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The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA or Air Force),[1] located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force. Graduates of the four-year program receive a Bachelor of Science degree and most are commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force.[2] The Academy is also one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado, attracting more than a million visitors each year.[3]
The program at the Academy is guided by its core values of "Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do", and based on four "pillars" of excellence: military training, academics, athletics and character development.[3] In addition to a rigorous military training regimen, cadets also take a broad academic course load with an extensive core curriculum in engineering, humanities, social sciences, basic sciences, military studies and physical education. All cadets participate in either intercollegiate or intramural athletics, and a thorough character development and leadership curriculum provide cadets a basis for future officership. Each of the components of the program is intended to give cadets the skills and knowledge that they will need for success as officers.
HistoryEstablishmentPrior to the Academy's establishment, air power advocates had been pushing for a separate air force academy for decades. As early as 1918, Lt. Col. A.J. Hanlon wrote, "As the Military and Naval Academies are the backbone of the Army and Navy, so must the Aeronautical Academy be the backbone of the Air Service. No service can flourish without some such institution to inculcate into its embryonic officers love of country, proper conception of duty, and highest regard for honor."[7] Other officials expressed similar sentiments. In 1919, Congressman Charles F. Curry introduced legislation providing for an Academy, but concerns about cost, curriculum and location led to its demise.[7] In 1925, General Billy Mitchell testified on Capitol Hill that it was necessary "to have an air academy to form a basis for the permanent backbone of your air service and to attend to the . . . organizational part of it, very much the same way that West Point does for the Army, or the Naval Academy for the Navy."[7][8] Still, these arguments did not gain traction with legislators, and it was not until the late 1940s that the concept of the United States Air Force Academy began to take shape.[7] Support for an air academy got a boost with the National Security Act of 1947, which provided for the establishment of a separate Air Force. As an initial measure, Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington negotiated an agreement where up to 25% of West Point and Annapolis graduates could volunteer to receive their commissions in the newly-established Air Force. However, this was only a short term fix, and disagreements between the services led to the establishment of the Service Academy Board by Secretary of Defense James Forrestal. In January 1950, the Service Academy Board, headed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, then president of Columbia University, concluded that the needs of the Air Force could not be met by the two existing U.S. service academies and that an air force academy should be established.[7]
The early yearsImage:AFA grad.jpg Cadets in parade dress The early Air Force Academy leadership faced monumental tasks—not the least of which were the development of an appropriate curriculum, development of a faculty, design of a distinctive cadet uniform, oversight of the construction of the permanent site, and designing the structure of military and flight training. Ultimately, officials drew from sources within the Air Force, from West Point and Annapolis, and occasionally some from outside the military entirely to establish the foundations of the Academy program. The Academy's permanent site was not complete upon the admission of the first class, so the 306 cadets of the Class of 1959 were sworn in at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base, in Denver on July 11, 1955. They were housed in renovated World War II barracks. There were no upper class cadets to train the new cadets, so the Air Force appointed a cadre of "Air Training Officers" (ATOs). The ATOs were junior officers, many of whom had been graduates of West Point, and Annapolis, who acted as surrogate upper class cadets until the upper classes could be populated.[7] The Academy's dedication ceremony took place on that first day, live on national television, with Walter Cronkite covering the event.[7] In developing a distinctive uniform for cadets, Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbott was looking for "imagination" in the design. Talbott initially used military tailors, but was unhappy with their products.[9] As a result, the first classes of cadets wore temporary uniforms while the uniform was developed. Secretary Talbott then sought out legendary Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille for help. DeMille's designs—most notably his design of the cadet parade dress—won praise from Air Force and Academy leadership, were ultimately adopted, and are still worn by cadets today. The Class of 1959 established many other important traditions that continue until today. Most notably, the first class adopted the Honor Code, and chose the falcon as the Academy's mascot. In 1957, the Air Force cadets marched in the Inaugural Parade of President Dwight Eisenhower in Washington DC. On August 29, 1958, the wing of 1,145 cadets moved to the present site, and less than a year later the Academy received accreditation. The first USAFA class graduated and was commissioned on June 3, 1959. VietnamThe Vietnam War was the first war in which Academy graduates fought and died, and as such had a profound effect on the development of the character of the Academy. Because of the need for more pilots, Academy enrollment grew significantly during this time. The size of the graduating classes went from 217 in 1961 to 745 in 1970.