Air Force ROTC Det 590 - Tar Heels

Air Force ROTC Det 590 - Tar Heels The official page of Detachment 590 at UNC Chapel Hill. We are bound by integrity, service, and most of all, leadership.

Detachment 590 is the Air Force ROTC program here at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. The cadets here are driven and motivated to give nothing less than excellence as our standards reflect both the Air Force and UNC. Discipline is an inherent part of our lifestyle as future officers; however we are a community of students fostering friendship and diversity. Ultimately, we hold each

other and ourselves to the highest of standards in order to complete our mission: to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace. If you like what you see here, check out our flickr and twitter accounts: 70245595@N02/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/70245595@N02/
https://twitter.com/AFROTC_Tarheels.

North Carolina isn’t the only thing bringing the heat. This week, cadets at Detachment 590 didn’t falter as they strived...
09/04/2026

North Carolina isn’t the only thing bringing the heat.

This week, cadets at Detachment 590 didn’t falter as they strived for excellence at Physical Training (PT) and Leadership Laboratory (LLAB). For example, our Basic Cadet Leader (BCL) cadets completed Flight Drill Evaluations (FDE) this week, which tested their marching skills in a tight space under a time limit. No time limit could stop Cadet Choy, though, as he completes his FDE as the flight commander here.

During an FDE, everything is being watched and evaluated, including everyone’s military bearing. That’s no problem for cadets like Oswalt and Sevilla, though, as demonstrated by their stone faces in this picture.

Our BCL cadets faced a challenging obstacle course this week as they had to lead their flight through tight turns, multiple roadways, and a chaotic environment. BCL cadets keep their cool, though, even under the hot sun and even hotter pressure.

During the obstacle course, BCL cadets had to apply their skills in marching and military bearing to succeed. Lucky for them, Detachment 590 cadets are excellent at every challenge thrown at them.

In learning more intermediate drill this week, Basic Cadets (BC) practiced skills such as Column Movements and the command, “To the Rear,” as seen being practiced here by this handful of BC cadets. The instructors of each training section can choose how they’d like cadets to master this skill, and for this set, practicing in a line to ensure cadets had the move mastered was chosen.

Our Basic Cadets are also already mastering advanced concepts like maintaining Dress, Cover, Interval, and Distance (DCID) in order to keep the flight looking SHARP.

At Detachment 590, we value wingmanship, a necessity in the Air Force and AFROTC. This means we look out for each other in all aspects of our lives. In this case specifically, the Professional Officer Corps of cadets helped roll up each other’s sleeves to handle the North Carolina heat during our Leadership Laboratory.

During PT this week, wingmanship was demonstrated by some of our General Military Course cadets as they quite literally leaned on each other for standing calf raises on one leg. Physical Traini

Practice = excellence. This week was business as usual for cadets at Detachment 590. Cadets took the diagnostic PFA on T...
08/29/2026

Practice = excellence.

This week was business as usual for cadets at Detachment 590. Cadets took the diagnostic PFA on Tuesday, featuring the new updated sections of the Hand Release Push-Ups and the 2 Mile Run. Speed meant everything during both the run and the strides we did on Thursday, as depicted here by Casey Covington.



We are all smiles for PT at Detachment 590, especially Cadet Brewer!

PT isn’t complete in North Carolina without a beautiful Chapel Hill sunrise. Between hard sets of strength training or sprints, cadets like Cadet Ungerer can always find peace in the beautiful sky.

At the beginning of every Leadership Lab (LLAB), the A3 Director, Cadet Londe, briefs the entire Cadet Wing on the training intensity for the LLAB. The A3 Directorate is responsible for Training and consists of Cadet Londe and our Flight Instructors.

Our Professional Officer Corps take great pride in the planning and work they put in to ensure LLAB hits every training objective for the General Military Course cadets. Cadet Scholefield (right) contributes greatly to this mission as one of our Planning Officers, and can trust that cadets like Cadet Le will carry out the Plans Officers’ plans with excellence.

This week, our Basic Cadet Leaders reviewed road guard procedures before going out onto campus to engage in Campus Marching. Road Guard procedures are essential to ensuring cadets are safe as they cross the road during campus marching. Safety is our number one priority.

The road guards, as a result, hold a very important role in the flight. Cadet Allen demonstrates the firmness and discipline needed to hold off cars while the flight is marching through the road.

Campus marching is always nice when we have such a beautiful campus here at UNC!

