Christopher Parks, a sophomore foreign language major, saw acadet in uniform and decided to look into joining the Air ForceRegistered Officers Training Corps.

“I have family in all four branches of the Armed Forces,and it was always something I wanted to do,” Parks said

Both Army and Air Force ROTC programs are offered to SMUstudents at the UTD and UNT. Parks, who joined the AFROTC thisspring, can pursue his goal of working in Air Force intelligence asa foreign language specialist.

Out of 130 Air Force cadets in the program, 10 are from SMU.

“Our numbers have been doubling from year to year,”said Maj. Dave Brown of the AFROTC, Detachment 835 at theUniversity of North Texas. “We are hoping to double innumbers again this fall.”

The new resurgence in the program is due mainly to advertisingand exposure. The cadets earn points for every day their uniform isworn. When people see them, they realize that ROTC is an option,Brown said.

Students who are enrolled in the classes must provide their owntransportation to the UNT or UTD campuses, but the program coversall other fees. Uniforms, books and scholarships are available forcadets.

ROTC programs are designed to teach students leadership, whichis helpful in both the military and corporate world, Brown said.Students can enroll in two or four-year programs, have scholarshipopportunities, and are guaranteed a job as a commissioned member ofthe armed forces upon graduation.

To be involved in the program, an SMU cadet must travel to UNTevery Wednesday to participate in an academic class (Aerospace I),leadership lab, and one physical training session. The other tworequired PT sessions can be completed in the cadet’s freetime.

The classes cover everything from the history of the Air Forceto the proper etiquette required when saluting a superior.

“The classes are really interesting, it is great to learnfrom someone who has experienced the Air Force first hand,”Cadet Kristin Smith, a first-year at SMU said. “The firstyear courses are designed to ensure the Air Force is the right fitfor you.”

Smith has received a scholarship to participate in the AFROTCprogram and is working toward becoming a pilot.

Only cadets, who are commissioned or accept scholarships, arerequired to serve upon graduation. Students may enroll in theclasses with no obligation to serve.

“Students with leadership training are in high demand inthe civilian sector,” Brown said.

The benefits of an AFROTC program can be felt before graduation,Parks said.

“Association with the military changes the firstimpression that you give. I have only been involved for a fewweeks, but when I wear my uniform, people you don’t even knowtake pride in what you are doing,” Parks said.

SMU has not had an AFROTC detachment on campus since the early1970s when the government cut funding and closed bases anddetachments around the United States.

For more information about the AFROTC program, visitwww.unt.edu/afrotc.