[10] Academy facilities were likewise expanded, and training was modified to better meet the needs of the wartime Air Force. The Jack's Valley field training area was added, the SERE program was expanded, and light aircraft training started in 1968.[10] Unsurprisingly, many Academy graduates of this era found themselves with early assignments to Southeast Asia, and many served with distinction in the conflict. F-4 pilot Steve Ritchie '64 and F-4 weapon systems officer Jeffrey Feinstein '68 each became aces, by downing five enemy aircraft in combat.[11][12] One hundred forty-one graduates died in the war, and thirty-two graduates became prisoners of war. Lance Sijan, '65, fell into both categories, becoming the first Academy graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor.[13] Sijan Hall, one of the cadet dormitories, is named in his honor. The effects of the anti-war movement were felt at the Academy as well. Because the Academy grounds are open to the public, the Academy often became a site for protests by anti-war demonstrators.[10] Regular demonstrations were held at the Cadet Chapel, and cadets often became the targets of protesters' insults. Other aggravating factors were the presence in the Cadet Wing of cadets motivated to attend the Academy for reasons of draft avoidance, and a number of highly publicized cheating scandals. Morale sometimes suffered as a consequence. Image:AFA 80s Lady.jpg An appointee from the Class of 1980 reports for in-processing Women at the AcademyOne of the most significant events in the history of the Academy was the admission of women. On October 7, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation permitting women to enter the United States service academies. On June 26, 1976, 157 women entered the Air Force Academy with the Class of 1980. Since there were no female upper class cadets, the Air Training Officer model was revived, and fifteen young female officers were brought in to help with the integration process. The female cadets were initially segregated from the rest of the Cadet Wing, but were fully integrated into their assigned squadrons after the first semester. On May 28, 1980, 97 of the original female cadets completed the program and graduated from the Academy--just over 10% of the graduating class. Women currently comprise about 18% of the Cadet Wing.[4] Many of the women from those early classes went on to achieve success within the Cadet Wing. Kathleen Conley '80, was the first woman to graduate from the Academy, finishing eighth in her class. Michelle D. Johnson '81, was the first woman to serve as the Academy's Cadet Wing Commander—the senior ranking cadet—and was the Academy's first female Rhodes Scholar. Terrie Ann MacLaughlin '86, was the first female cadet to graduate top in her class. Many women from these classes also excelled after graduation. Susan J. Helms '80, is the first woman graduate astronaut, flying on four Space Shuttle missions and serving five months on the International Space Station. Heather Wilson '82, another Rhodes Scholar, became the first female veteran to serve in the House of Representatives in 1998. Brigadier General Dana H. Born '83, is currently the Academy's Dean of Faculty, and Brigadier General Susan Y. Desjardins '80 is currently the Academy's Commandant of Cadets--both are the first women to serve in their respective positions. Despite these successes, integration issues were long apparent. Female cadets have had consistently higher dropout rates than men, and have left the Air Force in higher numbers than men.[14] Some male cadets also believed that the presence of women had softened the rigors of Academy life and that women received special treatment. According to at least one commentator, as many as ten percent of male Academy graduates in the late 1970s and early 1980s requested Army commissions, in part because of disillusionment over such issues.[15] Lingering hostility toward women in the Cadet Wing is often linked with the sexual assault scandal that broke in 2003.[14] Campus and facilities
The campus of the Academy covers 18,000 acres (73 km²) on the east side of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains, just north of Colorado Springs. Its altitude is normally given as 7,258 feet (2,212 m) above sea-level, which is the elevation of the cadet area. The Academy was designed by architect Walter Netsch with the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. On April 1, 2004, fifty years after Congress authorized the building of the Academy, the Cadet Area at the Academy was designated a National Historic Landmark.[16][17][18] Buildings in the Cadet AreaThe buildings in the Cadet Area are modernist in style, and make extensive use of aluminum on building exteriors, suggesting the outer skin of aircraft and some spacecraft.[19] Notable buildings include:
Displays and memorialsImage:USAFA Class Wall.jpg The Class Wall in 2004 There are many displays throughout the Cadet Area, commemorating heroes and air power pioneers, and meant to serve as inspiration to cadets. Among them are:
Other locations on campusImage:AFA Glider.jpg Cadets have the opportunity to fly gliders as part of their training
The Honor Code and character educationThe Honor Code is the cornerstone of a cadet's professional training and development—the minimum standard of ethical conduct that cadets expect of themselves and their fellow cadets. The Honor Code was developed and adopted by the Class of 1959, the first class to graduate from the Academy, and has been handed down to every subsequent class.[23][24] The Code itself is simple:
In 1984, the Cadet Wing voted to add an "Honor Oath", which was to be taken by all cadets. The oath is administered to fourth class cadets (freshmen) when they are formally accepted into the Wing at the conclusion of Basic Cadet Training.[24] The oath remains unchanged since its adoption 1984, and consists of a statement of the code, followed by a resolution to live honorably:
