Air Force Academy: Difference between revisions

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|American military academy in El Paso County, Colorado}}

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|OrganizationName=United States Air Force Academy

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>| name                  = United States Air Force Academy

  | established            = {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1 April 1954}}

  | coordinates            = {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|39.01|N|104.89|W|type:edu|display=inline,title}}

  | campus_size            = {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|18500|acre}}

  | colors                = Blue {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|Air Force Falcons}} Gray<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

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  | website                = {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|https://www.usafa.af.mil|usafa.af.mil}} (Military)<br />{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|https://www.usafa.edu|usafa.edu}} (Educational)

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|USA

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|USA Colorado

The '''United States Air Force Academy''' ('''USAFA''') is a [[United States service academies|United States service academy]] in [[El Paso County, Colorado|El Paso County]], [[Colorado]], immediately north of [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]]. It educates [[cadet]]s for service in the [[Officer (armed forces)|officer corps]] of the [[United States Air Force]] and [[United States Space Force]].<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> It is the youngest of the five service academies, having graduated its first class {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1959}} in 1959, but is the third in seniority.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span><span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> Graduates of the academy's four-year program receive a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree and are commissioned as [[US Second Lieutenant|second lieutenants]] in the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> The academy is also one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado, attracting approximately a million visitors each year.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

From 1954 to 1956, the newly created Colorado Land Acquisition Commission purchased parcels of land that would host the new academy. The first parcel purchased was the also the largest; it was the {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|4,630|acre|adj=on}} Cathedral Rock Ranch, owned by [[Lawrence B. Lehman]] of the famous [[Lehman family|Lehman investment family]]. The purchase price was $300,000, or about $65 per {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1|acre|sqm|adj=on}}. 140 different parcels were eventually purchased to make up what is now a nearly-{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|18,500|acre|adj=on}} government property.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

One of the most significant events in the history of the academy was the admission of women.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=September 2023}}<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> On 7&nbsp;October 1975, President [[Gerald R. Ford]] signed legislation permitting women to enter the United States service academies. On 28 June 1976, 157 women entered the Air Force Academy with the Class of 1980. Because there were no female upper class cadets, the [[Air Training Officer]] model used in the early years of the academy 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 their first semester. On 28&nbsp;May 1980, 97 of the original female cadets completed the program and graduated from the academy—just over 10% of the graduating class. Women have made up just over 20% of the most recent classes, with the class of 2016 having the highest proportion of any class, 25%.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

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The campus of the academy covers {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|18,455|acre|sqmi km2|0}} on the east side of the [[Rampart Range]] of the [[Rocky Mountains]], just north of [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]].<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> Its [[elevation]] is normally given as {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|7258|ft}} above [[sea level]], which is at the cadet area.<!-- actually closer to 7160 ft - (USGS topo)--> The academy was designed by [[Skidmore, Owings and Merrill]] (SOM) and lead architect [[Walter Netsch]]. SOM partner [[John O. Merrill]] moved from Chicago to a Colorado Springs field office to oversee the construction and to act as a spokesman for the project.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Area}}

Many displays around the Cadet Area commemorate heroes and air power pioneers, and serve as an inspiration to cadets. The ''War Memorial'', a black marble wall located just under the flagpole on the Terrazzo, is etched with the names of academy graduates who have been killed in combat. The ''Honor Wall'', overlooking the [[Terrazzo]], is inscribed with the [[Cadet Honor Code]]: "We will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." Just under the Cadet Chapel, the ''Class Wall'' 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. Another display often used as a symbol of the academy, 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 by Austin Dusty Miller, "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge."  Static air- and spacecraft displays on the academy grounds include an [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4]], [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15]], [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] and [[Republic F-105 Thunderchief|F-105]] on the [[Terrazzo]]; a [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]] by the North Gate; a [[Northrop T-38 Talon|T-38]] and [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10]] at the [[United States Air Force Academy Airfield|Academy Airfield]]; an [[North American F-100 Super Sabre|F-100]] by the preparatory school; a [[Martin-Marietta X-24|SV-5J lifting body]] next to the aeronautics laboratory; and a [[LGM-30 Minuteman#Minuteman-III (LGM-30)|Minuteman III]] [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|missile]] in front of the Fieldhouse.  The Minuteman III was removed {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|2008}} in August 2008 due to rusting and other internal damage.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|Air Academy High School}}

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 [[Jimmy Doolittle|General Jimmy Doolittle]]. The Goldwater Visitor Center,  named after longtime proponent of the academy [[United States Senator]] [[Barry Goldwater]], is the focal point for family, friends and tourists visiting the academy grounds. The [[United States Air Force Academy Airfield|Academy Airfield]] is used for training cadets in airmanship courses, including parachute training, soaring and powered flight. Interment at the [[United States Air Force Academy Cemetery|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.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

