The History of Penn State Detachment 720 For more than 50 years, the Air Force ROTC unit at Penn State has been striving to mold the best new officers for the United States Air Force. We are proud of our rich history and, to this day, we continue our efforts to train the best lieutenants for the world's best air and space force. The Air Force has recognized this, and we were honored to receive the 2000/2001 Right of Line Award as the most outstanding AFROTC detachment in the country. While the 2000/2001 cadets of Detachment 720 deserve the accolade, they would not have been in the position to win the award without the contributions of the cadets who went before them. Detachment 720's History Center is dedicated to acknowledging the efforts of the detachment's cadets and cadre, both past and present. Det. 720 Historical Facts: · Det 720 founded Sep 30, 1946 named "Air ROTC" · Enrollment in 1953 was 2,768 AF cadets at Penn State (3rd largest in nation and largest ROTC unit at Penn State)

· Scabbard & Blade at Penn State formed in 1912

· Army and AF ROTC bands combined to play for 1949 football game against Syracuse; combined bands alternated with the Penn State Blue Band (Blue Band traces roots back to early PSU military program)

· In Jan 1956, Army and AF ROTC cadets at PSU allowed to grow mustaches (remained popular for years to come)

· Fall of 1956, 11 female cadettes (note spelling) joined AFROTC

· In 1955, the Det owned a Link flying simulator and 4 Ryan Navion aircraft to fly cadets around the country (cadre were pilots)

· University Park Airport opened in 1958

· June 1960, first woman (Miss Beth Ann Boltz) graduates from PSU AFROTC

· Wagner Building dedicated 26 May 1960 in name of Lt H. Edward Wagner, US Army, PSU class of '41, killed in France in 1944

· 1957-58 = first female cadet joins AFROTC Rifle Team

· Summer of '60 = WAF program disbanded; integrated into corps

· Fall '61 = 1100 freshmen and 900 sophomores in AFROTC Det 720, plus juniors and seniors

· Jan '62 AFROTC Banquet sponsored by AAS and held at Nittany Lion Inn cost $2.95 per person

· 1963-64 = compulsory military education ends at Penn State; ROTC enrollment drops (AFROTC band drops from 70 to 24 members)

· 1967 = first annual Det 720 AF Dining-Out held

· Fall 1968 = first monetary grants to incoming freshmen

· 1968-69 (Vietnam era) = flyers and petitions circulate on campus both to evict and retain ROTC at PSU

· Spring '70 = AFROTC Military Ball renamed Sweetheart Ball; soon thereafter ceased to exist

· Det 720 award AF Outstanding Unit Award 1 Sep 71 to 31 Aug 72, and again 1 Nov 74 - 31 Oct 76

· 1974 PSU Yearbook, La Vie, once again included ROTC after a 3 year absence (Vietnam era)

· 1977 Cadet Corps = 250 cadets

· 1978-79 = Cadet Corps restructured into a Wing structure

· Spring 1978 = first female Corp Commander, Debra Truxal followed next year by another female commander, Lisa Rathgerber

· Lt Col Guion S. Bluford = PSU AFROTC Distinguished Graduate and first black astronaut; carried Det 720 patch on the space mission (proudly displayed in the Warrior Room at Wagner Building)

· Apr 1986, room 113 became the "Warrior Room"

· Spring 1985, Wild Blue Yonders singing group formed.   The original group consisted of Cadets Ed Tucker ('87), Mark Miller ('86), James Russell ('88), and Bill Hansel ('85).  The group then performed the following year at the AAS banquet in the fall, and again in the Spring at the next Dining Out.  They have since become a permanent fixture around the detachment.

· Nov 14, 1999: First Det 720 AFROTC Alumni Interest Group chartered; received 422 signatures from Det 720 AFROTC Alumni supporting an AIG--more than any other of the 23 AIGs which have gone before us (only need 50 signatures to start an AIG). 2,600 people received their commission from Det 720 according to the PSU Alumni Association database files; there are approximately 1,200 paid Det 720 alumni members in the Alumni Association