Cadets are considered the "guardians and stewards" of the Code. Cadet honor representatives throughout the Wing oversee the honor system by conducting education classes and investigating possible honor incidents. Cadets throughout the Wing are expected to sit on Honor Boards as juries that determine whether their fellow cadets violated the code. Cadets also recommend sanctions for violations. Although the presumed sanction for a violation is disenrollment, mitigating factors may result in the violator being placed in a probationary status for some period of time. This "honor probation" is usually only reserved for cadets in their first two years at the Academy. To reinforce the importance of honor, character and integrity to future officers, cadets are given an extensive character and leadership curriculum. The Academy's Character and Leadership Education Division provides classroom, seminar, workshop and experiential-based learning programs to all cadets, beginning when they enter Basic Cadet Training, and continuing each year through their last semester at the Academy. The Center's programs, when coupled with the Honor Code and Honor System, establish a foundation for the "leaders of character" that the Academy aspires to produce. OrganizationImage:AFA Graduates.jpg Air Force Academy cadets celebrate after graduation The organization of the Academy has characteristics of a military unit and a civilian college. Like a civilian college, cadets are divided into four classes, based on their year in school. However, they are not referred to as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, but rather as fourth-, third-, second- and first-class cadets, respectively. Fourth-class cadets (freshmen) are sometimes referred to as "doolies," a term derived from the Greek word δουλος ("doulos") meaning "slave" or "servant."[25] Members of the three lower classes are also referred to as "4 degrees," "3 degrees" or "2 degrees" based on their class.[26] First-class cadets are referred to as "firsties." In the military structure of the Academy, first class cadets (seniors) act as the cadet officers, second class cadets (juniors) act as the cadet non-commissioned officers, and third class cadets (sophomores) as junior non-commissioned officers. Like the active duty U.S. Air Force, the squadron is the main operational unit at the Academy. Cadets live together with other members of their squadron, and are often assigned to the same squadron for at least three years of their four years at the Academy. Most group activities at the Academy, including military training, marching, and intramural athletics, are organized by squadron. The 40 cadet squadrons each consists of about about 110 cadets, roughly evenly divided between the four classes. Each cadet squadron is commanded by a first-class cadet, the Cadet Squadron Commander. Selected first-, second- and third-class cadets hold other leadership, operational and support jobs within the squadron. Each cadet squadron is supervised by a specially selected active duty officer called an Air Officer Commanding (AOC), who is normally an active duty Air Force major. The cadet squadrons are organized into four cadet groups of 10 squadrons each. Each cadet group is commanded by a selected first-class cadet, the Cadet Group Commander, who has a staff of selected first- and second-class cadets to help oversee the operations, training and administration of that group. Each cadet group is supervised by a Group Air Officer Commanding, normally an active-duty lieutenant colonel. The four groups make up the Cadet Wing--the entire body of cadets. Like the squadrons and groups, the Cadet Wing is commanded by a selected first-class cadet, the Cadet Wing Commander, who is the senior-ranking cadet at the Academy. The Cadet Wing also has a staff of selected first- and second-class cadets who oversee the operations, training and administration of the wing. Military training for the Wing is overseen by the Commandant of Cadets, normally an active-duty brigadier general. The Superintendent is the senior officer at the Academy, normally an active-duty lieutenant general. The Superintendent oversees all aspects of the Academy, including military training, academics, athletics, admissions, and the administration of the base. Military TrainingImage:AFA OCourse.jpg Basic cadets complete the obstacle course during BCT The majority of cadets' military training happens over the summer. The first military experience for new or "basic" cadets occurs during the six weeks of Basic Cadet Training (BCT), in the summer before their fourth class (freshman) year. During BCT, cadets learn the fundamentals of military and Academy life under the leadership of a cadre of first and second class cadets. Basic cadets learn military customs and courtesies, learn proper wear of the uniform, practice marching, study military knowledge and undergo a rigorous physical training program. During the second half of BCT, basic cadets march to Jack's Valley, where they complete the program in a field encampment environment. Upon completion of BCT, basic cadets receive their fourth-class (shoulder boards), take the Honor Oath, and are formally accepted as members of the Cadet Wing. Following the first summer, the training becomes a bit more varied. Between their fourth and third class years, cadets undergo training in Air Force operations in a deployed environment (called "Global Engagement") and may participate in flying gliders or free-fall parachute training. From the late 1960s until the mid-1990s, cadets also completed SERE training between their fourth- and third-class years. This program was replaced with Combat Survival Training (CST) in 1995 and done away with entirely in 2005. During their last two summers, cadets participate in a variety of programs, to include BCT cadre, travel to active duty Air Force bases, and a variety of other