These summer programs are available on a competitive basis to AFROTC cadets:

Air Force Academy Freefall (AFAFF) A twelve-day parachute-training program conducted at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO. The course is comprised of strenuous physical training, conditioning, ground school, and five freefall jumps from 4,500 feet. Cadets completing the program are awarded a basic parachutist rating.

Air Force Academy Soaring (SOAR) A fifteen-day program designed to give cadets the opportunity to experience the basic fundamentals of flight in non-powered glider operations. Training is conducted at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) at Colorado Springs, CO. Cadets receive instruction in basic flight through ground school and actual flight, leading up to and possibly including cadet solo. Cadets can expect eight to fifteen flights while spending five hours each day on the flight line. The majority of instruction is conducted by upper class USAFA cadets trained as instructors. The program assumes cadets have no previous flight experience.

Operation Air Force (Ops AF) A three-week program designed to educate cadets on the workings of operational units and to acquaint them with the everyday tasks, activities, and perceptions of Air Force personnel. Training is conducted in locations worldwide. The beginning of the program is an orientation to the activities that make up the mission of the hosting base. Cadets are then matched to a junior officer, ideally in their chosen career field, to observe and work together for the program's remainder.

Global Engagement (GE) Located at the U.S. Air Force Academy is designed to provide cadets the fundamentals of contingency operations. During this program you will be exposed to support career fields such as Security Forces, Civil Engineering and Services. This 15-day program will show you bare-base deployment concepts used in today’s Air Force.

Space Orientation (SO) is to orient cadets to the fundamentals of space power applications, capabilities and employment. Located at the U.S. Air Force Academy, cadets will explore current AF space mission areas to include hands-on experience with selected operational space capabilities as well as classroom instruction. Completion of this 10-day program authorizes the wearing of the Cadet Basic Space Badge.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) under the National Security Education Program (NSEP) established by the Department of Defense (DoD) awards grants to universities to establish language and cultural immersion programs. Universities that receive the grant and establish such a program individually run their programs as their own. Cadets can apply to these programs as they become available.

Operation Air Force - OSI (OPS AF-OSI) This program is aimed at cadets interested or selected for the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) career field. This program requires a secret security clearance. The intent of this program is to shadow an OSI officer and make every attempt to accomplish your career field interview (necessary for entrance into OSI).

Cadet Combatives Course (CCC) The objective of the Cadet Combatives Course is to educate, train and produce an officer of character with a warrior ethos and an expeditionary mindset, dedicated to serve the nation and prepared to lead Airmen in the 21st century. This training is physically and mentally challenging. During this 12-day course, cadets will receive individualized hand-to-hand unarmed combat training at Kansas State University. Cadets must have a Physical Fitness Assessment score of 85 or higher.

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Summer Research Program (SRP) Located in Chantilly, VA, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Summer Research Program (SRP) plays a critical role in developing future officers to become the next-generation of intelligence and acquisition leaders through education, problem solving and on-the-job training while supporting classified national priorities.

Cadet Cultural Immersion Program (CCIP) The objective of the Cadet Cultural Immersion Program is to enhance cross-cultural skills by exposing cadets to different cultures and languages. This program does not have a language requirement. A passport (and possible visa) is required upon selection. This is a 2-week program where cadets in the past have traveled to Brazil, Czech Republic, India, Morocco, South Africa, or Turkey.

Olmsted Cultural Immersion Program (OCIP) is a two-week program managed by the U.S. Air Force Academy in which Air Force ROTC cadets travel with USAFA cadets to a non-English speaking country and are exposed to foreign cultures and languages.

Advanced Course in Engineering (ACE) is a 10-week program designed to expose cadets to advanced engineering technologies at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY while providing work experience and officer development.

Nurse Orientation Program (NOP) participants travel to Wilford Hall Medical Center (Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas) where they receive four weeks of hands-on training and practical knowledge in a variety of nursing disciplines. You must be accepted into a valid nursing program at your university to be eligible for this program. This program is designed to serve as an internship in an active duty Air Force hospital.

Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program (CSLIP) is a four-week program designed for cadets with at least two full years of college-level studies in a specific foreign language. This program is managed by the U.S. Air Force Academy and has previously focused on Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian.