List Of United States Air Force Academy Alumni
The United States Air Force Academy is an undergraduate college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with the mission of educating and commissioning officers for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The Academy was established in 1954, entered its first class in 1955, and graduated its first class in 1959. All students hold the Air Force rank of “Cadet.” Sports media refer to the Academy as “Air Force”; this usage is officially endorsed. Most cadets are admitted through a congressional appointment system. The curriculum is broad-based but has traditionally emphasized science and engineering. Before the Academy’s first graduating class in 1959, the United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy were the primary sources of officers for the Air Force and its predecessors, the Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces. Though the primary focus of the Academy is for the Air Force and Space Force, some graduates are given the option of “cross-commissioning” into the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, or United States Coast Guard.
Join The Air Force Out Of High School
When you join the United States Air Force with your high school diploma or GED, youre automatically enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force. So youll automatically begin working toward your associates degree in applied science in one of five career areas: aircraft and missile maintenance, electronics and telecommunications, allied health, logistics and resources or public and support services. With a unique combination of on-duty and voluntary off-duty courses, youll earn college credit just for reporting for duty, learning your job and getting started on your career.;
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Where Is Air Force Academy
The academy is located in Colorado Springs, a town of about 500,000 people situated in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The city is large by Colorado standards, second only to Denver. And, like Denver, this mountain town sits a little over a mile high.
The city routinely pops up on best of lists, including the best places to live and top trending destinations. But its the defense industry that makes up the largest part of Colorado Springs economy. Besides the Air Force Academy, Paterson and Schriever Air Forces Bases are in the same county, along with Cheyenne Mountain and NORAD. Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin all also have facilities in the area.
Like much of Colorado, the Colorado Springs area is a destination unto itself for outdoor enthusiasts. Sunshine prevails every month of the year, and the community is surrounded by beautiful hiking, climbing, skiing and biking opportunities. Pikes Peak, one of Americas tallest mountains at 14,115 feet, lies just 12 miles west of town.
The city is also full of green spaces. More than 9,000 acres of parks are under the citys control, including almost 300 miles of park and urban trails.
Team sports are big in Colorado Springs as well, which is no surprise considering the Air Force Academy Falcons football, basketball and hockey teams are in Division I of the NCAA.
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What Is The Air Force Officer Training School
Air Force Officer Training School is the starter program for aspiring USAF commissioned officers.
The officer training program takes place at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
Its a rigorous program that lasts 9 1/2 weeks and gets divided into four phases of training.
Air Force Officer Training School tests officer recruits physically and mentally while also developing leadership skills.
The program consists of a week of prerequisite distance learning before participating in military training and leadership development for college graduates.
Air Force OTS prepares recruits by focusing on critical areas such as:
- Leadership Studies
- Military Studies
- Field Leadership
The USAF course presents lectures, classroom exercises, guided discussions, field leadership activities, and after-hours training activities to prepare future officers.
Recruits live at Maxwell AFB during training with a complex that includes academic buildings, auditoriums, dormitories, dining, physical fitness center, and athletic fields.
Commissioned Officers of the Air Force prepare to enter service as a Second Lieutenant .
After graduating from Air Force OTS, many officers attend additional training to focus on specialties like piloting, navigation, space and missile operations, or other specialties.
Other Locations On Campus
Other locations on campus serve support roles for cadet training and other base functions. Doolittle Hall is the headquarters of the academy’s Association of Graduates and also serves as the initial reception point for new cadets arriving for Basic Cadet Training. It is named after General Jimmy Doolittle. The Goldwater Visitor Center, named after longtime proponent of the Academy United States SenatorBarry Goldwater, is the focal point for family, friends and tourists visiting the Academy grounds. The Academy Airfield is used for training cadets in airmanship courses, including parachute training, soaring and powered flight. Interment at the Academy Cemetery is limited to academy cadets and graduates, certain senior officers, certain academy staff members, and certain other family members. Air power notables Carl Spaatz, Curtis E. LeMay and Robin Olds, are interred here.
The United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School is a program offered to selected individuals who were not able to obtain appointments directly to the Academy. The program involves intense academic preparation , along with athletic and military training, meant to prepare the students for appointment to the academy. A high percentage of USAFA Preparatory School students earn appointments to the academy following their year at the Prep School.
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Air Force Academy Application Timeline
The Air Force Academy admissions cycle follows a unique timeline. Stay aware of the following deadlines to increase your childs chances of submitting a successful Air Force Academy application.
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Deadline to apply for the Summer Seminar.
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The Pre-Candidate Questionnaire opens up.
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Summer Seminar sessions take place.
