Complete but Disqualified

Is there any hope?

  • I can help

    Votes: 1 16.7%
  • forward information

    Votes: 5 83.3%

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    6
RSTFamily, we feel your pain. The only consolation I can offer is this...from the 2020 class appointment thread, 7 who got TWEs later received an offer of appointment. I Don't know if those lucky ones had disqualified CAF scores. I think your DS's CAF scores met the minimum requirements which did not warrant a retake but in the end his scores were not qualified/competitive. My reference for this statement was from the Admissions Profile: Class of 2017, the Candidate Pool was 6,967 and the Qualified Candidates was 2,277. It may be hard to do Plan B but he has to, do well in it and reapply to USAFA again next year. Good luck.



Thank you very much! That sounds awesome. He have hope and pray all the time...He is strong in so many ways and is going forward with the Air Force Academy and Plan B at the same time.
 
From my knowledge, the minimum pull ups all men must do is 2 and run below a 8:00 for the mile. They must also have to pass the basketball throw with something like 55 feet (I think). If you fail any of these events I believe it disqualifies you. The sit ups and push ups and shuttle run are important but won't make or break you like the previously mentioned events.


Thank you and here is some info for you and others...

CFA Report: BB = 54. Pullups = 15. Shuttle Run = 8.5. Sit Ups = 92. Pushups = 75. 1st Run = 8.16, 2nd Run = 8.55
 
Your son sounds like a great young man. However, you need to look at his whole application objectively. He does not have any organized sports or varsity letters. That is going to be noted by USAFA right away. That means he would need to knock the CFA out of the park, but you state that he did not do well on the running portion of the CFA. It is his weakness and that is what was pointed out by USAFA when they closed his file. There are many other candidates out there who have all of the same qualities as your son, but also had no failures on the CFA. If his goal is truly to be an Air Force pilot, he needs to take this setback and learn from it. He needs to start running to build up stamina and make a good time for the run. He should apply to his Plan B school, apply to AFROTC, and then re-apply to USAFA next year if that is what he still desires.

As far as the pilot shortage, the AF is not short of pilots because they are turning down Academy candidates. There are more than enough people applying there as well as through AFROTC. There is a pilot shortage because of dissatisfaction with the AF by pilots getting to the end of their 10-year commitment, changes in the commercial pilot (airlines) requirements causing a shortage of pilots there, and large group of AF pilots who are separating for other reasons. The AF has been slow to respond to these issues and they continue to lose many people. There is no shortage of people who are trying to become pilots in the Air Force; there is a shortage of trained, experienced pilots in the Air Force.

Stealth_81



I, we hear you....thank you for your words. Very helpful to us and many others.
My son is very Strong in many ways and is moving forward with the Air Force Academy and will continue to do better. Plan B or C will also go forward.

As the the Air Force Pilot shortage...I completely agree with you. This is a whole other subject that we can discus and a problem that will hopefully improve.
Again, thank you very much for your reply.
 
Although it wasn't the Air Force, nor an Academy, my son faced hurdles to become a Marine Officer as well. He did not receive a scholarship. He was nearly tossed from the program twice his freshman year, and also had a glitch his junior year. Nevertheless, he got up each time, learned from the experience, dusted himself off, and is an excellent Marine officer today. A lot depends on one's determination. If plan B isn't an acceptable path for your son, then I would suggest he doesn't want it very badly. Hard knocks can make him both a better person and a better pilot and officer. Hope he achieves his dream... it might be a path he hadn't imagined though. Tell him to keep in mind that this is not personal (AFA's decision or this post).


Awesome Words!
Yes I agree and so does my son.
He is strong, never fell and is moving forward with the USAFA. Plan B or C is kicking into play while he continues his dream for the AFA.
Thank you for your reply.
 
Sorry your DS received the turn down. I am sure it will be a tough few weeks for him and your family. Unfortunately there are always more qualified candidates than spots. USAFA is one path to a commission. There are plenty of other paths. He can always reapply. Yes the USAF is short pilots, but that doesn't mean they will increase class size. A SA class size doesn't change much year to year. The USAF will try to meet this shortage with other commissioning sources. But there are so many other factors then just churning out a 2LT flight school student... pipeline intake, retention, etc.

Passing the CFA is required to be qualified by a SA. An appointment cannot be made without that qualifier. Did your son do this right before the due date? Normally a candidate who takes the CFA far enough in advance and fails it will then get an opportunity to retake it. His ALO and even on this forum, it is well known that a CFA will play a large role for a candidate with little to no sports. Even on the enlisted side a recruit must pass a PT test before they are sent to boot camp. The bar is even higher for a future officer. The PT standards at a SA are higher than in the operating forces.