leadership, research and aviation programs. They may also be able to take courses offered by other services, such as the U.S. Army's Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, or the Air Assault School, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During the academic year, all cadets take formal classes in military theory, operations and leadership. AcademicsThe Air Force Academy is an accredited four-year university offering Bachelor's degrees in a variety of subjects. Approximately 75 percent of the faculty are Air Force officers, with the remaining 25 percent comprised of civilian professors, visiting professors from civilian universities, and instructors from other U.S. and allied foreign military services. In recent years, civilians have become a growing portion of senior faculty. All graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree, regardless of major, because of the technical content of the core requirements. The Dean of the Faculty is usually an active-duty brigadier general, although a civilian may hold the position. Each academic department is chaired by a permanent professor, who is an active duty colonel. Most active duty U.S. military officers who serve as full professors at the Air Force Academy are eligible to receive the Air Force Academy Professor Badge. Cadets may major in a number of divisional, disciplinary or inter-disciplinary subjects, including: Aeronautical Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Basic Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, English, Environmental Engineering, Foreign Area Studies, General Engineering, Geography, History, Humanities, Legal Studies, Management, Mathematical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Meteorology, Military Strategic Studies, Operations Research, Physics, Political Science, Social Sciences, Space Operations, Systems Engineering, and Systems Engineering Management. Minors are available in Foreign Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish), Mathematical Sciences, or Philosophy. The academic program has an extensive core curriculum, in which all cadets take required courses in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, military studies and physical education. Most of a cadet's first two years are spent in core classes. During the third and fourth years, cadets have more flexibility to focus in their major areas of study, but the core requirements are still significant. Traditionally, the academic program at the Air Force Academy (as with military academies in general) has focused on science and engineering, with the idea that many graduates would be expected to manage complex aeronautical, astronautical, and communications systems. The wide offering of humanities degrees and the large number of cadets who major in non-technical disciplines (notably more than the other U.S. service academies) has been seen by some as inconsistent with that idea. Former Air Force Secretary James Roche was concerned enough that he ordered a revamping of the curriculum to reduce the workload of engineering majors. His goal was to encourage more cadets to pursue science or engineering studies. This effort was opposed by those who believed that engineering expertise could be provided by the defense industry, and that leadership and management requirements are at least as significant as historical demands for technical preeminence. Since Roche left the position, however, his effort appears to have been abandoned. AthleticsAll cadets at the Academy take part in the extensive athletic program. The program is designed to enhance the physical conditioning of all cadets, to develop the physical skills necessary for officership, to teach leadership in a competitive environment and to build character.[27] The three primary elements of the athletic program are intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics, physical education, and the fitness tests. The Academy's high altitude makes the physical fitness program particularly demanding, and gives the acclimated cadets a distinct advantage over visiting athletic teams from lower altitudes. Cadets are required to take physical education courses from a range of categories. Swimming and water survival build confidence while teaching important survival skills. Combative sports such as boxing, wrestling, judo and unarmed combat build confidence, teach controlled aggression, and develop physical fitness. Cadets also complete physical education classes in team sports such as basketball and soccer, "lifetime" sports such as tennis and golf, and take academic classes on the physiology of exercise. Each semester, cadets must pass an Aerobic Fitness Test—a timed 1.5 mile (2.4 km) run)—and a Physical Fitness Test, which consists of pull-ups, standing long jump, sit-ups, push-ups and a 600 yard run all done in a 15-minute time frame. All cadets are expected to compete intramural athletics if they are not "on-season" for intercollegiate athletics. for their entire time at the Academy. Intramural sports pit cadet squadrons against one another in many sports, including basketball, cross-country, flag football, racquetball, flickerball, rugby, boxing, soccer, mountain biking, softball, team handball, tennis, Ultimate, wallyball and volleyball. Image:Air Force Falcons.gif Air Force Falcons logo The intercollegiate program has 17 men's and 10 women's NCAA sanctioned teams, nicknamed the "Falcons".