- Joined
- Jul 26, 2008
- Messages
- 6,181
Hey all!
I have to be very VERY careful how I phrase this, so please bear with me. I just returned from a briefing where a lot of information was delivered; much of it is "For Official Use Only" and I can't comment on it. But I was given the "green light" to sorta discuss some aspects.
All of you know, and the USAFA website has posted often enough, that the class of 2016 will most likely be limited to 1,050 appointments. That could change A LITTLE but...plan on 1,050.
What does this mean?
It's the smallest class in modern memory. It will be the MOST competitive in history. If you do the math...how many Members of Congress are there? That answer is 535. Now...let's "assume" they each ONLY have 1 appointment each. That's 535/1050: 51%. That means that from ALL the other categories, only 49% of slots are available.
How many MOC's have more than 1 appointment open this year? I can't answer that...but any would cut into that 49% remaining. And then there's the Presidential, VP, JrROTC, ROTC, Prep School, Falcon Foundation, etc...etc...
What I'm trying to say is this: this will be the MOST competitive year for candidates in USAFA history. Qualified alternates...may not find a home.
Why am I posting this? Because I want, I have to be honest with everyone. That's how I am as an ALO. I can't be otherwise. The bottom line is this: to be truly, honestly, and 100% accurate, COMPETITIVE this year, YOU MUST MUST MUST bring your "A" game!!!
The "old numbers " won't work this time...it's going to take numbers that in the past were "OMG" amazing...to just get in the hunt.
My advice to all: NAIL EVERYTHING YOU CAN and do it early and often! I can NOT tell you when the boards will start to meet...that's FOUO...yes, I know...but I can't say a thing about them. But get BUSY NOW...if you haven't been...you do NOT have long to wait.
SAT and ACT are BEYOND huge! If you're not in the 700+ club, work on it...seriously...work on that!! ACT...shoot for upper 30's...seriously. I have a candidate that just pulled down 35's and 34's on all tests...I said: "Okay...you're okay I THINK...your call."
It's that tight.
I know this is NOT a motivational message and I am usually a highly motivational type of ALO but I also promised ALL of you that I'd be straight up...this year will be ugly. You must bring your very best to this table!!
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
I have to be very VERY careful how I phrase this, so please bear with me. I just returned from a briefing where a lot of information was delivered; much of it is "For Official Use Only" and I can't comment on it. But I was given the "green light" to sorta discuss some aspects.
All of you know, and the USAFA website has posted often enough, that the class of 2016 will most likely be limited to 1,050 appointments. That could change A LITTLE but...plan on 1,050.
What does this mean?
It's the smallest class in modern memory. It will be the MOST competitive in history. If you do the math...how many Members of Congress are there? That answer is 535. Now...let's "assume" they each ONLY have 1 appointment each. That's 535/1050: 51%. That means that from ALL the other categories, only 49% of slots are available.
How many MOC's have more than 1 appointment open this year? I can't answer that...but any would cut into that 49% remaining. And then there's the Presidential, VP, JrROTC, ROTC, Prep School, Falcon Foundation, etc...etc...
What I'm trying to say is this: this will be the MOST competitive year for candidates in USAFA history. Qualified alternates...may not find a home.
Why am I posting this? Because I want, I have to be honest with everyone. That's how I am as an ALO. I can't be otherwise. The bottom line is this: to be truly, honestly, and 100% accurate, COMPETITIVE this year, YOU MUST MUST MUST bring your "A" game!!!
The "old numbers " won't work this time...it's going to take numbers that in the past were "OMG" amazing...to just get in the hunt.
My advice to all: NAIL EVERYTHING YOU CAN and do it early and often! I can NOT tell you when the boards will start to meet...that's FOUO...yes, I know...but I can't say a thing about them. But get BUSY NOW...if you haven't been...you do NOT have long to wait.
SAT and ACT are BEYOND huge! If you're not in the 700+ club, work on it...seriously...work on that!! ACT...shoot for upper 30's...seriously. I have a candidate that just pulled down 35's and 34's on all tests...I said: "Okay...you're okay I THINK...your call."
It's that tight.
I know this is NOT a motivational message and I am usually a highly motivational type of ALO but I also promised ALL of you that I'd be straight up...this year will be ugly. You must bring your very best to this table!!
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83