The [[United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School]] (usually referred to as the "Prep 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 (particularly in English, math and science), along with athletic and military training, meant to prepare the students for appointment to the academy. A high percentage of [[United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School|USAFA Preparatory School]] students (known as "Preppies") earn appointments to the academy following their year at the Prep School.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|''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).''|"Honor Code Handbook"}}

Cadets are considered the "guardians and stewards" of the code. Cadet honor representatives are chosen by senior leadership, and oversee the honor system by conducting education classes and investigating suspected honor violations. Cadets throughout the Wing are expected to sit on Honor Boards as [[jury|juries]] that determine whether their fellow cadets violated the code. Cadets also recommend sanctions for violations. The presumed sanction for an honor violation is disenrollment, but 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.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|United States Air Force Academy Cadet Wing}}

The student body of the academy is known as the Cadet Wing. The students, called "cadets", are divided into four classes, based on their year in school, much like a civilian college. They are not referred to as [[student|freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors]], however, but as [[United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia|fourth-, third-, second- and first class cadets]], respectively. Fourth class cadets (freshmen) are often referred to as "doolies," a term derived from the Greek word δοῦλος ("doulos") meaning "slave" or "servant."<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> Members of the three lower classes are also referred to as "4 degrees," "3 degrees" or "2 degrees" based on their class.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> First-class cadets (seniors) are referred to as "firsties." In the military structure of the Cadet Wing, first class cadets hold the positions of cadet officers, second class cadets act as the cadet non-commissioned officers and third class cadets represent the cadet junior non-commissioned officers.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

The Cadet Wing is divided into four [[group (air force unit)|groups]], of ten cadet [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]]s each. Each cadet squadron consists of about 110 cadets, roughly evenly distributed among the four classes. Selected first-, second- and third-class cadets hold leadership, operational and support jobs at the squadron, group and wing levels. Cadets live, march and eat meals with members of their squadrons. Military training and intramural athletics are conducted by squadron as well. Each cadet squadron and cadet group is supervised by a specially selected active duty officer called an [[Air Officer Commanding]] (AOC). In the case of a cadet squadron, the AOC is normally an active duty Air Force or Space Force [[Major (United States)|major]] or [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. Occasionally, officers of equivalent rank from the Army, Navy, or Marines may be selected as an AOC for a squadron while on active duty at the academy. For a cadet group, the AOC is normally an active-duty [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]]. These officers have command authority over the cadets, counsel cadets on leadership and military career issues, oversee military training and serve as role models for the future officers.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}} In addition to an AOC, cadet squadrons and groups are also supervised by an active duty non-commissioned officer known as an Academy Military Trainer (AMT), who fulfills a similar job as the AOC.

Those reporting to the superintendent include the vice superintendent, dean of the faculty, commandant of cadets, each of whom typically holds the rank of [[Major general (United States)|major general]] or [[brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]], as well as the director of athletics, the commander of the [[10th Air Base Wing]] and the commander of the [[United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School|Prep School]], each of whom typically holds the rank of [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]]. The 10th Air Base Wing provides all base support functions that exist at other air force bases, including civil engineering, communications, medical support, personnel, administration, security and base services. The Preparatory School provides an academic, athletic and military program for qualified young men and women who may need certain additional preparation prior to acceptance to the academy. All flying programs at the academy are run by the [[306th Flying Training Group]], which reports to the [[Air Education and Training Command]], ensuring uniformity of flight training with the rest of the Air Force.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

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{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|[[Sandhurst Competition]] (a military skills event)}}

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The fourth-class (freshman) year is traditionally the most difficult at the academy, militarily. In addition to their full academic course loads, heavy demands are placed on fourth-class cadets outside of class. Fourth-class cadets are expected to learn an extensive amount of military and Academy-related knowledge and have significant restrictions placed on their movement and actions—traversing the Cadet Area only by approved routes (including staying on the marble "strips" on the Terrazzo) and interacting with upper class cadets using a very specific decorum. The fourth-class year ends with "Recognition," a physically and mentally demanding several-day event which culminates in the award of the [[Prop and Wings]] insignia to the fourth-class cadets, signifying their ascension to the ranks of upper class cadets. After Recognition, the stringent rules of the fourth-class year are relaxed.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

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Externally funded research at the Air Force Academy has been a large and growing part of the technical majors.  Air Force has ranked highest of all undergraduate-only universities in federally funded research as reported by the National Science Foundation, surpassing $60 million in 2010. {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=October 2012}}  Many cadets are involved in research via their major, coordinated in more than a dozen Academy research centers, including the Institute for Information Technology Applications, the Institute for National Security Studies, the Air Force Humanities Institute, the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies, the Life Sciences Research Center, the Academy Center for Physics Education Research, among others.