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Qualified Pre-Candidates will receive their Candidate Kit and online application, along with a personalized deadline to submit all materials.
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Deadline to submit the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire.
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Final deadline to submit all materials included in the Candidate application.
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Applications are reviewed and decisions are released.
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May 1: National College Decision Day.
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The U.S. Air Force Academy welcomes its incoming class.
As you can see, being proactive and organized are important to navigating the many steps of the Air Force Academy application process. Keeping your child on track and on time is the best way to support them as they work to make their Air Force Academy dreams come true.
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Air Force Cadet Wing Squadron 40 Warhawks
The sky blue patch is an odd diamond shape edged in black. Along the bottom edge, against a gray background, are the black words “CLOSING FOR THE KILL.” In the top corner, a red sun has four red sunbeams protruding outward. Inside the sun is the Roman numeral “XL.” A camouflaged P-40 Warhawk with a tigershark mouth dominates. The aircraft fires six .50 caliber machine guns, and in the background a black enemy aircraft falls out of the sky, leaving a trail of black smoke.
The patch’s four colors represent the Air Force Academy classes. The red sun and the “XL” link the present and future members of the 40th Squadron when it was called “ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES.” The Warhawk links the squadron with the heritage and glory of the Air Force and the men who fought and died in the early years of air combat. Men who fought in P-40 were quick-thinking, fun-loving, dedicated, and courageous.
This second squadron patch replaced the “ALI BABA” one near the end of the ’86-’87 academic year.
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Air Force Cadet Wing Squadron 17 Stalag 17
The patch, a blue diamond-shaped emblem bordered in red, has a banner at its vertex. In the diamond, a clenched silver fist holds a silver torch with a bright orange and red flame. An emerald green wreath encircles both the torch and fist. The solid banner at the bottom contains the inscription “17th Squadron.”
The clenched fist signifies power and persistence. The flaming torch represents the drive for knowledge, wisdom, and truth. The emerald green wreath encircling the fist exemplifies the laurels of athletic achievement. Each of the four class colors is represented to signify the importance of unity of all the classes at the academy.
This is the original squadron patch.
Learn More About The Air Force Academy Before Applying
If this type of challenging environment sounds right for you, the next step is to learn more about life at USAFA.
Being part of the student body, called The Wing, is not an easy task and potential cadets benefit from researching the Air Force Academy before applying to make sure it is the right fit.
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Air Force Cadet Wing Squadron 7 Shadow Seven
The patch is a royal blue equilateral triangle, bordered in gold, standing on its vertex. A white unicorn, its features outlined in blue, stands in the center. A golden lightning bolt overlaps the unicorn and forms the shape of a large seven.
The large and powerful unicorn signifies strength. This mythological animal was virtually invincible in battle. The blue field behind the unicorn stands for fidelity and relates the Seventh Squadron to the Air Force. The gold border stands for valor and its golden rewards. The seven, shaped from a lightning bolt, symbolizes the speed with which the Air Force strikes in battle.
This is the original squadron patch.
Air Force Cadet Wing Squadron 12 Dirty Dozen
The patch, an isosceles triangle of sky blue bordered in blue, is dominated by a black and white Polaris star. Behind the star, a jet plane takes off into the blue skies. The airfield below is a checkered design with black and silver squares in the foreground, blue and black squares in the second row, gold and black squares in the third row, and red and black going on into the distance. Printed in blue across the bottom of the triangle on a silver back is “12th Squadron.”
The Polaris provides a never-failing light to guide cadets on their flight through life. It also serves as a reminder that no goal in life is too high to attain. The aircraft in the background signifies the profession cadets have chosen; its position in flight symbolizes the beginning of their mission to defend and protect their country. The four colors represent the four classes. The checkerboard pattern is the traditional symbol of the original squadron sponsors, the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing.
This, the original patch, was designed by William R. Povilus, class of 1963. Color variations of the patch may exist.
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How To Get Into The Air Force Academy After High School
The academy is a top-tier university with a competitive admissions process. In 2019, of the 10,354 students that applied to the academy, only 11 percent were accepted. That level of competition puts the academy on-par with Johns Hopkins, Cornell and Rice Universities. The Air Force encourages applicants to apply to other colleges with Air Force ROTC programs.
To be selected for admission, cadets must meet high academic, physical, character and medical standards. In the classroom, cadets are challenged every day. So they pick students with academic records that show exceptional GPAs, test results and class rank. Physically, cadets are challenged in campus sports or Basic Cadet Training . The Candidate Fitness Assessment tests strength, agility, speed and endurance.