[27] Men’s teams compete in football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, cross-country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling. Women's teams include basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and volleyball. In addition, the Academy also sponsors two non-NCAA programs: cheerleading, and boxing. The men's and women's programs both compete in NCAA's Division I-A. Most teams compete in the Mountain West Conference; however, the gymnastics teams and men's soccer teams compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation; the men's hockey team competes in Atlantic Hockey and the water polo team competes in the Western Water Polo Association. The men's boxing team competes in the National Collegiate Boxing Association. Air Force has traditional service academy rivalries with Navy and Army. The three service academies compete for the Commander in Chief's Trophy in football each year. Air Force Falcons football has had the best showing of the three, winning the trophy 16 of its 34 years. The Academy also has an in-state rivalry with Colorado State University, which is located in Fort Collins and is a fellow member of the Mountain West Conference. Air Force has had great athletic success throughout its history. The boxing team, led for 31 years by Coach Ed Weichers, has won 19 national championships, and has never finished lower than second in the nation.[28] The Academy's men's and women's rugby teams have both have won multiple national championships and the women's side recently had two players selected for the United States national team.[29] The football team has played in 17 bowl games, and the basketball team has had strong showings in the last several years, qualifying for the NCAA tournament and, most recently, making the final four of the 2007 NIT Tournament.[30]
AdmissionsTo be eligible to enter the Academy, a candidate must:[31][32]
In addition to the normal application process, all candidates must secure a nomination to the Academy, normally from a U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative. Each member of Congress and the Vice President can have five appointees attending the Air Force Academy at any time. The process for obtaining a congressional nomination is not political, and candidates do not have to know their senator or representative to secure a nomination. Additional nomination slots are available for children of career military personnel, children of disabled veterans or veterans who were killed in action, or children of Medal of Honor recipients. The admissions process is a lengthy one, and applicants usually begin the paperwork during the second semester of their junior year of high school. ControversiesDespite the exceptionally high standards expected of cadets, faculty and staff, and the fact that the selection processes are among the most thorough and most rigorous to be found, the Academy has not been immune from scandal. Honor scandalsThe first Honor scandal broke in 1965, when a resigning cadet reported knowing of more than 100 cadets who had been involved in a cheating ring. 109 cadets were ultimately expelled. Cheating scandals rocked the Academy again in 1967, 1972, 1984, 2004[34] and 2007.[35] Following each of these unfortunate events, the Academy thoroughly examined the etiology of the mass cheating, particularly instructor procedures that made these Honor Code infractions even possible, much less attractive to that many cadets. The Academy also looked at alleged excessive pressures that the academic system at the time placed on cadets and made changes in attempts to reduce the opportunities for future incidents. Allegations of sexual harassment, assault, and gender biasThe sexual assault scandal that broke in 2003 forced the Academy to look more closely at how effectively women had been integrated into cadet life. According to the Fowler Commission report, due to poor leadership, sexual assault had become "a part of life at the Academy." It was also reported that as many as one in five male cadets felt women should not be at the Academy. Following the scandal and rising concerns about sexual assault throughout the U.S. military, the Department of Defense established a task force to investigate sexual harassment and assault at each of the United States service academies. The report, issued August 25, 2005, showed that during 2004, 50% of the women at the USAF Academy reported encountering incidents of sexual harassment. The report also revealed 92 incidents of reported sexual assault.[36] At the same time, the Academy implemented programs to combat sexual assault, harassment, and gender bias. The new programs actively encourage prompt sexual assault reporting. The Academy's decisive actions of zero tolerance was praised by officials and experts.[37] While it was of no consolation to the Academy who has always subscribed itself to a higher standard, former Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore III, chair of the Academy's Board of Visitors, described curbing sexual assault on campuses as "a national challenge, not just an issue confined to the Air Force Academy." In late 2006, a military judge dismissed a rape charge against an accused cadet because the accuser's mental health professional refused a court order to release medical records of statements the accuser had made to her.[38] On January 10, 2007, the Associated Press reported that civilian prosecutors declined to file charges in an alleged sexual assault that started the aforementioned 2003 sexual assault scandal because they could not meet the required burden of proof.[39] Charges of Religious ProselytizingIn 2005, allegations surfaced that some Evangelical Christian cadets and staff were saying or doing things that some felt to be tantamount to religious proselytizing at the Academy.[40] These allegations, along with concerns over how the Air Force handles other religious issues, prompted Academy graduate Mikey Weinstein to file a lawsuit against the Air Force.[41] An Air Force panel investigated the accusations and issued its report on June 22, 2005.[42] Following this report's recommendations, the Academy formalized operational procedures to make clear the policies already in place, with the goal of ensuring an appropriate environment for all cadets regardless of religion. Notable graduatesFor a list of well-known graduates of the Academy, see: or For a list of well-known alumni who did not graduate, see: See also
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