Basic Cadets reviewed basic drill movements this week, as well as learned guidon procedures, flight formations, command presence, and more. Basic Cadets even got to march in a flight for the first time, and a couple of them even got to lead a flight for the first time!

These drill stations were lead by different Intermediate Cadet Leaders, like C/Skrecz, and demonstrated by other m

Our next Alumni Spotlight is Harrison Lee! Lee separated recently from the Air Force as a Captain after several years in...
08/26/2026

Our next Alumni Spotlight is Harrison Lee!

Lee separated recently from the Air Force as a Captain after several years in the Air Force following his graduation in 2019 from UNC and Detachment 590. His primary AFSC is a 62E Developmental Engineer, with a secondary AFSC of 13S Space Operations. He spent 3 years at Peterson Space Force Base and 3 years at Hurlburt Field, along with various assignments for months at a time at Vandenberg SFB, a Polish Air Base, and RAAF Base Townsville in Australia.

Opportunities and experiences like these are just some of the many the Air Force offers. Want to see the world? Check out our bio and consider joining Detachment 590.

Keep swiping for insight from Lee regarding his career and advice for cadets at Det590!

Detachment 590 leaves its mark on everyone. When reflecting on fond memories he has of our amazing detachment, Lee expresses, “My commissioning class was only 5 people, so by the time we were running the show as seniors we had to learn to trust and depend on each other a lot to get everything done. While there were times when it felt stressful, those were also the times that brought us closest together. In that way, it was representative of the active duty experience—the worst of times are often the best of times when you have a good team around you.”

As for advice he has for cadets at Detachment 590, Lee states, “Relationships are everything. Being booksmart and technically credible are obviously important and useful, but I found that the most effective military members were the ones that had cultivated a wide network of trusted contacts that they could call on to inform their decisions or get things done in a pinch. Being a good teammate is an evergreen quality; be mindful that your personal ambition or pride don’t put your relationships at risk. I would also highly recommend being vocal that you are open to deploying or taking overseas assignments, especially early career when you are likely unencumbered by other commitments. The experience you gain being immersed in operations will yield huge dividends in both your military and civilian career—those experiences are rare and will lend you a level of credibility

For cadets at Det590, summers don’t just mean breaks. They mean growth and opportunity.This summer, several cadets went ...
08/24/2026

For cadets at Det590, summers don’t just mean breaks. They mean growth and opportunity.

This summer, several cadets went to bases to engage in Officer Development Trainings (ODT). Offered at various bases, these cadets learned vital skills that will help them be successful cadets and future Air Force Officers.

Cadet Johnson traveled to the United States Air Force Academy this summer to participate in AZIMUTH. Space Force cadets nationwide participate in this summer program before their final year of AFROTC. Per usafa.edu, “Azimuth is a three-week joint undergraduate nationwide space education and training program. Azimuth’s overall goal is to inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead in the Space Force. Consistent with the Space Training and Readiness Command, the program helps prepare our future Guardians to prevail in competition and conflict through innovative education, training, doctrine, and testing.”



Azimuth offers a variety of experiences, from a zero gravity flight to briefings about Space Force Operations!

We always appreciate when alumni stay connected with our cadets, as seen here by Lieutenant Gabriel Palmer taking time out of his busy work in the Space Force to catch up with Cadet Johnson in Colorado Springs.

Cadet Le stayed at Maxwell Air Force Base following Field Training for an ODT as a Cadet Training Officer (CTO).

During this ODT, Cadet Le learned directly from Military Training Instructors (MTI) like Master Sergeant Snider here. He learned drill movements on a level never seen before, where every detail was covered and taught meticulously to ensure future cadets at Detachment 590 could execute drill perfectly and to the standard that the Air Force demands.

Becoming a CTO equipped Cadet Le with the skills he needs to teach GMC this year. He also brought back his learning to the POC Corps, giving the POC Corps a greater understanding of properly training the GMC cadets.

Cadet Londe also went to Azimuth this summer as another one of our great, senior Space Force cadets. There, Cadet Londe learned about rocket engine design and then put his skills to the tes

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. That’s what makes our cadets EXCELLENT. 🔥 The first Leadership Laboratory (...
08/21/2026

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. That’s what makes our cadets EXCELLENT. 🔥

The first Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) of the Fall 2026 Semester took place at Detachment 590 this week. Over the semester, cadets will grow as leaders through these LLABs, improving on various skills like marching, expeditionary, and more. Our new cadets got a taste of what we expect from Detachment 590 cadets — excellence.

