United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers in the United States Air Force. The campus is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Upon completion of the four-year program, graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are normally commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force. (A small number of graduates "cross-commission" into other services each year, and a few foreign cadets and graduates who are not medically qualified will receive a degree but will not be commissioned.)

Athletics

All cadets must compete in either intercollegiate 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.

Related Topics:
Swimming - Boxing - Wrestling - Basketball - Soccer - Tennis - Golf - Aerobic Fitness - Pull-ups - Standing long jump - Sit-ups - Push-ups

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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 frisbee, wallyball and volleyball.

Related Topics:
Basketball - Cross-country - Flag football - Racquetball - Rugby - Boxing - Soccer - Mountain biking - Softball - Team handball - Tennis - Ultimate frisbee - Wallyball - Volleyball

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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 and its hockey team competes in College Hockey America. The sports teams are nicknamed the Falcons.

Related Topics:
NCAA - Mountain West Conference - Gymnastics - Soccer - Mountain Pacific Sports Federation - Hockey - College Hockey America

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USAFA 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. 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.

Related Topics:
Navy - Army - Commander in Chief's Trophy - Colorado State University - Fort Collins - Mountain West Conference

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