Prior Enlisted Questions + Life At Academy Q's

AviatorJane

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Prior Enlisted Questions:
1. I got rather good ACT scores when I was in highschool, am I able to use those same scores when submitting my application?

2. I have not been involved in sports since graduating highschool, athletic for sure but no official sports. 95+ on all pt tests official and otherwise. Will this be seen as odd?

3. My tech school is 1.5 years long, not because of any delays/etc. I would need to begin submitting usafa paperwork ~4 months after getting to my first unit in order to attend prep school before I become too old. I don't want them to see this as a 'X doesn't wan't to be a career enlisted aviator' or anything like that. I feel slightly owed to continue with my enlisted career because of all the time and money the air force has invested into me. What would your advice be when proceeding? I've wanted to attend the academy for a long time, but put it on the back burner as well.

4. I wanted to go to the academy to further my education, training, and to have a bigger impact in the air force.

5. Because of the tech school environment, I have no involvement with airmen's council, etc. (Not allowed to associate w/ permanent party airmen for first 1.7 years of my contract). Nearly have my CCAF, will most likely have it by the time I hear back from the academy on my application. Will the reviewers understand that being in AETC and tech training affects my application, or am I trying to make excuses?

Life At the Academy Q's:

1. How are the phases in the academy? Is it reasonable to expect to go out any weekend days to the city in civvies? If not, does this occur after recognition?

2. Are the dorms 2 individuals 1 bathroom? Does this change as you become an upperclassman?


Rest of my questions I have found answers to by browsing the forums, if you have any advice for me or answers I would love to read it!
 
I'm not really qualified to answer your prior enlisted questions other than to say I had a classmate who did some extensive language training and never ended up using it, going to USAFA right after finishing.

As of life,

1. From basic till recognition you will be in service dress when you go out (which will be rare). After that with good grades/PT/military scores, you will likely have enough passes to go out on the weekends sophomore year and during the week junior and senior year

2. 2 or 3 people per room with a mirror/sink, large shared bathrooms for everyone
 
Expand the quote below for my answers.

Prior Enlisted Questions:
1. I got rather good ACT scores when I was in highschool, am I able to use those same scores when submitting my application?
You should be able to unless there is some timeline in which ACT scores expire. I've hear 5 years is as a general timeline, though not confirmed

2. I have not been involved in sports since graduating highschool, athletic for sure but no official sports. 95+ on all pt tests official and otherwise. Will this be seen as odd?
I doubt there would be prejudice against your application. I stopped sports after high school as well and it never came up as a factor while interviewing with my ALO. That doesn't mean you'll never be competitive again! I've been on both the USAFA Tri and Sport Climbing team.

3. My tech school is 1.5 years long, not because of any delays/etc. I would need to begin submitting usafa paperwork ~4 months after getting to my first unit in order to attend prep school before I become too old. I don't want them to see this as a 'X doesn't wan't to be a career enlisted aviator' or anything like that. I feel slightly owed to continue with my enlisted career because of all the time and money the air force has invested into me. What would your advice be when proceeding? I've wanted to attend the academy for a long time, but put it on the back burner as well.
There are a few priors here who came to the Academy straight out of tech school. I get where you're coming from. The most important thing is that you keep your supervisor in the loop in regards to your intentions and obviously your commander will need to be in the know as well (since he will be the endorsing your application).

4. I wanted to go to the academy to further my education, training, and to have a bigger impact in the air force.
Good.

5. Because of the tech school environment, I have no involvement with airmen's council, etc. (Not allowed to associate w/ permanent party airmen for first 1.7 years of my contract). Nearly have my CCAF, will most likely have it by the time I hear back from the academy on my application. Will the reviewers understand that being in AETC and tech training affects my application, or am I trying to make excuses?
That's fine. Don't make excuses for not pursuing specific programs but talk about the positions you have pursued/served in.

Life At the Academy Q's:

1. How are the phases in the academy? Is it reasonable to expect to go out any weekend days to the city in civvies? If not, does this occur after recognition?
As a freshman you will not be allowed to have civilian clothes on or off base up until Recognition. Freshman also cannot be friends with upperclassmen. Various privileges are earned as you make it through each year. The biggest distinction is between unrecognized and recognized freshman. (And maybe being allowed a car as a junior/senior)

2. Are the dorms 2 individuals 1 bathroom? Does this change as you become an upperclassman?
Typically 2 is the standard for a single dorm room. Occasionally freshmen will have 3. Sometimes seniors will have a single man. It really depends on your squadron and the size of the classes currently attending. When we were just classes '18-'15 there were a ton of single man rooms because '16 and '15 were very small. Each room has a sink. Bathrooms and showers are communal.


Rest of my questions I have found answers to by browsing the forums, if you have any advice for me or answers I would love to read it!
 
