Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Advanced Course in Engineering (ACE) Cyber Security Bootcamp is an immersive cyber warfighting and leadership summer internship available to undergraduate students, ROTC Cadets, select active duty of similar experience, and select international officers and cadets.  The curriculum covers leadership during crisis situations, the science of mission assurance, the art of cyber warfare, and written/verbal communication skills. Interns gain a deep understanding of the impact of their leadership, followership, and problem-solving skills on individual and team success in a contested cyber battlespace. For more information, visit here.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: the AFRL ACE Internship will accept up to 25 qualified AFROTC cadets for 
this program at the AFRL labs in Rome, NY. Typically rising juniors or seniors in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Math, or similar technical degree. Must be secret clearance eligible, however, current valid clearance is not required

I went through ACE the summer after my junior year. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was truly an amazing opportunity. The instructors and mentors there are extremely committed and are all technical experts in their respective fields. The program will push you mentally and physically in ways you most certainly will not expect. I grew not just in my technical proficiencies but in my leadership abilities as well. If you want to do anything in the cyber realm I encourage you to apply. I am very willing to discuss my experience if you have any questions, please reach out.

-C/Whartenby

The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Summer Program is an opportunity for soon-to-be Striker 2dLts to spend two weeks at one of the Air Force’s major commands. Through this program cadets will gain a better understanding of the AFGSC mission through a three-week immersion into the command while experiencing a basic knowledge of AF base operations (support, operations and maintenance). Provide a basic understanding of why US nuclear capabilities are necessary for American, our allies, and partner’s security. Selected cadets will travel to AFGSC HQ at Barksdale AFB, LA and also visit Dyess AFB, TX and Malmstrom AFB, MT.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: 16 total US Citizen and AS300/AS400 cadets with an AFSC in Support Nuclear, Core Nuclear, or Rated; adjudicated SECRET clearance, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

I got to spent a lot of time talking to many different officers about their jobs, and received briefings about current events and leadership skills. I loved the entire trip, and I came out of it with a way better understanding of how active duty life and careers work. You also get to see/ride in a lot of cool planes and weapons systems if you’re interested in that.

-C/Thomas

The Azimuth program is a 3-week United States Space Force immersive experience, located at the United States Air Force Academy. Azimuth will inspire and motivate cadets who are interested in learning more about the Space Force. Experiences may include local trips, classified sessions, rocket building, scuba, and parabolic flights. The program is held at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO.

 Expected Cadet Eligibility: 150 USSF EA cadets (50 per session). Azimuth is 100% attendance opportunity for AFROTC USSF EA cadets. Azimuth takes priority over all other summer ODTs. If deconfliction of dates is unable to be accomplished, cadet should attend Azimuth. Cadets must have an adjudicated TOP SECRET clearance.

Azimuth is a great experience for Space Force selected cadets to get hands on experience with equipment and missions they will encounter on active duty at the classified level. It is a mix between capstone experiences like Zero-G Flights, Scuba, and SWOC, squadron visits, hands on learning with the satellite operation program (and a chance to earn you Cadet Space Wings), and general space education.

-C/Homes

The Field Engineering Readiness Lab (FERL) is a 3-week program which provides the opportunity for selected cadets to experience the mission, methods, and techniques used by Air Force Civil Engineers (CE). This course emphasizes the practical applications of CE principles and immerses cadets in the CE mission, building structures, designing bases, rebuilding airfields and repairing critical infrastructure for Air Force operations. The program is held at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO. 

 Expected Cadet Eligibility: AS300 cadets or above. Cadets must be enrolled in a CE feeder degree program: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Chemical, Environmental, Aeronautical Engineering, or Construction Management, etc. and have strong interest/intent in pursuing the 32E AFSC.

This internship is part of a larger effort from the 67 Cyberspace Wing to increase talent within the Cyber Mission Forces (CMF) through recruiting and interestgenerating efforts. The Cyber Camp is an opportunity for AFROTC cadets to shadow and assist developers at the 90th COS at their state-of-the art office space (Shadow’s Edge or SHED) in downtown San Antonio, TX. The 90th COS is the only native unit in the Air Force responsible for generating technical capabilities for the CMF.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: Approximately 5 AS300 or higher cadets with a projected commissioning date in FY25 or later.

Fly NATO is a program in which cadets will experience flying operations at Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB and proceed to Europe to visit NATO headquarters and experience NATO E-3 AWACS flying operations.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: 14 top-performing AS300 cadets (or AS400 cadets in a 5-year major not graduating in Fall 24) selected for or highly competitive for a Rated AFSC. Cadets must have a passport and an adjudicated SECRET clearance.

