Wilkes University invites campus and community members to celebrate AFROTC Detachment 752’s relocation to Hollenback Hall with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21. After a brief program, guests are welcome to enjoy light refreshments, tour of the building and meet some of the cadets who will call Hollenback Hall home.
Hollenback Hall is located at 192 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. If you plan to attend the event, kindly RSVP by filling out this brief form: https://forms.gle/YBMwvR8UifnEAyKJ9.
About Detachment 752: Between 1943 and 1944 more than 700 aviation cadets were educated at Wilkes as part of the Bucknell University Junior College U.S. Army Air Corps 6th College Training Detachment. Many of these aviation cadets went on to serve as pilots and navigators during World War II.
Through the efforts of Dr. Francis J. Michelini, Wilkes former President, in 1973 Congressman Daniel J. Flood announced that Wilkes (College) had been selected to host the AFROTC Program. Under the direction of their first commander, Colonel James Aikman, fourteen students were enrolled. The detachment currently has 34 active cadets and will commission four new Second Lieutenants into the United States Air Force in May.
Since then, AFROTC Detachment 752 has trained and prepared hundreds of young men and women for future careers as USAF officers.