Let me clarify something. Many people believe that the cuts in enrollment revolve somehow on military cuts. And because of that, the academy is going to get smaller.
While economics is part of it, you have to realize that there are actually laws that say how large the academy enrollment can be, and how many officers it can commission. By law, unless I'm mistaken: which I don't think I am: but I don't have the law in front of me, and I just woke up; the maximum number of students enrolled at the academy at one time is not suppose to exceed 4400 students. Of which; no more than 1000 cadets are to be commissioned after graduation.
The air force has been pretty good statistically over the years in anticipating the percentage of a class that will drop out, quit, or get kicked out. On average; and these are not exact numbers; a class would enter with about 1280-1350 students. Over the last few years, the academy has brought in the high side most times. About 80+/- would quit or leave for whatever reason during BCT. Within the next 2 years, approximately 150-200 would quit because they realized the military just isn't for them, or they got kicked out for academics. In the final 2 years, another 50 would leave for various reasons. Leaving the class at the 950-1000 mark come graduation day.
Well, between the national economy, bringing in too many to begin with, and less cadets dropping out or not getting kicked out, (Like the class of 2013 only losing approximately 25 in BCT because of the swine flue, and pretty much everyone waivered from leaving unless they WANTED to leave); etc... the class/school size has gotten too large. Currently; depending on which source you look at; the school enrollment is approximately 4600 students.
By law; this is too many, and it will also produce more than 1000 graduates and commissions. The academy has had to seek waivers the last couple of years for this. Since 2008 at least, there's been more that 1000 graduates each year. CO/2008:1012. CO/2009:1046. CO/2010:1010. This may not seem like much OVER the 1000 mark, but it adds up.
Anyway; while the nation's economy and military cutbacks seem to be why the academy is cutting back so much on the new classes; that's not the whole story. There are actual federal laws on the books that say how large the academies can be, and how many they can graduate. The air force academy has been going too high on their recruiting. The student body is too large, and the graduating class is too large. Even if the military wasn't cutting back, there are too many people coming into the academy and being commissioned.
I know some get disappointed when they or those they love don't receive an appointment. And it seems a shame that some very qualified individuals don't make it in. But this is no different than any other private/public college. They can't just have an endless supply of students. Anyway; the reason I bring this topic up, is because after a year or two, I anticipate that the graduating classes will be below 1000 and the student body will be back below 4400. At that time, the needs of the military and the nation's economics will determine how large of a class to allow in. It's nice to give 1700 appointments when the economy is good, and you know darn well that about 400 are going to say "No Thanks". It's also nice to know that many will drop out in the first two years because it isn't for them, and the civilian economy will still provide them opportunities. But when the economy is bad; more people accept appointments. More stay in, even if they don't like it. (It's free and they give you a job upon graduation).
Problem is; too many people think that the air force academy is every applicant's first choice for college and is something they all wanted forever. The truth is: Most applicants know very little about the academies. Most have the academies as just one of many college choices. Anyway; I hope some understand now that the reduction in the 2015 class size isn't entirely because of military budget cuts. There's too many cadets; there's too many officers being commissioned; and the law says that this can't be.