cash for first 48 hour expenses; ATM's are not located on OTS complex
All students are required to enroll in Sure-Pay, a direct deposit program for your military pay.
ALL STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE:
An established checking account (IMPORTANT: You will ONLY get paid through Electronic Funds Transfer directly to your financial institution.)
A checkbook
A canceled check with your account number on it or a direct deposit form filled out by your financial institution
Air Force Reserve (AFRES), Air National Guard (ANG), and Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) students should be paid by their home units before or after attending COT. To assist with the payment process, please out process through your unit finance office prior to arriving at COT. Reservists, ANG, and IMAs may receive a $200 clothing allowance after serving 14 days on active duty and submitting proper paperwork. Upon arriving to COT, your orders will be certified by COT staff personnel. Fax your certified orders to your reserve pay office or finance office within 2 working days or 48 hours. (Further details will be given in briefings at COT.)
You will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about pay and allowances when the Accounting and Finance people meet with you during the first few days of training. Please prepare as much as you can by writing down your questions in advance.
You will need to bring with you all of your important personal documents. As part of your in-processing you will receive a United States Armed Forces identification card. Will you will need to have a form of picture I.D. to receive your military I.D. card.
The following papers are needed during your COT in-processing:
Any recent medical tests or records
Immunization record (if you have one)
- Without a verifiable immunization record, you will receive a full set of immunizations within the first four training days
Marriage certificate (copy)
Children’s birth certificates (copy)
All copies of orders plus any amendments (minimum of 10 copies, never give your original)
If prior service:
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
DD Form 368, Request for Discharge or Clearance from Reserve Component
NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service (if applicable)
DD Form 93 (Emergency Data Card)
Original SGLV 8286 (SGLI, life insurance form)
- Addresses of Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance beneficiaries
Military ID card, if you have one
NOTE: Active Duty, AFRES, ANG, and IMAs who have already in-processed into their base will only need a copy of their orders and a valid military ID card.
Bring reproduce and bring multiple copies of the following documents (they do not have to be notarized with a raised seal):
PHYSICIANS:
Copy of Certification by American Specialty Board (if applicable)
Copy of Residency Completion Certificate
AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (AFIT) OR HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (HPSP) GRADUATES:
Diploma
Certificate of Internship
Certificate of Residency Training
State License
DENTISTS:
Diploma from Dental School
State License
Advanced Training Certificates
NOTE: Air Force Instruction 44-119 “Medical Service Quality Improvement and Risk Management,” specifies that anyone independently providing direct health care services to a patient, i.e., PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, NURSE ANESTHETISTS, MIDWIVES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, OPTOMETRISTS, PODIATRISTS, or others, need to bring a reproduced copy of their formal education, training, and clinical experience records for entry into their Air Force records.
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR ALL NON-HPSP STUDENTS:
Upon arrival you will need the following information:
1. Your commander’s full name
2. Your commander’s telephone number
3. Air Force Specialty Code
4. Base to which you will be assigned after COT
5. Unit to which you will be assigned after COT
Trainees are encouraged to purchase their uniforms prior to arriving at COT. Ensure you ask for assistance from AAFES staff regarding proper fit and wear of uniform items. AAFES will not accept returnss or exchange items that have been worn or altered. All uniform items you are unable to pre-purchase will be available for purchase once you arrive at Commissioned Officer Training. The list of uniform items can be found here.
You may pay for your uniform items by:
Master Card, Visa, or Discover (no American Express)
Personal check, travelers’ check, or cash
Military Star credit card—For uniforms only: a maximum of $500 with no interest. For all military shopping: maximum limit based on credit check with a variable interest rate. Card can be obtained before arrival or application can be initiated during in-processing.
You may have your rank sewn on or use the subdued pin-on rank on your ABU shirt/hat.
It’s a good idea to purchase your military footwear (i.e. combat boots/low quarters) in advance and start to break them in early, as you will be doing a lot of marching.
In addition to uniforms, there are several other items you will need. You may bring them with you, or you may purchase them when you arrive. All the items below can be purchased at the Base Exchange (BX) or Shoppette (within walking distance of OTS campus).
It is also recommended that your bring an old pair of tennis shoes to wear to events where your footwear could get wet. You do not need to purchase a second pair if you do not have an old pair.
- Shower shoes
(recommended)
- Pens/Pencils
- Small scissors
- Bath towels (recommended)
- Eyeglass strap
(black)
- Sunscreen
(Seasonal – recommended)
- Toiletry kit
- Ruler
- Razor
- Black Briefcase/Backpack (beneficial)
- Alarm clock
- Hangers
- Shoeshine kit
- Notebook
- Laundry bag (recommended)
- Highlighters
- Laundry marker
-Lint roller/Brush
COURSE CONTENT(Back to Top)
Training will begin with in-processing. This includes uniform purchase, finance, personnel, immunizations, and dental processing. Any males or femails outside of Air Force hair standards will receive a military haircut to ensure compliance with Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel. Personal grooming standards can be found here.
