United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (), is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers in 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.Since 1959, cadets have also been able to "cross-commission" into the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, and each year a small number of graduates does so, usually in a one-for-one "trade" with similarly inclined cadets at the other service academies. Foreign cadets and graduates who have lost their medical qualification while at the Academy (a small number each year) may receive a degree but are not commissioned. The program at the Academy is based on its core values of "Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do".

The Air Force Academy is often referred to informally as "The Academy," "The Hill", "The Zoo" (originally "The Blue Zoo") or "Wild Blue U." Unlike the military academies at West Point and Annapolis, which are often referred to by their respective city names, the Air Force Academy is rarely referred to as "Colorado Springs." In athletic events, the Academy is generally referred to simply as "Air Force." Air Force Academy cadets and graduates are often referred to as "Zoomies."

History

Establishment

Although airpower advocates had been pushing for a separate air force academy during previous decades, it was not until the late 1940s that the concept of the United States Air Force Academy began to take shape. 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. Between the time of the Air Force's establishment as a separate service in 1947 and the the graduation of the first Air Force Academy class in 1959, graduates of West Point or Annapolis could choose Air Force commissions if they wished and met the necessary qualifications.

Congress authorized the construction of the Air Force Academy on April 1, 1954, and established an advisory commission to help determine the site of the new school. Among the panel members were Charles Lindbergh, General Carl Spaatz, and Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon, who later became the Academy's first superintendent. The original 582 sites considered were winnowed to three: Alton, Illinois; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; and the ultimate site in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott announced the winning site on June 24, 1954.

The early years

On July 11, 1955, the first class of 306 cadets was sworn in at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver while construction was completed in Colorado Springs. Because there were initially no upperclass cadets to run the Cadet Wing, a cadre of "Air Training Officers" (ATOs) was selected to supervise and train the new cadets until the upper classes could be populated. On August 29, 1958, a wing of 1,145 cadets moved to the present site, and less than a year later the Academy received accreditation. The first class graduated on June 3, 1959.

The first classes of cadets wore temporary uniforms while a distinctive Academy uniform was developed. After a number of military tailors fell short, Secretary Talbott turned to Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille for help. The resulting uniforms—most notably the distinctive cadet parade dress—are still worn by cadets today.

Vietnam

The Vietnam War was a challenging time for the Academy. Because the Academy grounds are open to the public, the Academy often became a site for protests by anti-war demonstrators, and cadets often became the targets of their insults. Morale suffered as a consequence. Another aggravating factor was the presence in the cadet wing of members motivated primarily by draft avoidance, as well as a number of highly publicized cheating scandals.

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. One hundred forty-one graduates died in the war, and thirty-two graduates became prisoners of war. One of the latter was Lance Sijan, '65, who also became (so far) the only academy graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Women at the Academy

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. The Air Training Officer model that was used with the first Academy classes was re-implemented, and 15 young female officers were selected to help with the integration process. The women were initially segregated from the rest of the Cadet Wing, but were fully integrated into their assigned squadrons after the first year. On May 28, 1980, 97 of the original female cadets completed the program and graduated from the Academy.

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. Tennis standout Gail Allen '82 was the first female academy graduate to receive the Rolex Lifetime Achievement Award. Terrie Ann MacLaughlin '86, was the first female cadet to graduate top in her class. Brigadier General Susan J. Helms '80, is the first woman graduate astronaut, having flown on three space shuttle missions and served five months on the International Space Station. Brigadier General Dana H. Born '83, is the first woman to serve as Dean of Faculty, and Brigadier General Susan Y. Desjardins '80 is the first woman to serve as Commandant of Cadets. Women currently comprise about 18% of the Cadet Wing. This percentage is a record high (historically, before 2003 the average had been approximately 12%).

The sexual assault scandal that broke in 2003 forced the Academy to look more closely at how women had been integrated into cadet life. According to the report of the Fowler Commission, due to poor leadership, sexual assault had become "a part of life at the Academy." It was also reported that one in five male cadets felt women should not be at the Academy. Following the sexual assault scandal and rising concern with sexual assault in the U.S. military, the Department of Defense was required to establish a task force to investigate sexual harassment and assault at the United States military academies in the law funding the military for fiscal year 2004. The report, issued August 25, 2005, showed that during 2004, 50% of the women at the Academy reported encountering incidents of sexual harassment. The report also revealed 92 incidents of reported sexual assault. ^*

In the wake of the controversy, the Academy implemented programs to combat sexual assault and to encourage sexual assault reporting. These programs garnered praise from officials and experts in a recent Senate briefing. ^* As former Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore III, chair of the Academy's Board of Visitors noted, curbing sexual assault on campuses "is a national challenge, not just an issue confined to the Air Force Academy."

