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Cornell AFROTCDetachment 520Ever Upward
Detachment 520 cadets in formation with their guidon on the Barton Hall floor beneath tall windows lettered Cornell University.

Detachment 520Cornell University

Cornell Air Force ROTC — Detachment 520

Detachment 520 mission

To recruit, educate, and develop cadets in a high-quality training environment and commission the strongest leaders for the United States Air Force and Space Force.

Cornell's Air Force Officer Education Program combines university coursework, leadership laboratory, and physical fitness training. It prepares students for the possibility of commissioning in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force, subject to current official requirements and decisions.

Explore how to joinView Cornell's Officer Education catalogView contact information

Current program information

This is Detachment 520's official website. Program information here follows current Air Force ROTC, Cornell, and Department of the Air Force guidance and is reviewed regularly. Eligibility, medical qualification, scholarship, contracting, commissioning, and assignment outcomes are decided case by case, so contact the detachment about your own circumstances.

Ever Upward

Detachment 520 at Cornell

Detachment 520 is Cornell's Air Force ROTC detachment, based in Barton Hall, with the motto Ever Upward. It includes Cornell University as host and four crosstown institutions — confirm current participation before making academic, registration, commuting, or travel decisions.

  • Host campus

    Cornell University

    Detachment 520 is based in Barton Hall, which also houses Cornell's Army and Naval ROTC programs.

    Learn about Detachment 520

  • Crosstown network

    Cornell plus four crosstown schools

    Binghamton University, Elmira College, Ithaca College, and SUNY Cortland participate alongside Cornell.

    See crosstown participation

  • Joint ROTC community

    The Tri-Service Brigade

    Cornell's Army, Naval, and Air Force ROTC programs share Barton Hall and joint traditions, including an annual 9/11 memorial physical-training session at Schoellkopf Field.

    Explore the Tri-Service Brigade

Official external sources

Go to the official sources

Cornell publishes its military-community history and resources beyond this site.

Cornell's Military Community
Cornell's campus skyline at dusk, with McGraw Tower and surrounding buildings lit against a deep blue sky.

Start with your academic situation

Students come to Air Force ROTC from different academic and service backgrounds. Find the description that fits you, then confirm your own situation with Detachment 520 and the current official sources.

Detachment 520 cadets in physical-training gear gathered on the Barton Hall floor beneath a Big Red banner.

The Cornell framework behind Detachment 520

Cornell's Air Force Officer Education Program combines Air and Space Studies coursework with leadership laboratory and physical fitness training.

Cadets in camouflage uniforms and face paint moving through a bare winter treeline during a field training exercise.

Scholarships and financial benefits

AFROTC publishes scholarship information for both high school and college students. Availability, application steps, eligibility, selection, benefits, and deadlines change from cycle to cycle, so this site links to the current official source instead of restating them.

Official external source · Air Force ROTC

View current official AFROTC scholarship information

Visit AFROTC.comCompare benefits and service commitments

Meeting the published application criteria does not guarantee consideration, selection, program entry, or commissioning.

Cadets running up the stadium steps at Schoellkopf Field during an evening physical-training session.

Air Force and Space Force pathways

Air Force ROTC develops officers for both the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force. The two services have distinct missions and career structures, and selection, commissioning, career field, training, and assignment outcomes all follow current official processes.

  • Official external source · United States Air Force

    Official United States Air Force website

    The official Air Force site describes the service's mission, career fields, and officer requirements.

    Visit af.mil

  • Official external source · United States Space Force

    Official United States Space Force website

    The official Space Force site describes the service's mission, career fields, and officer requirements.

    Visit spaceforce.mil
Guidon bearers move their flags into position during a formation in Barton Hall.

Take an informed next step

Review Cornell's current academic information and the official AFROTC requirements before making academic, financial, medical, enrollment, or service decisions.

  • How to Join

    The framework, the student pathways, and the questions that still need an individual answer.

    Review joining information

  • Cadet Life

    Coursework, leadership laboratory, field training, and the cadet organizations at Cornell.

    Explore cadet life

  • Official Resources

    Every Cornell and AFROTC source referenced across this site, in one list.

    Browse official resources

  • Contact Detachment 520

    Detachment 520 publishes a role-based email, a central phone number, and its Barton Hall office.

    View contact information
Cadets working together to move a plank across a wooden wall obstacle on the leadership reaction course.