Books to Read for Future Usafa Cadets

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Lewis95

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For all those hopefuls and/or committed appointees back at home awaiting BCT and the unique life at the Academy-- what are some books to read including guidance and insight on cadet life at USAFA?

I've been dying to find a book like that. Or perhaps a documentary or movie:rolleyes:
 
There's a book called Skies to Conquer that gives some insight to life at USAFA and is pretty interesting... But I think that it's important with anything like that to take it with a grain of salt- everyone has a different experience and view of things! :rolleyes:
 
To put the whole freshmen year at a service academy in perspective, read "A Sense of Honor" by James Webb.
 
It's dated now, but there is a documentary called "Inside America's Service Academies" that is pretty decent.

The Unforgiving Minute is an interesting book about a West Point grad/Rhodes Scholar/Afghanistan veteran's experience.
 
The best book is The Air Force Academy Candidate Book: How to Get In, How to Prepare, How to Survive. The book tells you what you need to know of How to Get In, How to Prepare, and How to Survive :shake: And also Skies to Conquor but if you had to choose between the two choose the Candidate book because Skies to Conquor is a good but its shows The good, the really bad and the really ugly. It happends right after a big sexual assult scandle so there is a bit of emotion from the firsties and doolies but it does show something other than all the positive. Both are great books but The Air Force Academy books is great. Also I am waiting on A Year in the Blue!!! I really want to see it!!!! Oh and also im a 2017 candidate so this is all an outsider perspective.
 
Into the mouth of the cat-story of Capt. Lance Sijan
Return with honor-story of Capt. Scott O'Grady
 
"Absolutely American" by David Lipsky

It's about West Point, but it gives you a decent feel for service academy life.
 
Surviving West Point

'Surviving West Point' -National Geographic Series
I have not seen it myself, but it has been recommended to me and should provide a perspective on service academies.
 
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I completely agree with "Absolutely American." Yes, it's USMA but it does have the same feel.
 
icarus said:
Into the mouth of the cat-story of Capt. Lance Sijan
Return with honor-story of Capt. Scott O'Grady
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BOYD-The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War is an excellent book for future wannabe fighter jocks...:shake:
 
Alpineskier said:
The best book is The Air Force Academy Candidate Book: How to Get In, How to Prepare, How to Survive. The book tells you what you need to know of How to Get In, How to Prepare, and How to Survive :shake: And also Skies to Conquor but if you had to choose between the two choose the Candidate book because Skies to Conquor is a good but its shows The good, the really bad and the really ugly. It happends right after a big sexual assult scandle so there is a bit of emotion from the firsties and doolies but it does show something other than all the positive. Both are great books but The Air Force Academy books is great. Also I am waiting on A Year in the Blue!!! I really want to see it!!!! Oh and also im a 2017 candidate so this is all an outsider perspective.
Click to expand...

I believe the author also wrote a similar book with the same type of title but about USNA, I own that book and it has countless tips in it so if the I would also recommend the book he did.
 
An interesting read for females is Battle Dress by Amy Efaw. While the book is about Mrs. Efaw's experiences at West Point -- much of it is translatable to other service academies. Mrs. Efaw, who is married to Colonel Efaw (also a West Point graduate), has been an ALO for West Point. Colorado Efaw is a partner in a major Denver law firm; he just completed his second tour as a JAG judge in Afghanistan. My daughter read Battle Dress before going to USAFA -- and found it very helpful as it presented Academy life from a female's perspective. The Efaws have two daughters currently at West Point -- so their family's service tradition continues.
 
Another good 'female' book is 'Tough as Nails' by Gail Dwyer (West Point grad - '81)
Gail has a keen sense of humor which comes through the book.

I'd take 'Absolutely American' with a grain of salt. It is a skewed view of West Point. I know a TAC who was there when Lipsky was there researching for the book. He saw what he wanted to see.
 
"Unbreakable," the biography of Louis Zamperini, is fairly relevant to the concept of personal characte, mental endurance, and sheer willpower and drive to succeed. That, and it's just an unbelievable story.
 
thorgold said:
"Unbreakable," the biography of Louis Zamperini, is fairly relevant to the concept of personal characte, mental endurance, and sheer willpower and drive to succeed. That, and it's just an unbelievable story.
Click to expand...

+1:thumb: Unbreakable is one of the best books I've read recently by far. I would recommend it to anyone!
 
@Buff: LIpsky went in thinking he would HATE the cadets at USMA, and the whole idea of a military academy. Turned out, rather then the few weeks he expected, he followed those kids for 4+ years, then afterward stayed in touch. It may not be your cup of tea, and certainly, all books are skewed as the author intends (I despised "Skies to Conquer" and felt it did not represent anyone I had ever met at USAFA).
 
In "The Air Force Academy Candidate Book," one interview with an alumni from Panama mentions how he mentioned all of (or as much as he could) his knowledge before getting to the Academy, significantly reducing the amount of stress he had to go through.

The author also mentions at some point that getting your hands on an edition of contrails can help you prepare for arriving.

On the other hand, posts on college confidential mention that knowing knowledge beforehand can induce the wrath of the upperclassmen.

Should appointees seek out a copy of contrails and begin memorizing knowledge before they arrive? In my particular situation, I always have an hour or two a day where I can only really read, so my original intention was to purchase last year's copy. After reading that college confidential thread, however, I thought twice and decided it might be worth asking you guys for your opinions.
 
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