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.)

Military organization and training

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 also known as "doolies", which is rumoured to be derived from a Greek word meaning "slave" or "servant". First-class cadets (also known as "Firsties") function as the cadet officers, while the second-class cadets serve as the cadet non-commissioned officers in the command structure.

Related Topics:
Civilian - Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors

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The Cadet Wing is structured similarly to an active duty military unit. The Cadet Wing is organized into 36 squadrons, each of which consists of about 120 cadets from all four classes. The cadet squadrons are organized into 4 groups of 9 squadrons each. Cadets provide the leadership structure for each of the squadrons, groups and the Cadet Wing. The cadets are supervised by specially-selected active duty officers called Air Officers Commanding (AOCs). The Cadet 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 and athletics.

Related Topics:
Wing - Squadrons - Groups - Brigadier general - Lieutenant general

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Much of the 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), also known as "Beast". During BCT, cadets learn the basics of military life and life at the Academy, under the supervision of upperclass cadets. Basic cadets learn how to wear the uniform, practice marching, learn military knowledge and undergo a rigorous physical training program. For the last two weeks of BCT, basic cadets march to "Jack's Valley" where they complete the BCT program in a field encampment environment.

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Between fourth- and third-class year, cadets undergo training on air force operations in a deployed environment as well as participating in soaring (gliders) and jump (skydiving). For their last two summers, cadets serve in leadership roles in BCT and 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.

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