Extracurriculars

Det 485 Clubs & Organizations

ARNOLD AIR SOCIETY

Arnold Air Society (AAS) is a national, professional, honorary service organization of selected Air Force ROTC Cadets. AAS is a private, nonprofit group. Service projects range from joint national projects to local community or campus projects.

AAS community projects include:

  • Serving the disadvantaged.
  • Fostering environmental awareness.
  • Promoting awareness of the plight of Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.

RAVENS BOOSTER CLUB

The Ravens Booster Club is a volunteer student organization supporting Rutgers Air Force ROTC. 

We manage our funds and collaborate with Rutgers groups to raise money for morale-building events like Paintball, Ravens Night, and our famous detachment BBQs. 

Our organization engages with the Rutgers community by volunteering at events and reaching out to communities in New Brunswick, Jersey City, and beyond. We focus on boosting morale, giving back, and having fun.

HONOR GUARD

The Honor Guard is a prestigious unit within Rutgers AFROTC Detachment 485, dedicated to upholding the highest standards of military tradition and excellence. As a member, you will participate in ceremonial duties that honor our nation's heritage, including presenting the colors, executing precision drills, and performing at official events.

PERSHING RIFLES

The Pershing Rifles at Rutgers University is an elite, multi-service drill and ceremonial organization dedicated to excellence in military precision and leadership. Founded in 1959, this unit performs high-profile ceremonies and competitions, embodying the traditions and discipline of military service while fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and honor.

i5 SPACE

i5 Space is a national student organization that operates in conjunction with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness and Command (STARCOM). We aim to deliver educational, training, and professional development resources to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the newest branch of the US military—the Space Force.

Summer Internships & Programs

In addition to your regular college coursework and Air Force ROTC leadership classes, Air Force ROTC offers various Officer Development Trainings (ODTs) that consist of specialized classes and opportunities in a variety of Air Force and Space Force fields. ODTs are designed to educate cadets on the wide range of activities and missions that the Air Force and Space Force accomplish. Air Force ROTC cadets compete for slots in ODTs, and they typically occur during summer breaks when school is not in session.

Some opportunities include:

Flying / Aviation

  • Air Force Academy Basic Freefall Parachuting Course— 12-day parachute training with free-fall jumps from ~4,500 ft
  • Air Force Academy Soaring (SOAR) — 15-day glider training program teaching unpowered flight fundamentals
  • Civil Air Patrol Flight Orientation Program (FOP) — Orientation flights with CAP, front-seat and observer roles
  • Fly NATO — Flying ops exposure at ENJJPT and Europe visits to NATO HQ and AWACS ops
  • You Can Fly / You Can Certify Scholarships — The You can Fly (YCF) and You Can Certify (YCC) programs are Department of the Air Force (DAF) initiatives to increase rated manning through early flight exposure and education. In the case of both, new ROTC cadets are chosen by detachment faculty and will receive funds, either $5,000 (YCF) or $20,000 (YCC). They can then use the assigned funds at a FAA-certified flight school of their choice. These opportunities allow ROTC cadets to experience the wonders of flight and, at the same time, offsets the substantial financial burden that can come with private flight lessons.

Cyber / Tech / Engineering

Civil Engineering / Infrastructure

Operations / Immersion

  • Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) SIP — 2–3 week immersion in command operations, maintenance, and base support
  • Field Training MACHs — 1-2 week immersion at a military base following Field Training, exposing cadets to operational Air Force units and culture
  • Azimuth — 3-week USSF experience at USAFA with rockets, scuba, and parabolic flights

Leadership / Character Development

Language / Culture

  • Project Global Officer (GO) — Intensive language and cultural immersion in strategic languages (U.S. & abroad)
  • ROTC Flagship Scholarships – Provides full funding for contracted ROTC cadets and midshipmen to attend Flagship-approved summer and Capstone year programs. DLNSEO coordinates with Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC.

Special Warfare / Elite Training

  • Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) Program — Training/evaluation path for CRO career field
  • Special Tactics Officer (STO) Program — Application and assessment toward STO field, including Phase II evaluation

Cadet Support / Training Roles

  • Cadet Training Assistant (CTA) — POC cadets assist FTOs during Field Training
  • USAFA BMT CTA — Support leadership and training at USAFA Prep School Basic Military Training
  • USAFA Cadet Exchange Program — Semester exchange at USAFA with academics, leadership, and athletics