Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, West Point
In order to enter any of these branches of the military as an officer, it is necessary to attend the relevant academy. The U.S. Air Force Academy is located in Colorado; the U.S. Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland; the army's academy is technically called the U.S. Military Academy, but it is better known as West Point, the name of the town where it is located.
The goals of all the academies are similar. In order to avoid redundancy, this section focuses on the process of applying to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Here is the mission statement of the Air Force Academy: “The staff and faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the interest of our future national security, molds our future leaders into outstanding young men and women into Air Force officers with knowledge, character, and discipline; motivated to lead the worlds' greatest aerospace force in service to the nation.”
Fact
Information on admissions procedures can be obtained from the Director of Admissions, 2304 Cadet Drive, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840-5025. You can visit the Air Force Academy online at
The U.S. Air Force Academy is a four-year course of study with emphasis on academics, military training, athletic conditioning, and spiritual and ethical development. Classes include the basic sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and military art and science. All cadets complete a core curriculum consisting of 112 semester hours and can specialize in any one of thirty academic majors and four minors. Four primary areas are stressed: professional military studies, theoretical and applied leadership experiences, aviation science and airmanship programs, and military training. The honor code is at the center of a cadet's moral and ethical development. The code states the following: “We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.”
To be eligible to enter the U.S. Air Force Academy, you must be all of the following:
A citizen of the United States. Your citizenship must be finalized prior to entering the academy. You must submit proof of citizenship if you are foreign-born or naturalized. Authorized international students are exempt from this requirement.
Unmarried with no dependents
Of good moral character
At least seventeen, but less than twenty-three years of age by July 1 of the year you would enter. The age requirement is public law and cannot be waived.
Of high leadership, academic, physical, and medical standards
The U.S. Air Force Academy is one of the most selective colleges in the country. You will need to start preparing long before you apply in order to meet the admission requirements, the intense competition for appointments, and the demands of the academy.
While in high school, you should participate in a well-rounded program of academic, leadership, and athletic preparation. Many apply, but very few will be accepted. The cost of an academy education in 2006 was $35,564 per year. Cadets who fail to complete any period of active duty may have to pay back the U.S. government.
