Air Force ROTC Det 590 - Tar Heels

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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.

10/23/2026

🎓 Honoring a Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Innovation: The Colonel Robert M. Mebane USAF ’50 Endowed Fund
UNC Air Force ROTC is proud to recognize the Colonel Robert M. Mebane USAF ’50 Endowed Fund, sponsored by Robert C. Mebane and Rebecca A. Mebane in honor of their late father, Colonel (Ret.) Robert M. Mebane, USAF.

Commissioned through UNC’s Air Force ROTC program in 1950, Colonel Mebane exemplified leadership, service, and innovation throughout his distinguished military career. As a supply officer, he played a significant role in the early integration of computer technology into the Air Force, ultimately overseeing the acquisition and installation of computers across the entire service. His career included assignments supporting Strategic Air Command, Pacific Air Command, and Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal.

A distinguished graduate of the University of North Carolina, Colonel Mebane served as AFROTC Cadet Commander and was designated a Distinguished Military Student. His legacy continues through this endowed fund, which supports aspiring AFROTC cadets pursuing computer science and other technical degrees with the goal of serving as officers in the Department of the Air Force!

We extend our sincere gratitude to Robert C. Mebane and Rebecca A. Mebane for honoring Colonel Mebane’s legacy through an investment in the next generation of military leaders and technical innovators. Their generosity helps connect UNC’s proud tradition of service with the future of our nation’s defense.
Honoring the past. Investing in the future. Developing leaders of character.

10/20/2026

BEYOND THE SKY.

This week at Detachment 590, cadets participated in a Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) centered around the Space Force. Lead by our Space Force cadets, this LLAB consisted of a briefing on what the Space Force is and its vitality to the United States and a large-scale Group Leadership Project (GLP) focused on several aspects of the Air Force. Our underclassmen (GMC) cadets received some of their first tastes of the Space Force, and hearing about this branch of the Department of the Air Force may have changed some of these cadets’ paths.

After the typical, weekly Warrior Knowledge Checkrides, where cadets are quizzes on relevant information, Cadet Robertson and Cadet Londe presented a briefing on all things Space Force. From how important the Space Force is to the US to how it functions, this briefing offered a holistic and in-depth introduction to the Space Force to many cadets that still did not understand this important part of our military.

Following this briefing, Det590 commenced a large-scale GLP created by Space Force senior Cadet Austin. In this GLP, the GMC cadets were split into four ‘Crews’ that each had individual missions but still had to work together.

Crew A was in the Air Force Library. Their mission centered around the Space Force’s involvement in and interactions with the military sector. They had to make decisions while keeping stakeholders’ interests in mind and react to injects that served to inhibit the mission.

Crew B was in the hangar, handling the homeland and civil government sector. Uniquely, their mission centered around stakeholders’ interests like the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration. They still had to react to injects like a change in crew commander, and they still performed excellently.

Crew C was in our Air Force lounge. While this may be a comfortable space for cadets to normally hang out, during LLAB, these cadets are locked in on their mission. Their mission focused on the Intelligence and Coalition Forces Sector. Similar to other crews, they had 6 unique stakeholders to consider as they carried out their mission, worked

10/15/2026

You asked, we answered👀✈️

Ever wondered what life is really like in Air Force ROTC at UNC? We interviewed some of our cadets to answer some of the internet’s most searched questions about AFROTC!

From cadet life to the questions you might be too afraid to ask, we’re giving you an inside look at the Flyin’ Tar Heels!!🔥🐏

Got a question we didn’t answer? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️

Fill out the interest form in bio or send us a DM if you’re ready to join us in the Spring!

Credits:
Cadet Jianna Villadarez
Cadet Primo Costa
Cadet Morgan Brown (Made the board)
Cadet Vinh Le (Videographer/Editor)

10/14/2026

CALLING ALL AIR AND SPACE FOR OFFICERS!🔥

AFROTC Det 590 is looking for currently serving officers to share their experience at our Career Day and help the next generation of officers explore their future career fields.

📅 Thursday, November 12, 2026
⏰ 0830–1030
📍 UNC Chapel Hill

Swipe to see our requested career fields! We’re also seeking currently serving officers in 63A Acquisition and 64P Contracting. All other AFSCs/SFSCs are welcome.

Interested in participating in person, even if you’re not a Det 590 alumni? Email [email protected] by October 28 with your name, rank, AFSC/SFSC, and contact information. A formal invitation and logistics will follow.