Controversy

Despite the high standards expected of cadets and staff, the Academy has not been immune from scandal. The 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. Negative media reports came out throughout the United States and 109 cadets were ultimately expelled. Cheating scandals rocked the Academy again in 1967, 1972 and 1984 and also resulted in the expulsion of significant numbers of cadets.

In 2003, the Academy attracted intense national scrutiny when a number of female cadets and recent graduates reported that they had been victims of sexual assault while at the Academy. Some of these women reported that Academy leadership either ignored their reports or, in some cases, threatened punishment for other offenses such as underage drinking. The scandal resulted in a number of studies and commissions being established to address how the Academy and the U.S. military deal with sexual assault.^*

Most recently, in 2005, reports surfaced of inappropriate religious proselytizing at the Academy by Evangelical Christian cadets and staff members.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.June 22, 2005.[http://www.af.mil/pdf/HQ_Review_Group_Report.pdf" target="_blank" >^* 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.

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 at an altitude of 7,258 feet (2,212 m) above sea-level. The Academy was designed by 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. ^*

Buildings in the Cadet Area

The 17-spired Cadet Chapel is the most distinctive building in the Cadet Area. The subject of some controversy when it was first built, it is now considered among the most beautiful examples of modern American academic architecture. The Cadet Chapel contains a 1,300 seat Protestant chapel, a 500-seat Catholic chapel, a 100-seat Jewish chapel, and interfaith rooms for cadets of other religions.
Fairchild Hall, the cadet academic building, is named after General Muir S. Fairchild, the first commander of Air University and later Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Fairchild Hall contains academic classrooms, laboratories and research facilities, faculty offices, and the Robert F. McDermott Library.
Vandenberg Hall, a cadet dormitory, is named after Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt S. Vandenberg.
Sijan Hall, a cadet dormitory dedicated on May 31, 1976, was built to accommodate the expansion of the Cadet Wing to a strength of 4,417 cadets. It is named after Captain Lance Sijan, the first USAFA graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Mitchell Hall, the cadet dining facility, has the ability to feed the entire Cadet Wing at one time. It is named after airpower pioneer Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell.
Arnold Hall, the cadet social center, contains a 3000-seat theater, a ballroom, and a number of lounge and recreation facilities for cadets and visitors. It is named after General of the Air Force Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, commanding general of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Harmon Hall is the administration building, which houses the offices of the Superintendent and the Superintendent's staff. It is named after Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon, the first Superintendent of the Academy.
The Aeronautics Laboratory
The Cadet Gymnasium, surrounded by the Athletic Fields, contains several gyms, two swimming pools, weight training facilities and facilities for playing a number of sports.
The Cadet Fieldhouse contains the 6000-seat Clune Arena (named after long-time USAFA Director of Athletics Colonel John J. Clune ), a 2600-seat ice hockey rink, and an indoor track that doubles as a practice facility for a number of sports.

Displays and memorials

The War Memorial, located near the flagpole, recounts the names of those Academy graduates who have been killed in combat.
The Honor Wall, overlooking the Terrazzo, is inscribed with the Academy's Honor Code, "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does."
The Class Wall, below the Cadet Chapel, bears the crests of each of the Academy's graduating classes. The crest of the current first (senior) class is displayed in the center position.
The Battle Ramp leads down from the main Terrazzo level toward the parade field. On in-processing day, new cadets arrive at the base of the ramp and start their transition into military and Academy life by ascending the ramp to the Terrazzo. The ramp is also commonly known as the "Bring Me Men Ramp" or "BMMR" because from 1964 to 2004, the portal at the base of the ramp was inscribed with the words "Bring me men...” taken from the poem "The Coming American" by Samuel Walter Foss. In a controversial move, particularly with many Academy graduates, the words were taken down following the 2003 sexual assault scandal and replaced with the Academy's core values: "Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do."
The Eagle and Fledglings Statue was given as a gift to the Academy in 1958 by the personnel of Air Training Command. It contains the inscription, "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge.”
The Academy Cemetery, where air power notables such as Carl Spaatz and Curtis E. LeMay are interred.
There are numerous static air- and spacecraft displays on the Academy grounds, including: an F-4, F-15, F-16 and F-105 on the Terrazzo; a B-52 by the North Gate; a T-38 and A-10 at the airfield; an F-100 by the preparatory school; and a Minuteman III in front of the Fieldhouse.

