Chances of Getting into USAFA? (Female Prospect)

[Herman_Snerd]

I’ve looked into other branches, but the Air Force has really driven me. The navy and the army have too much of a risk for my own emotions and mental health, as I’ve heard one too many horror stories of women being sexually assaulted and overall being treated poorly. The mental health services also look better in the Air Force, and I’d rather settle for that.

Changing over, with CAP I am currently applying for the flying program. I’ve also just ranked up to a technical sergeant, so I’m making good progress (I’ve been in for less than a year). I will keep an open mind. Thank you.

As a parent of multiple children including daughters and as a husband / brother/ son, safety is paramount and I appreciate you are both aware of and have looked into other paths and are comfortable with your interests. My daughters at college have pepper spray with 25 doses to use, alarms, whistles - my youngest looks like Mr. T with all of this around her neck- it's good to be alert, prepared - Good for you, and great that you are pursuing the flight program and advanced leadership roles in CAP and are progressing quickly- it's a great program.

WRT the Air Force being safe -reportedly, just so you are realistic - dangers still exist there - each branch has this problem so it's good you are going in eyes open.

Just data points to share - please do your own research on what is and what is not reported, and find your best fit path.

• The Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, recently reported that the Air Force and the Space Force had a significant increase in reports of sexual assault last year, according to figures released April 27. For fiscal 2022, the Department of the Air Force had the largest annual increase in the history of its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, which was created more than a decade ago to tackle the chronic issue of sexual assault and harassment in the military.
• Reports increased by 13 percent in FY 2022, the highest recorded value in the history of the DAF SAPR program,” Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall wrote in a memo to DOD leadership.
• Overall, reports of sexual assault were up about 1 percent across the military—making the DAF an outlier. Air Force and Space Force numbers are counted together as a military department, unlike the other services
• “These increases in reporting demonstrate that while survivors are more willing to come forward, too many incidents are still occurring,” Kendall wrote. “This is unacceptable.”

Perhaps others on the board can assist in sharing mentorship guidance on the safest way to navigate being in the military as a female and being/ feeling/ experiencing the most safe environment possible.

 

[unkown1961]

I’ve looked into other branches, but the Air Force has really driven me. The navy and the army have too much of a risk for my own emotions and mental health, as I’ve heard one too many horror stories of women being sexually assaulted and overall being treated poorly. The mental health services also look better in the Air Force, and I’d rather settle for that.

Changing over, with CAP I am currently applying for the flying program. I’ve also just ranked up to a technical sergeant, so I’m making good progress (I’ve been in for less than a year). I will keep an open mind. Thank you.

Good on you for being aware of sexual assault. But not to discourage you from the Air Force but sexual assaults happen in all services and all academies. USAFA's rate is over 20% of women reporting a sexual assault, and as our female sponsored cadet says, everyone knows a female cadet who was assaulted.
Hopefully measures are being taken to stop this. It doesn't help having male cadets who believe that female cadets are there simply because they are a woman. My daughter was even told this to her by a fellow ROTC member at MIT.
https://gazette.com/military/usafa/...cle_5713755a-bf8f-11ed-bece-1b9b56eba63a.html

 

[trailrunner612]

Firstly, congrats on your graduation! I do have backups, all ROTC schools. And it’s nice to know that someone that was a similar candidate has the same feelings as me right now. I appreciate the support!

As a parent of multiple children including daughters and as a husband / brother/ son, safety is paramount and I appreciate you are both aware of and have looked into other paths and are comfortable with your interests. My daughters at college have pepper spray with 25 doses to use, alarms, whistles - my youngest looks like Mr. T with all of this around her neck- it's good to be alert, prepared - Good for you, and great that you are pursuing the flight program and advanced leadership roles in CAP and are progressing quickly- it's a great program.

WRT the Air Force being safe -reportedly, just so you are realistic - dangers still exist there - each branch has this problem so it's good you are going in eyes open.

Just data points to share - please do your own research on what is and what is not reported, and find your best fit path.

• The Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, recently reported that the Air Force and the Space Force had a significant increase in reports of sexual assault last year, according to figures released April 27. For fiscal 2022, the Department of the Air Force had the largest annual increase in the history of its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, which was created more than a decade ago to tackle the chronic issue of sexual assault and harassment in the military.
• Reports increased by 13 percent in FY 2022, the highest recorded value in the history of the DAF SAPR program,” Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall wrote in a memo to DOD leadership.
• Overall, reports of sexual assault were up about 1 percent across the military—making the DAF an outlier. Air Force and Space Force numbers are counted together as a military department, unlike the other services
• “These increases in reporting demonstrate that while survivors are more willing to come forward, too many incidents are still occurring,” Kendall wrote. “This is unacceptable.”