If you look at a class profile you will see 90% or more of appointees have played a sport. It's not because a SA wants a bunch of athletes, they want to see team work and leadership are demonstrated, as a veteran yourself, you know these are important qualities. The scholastic qualification has tons of factors. Your son has a great GPA, but standardized test scores also play a huge factor, level of courses taken, how did they do in Calc/Chem/Physics, school profile all are factors in this. Volunteer time, leadership, interview, and a dozen other factors all go into a candidate being qualified. I am sorry about the TWE. Mourn this for a week or two, contact his ALO or admissions counselor and find out what to improve, knock it out of the park at his Plan B and reapply.


Awesome reply!
Thank you.
Planning on next move as we read the TWE.
We mourned for several hours and He is going forward Strong.
He is strong and hasn't fallen, just more determined to improve and set in motion plan B...or C.
I'm Very Proud of him and I know he will fulfill his dream.
Yes he did take the CFA's late in the process and only had two weeks to improve. I will post the findings for others to see as well to learn from it.
Also...on a separate discussion; The Air Force has problems with Pilot shortage...and I know its just not the Academy, sorry to offend....just venting.
Again, thank you very much for your reply and insight.
 
RSTFamily I feel your pain as we went through this last year. I had a highly qualified daughter who was not offered an appointment. The reasons were a little different but the shock and hurt remain the same. You have to remember that this is a competition and your son was competing against other highly qualified candidates. There are Federal Laws that govern the process and ensure that highly qualified individuals are selected from throughout the country.

The academy is looking for leaders who they can mold into officers. Physical Fitness and athletics is a big part of that equation. Leading a team of your peers as a Captain is often more difficult than leading a group when you have the position of supervisor.

I will echo what the rest of the group has said. If this is truly his dream, it is not over yet. He needs to understand where he application can be approved and keep working at it. His counselor can provide some insight but a true self reflection can probably answer the question as well. From the information you provided, he will have to work in his physical fitness and try to expand his extracurricular activities to increase his WCS. He also needs to go off to college and do well with a challenging course load that is similar to the academy. He will receive an boost to the academic portion of his WCS with this successful semester of college.

My daughter went off to her Plan B school and did all of these things and is now a member of the class of 2021. It can be accomplished if he is willing to put the effort in.



Thank you very much for your words of kindness, insight and encouragement.
He (We) mourned for several hours as we move forward to put plan B or C into effect. He's super strong, mature and will continue to put his dream into reality.
Disappointment is a reality and he has already grown from it has he has in the past.
He knows things happen for a reason in life, learn from it be strong and move on.
Again, thank you for your reply.
 
Really sorry to hear it. Just remember that he has until he's 21 to get in, so there is always time. Also, the end result of ROTC is the exact same, and Embry Riddle's AFROTC has 100% preferred field placement in from the past 2 years. I'm sure it will all work out.


Awesome!
Thanks for the reply.
 
Thank you and here is some info for you and others...

CFA Report: BB = 54. Pullups = 15. Shuttle Run = 8.5. Sit Ups = 92. Pushups = 75. 1st Run = 8.16, 2nd Run = 8.55

I can almost certainly say that the run and the BB throw is what disqualified him. From the rest of the scores I can say that he is in very good shape. 15 pull ups while maxing push ups and almost sit ups is extremely good. The best advice I can give is just working on the running. The running is definitely the hardest part to improve since it is pure stamina and mental. As for the basketball throw I would look up videos on YouTube and such on how to improve. It is more of a test of flexibility and timing sequence of the body more than arm strength. I am very much not a strong person when it comes to upper body strength but was able to throw it around 75 feet.

If your DS plan is to re-apply I would most definitely make a plan to improve his running. Depending on where you live, it may be helpful to go to lower elevation where the oxygen is greater and take the test there. As for improving all I can say is practice practice and practice. The only reason I improved my running is because of the Durbeck's basically forcing me to run at NWP. Doing fartlicks made me want to just end it all but it seriously did help me run a much better time. Thanks to them I wear able to go from close to a 9 minute mile to a sub 7. If your DS gets a falcon scholarship I would highly advise to take it. After all, it is basically a golden ticket and really prepares you for what's to come.
 
@RSTFamily

Some of the hallmarks of a good military officer are grit, determination, adaptability and the ability to re-group, re-attack and win through obstacles from different directions.

If the goal is to serve as an AF officer, the paths are there, including re-application at USAFA. He just has to set foot on a path and commit.

Let him (and the family) go through the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance - in whatever proportion is needed. Re-assess the commitment to being an AF officer, because that is the real goal. If it's still there, get the candid feedback on what improvements can be made... and build out and execute the plan(s) to get there. No looking back, only forward.


Awesome, Awesome reply!
Ditto!

Thank you.

He is doing just that...
 
Here is some more info for you and others for review...this is my son's CFA's.

