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Unit History

A black and white photo of twenty three young men wearing U.S. Air Force uniforms. The men are arranged in three rows.
The first AFROTC Det 225 graduating class, 1949

1947: After its inception as a separate military service, the US Air Force established an Air Force ROTC four-year commissioning program at the University of Notre Dame.

1972: Beginning with the freshman class of 1972, women were fully integrated into life at Notre Dame. Two women were enrolled in AFROTC.

1990: The three Notre Dame ROTC branches moved into their new state-of-the-art home—Pasquerilla Center.

1993: A Cadet Joint Staff was created with the cadet chair coming from the year’s lead service. Joint cadet operations began with the 1993–1994 academic year. Key events include: POW/MIA Retreat, Veterans Day Retreat, Joint Ball, Annual Presidential Parade and Awards Ceremony, and Commissioning.

Current status: The Department of Aerospace Studies is under the jurisdiction of the University Provost. The Department Chairman/Professor of Aerospace Studies reports to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies.

Detachment 225 was awarded the Air Force Right-of-Line Award in 1983, 1985, and 1990, recognizing it as the top unit in the nation.