Affiliated Organizations

In addition to the close relationship between our two groups, Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings are formally affiliated with three other organizations: Air Force ROTC, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Air Force Association. These organizations share our interest in aerospace power, the United States Air Force, and service to communities across America. By affiliating our societies with these groups, the positive impact of all of the organizations’ activities is dramatically increased.

Air Force ROTC and the U.S. Air Force Academy

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, or AFROTC, and United States Air Force Academy, or USAFA, are two of the three paths to a career as an Air Force officer. AFROTC consists of hundreds of training detachments at colleges and universities across the nation, each hosting a variety of programs and scholarships to ensure that a broad cross-section of college students have an opportunity to serve in the Air Force. The USAFA is a four-year military academy that immerses its students in an Air Force environment while offering challenging bachelor’s degrees in a variety of disciplines. The USAFA and many AFROTC detachments host an AAS squadron; many AFROTC detachments also host a Silver Wings chapter, as well.

While AAS-SW, AFROTC, and USAFA are separate and unique organizations, each plays a key role in supporting the others. Our organizations offer a wide variety of leadership opportunities to AFROTC and USAFA not just at each university, but also at regional and nationwide levels, improving the quality of officer candidates. In addition, the nationwide AAS AFROTC Affairs Committee provides direct feedback to AFROTC Headquarters to improve the program feedback that has resulted in a number of changes being implemented nationwide. In addition, the interaction between SW members and AFROTC instructors and staff ensure that our future civilian and military leaders have a mutual understanding and trust that is vital to our nation’s long-term security.

The Air Force Association

The Air Force Association is a national, independent, non-profit aerospace power advocacy organization. Although the AAS/AFA affiliation is a close one, it is the stated policy of both organizations that each shall remain at all times an independent entity.

Under the affiliation, active and inactive members of AAS become cadet members of the AFA. The AAS members receive a subscription to Air Force Magazine, the official monthly publication of the AFA, and may participate in the many privileges of AFA membership.
The affiliation also allows for working agreements to be established between local AAS and AFA units. Many AAS squadrons enjoy strong ties to local AFA units, with members of both organizations attending many of the other organization’s functions. These types of relationships provide AAS members with a powerful resource for aerospace advocacy and community service.

Liaison Relationships

In addition to these formal affiliations, AAS-SW units may also form liaisons with other organizations that support aerospace power and the national defense, such as:

• Civil Air Patrol The civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
• Explorers Many units work with Explorer Posts of the Boy Scouts of America that focus on aerospace subjects.
• Air Force Junior ROTC This high-school program uses some aspects of Air Force military training to improve citizenship skills.
• POW/MIA Awareness AAS supports the efforts of recognized organizations which have the goal of honoring the sacrifices made by American prisoners of war (POW) and combatants who are missing in action (MIA).