Why do you want to go the Air Force Academy?

[hornetguy]

If it is possible, I would suggest that you try to shadow a fourth-class cadet before 15 March 2012. If you visit after Recognition or follow an upper-class cadet, I don't think you would get the same understanding of what the first year is like here.

Plus, the fourth-class cadets are at Rest when they are escorting

Regardless, 4 dig year is only ONE year. The upperclass lifestyle is probably more important for making a decision. Anyone can get through 4 dig year if they want it.

 

[ctuma2]

Are any of you other applicants/cadets not set on flying as a career?

I'm applying to USAFA because of the countless opportunities and the people. Although I would like to learn how to fly, my heart is not set on flying as a career. I would be more than happy doing anything else besides flying because for me flying is just a bonus to the things offered at USAFA and a career in the Air Force.

Just as a side note, one of the initial things that hooked me to USAFA was that I can learn how to skydive/parachute. And as Matthewmillr94 said, the uniforms are pretty sweet.

 

[USAFA10s]

I am a senior and I came in really not knowing what I wanted to do. I declared physics and fell in love with it and am planning on being an AF physicist

 

[AFAcandidate]

I never wanted to at first and I am still a bit hesitant on going if accepted. I only applied because I heard that a person could get some really nice skills from the academy that no ROTC can offer; leadership, character, friendships.

 

[raimius]

I never wanted to at first and I am still a bit hesitant on going if accepted. I only applied because I heard that a person could get some really nice skills from the academy that no ROTC can offer; leadership, character, friendships.

OK, harsh reality time...
The Academy and ROTC both offer opportunities. What you make of them is up to you. The opportunities are different, but saying that one can't offer big picture skills while the other one can is false.

Leadership is something you can study and watch, but you'll need practice too. It is not military specific. Good leadership is pretty much universal. Know your goals, your organization's goals, and the goals of the people around you. Figure out how to unite those goals in a productive way. Empower those around you to become more effective. Care for them. Use the good ideas and tactfully throw out the ineffective ones.

Character is internal. Surrounding yourself with people of character just makes it easier to hold yourself to a high standard. By now, you have a pretty darn good idea of what is right and what is wrong. You need to be able to consistently choose the right actions...that's the hard part!

Friends? The world is a big place. USAFA doesn't have the market on friendship cornered by a long shot!

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Now, don't get me wrong, USAFA has some amazing opportunities. I don't know of many places that will give you the opportunity to earn your parachute wings by doing solo free-falls. Not many places will give you the opportunity to be a glider instructor pilot for free. Most people will never get a backseat ride in a fighter jet. I only know of 4 schools with supported combat shooting teams (Service Academies). That said, those are opportunities, not guarantees. In return, you won't have a car for half your college career. You can't take time off of school for a vacation. You won't work a 2nd job. There will be standards for how you have to make your bed, clean your room, etc.

Still not sure? Read this. It is probably the best advice on the topic I've read to date. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=72

 

[rkrosnar]

Why do you want....

I just completed my application to the USAFA. Over this summer and fall I have been dead set on going to the Academy. But, just a few weeks ago I was offered an Air Force ROTC scholarship to Penn State University which covers full tuition. This alternative has thrown me off a bit although I still really want the Academy experience. These are my reasons for wanting to go to the Academy: I love this country and I want to serve it in the best way I possibly can, I feel the academy will make me the best person and leader I can be. AFA cadets will share my values of hard work, teamwork and integrity. I love challenges and I want to see how far I can push myself. The academy will give me a great education for mechanical engineering (my planned major). But, I was wondering what reasons other current applicants and cadets had for going to the academy. I was also wondering what doubts you have and what your overall outlook on the cadet experience is.

a.olson

I see where you where awarded a an ROTC Scholarship at Penn State. Have you been accepted there? If so, I would highly recommend you accept the offer. They have what I believe the ROTC programs in the nation. I am sure there are some who will disagree. I do understand you want to go in the AFA. If you get the appointment, then you take the appointment, of course. It is probably one of the nicest academic setting around. My DS will be graduating in May with Physics/Astrophysics Double major with a math minor.