Other locations on campus

Doolittle Hall is the headquarters of the USAFA Association of Graduates, and also serves as the reception point for new cadets arriving for Basic Cadet Training. It is named after General Jimmy Doolittle.
The Goldwater Visitors Center is the focal point for family, friends and tourists visiting the Academy grounds. It is named after United States Senator Barry Goldwater.
Falcon Stadium is the home of Air Force Academy football, and the site of the graduation ceremonies for each year's graduating class.
The Academy Airfield is used for training cadets in airmanship courses.
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 (particularly English, math and science), athletic and military training to prepare the students for appointment to the Academy. A high percentage of USAFA Preparatory School students (known as "Preppies") earn appointments to the Academy following their year at the Prep School.

The Honor Code and character education

The Honor Code was developed and adopted by the class of 1959, the first class to graduate from the Academy. The Code is the foundation of a cadet's professional training and development. The Code itself is simple:

We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.

At the beginning of the fourth-class (freshman) year, every cadet takes an oath to uphold the honor code, and resolves to live honorably. The Honor Oath as adopted in 1984:

We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does; furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and to live honorably, so help me God.

To reinforce the importance of 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 (BCT), and continuing each year through their last semester at the Academy. The Center’s mission is to facilitate programs and activities throughout all aspects of cadet life that help cadets develop a cadet's internal moral compass.

Organization

Cadets are divided into four classes, much like a civilian college. 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"; however, the term "doolie" has fallen out of use with more recent classes, and the term "smack" is used more often.The term "SMACK" was originally a nonspecific derogatory term, but is now a backronym for "Soldier Minus Ability Courage and Knowledge" or "Soldier Minus Ability Coordination and Knowledge" Members of the three lower classes are referred to as "4 degrees,” "3 degrees" or "2 degrees" based on their class.The "degree" terminology comes from the ordinal indicator used for classes in the early years of the Academy—e.g., "2°" was read as "second class." First-class cadets are referred to as "firsties".

Like the active duty U.S. Air Force, the squadron is the main functional unit at the Academy. The number of squadrons at the Academy has varied over time, based primarily on the strength of the Cadet Wing. Growing steadily following its inception, the Wing reached a maximum of 40 squadrons in 1970, and stayed that way until the mid-1990s, when the number of squadrons was reduced to 36. Beginning with the summer of 2006, the number of squadrons will return to 40.^*

Each of the 40 Cadet Squadrons consists of about 110 cadets, who come from all four classes. Each squadron is commanded by a first-class cadet, the Cadet Squadron Commander, and selected first-, second- and third-class cadets hold other leadership, operational and support positions within the squadron. First-class cadets function as the cadet officers in the command structure, while second-class cadets serve as the cadet non-commissioned officers. Each Cadet Squadron is supervised by a specially selected active duty officer called an Air Officer Commanding (AOC), who is normally an active duty major. Military training, marching, intramural athletics and many other activities at the Academy are organized by squadron.

The 40 Cadet Squadrons are organized into 4 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.

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 in the command structure. 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 of the Academy, normally an active-duty lieutenant general, oversees all aspects of the Academy, including military training, academics, athletics, admissions, and the administration of the base.

Military Training

Much of the cadets' military training at the Academy happens over the summers. In the summer before their fourth class year, all new cadets undergo six weeks of Basic Cadet Training (BCT), referred to as "Beast." During this period, new cadets are called "Basic Cadets" or just "Basics." During BCT, cadets learn the fundamentals of military life and life at the Academy under the supervision of a cadre of upper 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. Basic cadets march to Jack's Valley for the last two weeks of BCT, where they complete the BCT program in a field encampment environment. After completion of BCT, basic cadets receive their fourth-class shoulder boards (cadet rank insignia) and are formally accepted into the Cadet Wing. At the acceptance parade, the new fourth-class cadets join the Cadet Wing in a formation known as the "inverted wedge." This specialized formation is reversed at the graduation parade, where graduating cadets leave the Cadet Wing in the "flying wedge" formation.

