Ohio University Air Force ROTC Det 650 named Best Small Detachment in Nation

Ohio University’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 650 has been named the Best Small Detachment in the Nation for 2025, a milestone achievement that highlights the program’s dramatic rise into one of the premier Air Force ROTC units in the country.

The award recognizes sustained excellence in academics, leadership development, community engagement and experiential learning opportunities that prepare OHIO cadets to become future Air Force officers.

In addition to the national detachment honor, Det 650 celebrated several major individual accomplishments.

• Capt Thom Hausler was selected as Ohio’s Air Force ROTC Company Grade Officer of the Year, while Maj Drew Rimelspach earned Ohio’s Air Force ROTC Field Grade Officer of the Year, marking the second consecutive year the detachment has swept both categories.
• Cadet Seth Booher further distinguished the program by being named the USAA Northeast Region Cadet of the Year, rising above thousands of cadets across more than 140 detachments.

Together, these achievements underscore a remarkable turnaround: a once-struggling program that has evolved into a nationally recognized model of excellence, driven in large part by OHIO’s strong academic partnerships and commitment to hands-on learning.

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Detachment Commander Lt Col Josh Lev emphasized the University’s role in enabling that success.

“The detachment is very fortunate to have a great partnership with the University and a funding model that lets us offer academically rich experiential learning events, such as working with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructors, and an upcoming visit to an escape room to challenge the cadets’ leadership and communication abilities,” Lev said. “We also have promising new partnerships in the works, especially with the honors program and the dean of experiential learning, that will help continue this positive trajectory.”

By aligning with the University’s strengths in experiential education, Det 650 has expanded opportunities for cadets to grow through real-world challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and innovative program design. These partnerships have helped create a dynamic learning environment that stands out across Air Force ROTC.

As Det 650 celebrates this year’s achievements, it continues building momentum for the future. With nationally recognized cadre, award-winning cadets, and strong university collaboration, Ohio University’s Air Force ROTC program is poised to remain a leader in immersive and impactful student development.

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