Detachment 780 South Dakota State University
Hosted at South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD
AFROTC at South Dakota State University commissions officers alongside University of South Dakota cross-town students.
Quick facts
About this program
Detachment 780 South Dakota State University sits inside South Dakota State University as the campus's AFROTC detachment. AFROTC has been on this campus since 1951. The mission is straightforward — produce U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force officers — and the cadre run a four-year curriculum to do exactly that.
University of South Dakota and Dakota State University are the cross-town partner schools feeding Detachment 780 South Dakota State University. Det leadership runs a single training schedule for the consortium, and all cadets — host and partner — show up to the same PT, lab, and AS classes.
Cadets pursue HSSP Type 1, Type 2, or Type 7 awards as high-school seniors and the In-College Scholarship Program once they're contracted. Tech and rated-pilot slots run through the same detachment board cycle. On the academic side, South Dakota State University draws cadets into history and the humanities as well as nursing and health professions, and the cadre work directly with academic advising on time-conflict resolution between ROTC and major requirements.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
| Dakota State University , SD | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
Scholarships available
See the Air Force scholarship overview for the full slate of scholarships activatable at Detachment 780 South Dakota State University.
Academic programs at South Dakota State University
Cadets at Detachment 780 South Dakota State University pursue degrees across South Dakota State University's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See South Dakota State University's profile →
Training & summer
AFROTC cadets complete Field Training (FT) between sophomore and junior years at Maxwell AFB. Optional summer programs include Project GO language immersion and Operation Air Force shadowing.
Contact & location
Address: Brookings, SD
Recent news
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Detachment 780 South Dakota State University located?
- Detachment 780 South Dakota State University is hosted at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.
- Can students at other schools join Detachment 780 South Dakota State University?
- Yes — Detachment 780 South Dakota State University accepts cross-town and partner students from 2 other institutions, including University of South Dakota, Dakota State University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Detachment 780 South Dakota State University as any major?
- Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at South Dakota State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- When was Detachment 780 South Dakota State University founded?
- Detachment 780 South Dakota State University was established in 1951.
- How do I contact Detachment 780 South Dakota State University?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
Related programs
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