Choose Det 90
Choose Det 90
Detachment 90 is home to over 200 cadets, all of which are students in Northern Colorado. Cadets are enrolled in Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College, and Front Range Community College. We come from all sorts of places and backgrounds, but we all share one common goal: To become officers in the United States Air Force.
Check out our opportunities to learn more about some opportunities you’ll have if you join Detachment 90, or check out our history to learn more about Detachment 90’s past.
History of Det 90
The Colorado Agricultural College (CAC), the predecessor to Colorado State University (CSU), was established in 1870 as a land grant institution. Nine years later, on September 1, 1879, CAC President Elijah Evan Edwards welcomed the first five military science students to the college. In 1916, Congress passed the National Defense Act, which created the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). A few months later CAC applied to establish an ROTC unit in Fort Collins.
Between WWI and WWII, enrollment in the program grew steadily as did the school’s enrollment. The college began to offer tuition-free national defense courses through its engineering program and made improvements to its airfield and ROTC facilities. On October 22, 1946, General of the Armies Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chief of Staff, signed General Order No. 124. This order created separate entities for Army and Air ROTC units. CSU, then named Colorado A&M, was among the first schools to have an Air ROTC unit. In 1947 the newly created independent U.S. Air Force assumed responsibility for the Air ROTC unit and Detachment 90, AFROTC was born. In the decades since its inception, AFROTC has become an integral part of CSU. The 2017-2018 school year marked 100 years of Army ROTC and 70 years of Air Force ROTC at CSU. Both programs have produced over 5000 commissioned officers.
The University of Northern Colorado had its own Air Force ROTC program, Detachment 100, up until 1987 when a decrease in enrollment resulted in a merger with Detachment 90.
Historic Photos
The first photo was likely taken around 1890, before the cadets were required to have a military uniform. This may be the oldest known photo showing military training at Colorado State University.
The second image depicts cadets at a training encampment in the spring of 1921. There they will learn and practice many of the skills necessary to be a good officer in the field. Field Training Exercises (FTX) such as this are re-emerging as a vital part of leadership training at Detachment 90.
This image is of the military science building. Built to replace the wooden military buildings destroyed several months earlier by a fire, it was originally called the “R.O.T.C. Headquarters and Classroom Building.” Designed by architect Eugene Groves, its construction gave the department its new main building that was part of a network of military facilities, such a storage sheds, pistol range, stables, and garages, which over the years emerged south of University Avenue. During the late 1950s many of these structures were torn down or moved to make way for campus modernization. We still use the same building today, with some technological improvements (and a newer second floor).
Opportunities at Det 90
Base Visits
Det 90 organizes one-to-two visits to nearby Air Force bases per year. On these visits, cadets will get the chance to stay on the base for several days and experience multiple Air Force career fields and missions.
Cadets visit research labs, hangars or air fields and get up close with aircraft, tour weapon facilities, and possibly get hands-on with the equipment. You also gain exposure to the many benefits of having access to or living on an Air Force base.
Base visits don’t cost anything for cadets. All you have to do is sign up when you hear about it.
Incentive Flights
Cadets will occasionally have the opportunity to go on familiarization flights in military aircraft. These usually happen alongside base visits but have been scheduled throughout the year as well.
Cadets who are interested need to keep their ears open, opportunities will come up out of nowhere! And there is typically some medical screening that goes along with it.
These flights are a great way to experience a big part of what the Air Force is all about.
Civil Air Patrol Orientation Flights
All Det 90 cadets have the extremely valuable benefit of flying up to four free flight hours in a civilian aircraft with a certified flight instructor. This is all thanks to our local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) unit, which provides this opportunity to our cadets.
If you are unsure about whether you want to be a pilot, this is a great way to find out. It is also a great way to log flight hours and gain good hands on experience.
Either way, it is an amazing opportunity and cadets take full advantage of it. The flight instructors love to do it too.
Professional Development Training (PDT) Opportunities
Professional Development Training (PDT) includes a wide range of opportunities for cadets. Some simply require a sign up and others require applications to be submitted. PDTs are military training or work opportunities, and there are lots available. Some of these include:
- Opportunities to work on base with active duty officers
- Internships and learning opportunities all across the country
- Technology based programs
- Language based programs
- Jump school
- Cyber security exercises
- Leadership symposiums and conferences