 |  |  |  | | | FAQs |  | | | | | Can I transfer to USAFA from another college? | | There are many Cadets at USAFA with prior college and/or enlisted experience. However, all Cadets must start out as Fourth Class Cadets (freshmen) and go through the entire 4 year program in order to graduate. | | Can I take AFS (Academy Flight Screening) as a cadet? | | Yes! (AFS is the version of Initial Flight Screening - IFS - for Academy folks). As a matter of fact, the upper-leadership at USAFA want all pilot-qualified Cadets to complete AFS before graduation. (In recent years this was known as IFT, and culminated in a Private Pilot's License, but in keeping with the Air Force transition to a military-focused initial screening/training program, it is no longer based on civilian flight training). Up to 650 students a year receive ground and flight training in a military-style flight training syllabus. Training consists of approximately 25 hours in a Diamond DA-20, a single-engine trainer aircraft and instruction in basic flight maneuvers, techniques and procedures, culminating in a local area solo sortie and a final flight evaluation. AFS training takes place at the USAFA airfields with contract flight instructors brought in from Embry-Riddle. The few cadets who are unable to take AFS before graduation (mostly due to schedule conflicts) return to USAFA at the end of their graduating summer and take the course as a new Lieutenant prior to reporting to their first base. Read more about AFS and other Academy flight-related programs here. | | Is the USAFA education like a normal college? Can I declare a major and participate in clubs? | | While we would be hesitant to call USAFA a "normal" college, it does offer over 30 academic majors, most of which can be found at most reputable universities (Engineering, History, Political Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, etc). Cadets are required to declare before midway through their sophomore year, but some majors (Biochemistry, Computer Engineering) require Cadets to declare by the end of their freshman year. As for clubs, Cadet life is pretty busy, but most Cadets find time to participate in one or more clubs. There are over 50 Cadet-run clubs to participate in, and at the beginning of each Academic Year there is a "club day" where all the clubs have booths so Cadets can get information on what club is right for them. Cadet clubs run from Rugby, Ultimate Frisbee, and Judo to Swing Dancing, Paintball, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Whatever your interest, there is a club for you! | | What are the instructors like? What is the quality of USAFA education? | | A USAFA education is second to none. The faculty is balanced between military and civilian, and bring a wealth of academic and military experience to the table. Instructors are required to provide EI (extra-instruction) when requested, and most instructors will drop whatever they are doing to answer a question from a Cadet who just stops by his/her office. The USAFA faculty is a valuable and often-used resource for Cadet mentorship and career and personal advice. There are no graduate students, no TAs, and plenty of research opportunities for Cadets who choose to take advantage of them. | | What about military life? What's that like? | | As a USAFA Cadet, you are on-duty 24/7. As you progress in rank (freshman to senior), you are given increased responsibility. All Cadets hold jobs within their Cadet Squadrons, which are modeled on Operational Air Force Squadrons. As a freshman, you learn how to be a good Cadet. As a sophomore, you are given one freshman to coach and help guide through his/her first year. As a junior, you implement Wing policy, supervise multiple sophomores, and provide mentorship to subordinates. As a senior, you make policy and guidance, determine the direction of your unit, and groom juniors to take over your job next year. As a senior, you will be directly responsible for at least 10 other Cadets and will often able to provide rewards for exceptional performers, but on the other hand you are faced with taking disciplinary action sometimes. USAFA is truly a leadership lab, and the military aspect is the real reason the USAFA experience is so special. |
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| | | | | | | | So, you want to attend the Air Force Academy and get a pilot slot from there?
US Air Force Academy
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com | Well, congratulations on choosing one of the nations top schools for flying and overall education. At the Academy you will be challenged physically and mentally, and you will also have the opportunity for some basic flight instruction while you're there. USAFA is a great choice for aspiring USAF pilots because USAFA and ROTC get the same number of pilot slots. However, USAFA only graduates about 950 new lieutenants each year, while ROTC graduates about 1,200 per year, so you have a MUCH higher chance of getting that pilot slot through USAFA. The first step in getting that pilot's slot from USAFA is to get accepted in the first place! To begin with, you have to get into contact with your local liason officer so you can get your hands on some information. Go to the US Air Force Academy Homepage link to the left and let them know that you are interested in the academy so they will send you information regarding how to apply and who you need to contact. | | If you are junior in high school, I would recommend that you try and sign up for the Air Force Academy's Summer Scientific Seminar. Here you will gain information about the academy and see if you will like the four years that you spend at the academy. In order to sign up for the seminar, Click here! This link will take you to a page full of information on the Summer Seminar. From this page you can also navigate to find information on the AF Academy itself. |
|  | So what do you have to do to get into the Academy?
USAFA looks for these characteristics in the cadets it allows into the Cadet Wing: - BRAINS: They look at your high school GPA as well as your score on the SAT or ACT.
- ATHLETICS: You really need to play Varsity level sports in high school or have a lot of experience in club sports in order to gain acceptance.
- STUDENT GOVERNMENT: They won't really consider you unless you have held some sort of position on your council. That doesn't mean you need to be president, but it would sure help.
- EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: This includes everything from clubs that you were in like National Honor Society or Science Club to the Boy/Girl Scouts. If you are an Eagle Scout, you're pretty much guaranteed an appointment.
Lastly, they look at your - CHARACTER: Through the essays that you write during the application process. DO NOT try to write these in one sitting. Spend a lot of time on them before you write them for the final time. They will be hand written on the application, so make sure that you practice writing it a couple times after you have finished so that you can demonstrate the professionalism that they will stress once you get to the Academy.
| | What do I do once I'm in?
Once you get in, you have to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. If you're a private pilot, you're eligible to join the Flying Team (flying C-172s in intercollegiate competitions). During the summer after your freshman year, you'll take either soaring or jump instruction, getting 10+ glider flights or 5 solo freefall parachute jumps. If you excel, you could be asked to come back for advanced training and become a student instructor pilot or jumpmaster! The soaring IPs have a great record at UPT. No soaring IP has washed out of UPT in the past 5 years, and many of them get ENJJPT slots. Although it is a big time commitment, and soaring isn't as highly regarded as jump, I highly recommend the Soaring IP track. Work hard in academics, military life, and athletics. Everything you do is graded, and you'll be ranked against all your classmates for pilot slots. You'll be graded mostly by GPA and military grades, but there is also a subjective "officer potential" component to it, which is determined by the officer in charge of your Cadet Squadron (AOC) and is documented in a Form 94. Usually, most USAFA Cadets who are medically qualified to be pilots get pilot slots, but it all depends on the number of slots available for your class and what people ahead of you in order of merit want. Everything, from AFSC selection to UPT start date selection, happens by class rank. The #1 guy gets his first choice, and then it goes down the line until all the slots are filled. The only exception to this policy is ENJJPT; those slots are given to individuals hand-picked by the 34th Training Group Commander (O-6 in charge of Cadets). For the Class of 2005 there were only 33 ENJJPT slots, and the selected individuals were the top 33 cadets in order of merit who put ENJJPT down as their first choice for pilot training (in the words of the 34TRG commander, "If ENJJPT is not your first choice, then it isn't a choice!"). Next year, once more Cadets have completed the Academy Flight Screening Program, selection criteria will include AFS performance. Work hard on all your grades, volunteer for key positions, and do some community service so you won't be the last guy and get what's left over!!
| | How exactly do I get a UPT slot after graduation?
During your Four-Degree (freshman) year, you will receive a preliminary eye examination. This will let you know whether or not you are potentially pilot qualified (PPQ) in an area where most people fail their flight physicals. If you are selected, you may be chosen to receive PRK surgery for your eyes, which will occur through the USAF during your Three-Degree (sophomore) year. NOTE: DO NOT get PRK done outside of the USAF, because that will render you INELIGIBLE for pilot training!!! During your Two-Degree (junior) year, you will receive your official graduation flight physical. This physical will determine whether or not you will be eligible for a pilot slot. If you fail your flight physical, there are two basic options: 1) You can have additional tests done and file for a waiver, or 2) You can apply to cross-commission into the Navy or Marine Corps (NOTE: the Army will not currently send USAFA transfers to Army pilot training). I have a friend who failed his color-vision test and elected to try to cross-commission into the Navy so he can have a chance at pilot training. During the Spring Semester (early- to mid-February) of your Junior year, your draft of your Form 94, which is an AOC (Squadron Commander) recommendation, is due to your AOC. The Form 94 is very much like an OPR, and will be used by the AFSC selection board to help rank-order your class. The Form 94 is a big deal: it can move you up or down in order of merit by over 100 slots, so be sure to take it seriously! Look at the "Downloads" section for some sample Form 94 bullet statements, and look at the sample OPR bullets for even further help. Also during this time period you will put in your preferences for an AFSC (you can apply for as many rated positions as you want, and are also required to apply for 4-5 non-rated slots), and the AFSC board meets in mid-March. The AFSC board looks at your choices, your Cadet record and order of merit, and the needs of the Air Force to make their decision. You will be notified of your AFSC before summer break.
During the fall of your Firstie year, pilot qualified Cadets take the BAT (NOTE: The BAT has been replaced by the TBAS, see the TBAS page on this website for more information) and in the spring you take the AFOQT. If you get a coveted pilot slot, you will be able to apply for a UPT base and start date in January of your Firstie year. UPT bases and start dates are given out based on order of merit, as determined by the board which meets during hte spring of your 2-Degree year. You will be notified of your UPT base and start date when there are 100 days until graduation, which occurs in mid-February. At that time, depending on when your start date is, you apply for an Awaiting Pilot Training (APT, or "casual") base, where you spend your time waiting for your UPT class to begin. Again, these assignments are made by preference and order of merit.
Usually, most USAFA cadets who are medically qualified and want to go to UPT get a pilot slot. Classes are usually approximately 950 Cadets, and there are usually approximately 530 pilot slots for each class (537 for the class of 2005). Again, the number of UPT slots available depends on the needs and requirements of the Air Force.
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