One of the coolest opportunities I've ever had!! Learned SO much about NATO, got to go to ENJJPT and Italy (!!!) and am still in contact with my Fly NATO group. Our Italy group had 6 of us and we are still pretty close :)

-C/Beirne

The USAFA Freefall summer program is run by USAFA cadet instructors and is one of the only freefall schools in the country where your first jump is solo, rather than tandem. The program consists of intensive pre-jump training and 5 freefall jumps from 4,500 AGL. This class is mentally and physically demanding. The program is held at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: Approximately 117 AS100 or AS300 cadets (preference to AS300s). Must weigh less than 215 lbs (with uniform and boots on), be able to pass a “Flexed Arm Hang” assessment and be evaluated and cleared for flight ops by an Air Force medical flight examiner. 

Gathering of Eagles (GOE) is an annual educational event geared to allow the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) student body to learn from and honor men and women (Eagles) who have made significant contributions to air, space and cyberspace power. The mission of GOE is to Honor Heritage, Serve Community, and Forge Futures. The event is planned and administered by ACSC students. ROTC cadets selected to attend will be aligned with an officer to assist/observe them execute the week’s events. They will also attend many events as guests to include the opening ceremony and Eagle presentations. For more information on GOE, visit here.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: Approximately 12 AS300 or AS400 (five-year program) cadets. Additionally, the 2 GOE scholarship winners will attend.

I think this is an underappreciated ODT! I did it at the end of my Junior year and really enjoyed it. GOE is the capstone of command and general staff college where some of the Majors who are about to be Lt Cols plan a big speaker series with signings, lunches, and fancy dinners. AFROTC cadets get to shadow and help out with logistics (chairs, cleaning, picking up food, setting up and tearing down rooms, selling merch, etc) There are officers of every AFSC present that want to chat with and mentor cadets(I got to speak to a 61D-nuclear physicist which is basically like a unicorn). The speakers themselves are also heavy hitters, and you will get to have personal interaction with them at a special dinner and in the green room prior to their speeches. During this ODT I met literal war heroes, went on a morning jog with an astronaut, spoke with the first Commander of the Space Force (yes General Raymond), and met one of the most decorated female aerobatics pilots of all time. The UOD is polos and khakis which means you don't have to live in fear of missing salutes which is hugely nice too.

-C/Nester

The annual National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) is the United States Air Force Academy’s (USAFA) flagship event on character and leadership. It brings together distinguished scholars, military leaders, corporate executives and world-class athletes to motivate and equip participants for honorable living and effective leadership.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: 100 cadets between the ages of 18 – 26.

NCLS is an awesome opportunity to hear from the top leaders across the DoD! It's a four day experience at USAFA focusing on a different topic each year, but military specific attendees/speakers my year included the CMSGT of USAF and USSF, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Secretary of Defense. Other speakers included Capt Sully Sullivan (who landed the plane on the Hudson river in NYC), the pilots from the last plane out of Afghanistan, and several similar speakers. Overall, a great opportunity for cadets seeking leadership and life exposure to real missions in the AF and the realities of being a USAF or USSF officer.

-C/Homes

Project Global Officer (GO)

 Project Global Officer (GO) is an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) administered by the Institute of International Education. Project GO provides opportunities for ROTC cadets and midshipmen to engage in intensive language instruction and cultural immersion conducted in the U.S. and overseas in strategic languages. The U.S. military needs future officers who possess the necessary critical language and cross-cultural communication skills required for effective leadership in the operational environment. Project GO scholars study the following critical languages in domestic and/or overseas programs: Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, and Turkish. For more information, visit here.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: Depends on the program and language.

Enjoyed both study abroad opportunities and can speak to more specific questions individually (Ie, workload, day to day class schedule, etc.) Let me know if there are any questions! 

-C/Peters

C/Robinson

The Introduction to Soaring (Soar) program immerses cadets in the largest glider operation in the world. Soar provides a motivational experience for cadets in the TG-16A glider familiarizing them with aircraft controls, airfield procedures, and the fundamentals of flight in an unpowered aircraft. The program is held at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, Colorado. There will be three sessions with dates from Jun – Aug.

Expected Cadet Eligibility: Approximately 25 AS100 or AS300 cadets (preference to AS300s). Must weigh less than 242 lbs (with uniform and boots on) and be evaluated and cleared for flight ops by an Air Force medical flight examiner.

I loved SOAR!! It was so cool to fly gliders and hang out with a tonnnnn of academy cadets. There were only 10 ROTC cadets with 70 USAFA cadets, plus another 30 USAFA cadets who were our instructors (IPs), so you will definitely meet a lot of USAFA kids. As fun as it was, 2 pieces of warning/advice:

1) it takes a lot of paperwork to get clearance to fly, and it’s super slow processing it. Even though we met every deadline way ahead of time, all the ROTC cadets missed out on the first 3 days of flying bc of the processing so be prepared to do a lot paperwork and still not be fully ready by the start.

2) be prepared to not fly as much as you expect, and to fight to get onto the flight schedule. The weather is Colorado is super variable, and the IPs have a lot of people to fly. They try to make flight time as equal as possible, BUT if you make friends with the IPs, you might get to fly more :)

Moral of the story: Make friends and have fun no matter what!! It was super cool even tho it wasn’t a perfect experience, I still talk to the peeps I went with :)

-C/Schmidt