Thank you both for the insight,
Another question although less important, do cadets wear their jump badges on their blues/abus while at the academy?
If I have a mandatory & permanent enlisted wings would I wear them as a cadet?

Bathroom and showers are communal, does this mean they aren't attached to the dorms as in the whole floor? Or are they shared between 2 dorm rooms?

Would a deployment trump acceptance into the academy? Would I be restricted from going on any months prior? I would want to continue until the very end, not that I would have a lot of say if there are already procedures in place!
I know of a girl who got orders and it trumped their retraining into a very special career field and wanted to know if anything like that *could* happen.

I know it's a personal decision, but wanted some opinions: If one wanted to experience another year of their enlisted career, how foolish would it be to wait to apply until it's their last chance for direct entry? At that point is it a, would you rather an officer career or another year doing important but mostly physical work? Do you reckon the admissions office takes the applicant's age into consideration?

I've read that it's very likely for prep school candidates to receive a nomination for their next year, but for LEAD candidates this cannot be your commander who gave a nomination for the prep school. Is this purely through your congressman, or is the academy able to help you? I would not enjoy going through the prep school, losing all my currency, not receiving a nomination, and having to go through formal schoolhouse to regain currency. Not trying to be negative, just want to know what I'm getting myself into.

Thanks guys! Hope this thread helps out other LEAD candidates as well!
 
Same deal as before. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any private questions. I'm on my last year here and I am a prior-preppie.

Thank you both for the insight,

Another question although less important, do cadets wear their jump badges on their blues/abus while at the academy?
Yes. The jump program is awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone attending the Academy.

If I have a mandatory & permanent enlisted wings would I wear them as a cadet?
Yes.

Bathroom and showers are communal, does this mean they aren't attached to the dorms as in the whole floor? Or are they shared between 2 dorm rooms?
They are not attached to the dorms, they are on the same floor. For a squadron of about 100 people there would be 2 small + 1 large men's bathroom and 1 medium(?) sized women's bathroom. Women are given rooms closest to the women's bathroom.

Would a deployment trump acceptance into the academy? Would I be restricted from going on any months prior? I would want to continue until the very end, not that I would have a lot of say if there are already procedures in place!
I know of a girl who got orders and it trumped their retraining into a very special career field and wanted to know if anything like that *could* happen.
I'm 95% sure a deployment would not trump acceptance. Once you apply, AFPC (your MPF) issues a special code which locks you from PCSing/retraining/deploying. Think of it this way, if the Air Force knew that in a few months you would be heading off to the Academy, then they are not going to waste money on starting/continuing training.

I know it's a personal decision, but wanted some opinions: If one wanted to experience another year of their enlisted career, how foolish would it be to wait to apply until it's their last chance for direct entry? At that point is it a, would you rather an officer career or another year doing important but mostly physical work? Do you reckon the admissions office takes the applicant's age into consideration?
Totally understandable. I often think about what it would have been like to do another year before coming to the Academy, but it really comes down to your chances of being accepted. In the long run, having the chance to apply twice is huge. I am sure the admissions office takes age into consideration. For my year, priors were only offered admission to the Prep School, so you can imagine that a number of enlisted people who were applying at the limit of the age restriction missed out. As far as I know, that was the only year where there were no prior direct entries (with the exception of maybe one extenuating circumstance). My advice is to apply as soon as possible.

I've read that it's very likely for prep school candidates to receive a nomination for their next year, but for LEAD candidates this cannot be your commander who gave a nomination for the prep school. Is this purely through your congressman, or is the academy able to help you? I would not enjoy going through the prep school, losing all my currency, not receiving a nomination, and having to go through formal schoolhouse to regain currency. Not trying to be negative, just want to know what I'm getting myself into.
Good question. This was implemented the year I transitioned from the Prep School to the Academy. The short of it is that if you are on top of your stuff at the Prep School then you do not need to worry about losing your slot in the event you are not able to get a nomination. Getting a nomination as a prior-enlisted and prep school applicant is typically not difficult. You will have already proven to the nomination board that you're not messing around. I want to say that my interview took about 5 mins and went like this. . .

Board: "So do you like it at the Prep School?"
Me: "Yes!"
Board: "Are you confident that you will be successful at the Academy?"
Me: "Yes!"
Board: "Great, thank you for your service."


Ultimately, the Prep School mandates that you apply for nominations from ALL possible sources. If you are unable to get one, then the Admissions board has been known to work some magic. I have not heard of a case where a prior enlisted applicant from the prep school missed out due to the lack of a nomination.
I know that the Prep School doesn't sound so awesome since it adds an extra year to the program, but it is worth it, trust me. Not only do you get a solid foundation that will help you absolutely crush the academics, but you'll make close friends for life. Those friends are very nice to have when you're struggling through the other hardships of freshman year.


Thanks guys! Hope this thread helps out other LEAD candidates as well!
 
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