Air Force/Space Force ROTCVerifiedDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at University of Memphis
Yes — University of Memphis hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 785 University of Memphis. Students from 3 partner schools also join it cross-town.
Detachment 785 University of Memphis · Tigers · 785
AFROTC in Memphis, TN runs out of University of Memphis as the Detachment 785 University of Memphis.
About this program
Operating out of University of Memphis, Detachment 785 University of Memphis commissions cadets into the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force under Air Force ROTC (Holm Center). Cadre and cadets commonly identify by the unit's nickname — the Tigers. The program traces its lineage on this campus to 1972.
Cadets from Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, LeMoyne-Owen College, and Southwest Tennessee Community College cross-enroll into Detachment 785 University of Memphis on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the University of Memphis campus. AFROTC General Military Course (GMC) and Professional Officer Course (POC) blocks both flow through the host detachment, with consortium shuttles or carpools handling the commute.
Funding paths into this detachment include AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) and AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), with AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state) also available. University of Memphis's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and biology and pre-health programs give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
Scholarships at this unit
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 and partner schools
Students at these schools can join Detachment 785 University of Memphis. They travel to University of Memphis for training.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Memphis.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Memphis.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Memphis.
Contact this unit
ROTCScholar is an independent directory. We do not run Detachment 785 University of Memphis, and we cannot answer questions about it. The details below belong to the unit. Use them to reach the unit directly.
We do not have an email address for this unit.
Use the phone number or official site below if we have one. If not, look for the Air Force ROTC program on the University of Memphis website. If you know the unit's email, tell us and we will add it.
Location: University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Does University of Memphis have Air Force ROTC?
Yes — University of Memphis hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 785 University of Memphis. Students from 3 partner schools also join it cross-town.
Is Detachment 785 University of Memphis a host unit or cross-town?
Detachment 785 University of Memphis is the host unit, based at University of Memphis. Students at 3 partner schools join it cross-town and train at University of Memphis.
Where is Detachment 785 University of Memphis located?
Detachment 785 University of Memphis is hosted at University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Memphis campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 785 University of Memphis?
In addition to University of Memphis, students enrolled at Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, LeMoyne-Owen College, and Southwest Tennessee Community College can contract through Detachment 785 University of Memphis 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 785 University of Memphis?
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 785 University of Memphis?
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 785 University of Memphis?
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.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 785 University of Memphis?
Yes. Detachment 785 University of Memphis takes cross-town and partner students from 3 other schools, including Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, LeMoyne-Owen College. See the cross-town section above for distances and how to enroll.
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