Best of luck and God Bless and God Speed,

RGK

 

[bsa07eagle]

You will find that your "reasons" will change dramatically from now, to basic, and even as each year goes by. Yes, you will learn how to be an officer and commander, but not in the glorious or fun ways that you probably imagine as an excited applicant right now.

Leadership and commanding is not always fun to do or learn especially when you come in thinking you are some hot stuff leader that everyone should listen to when you actually don't know the first thing.

Before you think of all the opportunities the academy may give you, remember that your job here is to get an education, and we get paid to do it. The additional opportunities are an added bonus for a select few. Not everyone can do everything the academy offers.

If you want to attend the academy to fly or to be an aero major or whatever other stereotypes every candidate inherits, that is awesome, but a year from now those reasons will be far different (even if you are an aero major and still want to fly). Those reasons will be because you and your roommate swear to each other that you will come back after thanksgiving break, that you realized that you are not the same person that you were and you you like how you have changed.

Personally, I believe the reasons you GO dissolve and change into the reasons you stay and the reason that most people stay revolve around other people that you learned to be a team with and care about and no longer around what you want to be or do. If the academy can take your focus off yourself and what you want and turn it into supporting others in what they want to do, then the academy is taking the most important step in creating leaders of character that will be effective in the Air Force.


-Brian

 

[hornetguy]

I think raimius and brian have hit the nail on the head. Good posts, can't agree more.

Just to tack onto raimius a bit more, he mentioned some of the opportunities available at the Academy. I have to add that I feel as though the post-USAFA opportunities are also much greater than ROTC/OTS. The many grad school and med school options for those qualified are top-notch programs. Considering ~20-30 people a year will go to top institutions like Harvard, MIT, University of Maryland, RAND ( ), Oxford, etc., AND they will do those as full-time students rather than nights and weekends, these are not normally available to other programs. It dawned on me yesterday that I will have received all my education through my PhD at no charge to me. Few people can say that nor be in a position to make that happen. USAFA did that for me.

Now for the down to earth part. USAFA sends 10% a year to post-grad programs and <50% of those are to these top tier institutions (with the rest going to AFIT and AFIT-associated civilian programs [these are good, but less well-known]). I would not go to USAFA because of these. The odds are against the typical applicant. We all think we're above average.

Opportunities are vast, but if you are focusing on being a great leader and officer, USAFA does not have the monopoly. I look at someone like Bullet who went through those lesser ROTC programs ( ) and he is one of the leaders I respect the most in this world. That and Pima keeps him straight! It comes down to you and your motivation, not an institution.

 

[Pima]

It comes down to you and your motivation, not an institution.

That is the truth.

Currently if you look at Flag officers it is 50/50 AFA/AFROTC. There is no guarantee that the AFA will give you an edge in the AD world.

It does give you an edge as an O1 because more doors do open as hornet illustrated, but what you do when you walk through the door will matter more.

4 yrs ago our DS was in your place and we saw these questions you have in him. We asked him to pretend money is not an issue and you would get your dream AF career from either, 3 seconds which one do you want? Yes, we counted down.

He chose AFROTC at his college. We turned to him and said there you go you know now. He will be commissioned in May as an O1 with a UPT slot to Laughlin. Funny thing about this is traditionally AFA goes 1st, his report date is May 26th, 1 week after being commissioned.

AFA is absolutely a great place to go. It will challenge you. It will give you things like soaring/jumping that AFROTC won't. However, the idea that they are more motivated, have higher values regarding work ethic, team work or integrity is pure BS. Just look at the ROTC forum here and how many sophomores are freaking out that their PFT, cgpa (3.0+) and ECs are not enough to secure an SFT slot and that belief will disappear.

SFT = Summer Field Training = 55% selection rate, scholarship is not a factor.
No SFT = no POC = no commissioning and for those on scholarship, loss of scholarship.

