Federal Budget and the impact to USAFA

aglages

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Attached is a News Release on the Federal Budget and the impact to USAFA.

From The Air Force's Academy Superintendent Lt Gen Michelle D. Johnson:

The President's budget for Fiscal Year 2015 was released earlier today, and I want to share with you what it could mean for our Air Force Academy.

As an Air Force organization, USAFA shares in the responsibility of making tough choices. As we navigate through turbulent times, we remain mindful of our mission -- to produce leaders of character for our Air Force and our Nation. We'll be guided by the Essence of what the Air Force expects from its Academy: character and leadership development; a focus on the Air Force mission in Air, Space, and Cyberspace; a four-year immersion experience; the harmonizing of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and the Humanities; opportunities for competition; internalizing the Air Force ethos; exposing cadets to Air Force professional culture; and maintaining an exemplary Air Force Installation.

This new budget reality will affect all aspects of our Academy, to include academics, military training, athletics, and many support functions. In total, our Academy will lose 99 manpower positions, both civilian and military: 29 Dean of Faculty positions, 40 Academy Military Trainers (AMTs), and 30 positions from the Athletic Department.

Regarding academics, we will phase out 10 academic majors over the next three years and eliminate three course requirements. Cadets currently in eliminated majors will still be able to earn their degree in those fields of study (all cadets earn Bachelors of Science degrees regardless of major).

With certainty, USAFA will maintain accreditation as a top academic university.

Regarding military training, we will lose 40 enlisted leadership and support positions. However, the Cadet Wing structure will not change, thus preserving leadership opportunities for cadets.

Regarding our athletic department, we will lose 30 civilian positions with a 10% funding cut across all 27 intercollegiate sports. We will utilize a business-like approach to athletics and continue to integrate the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC) to ensure the continued success of our athletic programs.

Finally, USAFA will also answer to other Air Force-wide programs: 18 military force management programs and a Civilian Workforce Review, which entail a loss of an additional 44 civilian positions starting in Fiscal Year 2016. These changes will be tough, emotional, and confusing for a lot of our teammates and supporters. I truly get that! I plan to be as open, honest, and fair as possible as we navigate through these changes.

With unity of effort, we will be strategic and innovative in thinking through solutions to current and future challenges. I want to acknowledge and commend the hard work of USAFA staff in using our philosophical Essence to guide our way ahead. Difficult decisions have already been made; and this hard work prevented even deeper cuts. We need to follow through, by acting on institutional priorities that will preserve the Essence of our Air Force's Academy. Now, more than ever, I'll count on your support and very much appreciate your understanding as part of the Air Force's team.

-Lt Gen Michelle Johnson

USAFA Superintendent #19
 
Regarding academics, we will phase out 10 academic majors over the next three years and eliminate three course requirements. Cadets currently in eliminated majors will still be able to earn their degree in those fields of study (all cadets earn Bachelors of Science degrees regardless of major).

Hmm. A good part of me wonders what majors they will phase out... Hoping they release that info soon.
 
Here is the list of eliminated majors according to this article...(http://www.usafa.af.mil./news/story.asp?id=123402336)

1. Basic Sciences
2. Biochemistry
3. Materials Chemistry
4. General Engineering
5. Environmental Engineering
6. Humanities
7. Philosophy
8. Social Science
9. Systems Engineering Management
10. Meteorology
 
I knkw theyhave to cut back...but it would seem to me if your mission involves Air and Space, that habing Meteorologists eould be a good thing. Just my nickel....

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DD is VERY disappointed to hear that Meteorology is being cut. That was her intended major :( Now she is at a loss as to what she should study. I would think it would be important to know the weather but they didn't ask me.
 
Majors remaining:

1. Aeronautical Engineering
2. Foreign Area Studies
3. Behavioral Sciences
4. Biology,
5. Astronautical Engineering
6. English
7. Economics
8. Chemistry
9. Civil Engineering
10. Geospatial Science
11. Computer Science
12. Computer Engineering
13. History
14. Legal Studies
15. Mathematics
16. Electrical Engineering
17. Management
18. Mil Strategy
19. Political Science
20. Ops Research
21. Physics
22. Mechanical Engineering
23. Systems Engineering
 
Cadet programs eliminated:

1. AETC leadership exchange
2. Philmont Rangers
3. Joint service training programs

Courses cut from grad requirements:

*Uncertain as yet
 
It does appear that Gymnastics, Rifle, Fencing and Boxing are safe for now.
 
Cadet programs eliminated:

1. AETC leadership exchange
2. Philmont Rangers
3. Joint service training programs

Courses cut from grad requirements:

*Uncertain as yet

I'm very familiar with Philmont, and the Ranger program. How could eliminating that cadet program save any money? Does BSA charge? Usually, you get paid to be a ranger at Philmont. It's certainly no great travel cost to/from Philmont for those attending. Is it some kind of per diem that has to be paid to the cadets while they are there? Is that the cost savings? What am I missing?
 
Thank you for posting a copy of the message here. As I kept getting error messages when attempting to access it on the USAFA website, I was unable to read it until now.
 
Thanks for that link. I was hoping there was still going to be a path for that career field.
 
Air Force Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, announced on March 4 how the fiscal year 2015 Budget, if enacted by Congress, will impact the Academy.
This seems like a pretty big IF. Are they just preparing so they are ready or are they actually implementing the cuts described in the release?
 
Not such a big if, when you consider that's it's highly unlikely that any budget enacted will have MORE funding than anything currently being proposed.
 
Not such a big if, when you consider that's it's highly unlikely that any budget enacted will have MORE funding than anything currently being proposed.
That could very well be true. Do you know the answer to the question?
 
That could very well be true. Do you know the answer to the question?

What do you think the answer is? They're preparing for the inevitable, getting the word out so that (1) stakeholders can start arguing that Y should be cut instead of their beloved X and (2) those directly affected are not surprised when the cuts happen.
 
What do you think the answer is? They're preparing for the inevitable, getting the word out so that (1) stakeholders can start arguing that Y should be cut instead of their beloved X and (2) those directly affected are not surprised when the cuts happen.
That is what I think, if not inevitable at least likely they will see a significant cut. That budget cut will probably be different than what is in the presidents proposed budget. The statement reads like the decision on the AFA program/personel cuts is a done deal.
 
Here is the list of eliminated majors according to this article...(http://www.usafa.af.mil./news/story.asp?id=123402336)

1. Basic Sciences
2. Biochemistry
3. Materials Chemistry
4. General Engineering
5. Environmental Engineering
6. Humanities
7. Philosophy
8. Social Science
9. Systems Engineering Management
10. Meteorology

Many of you may already know this but I learned this yesterday and thought I would pass it along. Some of the changes of available majors are just reorganizations.

The loss of the biochemistry and materials chemistry majors that were reported nationally is really a change in title. Now, the chemistry degree has three distinct tracks—chemistry, biochemistry, and materials chemistry. It doesn’t change the courses that the cadets take, only the wording.
 
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