USAFA 2015 class size reduction?
- Thread starter bugsy
- Start date
Nateman15
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2010
- Messages
- 112
Im not sure if that is the exact number. Thats just what was said to me. Sounds a little too "even" to me. But that is about as "from the source" as your gonna get unless you hear it from your academy counselor themselves. My LO wouldn't out of the blue tell me this unless it is something serious and worth informing me of.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2010
- Messages
- 342
Guess it's true
This just received from daughter's ALO:
"Unfortunately, due to Air Force wide personnel draw downs, the class of 2015is going to be somewhat smaller than previous classes, fewer than 150 students than last year's class and the class of 2016 is going to be even smaller. That means a lot of highly qualified kids aren't going to get in. The Academy board is still meeting and handing out appointments so don't give up hope, but I would highly recommend working on your "plan B" just in case you do not get offered an appointment."
Very sad news. Congratulations to those with appointments already!!
This just received from daughter's ALO:
"Unfortunately, due to Air Force wide personnel draw downs, the class of 2015is going to be somewhat smaller than previous classes, fewer than 150 students than last year's class and the class of 2016 is going to be even smaller. That means a lot of highly qualified kids aren't going to get in. The Academy board is still meeting and handing out appointments so don't give up hope, but I would highly recommend working on your "plan B" just in case you do not get offered an appointment."
Very sad news. Congratulations to those with appointments already!!
What's the 1150 number in reference to exactly? Total offers or target amount actually expected to actually show up in June? Whatever that 1150 is, what was the same comparable number last year as a reference point?
TIA.
1150 would be the expected number to accept an appointment. I believe just over 1300 accepted last year.
What will really be challenging is knowing how many offers to make. There is no way for sure they can know how many will accept. They can only go by statistics and that is no guarantee.
150 is a pretty small reduction all things considered.
What will really be challenging is knowing how many offers to make. There is no way for sure they can know how many will accept. They can only go by statistics and that is no guarantee.
150 is a pretty small reduction all things considered.
arewethereyet
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2010
- Messages
- 77
Similar number
My DH and DS were at the Academy yesterday and were told by a counselor that they are planning on a class size of 1120 for the class of 2015.
My DH and DS were at the Academy yesterday and were told by a counselor that they are planning on a class size of 1120 for the class of 2015.
glblwarmng
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2011
- Messages
- 10
I heard somewhere (though I cannot recall where) that 1 in 4 cadets do not make it to graduation. However I'm sure there is a more official number out there somewhere.
Farleigh85
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2010
- Messages
- 60
That's what--about four fewer 2015 year-group cadets per squadron?
You've probably read Pima's Bulimia theory about the Air Force. The AF is currently purging.
About the time the class of 2015 is graduating they will probably start binge eating again.Just found this announcement about the AF's force-management measures and the effect on the USAFA 2015 & 2016 classes:
"The Air Force Academy Cadet Wing's end strength will decrease from approximately 4,500 cadets to 4,000 cadets by Oct. 1, 2012. The Academy will accomplish the reduction by reducing class size to 1,120 for the Class of 2015 and 1,050 for the Class of 2016. Beginning with the Class of 2017, the Academy will admit approximately 1,165 cadets in each class. In addition, normal attrition from the Academy will aid in bringing the cadet end strength to 4,000."
http://www.usafa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123240940
"The Air Force Academy Cadet Wing's end strength will decrease from approximately 4,500 cadets to 4,000 cadets by Oct. 1, 2012. The Academy will accomplish the reduction by reducing class size to 1,120 for the Class of 2015 and 1,050 for the Class of 2016. Beginning with the Class of 2017, the Academy will admit approximately 1,165 cadets in each class. In addition, normal attrition from the Academy will aid in bringing the cadet end strength to 4,000."
http://www.usafa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123240940
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,480
Hm, and the emails going around yesterday that my son forwarded indicated that that was the objective of the cold weather they've been having! 
A couple of the emails that were forwarded, from various cadets:
Okay. So… a slow freezing death, right?
It’s to help reduce the size of the cadet wing
Disenrollment takes too much paper… go die.
It’s in the CSP
A couple of the emails that were forwarded, from various cadets:Okay. So… a slow freezing death, right?
It’s to help reduce the size of the cadet wing
Disenrollment takes too much paper… go die.