Your AF career as an AFROTC cadet could end by the spring of your sophomore yr. even if you carry a 2.9 cgpa. in engineering on scholarship. That will challenge you every day to fight academically. PFT score counts too so you will be in shape. Ranking counts so you will fight for positions in ROTC.

Neither is right, neither is wrong. It is a personal decision. As hornet stated your success will be based on your motivation, not the source.

I will say JMPO academically if you want a challenge, AFA is the way to go compared to PSU. AFA is for all purposes an Ivy. That being stated, be real and honest with yourself. College is not like HS. the demand makes HS look like 6th grade. For many this is the true adjustment problem. It also illustrates why SAs and ROTC place weight in their scoring for ECs. They are not only looking at leadership, but time management. They get how kids in HS relying on the folks to wake them, do laundry, errands for them have difficulty doing all of that and now have no parent reminding them of anything and everything. Think about it AFA or college will be your 1st taste of freedom.

If you want to do ED (education delay) to get your Masters or PhD., AFA is the way to go.

 

[bsa07eagle]

Absolutely agree with hornet,

It comes down to you and your motivation, not an institution.

I was focusing on reasons to go to the academy, but there are just as many reasons to do ROTC as well. That ROTC scholarship you might have in your back pocket is just as good, if not better in some cases, as this place. Especially this year when they are sending out appointments a lot later, later than the deadlines for most universities. If you know you want to go here and that scholarship is your plan B, awesome! Good on you for having a good backup plan, but if you aren't sure when you have both a scholarship and an appointment in front of you be sure to choose very carefully. This place isn't for everyone and when it comes down to it, in 4 years we are all 2nd LT's (sometimes less for ROTC).

 

[USAFA: 2016!]

For me, I learned about service academies my sophmore year in high school. I always thought it would be awesome to be in the military so I did some research.... and BAM! Everything's been going that way ever since. But if you told the wide-eyed, 14 year-old me that one day I'd live in Roswell, New Mexico, just to spend a year preparing for the Academy, I would have laughed. Sometimes I still can't believe that I got the FF scholarship. But every morning when reveille shrieks at me, it seems real enough!

Basically, I want to be an officer in the United States Air Force. I see the Academy as the best way *for me* to achieve that. I definitely agree ROTC seems great, I have several friends doing it. But for me, I like the idea of the constant regiment and rigor. But that's just me.

 

[m1ndfr34k117]

I want to go to the Air Force Academy because it's more comprehensive than ROTC. With ROTC, you go to classes and training programs, but you still have the "typical" college life. With the Academy, your life is the military. Your entire lifestyle at the Academy is military oriented; you march to classes and meals, you live with squadrons, you're in uniform almost every day, etc. The Academy envelopes cadets into the day-to-day military lifestyle while ROTC does not. The Academy appears to push cadets farther than ROTC does as well. Both are excellent programs and to be a part of either one is a tremendous honor, but the Academy simply seems to provide a better training environment when looked at from a wider perspective.

Now, normally I wouldn't mention all of the selfish reasons I have, but I think they should be shared. It's nice to get one of the best educations in the nation. Not only will you be a more intelligent leader for the Air Force, but you'll look good for jobs when/if you ever become discharged or retired from the service. It's pretty awesome that you not only have the chance, but indeed are required, to participate in parachuting, gliding, etc. The potential for free eye surgery isn't bad either

So, I want to go because I think it can prepare me a little bit better than ROTC and I want the military lifestyle day-in and day-out. I want to be pushed over my limits so I know them now while it's okay to mess up, not later when people's lives depend on me. I also think the Academy will provide me with a better life in general, should I choose to retire from the Air Force instead of get some stars on my shoulder.

I know some of these may sound selfish and arrogant, but it's simply how I feel. No disrespect towards ROTC is intended here either, as I would be more than happy to be an ROTC cadet. Good luck to everyone!