CFA Report: BB = 54'. Pullups = 15. Shuttle Run = 8.5. Sit Ups = 92. Pushups = 75. 1st Run = 8.16, 2nd Run = 8.55


Good luck and God's Blessings to all the Candidates. Stay Strong and Aim High...Always. Never Give Up!
 
I'm a father of A Candidate...
My heart dropped in disbelieve this morning when my son showed me the online email received.

My son is also in disbelieve, filled with emotions...His heart and soul wants so badly to be part of the "Whole Air Force Academy Experience"...He wants nothing less but to be a "fighter Pilot" since he was a young boy...this is his dream, nothing less... Plan A period. He does not want to do plan "B" which is Embry-Riddle and applying to ROTC...his heart is with the Air Force Academy.

He's already a pilot, holds rank as a Captain and is the C.O. in the US Marine Jr. ROTC sponsored through his High School, he is also a Color Guard. He is outstanding young man by many who know him...

This is just the beginning of the process for your son, not the end. He clearly can re-apply next year, and work on the CFA over the next several months. But it is important not to dismiss AFROTC. If his dream is to be an Air Force pilot, than that should be his goal. Later in life, he may regret walking away from his dream if he doesn't pursue Plan B. It's tough to give advice to an 18 year old, but that is what I would tell him.

My son went through AFROTC (without a scholarship) at a large state school and is now a Pilot. He had a good time in college, and never regretted that he didn't go to the AFA.

Good luck to your son.
 
RSTFamily,
I don't believe you offended anyone and many of us have vented on this forum.
Many of us are also veterans and see how things are different than when we were in. I think as parents, we take setbacks for our kids harder than they do.
No worries. Press forward with your son. He is an awesome young man and I am sure he will succeed.
Keep us posted on how he's doing and hope to see more success in the coming months.
 
My DS was rejected for the class of 2020 back in late March of 2016. I won't say how, but we found that his liaison officer had him ranked in the middle of the pack on his interview. He went with plan B, enrolling at UT-Austin. He joined the AFROTC. He reapplied for the class of 2021 and received a LOA of early November 2016, a MOC and AFRTOC nomination in mid-November 2016 and accepted in late November 2016, about 8 months after he was first rejected. I have to assume he nailed that interview this time, because frankly the only addition to his resume was joining AFRTOC. His fitness test was marginally better. Used the same SAT and HS transcripts. So give yourself and son a couple days to be disappointed and start the process again. But IMO, he really needs to start his plan B (what he wants to do with his life if no USAFA...not what he thinks he should do to get into USAFA).
 
Never forget that the goal of an Academy education is not... an Academy education. It is to make good AF officers.

Your son has an opportunity for which many kids would jump for joy: ROTC at E.R. If his goal is to be an AF pilot - this route will get him there!

So, go to ER for a year - and work work work on that running, and ROTC. Get fantastic grades, start/join clubs, gain a spot on a sports team (surely, that was lacking in your son's application and did not go unnoticed). Then, apply again. Dedication, grit, perseverance... all these will look golden on his application for the class of 2022
 
Also, and this may be critical for your son:

Practice the CFA IN ORDER OF EVENTS. It is entirely possible that son just ran out of gas by the time the run started. When practiced outside of the testing protocols, many times, the run is so slow as to fail the CFA.
 
My son also received the "Complete but disqualified" email with no explanation, aside from the same PT concerns. He did well, not great on the run, but not bad either and smoked everything else....so it made ZERO sense. However, since when did the military make sense? (31 years in, I can say its never made sense.) The good news is, he had decided to pass on USAFA and focus on other options...so things do have a way of working out.
 
60Pilot, I feel your pain. My DS's run wasn't great either...upper 7 minute range but that's the best he could do and that's all I could ask of him; we could live with whatever result he gets from the admissions board. At least your DS is moving on with other options. My DS too has Plan B and C in the wings. Good luck!
 
60Pilot, I feel your pain. My DS's run wasn't great either...upper 7 minute range but that's the best he could do and that's all I could ask of him; we could live with whatever result he gets from the admissions board. At least your DS is moving on with other options. My DS too has Plan B and C in the wings. Good luck!
Thanks! Things have a way of working out and the journey of meeting with grads from USAFA and USNA as well as the congressional interviews has been very good for him.
Good luck to your son, hope it works out!
 
The only reason I improved my running is because of the Durbeck's basically forcing me to run at NWP. Doing fartlicks made me want to just end it all but it seriously did help me run a much better time. Thanks to them I wear able to go from close to a 9 minute mile to a sub 7. If your DS gets a falcon scholarship I would highly advise to take it. After all, it is basically a golden ticket and really prepares you for what's to come.

This is great advice and it should be noted that you don't have to be a falcon recipient to go to Northwestern Prep. Many who go there are free agents. If you don't have a solid plan B at this point, I would highly recommend looking into Northwestern Prep after you talk with your admissions rep about any weaknesses in your son's file. It may be a good fit for you.
 
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