Many people look for the "Standards". If you try to "Meet' the standards, you probably won't get into the air force academy. As KTM stated, what is important isn't what the "Standards" are. But what the "Averages" are. ACT minimum scores are in the 25-26. However, the "Average" is around 30. The average high school GPA of an incoming cadet is 3.86. And THAT is just the AVERAGE.
Yes, you can receive an appointment with a 26-30 ACT scores and science being the lowest. And if you happen to be the best on your MOC's nomination slate, you'll probably receive an appointment. But if you're not the "Best", and you wind up competing in the National Pool, then you're going to have a difficult time receiving an appointment when the "Average" cadet has a 29-30 ACT across all tests and a 3.86gpa. And don't rationalize average to mean that half have less and half have higher. With a lot of other variables used to make appointments, there are individuals with 3.2 - 3.4 gpa's who are drastically bringing down the average. Don't confuse the "Median" average with the "Mean" average.
And I will say as I always say. Your "GOAL" should be to score a 36 on EACH of the ACT tests. Your goal should be to achieve a 4.0gpa in your classes. Not that it's something you'd LIKE to happen. But that you are actually working TOWARDS reaching that goal of a 36ACT and 4.0gpa. If you're working toward "Meeting" the standards, then you greatly reduce your chances of receiving an appointment. I'm not saying anyone here isn't trying their best for a 36act and 4.0gpa. Simply saying, that asking questions about what the "Standards" are; or asking what tests scores are more important; or what is competitive; are all self defeating questions. They lead to rationalization and hold you back.
All you can do is to try YOUR BEST. If you can go through the entire process, know in your heart that you did your very best in the classroom, ACT/SAT tests, CFA, extra curricular activities, sports, etc. then it doesn't matter if you don't receive an appointment. You'll know you did your best and you'll move on with plan "B" and possibly reapply again the next year. If you can't honestly say that you gave it everything you had and you rationalize your application with all the excuses and reasons "WHY" you couldn't do sports, or couldn't do volunteer activities or extra curricular, or didn't do well on the tests, or anything else; then it's something you'll have to come to terms with. Whether you actually did do 100% on everything or you didn't, only you will ever know the answer to that. But I learned a long time ago, and I live by it even today. "If I have to do something, be somewhere, etc. then I'll give it 100%. Do it once, do it right, and move on to other thing. Preferably things I'd RATHER be doing". If not, then I'm simply wasting my time. I learned this the hard way. Don't look for the "Standards". Don't even look for the "Average". look for the MAXIMUM SCORE you can get in ALL AREAS in EVERYTHING you do in life. That is your goal. And as long as that's your goal, you'll never even need to ask the other questions, or even care what the answers are. Because it simply won't matter. What will matter is: "Did YOU do your BEST? In your heart, can you go to sleep at night knowing you couldn't have given it any more?" If you can answer yes to that, then none of the questions being discussed will even matter.
