Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at The University of Texas at El Paso
Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso · Miners · 850
Det 850 at The University of Texas at El Paso serves a 3-school AFROTC consortium in Texas.
About this program
Operating out of The University of Texas at El Paso, Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso 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 Miners. The program traces its lineage on this campus to 1947.
Cadets from El Paso Community College and New Mexico State University cross-enroll into Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the The University of Texas at El Paso 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. The University of Texas at El Paso's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and business and political science give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
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 850 The University of Texas at El Paso by commuting to The University of Texas at El Paso.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Contact & location
Located at: The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968-0691
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso located?
Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso is hosted at The University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, Texas. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the The University of Texas at El Paso campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso?
In addition to The University of Texas at El Paso, students enrolled at El Paso Community College and New Mexico State University can contract through Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso 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 850 The University of Texas at El Paso?
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 850 The University of Texas at El Paso?
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.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso?
Yes — Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso accepts cross-town and partner students from 2 other institutions, including El Paso Community College, New Mexico State University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at The University of Texas at El Paso. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
When was Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso founded?
Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso was established in 1947.
How do I contact Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Detachment 850 The University of Texas at El Paso?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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