Our curriculum is broken down into several areas.
-DRILL AND CEREMONIES:
We are going to teach you marching skills. This is the most effective method of moving a large mass of people from one area to another. In addition, it reinforces self-discipline, teamwork and leadership. We will give you the basic skills and expect you to practice them. Everyone must be able to effectively march (lead) a flight in drill.
-HEALTH AND FITNESS:
We cover the importance of maintaining a good physical fitness program. You will participate in a daily aerobic/anaerobic program. A fitness test will be administered near the end of training. You’ll be required to pass the fitness test to graduate with honors. Additionally, you will participate in several outdoor leadership laboratories requiring physical fitness.
-COMMUNICATION SKILLS (CS):
We will familiarize you with various forms of military correspondence and provide you opportunities to write military-style documents. Besides military correspondence, we will instruct you on the basics of military briefings and thus, you will be given the opportunity to give a short briefing. Your four to six minute briefing will cover an Air Force leader.
-PROFESSION OF ARMS (PA): You will learn proper military customs and courtesies, military dress and grooming standards for the proper wear of the uniform, the nature of the military profession with an emphasis on Air Force Officership, and the importance of professional relationships.
-MILITARY STUDIES AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES (MS):
You will learn the structure of the Department of Defense including the Department of the Air Force. You will also learn the concept of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force - the Air Forces guiding vision for how we are organized, trained, and equipped to deploy and sustain our aerospace forces for military operations overseas. As part of the International Security Studies, you will learn about the Air Force role in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW).
-LEADERSHIP STUDIES (LS):
This is the largest portion of our curriculum. You will study various leadership styles, problem solving techniques, and management tools. You will then have an opportunity to put some of them into practice during our many practical leadership exercises. Additionally, you will be trained in the importance of the Air Force Officer Honor Code as well as the Air Force Core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.
Primarily Monday through Friday, with studying, readings, and computer based training on the weekends. Trainee Group may organize weekend and after duty hours events. Expect to be very busy throughout the entire course.
Trainees are restricted to the OTS Complex on the first weekend and to a 120-mile radius around Montgomery Alabama when they have earned off-base privileges. Trainees are authorized to attend church off-base on the first weekend. However, off-base privileges may be revoked per direction of 23 TRS/CC for disciplinary reasons.
The “sample” schedule below will give you an idea of a typical summer training day. Physical conditioning will always be in the morning, but may be conducted inside.
0515-0615: Physical Conditioning
0615-0800: Personal Time and Breakfast
0800-1200: Training/Academics
1200-1300: Lunch/Student Wing Activities
1300-1700: Training/Academics
1700-1800: Evening Meal
1800-2200: Trainee Group Activities/Meetings 2200-2400: Personal Time or Sleep
All COT students, including Judge Advocates and Chaplains, are required to participate in a Air Expeditionary Force exercise. The students are trained and evaluated on medical readiness, Air Force Manual (AFM) 10-100 (Airman's Manual), and field leadership. AEF exercises foster team building, provide chances for trainees to excel as leaders, and ultimately provide mission orientation for real world contingency situations. If you require the use of prescription lenses, bring your eyeglasses and gas mask inserts (if you have them) with you. Due to the equipment that will be used during the AEF exercise, you must wear glasses. No contact lenses may be worn.
The first thing you have to decide is whether you are going to fly or drive. Maxwell AFB is located on the Westside of Montgomery.
Regardless of travel mode, carefully check to be sure you will arrive in Montgomery and check into billeting the day before the report date listed on the Class Dates link for the COT website. See specific reporting instructions listed below. If your orders or reservations have you arriving less than 1 day prior to the Class date, have your recruiter, Military Personnel Flight (MPF), or Air Force point of contact change/amend your orders immediately.
FLYING:
Go see your recruiter or your AFIT Program Manager (HPSP students). They will get the airline tickets for you. Military bus transportation from the airport to Maxwell is availableif at least four studetns will be riding. If you have a group awaiting transportation, call the military taxi dispatcher at (334)953-5038. Lastly, you may call any civilian taxi service. You must ensure they have access to Maxwell AFB. Be sure to get a receipt--this taxi ride is a reimbursable expense. The following directions are provided in case you decide to drive.
You should not make any travel arrangements to leave the Montgomery area prior to 4pm on your graduation day. Typically graduation events are complete by noon, but you should allow time for packing, checking out, transit, and security measures at the airport.
DRIVING (TO MAXWELL AFB)
: When approaching Montgomery from North on I-65, take exit #172 “DOWNTOWN CLAY ST” or from the South on I-65, take exit #172 “HERRON ST.” Follow the signs saying “Maxwell AFB” to Bell Street. Once on Bell Street, travel about one mile to the main gate. Ask the gate guard for directions or follow the signs to the Billeting Office.
If you are approaching Montgomery from the East on I-85, take the I-65 North exit. Instead of getting on I-65, stay to the right and exit “HERRON ST” exit #172. Follow the signs saying “Maxwell AFB” to Bell Street. Once on Bell Street, travel about one mile to the main gate. Ask the gate guard for directions or follow the signs to the Billeting Office.
