About AFROTC Detachment 560

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 560 at Manhattan University prepares students from across the New York City metropolitan area to become leaders and commissioned officers in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.

Detachment 560 is comprised of students from 14 colleges and universities who pursue their academic degrees while developing leadership, discipline, physical readiness and professional skills through the AFROTC program. Cadets participate in military science coursework, leadership laboratories, physical training and field training experiences while enjoying the benefits of a traditional civilian college education.

Our History

AFROTC Detachment 560 was established at Manhattan University on April 22, 1951, during a period of growing national uncertainty surrounding the Korean War and the possibility of expanded military service requirements for college students.

To help students continue their education while preparing for military service, Manhattan University secured an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps unit. By July 1951, more than 850 cadets filled the ranks of the program’s first unit under the leadership of Lt. Col. W. T. Welter and Major J. E. Murtha.

The original AFROTC curriculum offered multiple training pathways, including flight operations, administration and logistics, armament, comptrollership and technical specialties. Cadets balanced academics with military instruction, drill exercises and summer training programs as the new unit quickly became integrated into campus life.

Early drills were conducted on nearby athletic fields before moving to Gaelic Park, where cadets regularly trained and developed the discipline and professionalism associated with Air Force service. Throughout the 1951–1952 academic year, cadets became a visible and active presence on campus and in the surrounding community.

The establishment of AFROTC at Manhattan University also led to the creation of several military organizations and traditions on campus, including the Arnold Air Society and the Pershing Rifles drill and rifle team. The Major William J. H. Holohan Squadron of the Arnold Air Society was chartered on February 7, 1952, honoring Manhattan University alumnus Major William Vincent Holohan, Class of 1925, who died in service during World War II.

Cadets also formed an AFROTC band that participated in official University functions and public events, including the 1952 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, where nearly 800 cadets marched up Fifth Avenue behind the AFROTC Band.

When the Hayden Science Building opened in 1952, AFROTC established its headquarters on the first floor, further embedding the program into the life of the University. Over the decades, Detachment 560 has continued its mission of developing leaders committed to service, integrity and excellence while preparing generations of cadets for careers in the Air Force and Space Force.