It’s in the CSP
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
You figure if they want 1120, my bet is only 1350 or so will get apptmts. That is a big number down, because traditionally they offer 1600. Or in stat terms, about 15% less will be offered an apptmt.
This is why people need to understand that little word when it comes to apptmts...MAY! MOC's MAY be charged up to 5 cadets. MAY AND WILL are two different things.
I agree with Raimius, for those who do come in at this time frame, the term RIF will never be in your vocabulary.
Additionally, for those that make the AF your career, chances are your promotion boards (O4+) will be sped up and % promoted will increase.
Plus, if this economy ever starts turning around again, you will probably see bigger bonuses, because there is an inverse relationship regarding the economy and retention. Good economy...low retention. Bad economy...high retention.
Traditionally during the 20 yrs that Bullet served, you saw the military threw carrots, bonuses, higher pay raises based on the economy.
@91...economy was horrible, I think we got a 2% pay increase, promotion rate for O4 was @60-65%, plus delayed and a RIF
@96...strong economy, flight bonuses jumped to the 6 figure marker, pilots were diving for the airlines
@97-98 ...strong economy, pay increases were for some yr groups 10%+, promotion rates for O4 were @80%+
@2002...strong economy, housing boom, etc, they started to give bonuses to WSOs and a 2nd pilot bonus to hang until 20.
2010...weak economy, canceled OCS board
2011...weak economy, low pay raise, RIF, SERB, less scholarships and less apptmts.
There you go 20 yrs and you can see how the economy impacts the military.
This is why people need to understand that little word when it comes to apptmts...MAY! MOC's MAY be charged up to 5 cadets. MAY AND WILL are two different things.
I agree with Raimius, for those who do come in at this time frame, the term RIF will never be in your vocabulary.
Additionally, for those that make the AF your career, chances are your promotion boards (O4+) will be sped up and % promoted will increase.
Plus, if this economy ever starts turning around again, you will probably see bigger bonuses, because there is an inverse relationship regarding the economy and retention. Good economy...low retention. Bad economy...high retention.
Traditionally during the 20 yrs that Bullet served, you saw the military threw carrots, bonuses, higher pay raises based on the economy.
@91...economy was horrible, I think we got a 2% pay increase, promotion rate for O4 was @60-65%, plus delayed and a RIF
@96...strong economy, flight bonuses jumped to the 6 figure marker, pilots were diving for the airlines
@97-98 ...strong economy, pay increases were for some yr groups 10%+, promotion rates for O4 were @80%+
@2002...strong economy, housing boom, etc, they started to give bonuses to WSOs
and a 2nd pilot bonus to hang until 20.2010...weak economy, canceled OCS board
2011...weak economy, low pay raise, RIF, SERB, less scholarships and less apptmts.
There you go 20 yrs and you can see how the economy impacts the military.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2010
- Messages
- 43
I guess that's good and bad news to me then: I really want to get into USAFA but I have been accepted to a college with a good AFROTC (Texas A&M, if you care) but I DO plan on going career military as well. So possible ups and downs there.
It was a matter of time until this sort of thing started happening though: let's face it. Right now the government needs budget cuts and we don't NEED a massive Air Force. Sure it would be incredibly useful if a country vs country war broke out, but as it seems unlikely right now: This and NASA are the places to make budget cuts IMO.
It was a matter of time until this sort of thing started happening though: let's face it. Right now the government needs budget cuts and we don't NEED a massive Air Force. Sure it would be incredibly useful if a country vs country war broke out, but as it seems unlikely right now: This and NASA are the places to make budget cuts IMO.
Derrick Singleton
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2011
- Messages
- 20
Cadet Reductions at USAFA
It is true.
It is true.
Reduction
I called a counselor at the Academy this past Friday to ask a question about my sons application and nomination status and he did say there was going to be a reduction in the number of cadets admitted this year. He then went on to tell me all the other various options my son has to get into the the Academy next year. I am thinking that there haven't been as many cadets graduating or dropping out; therefore, not opening up as many slots.
Oh, and we did find out my son received a nominaiton from one of our state senators!
I called a counselor at the Academy this past Friday to ask a question about my sons application and nomination status and he did say there was going to be a reduction in the number of cadets admitted this year. He then went on to tell me all the other various options my son has to get into the the Academy next year. I am thinking that there haven't been as many cadets graduating or dropping out; therefore, not opening up as many slots.
Oh, and we did find out my son received a nominaiton from one of our state senators!