A majority of the students selected graduated in the top ten percent of their high school classes. The average GPA for admission in 2019 was 3.78 and the average SAT scores were between 1230 and 1430.
A large part of the academys mission revolves around moral character and creating the leaders of tomorrow. A qualitative review of an individuals character is part of the application process. This is formulated from your references, extracurricular activities and community service during high school, and various evaluations and writing samples. These requirements, which are above and beyond what youll find at most universities, make your portfolio of extracurricular activities critical.
What Is The Air Force Academy
The US Air Force Academy is one of the United States premier institutions of higher-learning. Its the official military academy for officer cadets for both the US Air Force and the US Space Force. While it is the youngest of the five service academies in the country, the Air Force Academy is third in seniority.
The first class graduated from the academy in 1959. Grads receive a Bachelors of Science degree and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force.
Getting into the academy is competitive. Nominations are divided by congressional district, with each class made up of about 1,200 cadets.
The Air Forces core values are championed throughout the academy in all of the pillars of excellenceacademics, military training, character development and athletics. The core values are Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do.
As an academic institution, the Air Force Academy is markedly different than other colleges and universities youll find. Cadet life combines a broad range of academic disciplines with military training, leadership development and athletics. Classroom focuses include critical thinking and communication skills, engineering and science and ethics and respect.
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Attend The Summer Seminar
For those looking for a more immersive experience, the Air Force Academy provides the opportunity to live like a cadet during the summer between their junior and senior years of high school.
Summer Seminar participants will:
- Live in the dorms and eat in the dining hall
- Engage in academic workshops on campus in classrooms and labs
- Participate in admissions and other interest workshops
- Get a taste of introductory military training, such as physical fitness, marching, and Air Force traditions
- Learn about exciting Air Force careers
- Hear about Cadet life from current Cadets and other panelists
Summer Seminar is not a requirement for admission or even application. Rather, it is meant to inform potential applicants on whether USAFA is a good fit for them.
Still have questions about the application process, USAFA, or the Air Force? Reach out to your Admission Liaison Officer, ALO. This volunteer is there in your local area to help you navigate the application, learn more about USAFA, and explain what to expect as a cadet and later as an Air Force officer.
Air Force Academy Setting
Suburban. The Air Force Academy campus spans 18,500 acres, which is where cadets will spend the majority of their time learning, training, and developing into world-class leaders. Even though the strict daily schedule doesnt allow much of an opportunity for students to venture off-campus during the week, the large campus boasts many activities for cadets to enjoy.
Students can choose from over ninety student clubs, including drama, falconry, and fly fishing. The vast Arnold Hall offers a place for cadets to dance, play games, watch movies, or cheer on the NCAA Division I Air Force Academy athletic teams.
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Air Force Cadet Wing Squadron 13 Bulldawgs
The patch has a bulldog emblazoned in the foreground of a sky blue circle outlined in black. A lightning bolt shoots across the sky behind the silver bulldog, outlined in black and wearing a spiked collar. On a white scroll at the bottom of the patch is written “13th SQ AFCW.”
The bulldog represents the full circle of qualities that make up an Air Force officer. It epitomizes the loyalty, moral resolve, and dogged pursuit of duty typical to the cadets of the 13th Squadron. The lightning bolt demonstrates the courage, dedication, and strength that characterizes all bulldog graduates.
This is the original squadron patch. Early versions of this patch may have a darker blue background. Another possibility is a lighter blue background with a brown bulldog.
Air Academy High School
With an enrollment of over 1300, Air Academy High School is the only high school in the United States built on a military academy. It ranks in the top ten in the state in academic standards. Part of School District 20 , its regularly places in the top ten in state championships. D20 also maintains an elementary school on the academy grounds.
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First Years Of Independence
After it became independent from the British Empire in 1947, British India was partitioned into the new states of the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Along the lines of the geographical partition, the assets of the air force were divided between the new countries. India’s air force retained the name of the Royal Indian Air Force, but three of the ten operational squadrons and facilities, located within the borders of Pakistan, were transferred to the Royal Pakistan Air Force. The RIAF Roundel was changed to an interim ‘Chakra’ roundel derived from the Ashoka Chakra.
Around the same time, conflict broke out between them over the control of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. With Pakistani forces moving into the state, its Maharaja decided to accede to India in order to receive military help. The day after, the Instrument of Accession was signed, the RIAF was called upon to transport troops into the war zone. And this was when a good management of logistics came into help. This led to the eruption of full-scale war between India and Pakistan, though there was no formal declaration of war. During the war, the RIAF did not engage the Pakistan Air Force in air-to-air combat; however, it did provide effective transport and close air support to the Indian troops.