The University of Northern Colorado contracted three times with the United States government to train military personnel. The first time occured during World War II (1942 to 1946) and the second time during the Korean War (1951-1952). In addition, an Air Force ROTC unit began in 1951. During World War I the University had a Student Army Training Corps (SATC) program on campus and offered military courses. During World War II, the U.S. Air Force, then still part of the U.S. Army, contracted to train personnel at Colorado State College of Education. The post was offically activated on November 3, 1942. During the Korean War, the College contracted to operate an Air Force clerical school.

An ROTC program began at the University of Northern Colorado in the Fall quarter of 1951. The program was integrated with the regular college academic degree requirements to permit students to receive undergraduate credit for Air Science courses. Individual college catalogs for the various years provide information about the ROTC program. Due to declining enrollment Air Force ROTC Detachment 100 was deactivated in 1987 and merged with Detachment 90 at Colorado State University.