Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Tuskegee University
Detachment 020 Tuskegee University · Golden Tigers · 020
AFROTC in Alabama runs out of Tuskegee University as the Detachment 020 Tuskegee University.
About this program
Air Force ROTC Detachment 015 at Tuskegee University carries one of the most storied legacies in American military aviation. Air Force ROTC was established in 1946 at 78 colleges and universities, including what was then Tuskegee Institute — a campus already central to aviation history. During World War II, the Army Air Corps contracted with Tuskegee to conduct primary pilot training for African-Americans at nearby Moton Field, the only site in the nation where Black Americans could train to become military pilots.
The 992 aviators trained there were organized into the 332nd Fighter Group and became the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, who flew more than 1,500 missions and 15,000 sorties, destroyed 409 enemy aircraft, and earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Today's cadets — held to the Air Force values of Integrity, Service, and Excellence — train in that tradition, inspired by figures such as Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr.
The detachment welcomes students, including those entering as second-semester sophomores, and supports Tuskegee's many technical and non-technical degree programs. Scholarships cover tuition and laboratory expenses, provide a book stipend and a monthly allowance of $350–500, and include free room and board from Tuskegee University, alongside hands-on Leadership Laboratory and physical training.
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 020 Tuskegee University by commuting to Tuskegee University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Tuskegee University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Tuskegee University.
Contact & location
Email: lcepero@tuskegee.edu
Phone: 334-727-8372
Site: https://www.tuskegee.edu/afrotc
Located at: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088-1920
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 020 Tuskegee University located?
Detachment 020 Tuskegee University is hosted at Tuskegee University in Alabama. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Tuskegee University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 020 Tuskegee University?
In addition to Tuskegee University, students enrolled at Auburn University and Alabama State University can contract through Detachment 020 Tuskegee 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.
Is Tuskegee University an HBCU?
Yes — Tuskegee University is a Historically Black College or University. Detachment 020 Tuskegee University commissions officers from a population the services have actively prioritized in their accession-source mix.
What scholarships are available through Detachment 020 Tuskegee 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 020 Tuskegee 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.
What is the historical significance of Tuskegee's Air Force ROTC?
Tuskegee is the home of the Tuskegee Airmen: during WWII the Army Air Corps trained 992 African-American aviators at nearby Moton Field, who formed the 332nd Fighter Group, flew more than 1,500 missions, destroyed 409 enemy aircraft, and earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Air Force ROTC was established at Tuskegee in 1946.
What do the scholarships at Detachment 015 cover?
Air Force ROTC scholarships pay tuition and laboratory expenses, provide a book stipend and a monthly allowance of $350–500, and Tuskegee University adds free room and board for scholarship students.
What's the corps size at Detachment 020 Tuskegee University?
Detachment 020 Tuskegee University has an approximate corps size of 15 cadets.
Interested in Detachment 020 Tuskegee University?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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