Know an officer who would be a great fit? Share this post with them!

10/11/2026

BETTER THAN EVER.

Following the midterm, the cadets at Detachment 590 are just as dedicated as ever. They’ve been showing their growth and improvement throughout the whole semester, and this weeks Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) is no different as underclassmen cadets conducted a Group Leadership Project (GLP) based on new information they learned at the beginning of lab on Air Force Doctrine Intelligence and Targeting. Upperclassmen were hard at work as well ensuring lab ran smoothly, including the efforts of our flight instructors here, Cadets Fine and Karyani.

The Detachment started LLAB with a Current Events Brief from Cadet Pinkney. In her briefing, Cadet Pinkney offered inspirational leadership lessons to the cadets, challenging them to better themselves and be the best leaders they can be here at Detachment 590.

Underclassmen cadets, or General Military Course (GMC) cadets, received briefings on both how to conduct a GLP, including steps to take as both the flight commander and a member of the flight, and Intelligence & Targeting concepts from Air Force Doctrine. These briefings built up to their eventual ex*****on of a GLP based on these concepts, as started by Cadet Ballard here as he reads out their mission to accomplish during the GLP.

During a GLP, cadets are often split into groups to work on different portions of the mission. The Flight Commander will delegate objectives to each group, and group members must then work to accomplish their individual goals in the name of contributing to mission success. This requires communication and teamwork, as demonstrated by Cadets Choy and Brannon.

This handful of cadets work in a different group, but contribute to the same mission. Every flight member has a unique perspective and an important role that is essential for mission success, as seen by the communication and engagement of every member here.

Resource management is another crucial skill for executing a GLP. Cadets are often creative and efficient with how they employ resources, including the use of a whiteboard by Cadet Covington. The flight commander may even appoint scribes among the team, sp

10/09/2026

Our next Alumni Spotlight is Major Carol Knight!

An alum of Det590 since 2015, Major Knight now holds the AFSC of 44E3, Emergency Services Physician, and has over a decade of service so far. Not many cadets that graduate out of Detachment 590 go into the Medical Field, but our detachment currently holds many interested in doing so. Major Knight’s path highlights the opportunities cadets from Det590 have, and a path she certainly has had!

To begin her journey, Major Knight reflects, “After commissioning from Det 590 in May of 2015, I attended the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences for medical school (this is the other option outside of the HPSP scholarship where you are active duty at “America’s Medical School”).”

Regarding this opportunity, Major Knight tells cadets “It was an awesome place to go to medical school because in addition to the Military & Emergency Medicine curriculum, you get to do your clinical rotations at military treatment facilities across the US and around the world. For example, I had clinical rotations in San Antonio, San Diego, Las Vegas, DC, Florida, and Hawaii.”

Then, “I matched to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for my residency in Emergency Medicine and completed my training there in 2022” states Major Knight.

Going into her career, Major Knight says “Emergency Medicine physicians in the Air Force have two main tracks that they can be trained for: Critical Care Air Transport Team (think “ICU in the sky”) and Ground Surgical Team (on the ground resuscitation in austere environments). I was slotted for CCATT! Funnily enough, I learned about CCATT in ROTC through a career fair we held, and it became a little dream of mine to do it one day so it was a little surreal and full circle to finally be a CCATT doc.”

Alumni, you too can be involved in a career fair just like this one! If you are not connected on the email chain for more information, message us!

To close out on talking about her career thus far, Major Knight describes, “My first duty station as an attending physician was as an Emergency Medicine Physician (44E3) out of Travis AFB. After m

10/04/2026

NOT YOUR REGULAR MIDTERM.

This week, General Military Course cadets completed their Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) Midterm. Midterms aren’t just conducted in AFROTC here at UNC. All cadets at Detachment 590 may have experienced stressful midterms these past couple weeks, but balancing academics and AFROTC is necessary for success as both a student and a cadet. Here at UNC, our cadets know this well, and pride themselves on being both a product of a Top 5 Public University and an amazing detachment.

During this LLAB, cadets completed both a Flight Drill Evaluation (FDE), testing their marching and commanding skills, and a Cumulative Checkride, testing their Warrior Knowledge skills so far.

GMC cadets were observed both as Flight Commanders and Flight Members. Being a good flight member requires practice and executing commands well, and is just as important as being a good Flight Commander.