 

[bsa07eagle]

Just to clarify, jump and soaring are not required programs. In fact, I know quite a few seniors that never did either. The only thing that cadets are required to do is go to school. The rest is optional. A lot of people are able to do those programs their sophomore summer, but a lot don't. Some of those people get the chance senior year. Not saying you won't do that stuff, but the only thing I can guarantee you will be doing is going to school, most of the other stuff is not only based on merit, but random selection from summer programs.

-Brian

 

[Pima]

I don't think you sound arrogant or selfish. This is your life and it is your dream.

My only issue comes with one statement.

Not only will you be a more intelligent leader for the Air Force, but you'll look good for jobs when/if you ever become discharged or retired from the service

I am not sure attending the AFA will equate to being more intelligent as a leader. Leading is not just book smart aspects, it is also about you as a person, something the AF, AFA, AFROTC or OCS cannot teach you. I don't think Gen. Gould is an intelligent leader because of AFA education, I think he is because he "gets it" when it comes to commanding people. Gen McPeak is the example of not "getting it". Both were AFA grads. Both are intelligent people.

The when/if you become discharged/retired comment is true to a point. AFA has an insanely strong networking world. However, what you do in the AD world is still going to be a factor. The further out from graduation the less the source matters and the more your experience in the AD world matters. Even AFA grads that can network for you know that.

Bullet didn't hit the retirement button willy nilly, he hit it because 3 AF Gens(retired) that once upon a time he worked for called him and offered him a job....actually 3 different jobs because all 3 worked for different companies. Bullet was an AFROTC grad. He hit the button and they waited 1 yr to get him. I am sure you know he works on the F-35 program at the Pentagon. They didn't offer it to an AFA grad, they offered it to him because of his experience in the F-15E weapons.

Our friend who flies for SWA, an AFA 81 grad gets calls all of the time for him to support them with their resume at SWA. He never places AFA connection into the equation, he places their flying ability in the equation. He will not risk his reputation at SWA just because of the AFA bond.

I think you will make a great asset to the AFA because it appears you have the motivation to succeed and thrive.

The hardest part for many will occur in the next few months when the TWE start arriving, and I would hate people to believe if they get that TWE, ROTC will hurt them in the long run from a career perspective or ability to lead.

AFA IMPO is the way to go because it opens doors that typically do not open for ROTC, i.e. amount that do fellowships or grad school right out of the gate. However, it needs to be stressed it is what you do after you pass through those AD doors that will matter the most.

 

[a.olson]

m1ndfr34k117;232278- I share many of your reasons for wanting to go to the Air Force Academy. I agree that the decision lies mostly in whether I want to live in full time military mode or have a more normal college experience. I am still a bit hung up on this point. More than anything I want to be an Air Force Officer and get the opportunity to serve my country. But as many people pointed out I can get to that result through both of these options and as for being a good leader it will be what I make it. As I have stated before on this feed I have very minimal experience with the military up to this point. I think this is one of the reasons I am a bit intimidated by living military full-time at the moment. This culture shock will be amplified all the other changes college brings with it, like leaving family and friends (I live in PA). But, I want to have that challenge to discipline me. I feel like the strict military life may be exactly what I need to perfect some of my faults (time management, focus etc.). I also want the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment that I know will come with graduation... It's a difficult dilemma, but then again I haven’t been accepted to the AFA yet so i will have to see what happens.

 

[USAFA10s]

Just another perspective, my family is not military at all. I am from Oregon where the closest thing we have is a National Guard base (and only one that I know of). Additionally, when I first thought about coming here, I almost didn't tell my parents because I knew they wouldn't approve at first. Their reaction was not the most supportive, but as a senior I can say I definitely made the right choice and my parents are supportive and proud now.

Also, one thing that really helped prevent too much of a culture shock was joining Civil Air Patrol (CAP). I joined pretty late in the game and was far older than everyone else of my rank, but it both helped me get a bit into the military mindset and helped me slowly feed the military idea to my parents so it wouldn't come as such a shock.