The Tennessee Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO) force is composed of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard officers located throughout Tennessee. Many LOs fulfill their duties as an additional duty to their Category A or B Reserve or ANG position, while others serve as full time LOs in limited Cat E slots. We even have a few active duty and retired officers serving in the unit. You do not have to be a graduate of the Air Force Academy to become an ALO.
Our primary job is serving as a link between students interested in applying to the Air Force Academy or for an Air Force ROTC scholarship. The majority of our time is spent visiting the schools, attending college fairs, talking with students and counselors, interviewing and providing written reports on Academy and AFROTC applicants, and attending various military-related functions in which we "show the uniform". You can usually make your own schedule. The heaviest demands on your time are generally from September through December. We have unit meetings once a year usually in August.
Each ALO is assigned an area with, on average, 10-12 high schools and the associated middle and elementary schools. Area assignments are based on the needs of the program with the individual's preferences taken into consideration. New LOs may be assigned an area anywhere in Tennessee and are expected to visit their schools on a regular basis. Area assignments are based on the needs of the unit and your longevity in the program.
The Liaison Officer position will allow you to maintain your association with the Air Force and earn points toward retirement. The satisfaction of assisting a young person in attaining a dream you probably had as a teenager is our greatest compensation. The Academy currently expects primary LOs to earn a minimum 48 points per year, exclusive of the 15 participation points. You must submit a monthly activity report to the LO Director. The Academy provides some postage stamps, but you will not be reimbursed for miles, gas, long distance telephone calls, etc. You can obtain a few paid man-days per year to help defray a portion of your expenses.
The selection process includes completing miscellaneous Air Force and Academy forms, obtaining OPRs, and completing an interview with the LO Director (Maj Stewart G. Anderson, III). If you are accepted in the program, there is a local training program usually held in conjunction with one of our annual meetings. You may be scheduled for a one week training program at the Academy at a later date.
If you are interested in joining our corps of dedicated officers or would like more information on the Liaison Officer program, please e-mail the ALO below that corresponds to your part of the state. Thanks again for your interest in our program.