If you are approaching Montgomery from the West from I-20 and U.S. 80, follow the signs to I-65 North. Follow I-65 North for approximately 3 miles until you see the exit for Maxwell AFB exit #172 "HERRON ST." Follow the signs saying "Maxwell AFB" to Bell Street. Once on Bell Street, travel about one mile to the main gate. Ask the gate guard for directions or follow the signs to the Billeting Office.
Maxwell AFB Lodging Office phone number is (334) 953-2055 or DSN493-2055.
It is mandatory that you live (this includes sleeping) in the OTS dormitories. Trainees will usually share a room with another trainee. There will be a security drawer in your room to lock up valuables. It is also highly recommended that you bring your own bath towels and washcloths in addition to the towels that you will purchase for physical conditioning while here at COT. Washers and dryers are available for student use at no charge. Custodial service for all rooms and community areas is provided six days a week, but you are responsible for the cleanliness of your room. Rooms are carpeted and furnished with minimal furniture. The rooms DO NOT have TVs, telephones, refrigerators, microwaves, bath towels, wash cloths, or coffee makers. There are TVs and phones in the common area day rooms.
You will be required to eat most meals at the dining facility while at COT. You will need small bills ($1s and $5s) to pay for your meals. No checks, travelers’ checks, or credit cards are accepted. Approximate cost per meal is $3. There will be times when meals in the dining facility are not feasible. In this case, you will purchase a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE). Costs will vary.
Smoking, use, and possession of tobacco products is prohibited while at COT (to include privilege periods). We highly encourage anyone who smokes or uses smokeless tobacco products to quit prior to attending COT.
Do not plan to attend COT if you’re pregnant. Contact your recruiter or AFIT program manager immediately if you become pregnant. The physical requirements placed on you at COT are demanding, and being pregnant will prevent you from completing training. If pregnancy is discovered after arrival at COT you may be removed from training.
Weekend travel will vary depending on the 23TRS/CC direction and/or hazardous weather conditions, but trainees are not authorized to stay off of the OTS Complex overnight during COT. During the couple of weekends you will not be allowed to travel off base. In addition, some training may occur during the weekends when you have off-base privileges. If there are no training requirements or restrictions on the weekend, you may travel only within a 120-mile radius from Montgomery. Bottom line: do not make any plans for traveling outside of the 120-mile radius during your time here without prior approval of the 23 TRS/CC.
While a student at COT, you will have access to routine and acute medical care on base. Procedures for emergency medical care during non-duty hours will be explained upon your arrival. While traveling to COT, if you experience an injury or illness that requires emergency care, report to the closest emergency room. If a military facility is nearby, use its emergency room. If not near a military base, a civilian emergency room may be utilized. Ensure you inform the medical staff that you are an active duty Air Force member, and they will bill the appropriate military hospital for your care. Do not report to a civilian hospital for routine or acute care while traveling, or you will be responsible for your own medical bills. An emergency is any situation that will result in loss of life, limb, or eyesight.
YOUR FAMILY’S MEDICAL CARE
If you have been issued a military identification card, you and your family (dependents) should have been enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) in order for them to obtain an ID card and have access to military facilities. If you have not been issued a military ID, you will be issued one as soon as possible after arriving at COT. At that time arrangements will be made to enroll your dependents in DEERS. Once in DEERS, your dependents are authorized medical care under CHAMPUS or TRICARE. While you are at COT, if your dependents require any medical care, they should contact the closest military hospital and ask for an appointment. If an appointment is not available, they may seek care from a civilian provider. Depending on the provider’s rates, CHAMPUS or TRICARE will pay up to eighty percent of the medical costs, and you will be responsible for the rest if the annual $150 deductible has been met. If the deductible has not been met, then you will be responsible for costs incurred.
If you have already reported to your permanent assignment before arriving at COT, you should have had the opportunity to enroll dependents in TRICARE Prime or Standard. If they are enrolled, they should contact their primary care manager (PCM) when in need of medical care. The PCM will provide appropriate instructions based on local rules governing medical treatment. If your dependents did not enroll in TRICARE Prime or Standard, they fall under TRICARE CHAMPUS rules. Should you have any further questions regarding TRICARE, please call 1-800-409-3950.
All trainees will be provided with a government laptop computer, however you are encouraged to bring your personal laptop if you have one. Personal computers will NOT be plugged into the military network and may have limited internet access.
While at COT you will be required to wear Blues, ABU's or PT gear unless you are exercising off-base privileges on the weekend. You should bring a couple of changes of conservative civilian attire for attending flight dinners and outtings with your classmates, ect.
You are allowed to wear contact lenses during training, however, there are some field events that do not allow the wear of contact lenses. Please make sure you have a suitable pair of eyeglasses for these events. Ey glasses worn during training must meet the standards outlined in AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance. Standards regarding the style and wear of eye glasses can be found here.
