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Detachment 400 Michigan State University · Spartans · 400
Spartans is the AFROTC detachment at Michigan State University in Michigan.
About this program
Air Force ROTC Detachment 380, the "Spartan Warriors," was established in 1946 and is based at Michigan State University in East Lansing. The program prepares college students to earn a commission as officers in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force while completing their degrees.
The detachment is a regional program: in addition to MSU students, it supports cadets from Western Michigan University, Olivet College, and Lansing Community College, and its cadet corps averages around 100 cadets drawn from these five institutions. Joining incurs no service commitment up front, so students can explore the program before deciding to pursue a commission.
Training emphasizes hands-on leadership. Classes run as seminars built around active discussion, and cadets help run their own cadet wing through a mandatory weekly two-hour Leadership Laboratory, taking on corps positions with increasing responsibility over four years. Cadets also take part in physical training, leadership projects, visits to Air Force bases, and orientation flights.
Scholarships available here
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
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Detachment 400 Michigan State University by commuting to Michigan State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Michigan State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Michigan State University.
Contact & location
Email: airforce@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-2168
Site: https://afrotc.msu.edu
Located at: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1046
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 400 Michigan State University located?
Detachment 400 Michigan State University is hosted at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Michigan State University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 400 Michigan State University?
In addition to Michigan State University, students enrolled at Lansing Community College and Olivet College can contract through Detachment 400 Michigan State University via cross-town agreements. Cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through Detachment 400 Michigan State University?
AFROTC cadets at this detachment compete for AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition), AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state), ICSP (in-college). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the AFROTC summer training for cadets at Detachment 400 Michigan State University?
Between sophomore and junior year, cadets compete for slots at AFROTC Field Training at Maxwell AFB — the gate that converts a GMC cadet into a POC contracted cadet.
How big is the corps at Detachment 400 Michigan State University?
Public corps-size figures aren't always published year-to-year; AFROTC detachments in this size class generally carry between several dozen and a few hundred contracted cadets depending on host enrollment.
When was Michigan State's Air Force ROTC founded, and what is it called?
Detachment 380, known as the "Spartan Warriors," was established at Michigan State University in 1946.
Which schools does Detachment 380 support?
Besides Michigan State, the detachment supports cadets from Western Michigan University, Olivet College, and Lansing Community College, with a corps averaging around 100 cadets across the five institutions.
What's the corps size at Detachment 400 Michigan State University?
Detachment 400 Michigan State University has an approximate corps size of 100 cadets.
Interested in Detachment 400 Michigan State University?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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