STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State University and the Texan Corps of Cadets have partnered with the U.S. Air Force and Texas Christian University to offer aerospace studies and an opportunity to graduate as a commissioned officer.
The university said in a news release that starting this fall, cadets can enroll in TCU’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and compete for AFROTC scholarships while completing their degree at Tarleton. Qualifying cadets can graduate as commissioned second lieutenants in the Air Force.
“This is a great opportunity for Tarleton students,” said Dr. Alex del Carmen, executive director of the university’s School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies, home of the Department of Military Science and the Texan Corps of Cadets.
“We are excited about the partnership with Tarleton and the opportunity to become part of the university’s rich military history as we move forward together to provide an avenue for Texan cadets to pursue an Air Force commission,” Air Force Lt. Col. Darin Greg, professor of Aerospace Studies at TCU, said in the news release.
Enrollment in the General Military Course (first two years) is voluntary and does not obligate non-scholarship students to further military service. The Professional Officer Course (last two years) requires a service commitment and provides a monthly stipend to students completing their path to become an officer. AFROTC classes will take place on the TCU campus in Fort Worth.
Tarleton’s Texan Corp of Cadets originally started in 1917, when enrollment was required for all male students, and was reinstated in fall 2016.
– FWBP Staff