News

The Approach and Beyond Foundation, LLC, the nonprofit which maintains the Approach, in conjunction with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs, commissioned a memorial plaque to serve as a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute veterans and those killed and wounded in the line of duty. The plaque will be mounted on the Approach, adjacent to memorials for RPI alumni who died in service during the first and second world wars.

Funds are being raised to pay for the construction and installation of the plaque, which is going to be unveiled on Alumni Weekend - October 10, 2026. For more information or to make a donation visit this link.

In April, Detachment 550’s Silver Falcons Honor Guard and the Armed Drill Team attended Villanova’s Military Excellence Competition hosted by their NROTC detachment. The Honor Guard Team competed against six other schools and won third place. The Armed Drill Team competed against seven other teams and won fourth place. Overall, the detachment won third place for overall drill. Congratulations to everyone who competed!

During the last LLAB of the year, Det 550 executed a change of command to establish the wing commander for the following semester. This ceremony marked the end of C/Gandolfini’s role as commander and cadets, cadre, and guests got to watch as he passed the title and responsibility over to C/Colello. While the final LLAB means that C/Gandolfini’s time within the detachment, along with the other seniors, has come to an end, we are excited to be under the leadership of C/Colello beginning in the fall. We cannot wait to see how he implements his goals. Thank you for a fantastic semester C/Gandolfini!