University of Portland has approximately 120 AFROTC students, placing it in the category of medium-sized detachments. The UP detachment also placed first in 2004. Several categories are considered for the national competition, including production, education, recruiting and retention, university and public relations, training activities, and service activities.

“This is huge recognition for our team here at UP – administrators, instructors, staff and students,” said Col. Paul Huffman, Commander, AFROTC Detachment 695. “I could not be prouder of our accomplishments and the strength of our USAF Officer commissioning program.”

The University’s Detachment 695 ranks third in the nation for the number of cadets per capita of undergraduate enrollment. Five percent of the University’s students are enrolled in ROTC.

The detachment also is in the top five percent for number of AFROTC high school scholarship winners per capita of total enrollment. Ninety percent of the detachment’s seniors are majoring in either engineering or nursing, “critical needs majors,” Huffman said.

“This is validation that we are in fact AFROTC’s best commissioning program, producing incredible future leaders for our nation’s defense,” added Huffman.