Perhaps others on the board can assist in sharing mentorship guidance on the safest way to navigate being in the military as a female and being/ feeling/ experiencing the most safe environment possible.

Really interesting data points. I'm glad you brought those up. I think the SAPR program at USAFA is great. Personally, I think the numbers might have gone up due to the SAPR program improving, and cadets felt more comfortable reporting. Therefore, it appears to be a significant increase in cases but maybe it's just a testament to how good the SAPR program is. Even if you were underage drinking and a situation occurred, you (likely) wouldn't get in trouble for the drinking and SAPR would 100% assist you in healing/ seeking justice if that's what you want. Just my personal opinion, totally up to hear other perspectives. (Not saying assault and harassment isn't a problem at USAFA... just establishing how many resources there are for victims)
As a former female cadet as USAFA, there are dangers but that is just like at any college. Lock your door at night, establish a community for yourself, and know your resources.

 

[Slippy13]

Good on you for being aware of sexual assault. But not to discourage you from the Air Force but sexual assaults happen in all services and all academies. USAFA's rate is over 20% of women reporting a sexual assault, and as our female sponsored cadet says, everyone knows a female cadet who was assaulted.
Hopefully measures are being taken to stop this. It doesn't help having male cadets who believe that female cadets are there simply because they are a woman. My daughter was even told this to her by a fellow ROTC member at MIT.
https://gazette.com/military/usafa/...cle_5713755a-bf8f-11ed-bece-1b9b56eba63a.html

I’m sorry for your daughter, that’s awful. Something similar happened to me on JBSA after I joined up with a squadron for a day (my uncle works there, so we shadowed the squadron), but the cadet was immediately reprimanded, which was comforting. It is alarming though that 20% of women at the academy report assault. But I’d take my risk there.

 

[Slippy13]

Really interesting data points. I'm glad you brought those up. I think the SAPR program at USAFA is great. Personally, I think the numbers might have gone up due to the SAPR program improving, and cadets felt more comfortable reporting. Therefore, it appears to be a significant increase in cases but maybe it's just a testament to how good the SAPR program is. Even if you were underage drinking and a situation occurred, you (likely) wouldn't get in trouble for the drinking and SAPR would 100% assist you in healing/ seeking justice if that's what you want. Just my personal opinion, totally up to hear other perspectives. (Not saying assault and harassment isn't a problem at USAFA... just establishing how many resources there are for victims)
As a former female cadet as USAFA, there are dangers but that is just like at any college. Lock your door at night, establish a community for yourself, and know your resources.

That’s comforting, thank you. I’ll look more into SAPR, it seems like a great resource in case something occurs like that. A bit unrelated, but say if I need a little counseling on something in my life, like a relationship, is there a program/department for that? Thank you.

 

[jbm2m]

As a parent of multiple children including daughters and as a husband / brother/ son, safety is paramount and I appreciate you are both aware of and have looked into other paths and are comfortable with your interests. My daughters at college have pepper spray with 25 doses to use, alarms, whistles - my youngest looks like Mr. T with all of this around her neck- it's good to be alert, prepared - Good for you, and great that you are pursuing the flight program and advanced leadership roles in CAP and are progressing quickly- it's a great program.

WRT the Air Force being safe -reportedly, just so you are realistic - dangers still exist there - each branch has this problem so it's good you are going in eyes open.

Just data points to share - please do your own research on what is and what is not reported, and find your best fit path.

• The Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, recently reported that the Air Force and the Space Force had a significant increase in reports of sexual assault last year, according to figures released April 27. For fiscal 2022, the Department of the Air Force had the largest annual increase in the history of its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, which was created more than a decade ago to tackle the chronic issue of sexual assault and harassment in the military.
• Reports increased by 13 percent in FY 2022, the highest recorded value in the history of the DAF SAPR program,” Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall wrote in a memo to DOD leadership.
• Overall, reports of sexual assault were up about 1 percent across the military—making the DAF an outlier. Air Force and Space Force numbers are counted together as a military department, unlike the other services
• “These increases in reporting demonstrate that while survivors are more willing to come forward, too many incidents are still occurring,” Kendall wrote. “This is unacceptable.”

