Air Force reduces number of officer training students

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 8:57 a.m.

Growth in Air Force ROTC at colleges has reduced the number of officers the Air Force needs to commission through officer training school, the commander of Air Education and Training Command announced recently.

Gen. Don Cook said the number of officers commissioned through ROTC has grown by about 300 annually, and ROTC continues to be a steady source for officer accessions entering active duty. As a result, the general said, reducing the number of officer training school students will help return the school to the flexible commissioning program it was designed to be.

During the past few years, officer training school has been performing at peak capacity, which meant the school could not provide any flexibility for officer accession and strength, Cook said. In fiscal 2002 more than 1,900 second lieutenants received their commissions from the basic officer course at the training school. The program course load was projected to be 1,780.

Air Force Recruiting Service officials said the more than 200 applicants who have already met an Air Force selection board to attend officer training school will not lose their slots, but may have class dates delayed up to 12 months. Officials, however, expect most candidates will be offered class dates by August or September 2003.

Hankins said the Air Force Recruiting Service and ROTC are still in the market for qualified officer candidates with scientific and technical talents to fill openings in much-needed specialty fields such as medical, health science, scientific, engineering and physics.

Air Force recruiters are also still accepting applications for officer training school from qualified candidates to fill flying-related positions such as pilot, navigator, weapons system officer and air battle manager, regardless of degree area, said Col. Dwayne Hafer, director of officer accessions for Air Force Recruiting Service.

Air Force honors

Airman Landon McLaughlin, Palo Verde High School class of 2001, recently earned distinction as an honor graduate upon completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, McLaughlin, the son of Nina McLaughlin and Ron McLaughlin, both of Las Vegas, studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

He also earned credits toward an associate's degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

In brief