Cadets waiting for their checkride were told to stand at Parade Rest, a very typical military command. During this moment, the ability to stay calm is essential for cadets to perform at their absolute best during the Checkrides. Staying calm is a skill every leader needs, and leaders coming from Detachment 590 always stay calm.

As fresh Professional Officer Course cadets, Intermediate Cadet Leaders (ICL), or AS300 cadets, have a unique position in evaluating and leading training for GMC. This week, several AS300 cadets like Cadets Roman and Skrecz served as Officers of Primary Responsibility, managing the logistics of the Midterm LLAB.

All eyes are on Cadet Reiland at the beginning and end of LLAB as he delivers the training objectives and goals for the week to the entire Cadet Wing. These objectives serve as the focal point for training and are standardized across the entire nation, ensuring every cadet is receiving similar training to create a future unified force.

At Physical Training (PT) this week, cadets completed a group sit up competition. Not only did this foster healthy competition, it also directly helps our cadets prepare for the Physical Fitness Assessment, which includes a Sit Up portion.

09/29/2026

Looking for a commitment? We know a detachment🩵✈️

Find your people, build your confidence, and become a leader. At Det 590, college life comes with a shared purpose: preparing to serve as officers in the United States Air and Space Force.

Your future could take flight here. Message us to learn how to join the Flyin’ Tar Heels!🐏

09/25/2026

THE FUTURE OF THE AIR FORCE STARTS HERE.

At Detachment 590’s 6th Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) of the Fall 2026 Semester, cadets were honored by a visit from Brigadier General Richard Dickens. A Tar Heel grad himself, General Dickens prepared a presentation to cadets, encouraging them with lessons he had learned throughout his career and what he saw of the future of the Air Force.

General Dickens taught cadets what the Air Force has planned for the future of Basic Military Training (BMT). He proposed the concept of Airminded Warriors, and how the Air Force is pushing toward this concept in BMT. Our cadets had time after to also discuss this idea and reflect on what it means for them as future officers.

General Dickens received multiple questions from curious cadets in our detachment about his career and advice for us he may have. He answered every question we threw at him, and offered us helpful insight that inspired each and every one of us.

Thank you Brigadier General Dickens for your service and for coming to our detachment this week and inspiring our cadets!

Every LLAB starts with the General Military Corps (GMC) cadets falling in as two flights, November and Charlie. Led by a new Flight Commander each week, these flights are getting more and more sharp and quick each week with falling in and out. Standing at attention, like Cadets Smith and Poingue here, they are ready for what LLAB has in store for them.

Cadets, both upperclassmen and underclassmen, take weekly ‘Checkrides.’ These checkrides are essentially quizzes that test them on Warrior Knowledge each week. This week, cadets had to memorize the Oath of Enlistment and the Oath of Office. This was a piece of Warrior Knowledge this week due to the importance we want to stress on understanding what you and your airmen are vowing to do as future officers. Checkrides are professional and conducted in a certain manner, including Reporting In procedures as demonstrated by Cadet Rivers reporting in to Cadet Austin.

Basic Cadet Leader (BCL) cadets received a review instruction of Tactical Casualty Care this week, including tourniquet application. Here, Cadet

09/24/2026

Once a Flyin’ Tar Heel, always a Flyin’ Tar Heel🐏✈️

Det 590 alumni, it’s time to come back to Chapel Hill! Join us on Saturday, November 14, 2026, for our Military Appreciation Day Tailgate as the Tar Heels take on the Louisville Cardinals.

We’re bringing generations of Flyin’ Tar Heels together at the Bell Tower this year for our joint Tailgate. Grab some food, catch up with fellow alumni, and meet the current cadets.

📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
📍 Tailgate: Bell Tower, UNC–Chapel Hill
🏈 UNC vs. Louisville | Kenan Stadium
⏰ Kickoff and tailgate start time: TBD
🎟️ Complimentary game tickets will be available for Det 590 alumni.

Link in bio to complete our Flyin’ Tar Heel Alumni MAD Game RSVP form so we can plan for food and game tickets. This RSVP form is specifically for Det 590 alumni. Additional event details will be shared as we get closer to November 14.

Save the date, reach out to your former wingmen, and come spend game day with the Flyin’ Tar Heels.

Go Heels!🐏🔥

Address

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

Telephone

+19199622074

Website

http://linktr.ee/DET590PUBLICAFFAIRS

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