Between fourth- and third-class year, cadets undergo training on air force operations in a deployed environment as well as participating in soaring (flying gliders) and free-fall parachuting. 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. For their last two summers, cadets serve in leadership roles in BCT, travel to active duty air force bases, and may participate in a wide variety of other leadership, research and aviation programs. During the academic year, all cadets take classes in military theory, operations and leadership.

Academics

The 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 rest comprising 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 Faculty is normally an active-duty brigadier general, although a civilian may hold the position. Each academic department is chaired by a permanent professor, who is normally an active duty colonel. Most active duty U.S. military officers who serve as 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 revamp of the curriculum to reduce the workload of engineering majors 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.

Athletics

All cadets must compete in either intercollegiate, club or intramural athletics. Additionally, all cadets take an extensive range of physical education courses over their four years that includes swimming and water survival; combative sports such as boxing, wrestling and unarmed combat; team sports such as basketball and soccer; and "lifetime" sports such as tennis and golf. Cadets are expected to pass an Aerobic Fitness Test (AFT) —a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) run—and a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) (pull-ups, standing long jump, sit-ups, push-ups and a 600 yard run) each semester.

Intramural sports pit cadet squadrons against one another in sports such as basketball, cross-country, flag football, racquetball, flickerball, rugby, boxing, soccer, mountain biking, softball, team handball, tennis, Ultimate, wallyball and volleyball.

Intercollegate athletes at the Air Force Academy compete in the NCAA's Division I-A. Most teams compete in the Mountain West Conference. The gymnastics (men and women) and men's soccer teams compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, its hockey team competes in Atlantic Hockey and its Water Polo team competes in the Western Water Polo Association. The men's boxing team, which competes in the National Collegiate Boxing Association, have won 19 national championships, and have never finished lower than second in the nation. The Academy also has several "club" teams that compete at the intercollegiate level. The men's volleyball and the men's and women's rugby teams are consistently among the top in the nation. The men's rugby team won the 2003 national title and have had several alumni compete on the All-Services Team.

The Academy's sports teams are nicknamed the Falcons. The Academy's fight song is "The U.S. Air Force,” which is also the official song of the U.S. Air Force. 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 Football has dominated the competition in the past, winning the trophy 16 of the last 34 years though in recent years Navy has dominated (the last three years) and in 2005 the Falcons were defeated by both Navy and Army. 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. Home football games are mandatory for cadets to attend, as are occasional basketball games. The Academy's altitude (7,258 ft/2,212 m above sea level) makes the physical fitness program particularly demanding, and gives the acclimated cadets a distinct advantage over visiting athletic teams from lower altitudes.

Admissions

To be eligible to enter the Academy, a candidate must:

Be a citizen of the United States (unless nominated by an official of a country invited by the Department of Defense) ^*
Be unmarried with no dependents
Be of good moral character
Be at least 17, but less than 23 years of age by July 1 of the year of entry
Meet high leadership, academic, physical and medical standards

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.

Notable graduates

For a list of well-known graduates of the Academy, see:

For a list of well-known alumni who did not graduate, see:

External links

U.S. Air Force Academy - Official Web site
U.S. Air Force Academy Admissions - Information for applicants
Air Force Sports - Official athletics site
USAFA Today - Academy news and graduate discussion forum
U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates - Alumni organization
eDodo - Online version of the cadet humor magazine, The Dodo, run by Academy graduates and frequented by grads and cadets
U.S. Air Force Academy: Founding a Proud Tradition - Lesson from the National Park Service's "Teaching with Historic Places" program
FamNet - Site for family members of current Air Force Academy cadets

Sources

Bruegmann, Robert. Modernism at Mid-Century: The Architecture of the United States Air Force Academy. University of Chicago Press: 1995. ISBN 0226076938.
Celebrating the U.S. Air Force Academy's Golden Anniversary, (Colorado Springs) Gazette, Special Edition, Spring 2004.
Contrails (various years)
Fagan, George V. Air Force Academy: An Illustrated History. Johnson Books: 1988. ISBN 1555660320.
Fifty Years of Excellence: Building Leaders of Character for the Nation, 2004.
Lui, Elizabeth Gill. Spirit and Flight: A Photographic Salute to the United States Air Force Academy. 1996. ISBN 0965258505.

Notes

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