Cadet Karyani leads the Basic Cadets in more basic drill instruction, including formations, moving as a flight, and halting as a flight. Cadets like Cadet Rodriguez retain the information learned at LLAB through note taking and attentiveness.



Every LLAB begins with the GMC flights falling in and reporting accountability. Here, Cadet Oswalt demonstrates an example of this process as the flight commander for the week to her flight instructor, Cadet Karyani.

This LLAB contained multiple briefings, including information from our Operations Flight Commander (OFC), the wing commander and deputy commander, and a briefing on air superiority. With all of this new information, cadets like Cadet Towns ask questions and seek out more information about the great Air Force they are aspiring to join.

The Change of Rank Ceremony began with our now Cadet Colonel Ungerer, who will serve as the Fall Wing Commander!

Our Senior Cadet Leaders changed rank next to Cadet Majors, signifying their experience and readiness to lead the entire detachment in excellence.

Our Intermediate Cadet Leaders changed rank next to Cadet Major, Cadet Captain, or Cadet 1st Lieutenant. These leaders will serve in a variety of roles, and are ready to support the operations of the POC corps and lead GMC!

Our Flight Instructors, Cadets Fine and Karyani, changed rank to Cadet 1st Lieutenants and are ready to lead the GMC this semester!

Our Basic Cadet Leaders changed rank last from 4th class cadets to 3rd class cadets. These cadets are ready to put in the work this year and earn their spots at Field Training!

Cadet Le leads the Basic Cadets Leaders in advanced drill, ensuring they have commands such as “To the Rear” perfected.

Basic Cadets

NEW CADET ORIENTATION PROGRAM (NCOP) is the first step in the proud journey cadets take here at Detachment 590. At NCOP,...
08/17/2026

NEW CADET ORIENTATION PROGRAM (NCOP) is the first step in the proud journey cadets take here at Detachment 590. At NCOP, new cadets receive an introduction into the Air Force and Detachment 590, where they will spend the next 3-4 years honing their leadership skills and earning their commission into the United States Air Force.

GMC Cadets, including returning AS200s and new cadets, had the opportunity to practice the drill movements they learned at NCOP. They also practiced maintaining military bearing, as demonstrated here by Cadet Neff.

Our fall wing commander, C/Col Ungerer, greeting and welcoming the new cadets to Detachment 590 and NCOP.

Cadets Oswalt and Bradsher offering a warm welcome to our new cadets! New cadets received their detachment polo and cover as they entered, marking the beginning of their AFROTC journey.

Cadet Zygmond (pictured) and Cadet Le led an introduction to drill movements using a new teaching method taught at Cadet Le’s Officer Development Training (ODT) this summer.

Throughout NCOP, new cadets had the opportunity to meet and talk with returning cadets. New cadets, like Cadet Brewer, had the opportunity to chat with cadets like Cadet Ungerer about Detachment 590 and UNC Chapel Hill.

A staple NCOP tradition is highlighting contracting cadets as they take their Oath of Enlistment with the Detachment Commander. Congratulations, Cadet Theriault!

NCOP Day 2 started with Physical Training (PT). At this first PT session, new cadets watched a demonstration of falling into a squadron, which we do at the beginning of every PT session.

Cadets Skrecz and Roman post-PT, showcasing their joyful attitudes to be back at Ho**er Fields for another great semester of PT!

Major Rodriguez and Capt Burnette offering great insight to incoming cadets on various AFSCs, cadet life, and other topics that incoming cadets asked about.

Cadets engaged in a Group Leadership Project (GLP) several times at NCOP. During this particular GLP, cadets split into their respective flights and were challenged to use their resources wisely, make tough leadership decisions, and delegate responsibilities.

Cadet Garavaglia demonstrated her leadership as a flight comm

08/14/2026

NCOP was just the beginning🔥

Here are some scenes of our New Cadet Orientation Program these past two days. Our newest cadets got their first taste of life in Det 590, but there’s still time to start your own journey!

Interested in Air Force ROTC? You can still join Det 590 this semester and become a part of the Flyin’ Tarheels!

DM us to learn more✈️

Welcome to Det 590, home of the Flyin’ Tarheels🐏✈️Proudly representing UNC-Chapel Hill and developing the next generatio...
08/14/2026

Welcome to Det 590, home of the Flyin’ Tarheels🐏✈️

Proudly representing UNC-Chapel Hill and developing the next generation of Air Force and Space Force officers.

This is Det 590🇺🇸

Address

221 S Columbia Street, ROTC Armory, CB7480
Chapel Hill, NC
27514

Telephone

+19199622074

Website

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