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|Air Force Falcons}}

Each semester, cadets must pass two athletic fitness tests, the AFT and PFT: a {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} run to measure [[VO2 max|aerobic fitness]], and a 15-minute, 5-event, physical fitness test consisting of [[Chin-up bar|pull-ups]], a [[standing long jump]], [[sit-up (exercise)|sit-up]]s, [[Press up|push-ups]] and a {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|600|yd|m|abbr=on}} [[sprint (running)|sprint]].<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> Failure to pass a fitness test usually results in the cadet being assigned to a reconditioning course until they can pass the test. Repeated failures can lead to disenrollment by the Physical Education Review Committee.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|Air Force Falcons}}

The men's and women's programs compete in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s Division I, with the football team competing in [[Division I FBS]]. Most teams are in the [[Mountain West Conference]]; however, the wrestling team competes in the [[Big 12 Conference]], the gymnastics teams compete in the [[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]]; the men's [[Association football|soccer]] team competes in the [[Western Athletic Conference]];<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> the men's [[ice hockey|hockey]] team competes in [[Atlantic Hockey America]], the [[water polo]] team competes in the [[West Coast Conference]], the coeducational rifle team competes in the [[Patriot Rifle Conference]], and the men's lacrosse team competes in the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]]. The men's [[boxing]] team competes in the [[National Collegiate Boxing Association]]. For a number of years, only the men's teams competed in Division I. Women's teams competed in Division II and were once members of the Continental Divide Conference, then the Colorado Athletic Conference. With new NCAA legislation, beginning in 1996, women's teams started competing in Division I.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

Air Force has traditional service academy rivalries with [[United States Naval Academy|Navy]] and [[United States Military Academy|Army]]. The three service academies compete for the [[Commander-in-Chief's Trophy]] in [[American Football|football]] each year. [[Air Force Falcons football]] has had the best showing of the three, winning the trophy 18 of its 34 years. The academy also has an in-state rivalry with [[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State University]], which is located in [[Fort Collins]] and is a fellow member of the [[Mountain West Conference]].<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=February 2010}}

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There were 306 cadets admitted for the first class (class of 1959).<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> By 1961, class size was down to 271, but due to the need for officers in the Vietnam War, grew to 745 admittees in 1970,<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> and peaking in 1974, with 1,620, and 1975, with 1,626, the largest number ever admitted.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> After that class sizes shrank down to about 1,300 before spiking to 1,485 in 1988 (class of 1992).<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span><span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span><span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> Despite a peak of 1,350 (admitted 2004) and 1,418 (admitted 2005), from 1995 to 2005 class size averaged about 1,250 freshmen.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> From 2005 to 2010 class sizes were slightly down from the 2005 peak. The 2013 class (beginning 2009) had 1,286<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> and the 2014 class (beginning Fall 2010) had 1,285.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> Cutbacks were ordered in 2011, so by 2012, the entering class (class of 2016) was down to about 1,050.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> The class 2022 began with 1,286 students, lowered to 1,282 by the end of BCT. The class of 2023 began with 1159, and ended BCT with approximately 1150.{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>||date=November 2020}}

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|2003 United States Air Force Academy sexual assault scandal}}

Following the 2003 crisis, the Department of Defense directed its attention to the problem of sexual harassment and assault at the military academies. The Department of Defense claimed that the program was successful although during the school year 2010–11 there were increased reports of sexual assault at the academy; however, one goal of the program is increased reporting.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> There have been several attempts to prosecute cadets for rape since 2003,{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=April 2023}}{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|date=April 2023}} but only three have resulted in convictions, citing the confidential informant program that ran from 2011 to 2012. The informant program was led by former AFOSI agent Brandon Enos, AFOSI's most successful agent in Air Force Academy's history in combating sexual assault and drug use among cadets. After the confidential informant program was mysteriously disbanded in 2013 on orders from General Johnson, sexual assault reporting fell by half. On 5 January 2012 rape charges were referred against cadets in three unrelated cases.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>  To help combat these problems, the [[United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations]] (AFOSI) created a system of cadet informants to hunt for misconduct among students.<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span> According to ''The New York Times'' in academic year 2014, "after the informant program ended with no further convictions, reports fell by half."<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|List of United States Air Force Academy alumni}}

{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|Education|United States|Colorado}}

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* Bruegmann, Robert. ''Modernism at Mid-Century: The Architecture of the United States Air Force Academy.'' University of Chicago Press: 1995. {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|0-226-07693-8}}.

* Fagan, George V. ''Air Force Academy: An Illustrated History.'' Johnson Books: 1988. {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|1-55566-032-0}}.

* Lui, Elizabeth Gill. ''Spirit and Flight: A Photographic Salute to the United States Air Force Academy.'' 1996. {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|0-9652585-0-5}}.

* Nauman, Robert Allen. (2004). [https://books.google.com/books?id=urylSyuA3zwC&q=air+force+academy+merrill  ''On the Wings of Modernism: the United States Air Force Academy.''] Urbana: [[University of Illinois Press]]. {{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>|978-0-252-02891-5}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52542599  OCLC 52542599]

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