Hey everyone!
Okay...the FVE...yes, it's used with diversity candidates. And it's used with "non diversity" candidates. And guess what? Diversity doesn't mean individuals of a specific (read non-caucasian) ethnic background. USAFA looks at diversity different from many institutions of higher learning. A diversity candidate could be the kid in the midwest that lives on a farm; his father was killed in an accident when he was 12 and he's the oldest of five siblings. So he's up every morning tending the animals with mom, before heading to school. After school, he races home to take care of the farm animals, field work, and to help his mom raise his siblings. Somewhere in all that he gets his studies accomplished. He has no sports, no extracurriculars, and his SAT/ACT scores, while excellent, aren't quite up to USAFA's typical appointee. Guess what? This candidate was admitted as a diversity candidate due to the diversity in his life that he had to overcome to succeed.
Let's not get wrapped up in "XXX-American" labels and diversity; that's not how USAFA wants to look at it. USAFA wants the best future officers we can find and we want them from all walks of American life. Majority, minority, etc., isn't the focus, and nobody should get that wrapped up in it. Our nation has become very diverse, as has our military, and that's a good thing. At the end of the day, USAFA is looking for the best leaders, not the best "XXX-American's" for their diversity program or other programs.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83