Perhaps others on the board can assist in sharing mentorship guidance on the safest way to navigate being in the military as a female and being/ feeling/ experiencing the most safe environment possible.

For what it’s worth, I have a family friend who is super involved with this sort of stuff at one of the service academies. When picking his brain after DD said she wanted to go this route, he said that, internally, USAFA is regarded as having the most work to do in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the perceived culture of “toxic” masculinity. Noted that they are taking steps to improve, but a little late to adopt remedial strategies than the others.

 

[trailrunner612]

That’s comforting, thank you. I’ll look more into SAPR, it seems like a great resource in case something occurs like that. A bit unrelated, but say if I need a little counseling on something in my life, like a relationship, is there a program/department for that? Thank you.

There is. You will be briefed on resources more than anything, but if you go to the Chaplain or MFLAC they can counsel you with little/ zero impact on your career.

 

[MidCakePa]

As a former female cadet as USAFA, there are dangers but that is just like at any college. Lock your door at night, establish a community for yourself, and know your resources.

Sadly, sexual assault is a legitimate and real concern regardless of where you attend college — public or private, big or small, urban or rural, secular or religious. Perhaps the SAs are more intentional about exposing and combating it. I don’t know for a fact. But the close scrutiny of the SAs, by media and government, can have a way of spurring action and diligence.

I teach at our flagship state university. Recently I was directly engaged in the investigation of multiple alleged assaults involving students on a class trip. If there’s such a thing, these allegations were not the worst on the spectrum of sexual assault. And yet I saw the very nasty and unfortunate repercussions — for both the accusers and the accused. Even at a well-regarded school with a relatively affluent student body and fairly benign student antics, this stuff happens.

All this to say, I don’t know if any college is safer than others. But having seen DD’s experience at USNA, I feel that the built-in discipline and obligations, the tight-knit nature of groups facing adversity together, the shared mission of something larger than just attending school — maybe all that somehow reduces the risk and severity of sexual assault. I hope I’m right.

 

[Humey]

Nevada and Minot are vacation spots compared to Cannonn AFB in Clovis, NM. That does nothing for retention of JOs.
To the poster, you seem to have a great background - similar to my daughter but she passed on Academy life and did AFROTC at MIT. Take the rigorous classes. But do make sure you enjoy life and high school.
And have alternatives in case you get declined. Keep in mind that there are applicants who get into USAFA but not into AFROTC, and vice versa.
Best of luck.

My son is at Minot. Its a nice little town. Yes it freezing cold in the winter but the summers and falls arent bad and the community (at least the B-52 pilots) are a tight community. Wouldnt want to be the guys working outside on the planes in the winter as they literally freeze their butts off. Okay not butts, but ears and fingers

 

[StPaulDad]

It's a problem all over the place. The Coast Guard's Commandant just came out with a deep mea culpa on the mishandling of many assault investigations over recent decades. (https://www.military.com/daily-news...e-respond-sexual-assault-reports-academy.html) The text of it might just sound like more platitudes from leadership, but Adm Linda Fagan is the first woman to lead a branch of the US military and to have lived that side of the problem so we'll have to see how things shake out.

But my DD feels safe at USCGA. She has good friends, there are far more women on campus now than years ago (40% of students), there are more women in leadership than ever, there's a lot of awareness around preventing sexual assault, and yet she's still careful because it's still a problem.

 

[T-37IP]

but say if I need a little counseling on something in my life, like a relationship, is there a program/department for that? Thank you

If you are picking a service academy based on their ability to offer relationship counseling, you are making a serious mistake.

 

[A1Janitor]

That’s comforting, thank you. I’ll look more into SAPR, it seems like a great resource in case something occurs like that. A bit unrelated, but say if I need a little counseling on something in my life, like a relationship, is there a program/department for that? Thank you.

The chaplain is always a good resource.

 

[unkown1961]

My son is at Minot. Its a nice little town. Yes it freezing cold in the winter but the summers and falls arent bad and the community (at least the B-52 pilots) are a tight community. Wouldnt want to be the guys working outside on the planes in the winter as they literally freeze their butts off. Okay not butts, but ears and fingers

I bet he’s glad he’s not in Clovis!

 

[Slippy13]

If you are picking a service academy based on their ability to offer relationship counseling, you are making a serious mistake.

That’s not what I meant. I’m just asking about something of the sorts like that, I know the USCGA has something similar, so I was just wondering. And it’s not just relationship counseling, that was just an example.