Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute
Hosted at Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA
Since 1972, Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute has run AFROTC at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA.
Quick facts
About this program
Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute sits inside Virginia Military Institute as the campus's AFROTC detachment. AFROTC has been on this campus since 1972. 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.
Washington and Lee University are the cross-town partner schools feeding Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute. 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, Virginia Military Institute draws cadets into history and the humanities as well as mathematics and applied analytics, and the cadre work directly with academic advising on time-conflict resolution between ROTC and major requirements.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | cross-town | 0.3 mi | — |
Scholarships available
Tuition + fees capped at $18,000/yr, plus $900/yr textbook allowance and monthly stipend ($300-$500); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, GPA 3.3. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026. Award type is fixed at selection - no upgrades.
Service obligation: 4 years
In-College Scholarship Program for freshmen/sophomores already enrolled in AFROTC. Merit-based with fall and spring selection phases; same capped/uncapped structure as HSSP plus the $10,000/yr housing conversion. The General Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA) covers non-scholarship cadets who receive an enrollment allocation.
Service obligation: 4 years
Tuition + fees capped at $36,000/yr, plus $900/yr textbook allowance and monthly stipend ($300-$500); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). Type 4 replaced the old in-state Type 7 award in the current HSSP structure. AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, GPA 3.3. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026.
Service obligation: 4 years
Full tuition with no cap + $900/yr textbook allowance + monthly stipend ($300 freshman to $500 senior); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). Most competitive tier. AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, unweighted GPA 3.3, single test sitting. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026; two boards (Oct 2026, Mar 2027). 4-year active-duty obligation (longer for rated career fields).
Service obligation: 4 years
Academic programs at Virginia Military Institute
Cadets at Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute pursue degrees across Virginia Military Institute's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See Virginia Military Institute'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
Email: afrotc@vmi.edu
Phone: 540-464-7591
Site: https://www.vmi.edu/afrotc
Address: Lexington, VA 24450-0304
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute located?
- Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute is hosted at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA 24450-0304.
- What's the corps size at Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute?
- Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute has an approximate corps size of 140 cadets.
- Can students at other schools join Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute?
- Yes — Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute accepts cross-town and partner students from 1 other institution, including Washington and Lee University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute as any major?
- Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Virginia Military Institute. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- When was Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute founded?
- Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute was established in 1972.
- How do I contact Detachment 643B Virginia Military Institute?
- Reach the unit at afrotc@vmi.edu. Phone: 540-464-7591. Official site: https://www.vmi.edu/afrotc.
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