It’s been posted a number of times before in other threads, but I’ll say it here.
Terms like recruited athlete, National letter of intent, blue chip, etc. do not mean anything similar at the academy compared to what they mean at a traditional school. Those terms are ONLY used because it’s something the 17-18 year old applicant and their parents can relate to. The academy does compete for athletes. No denying that. But their standards are obviously higher as are their expectations.
A recruited athlete in a typical university, especially a blue chip, is most likely going to receive an athletic scholarship. The academy doesn’t give out scholarships. If a recruited scholarship athlete at a traditional university has a change of heart when they get to their school, and doesn’t want play the sport, they lose their scholarship and probably has to disenroll from school. At the academy, if an athlete decides they don’t want to play the sport any longer, they simply are a normal cadet like everyone else.
If an individual signs a letter of intent for school “A” and changes their mind later and wants to go to another school, they can be forced to sit out an entire season and not be allowed to play at the new school. In other words, signing the NLI is a binding contract. What you sign on national signing day for the academy is not binding. Neither is the appoint,ent. 1 day before basic training, you can change your mind and not show up. Once in the academy, you can simply quit. If you get a better offer to play sports at a different university, you can go to school there and play. Nothing is binding at the academy for the first 2 years.
Blue chip, NLI, recruited athlete, etc. are simply terms a recruited athlete can relate to so they can compare at least apples to oranges instead of apples to fuel injectors, when deciding on which school to attend.
Of the 50-60 football players recruited at Air Force each year, approximately 10 will be cut from the team before the first season is over. Another 10-20 will be cut in spring training during their first year at the academy. More will be let go the following season. By the senior year, there will only be around 15-20 football players who are seniors still on the team. But the other 30 were still cadets and probably graduated and become officers like everyone else. Of the limited few in a traditional school who received a scholarship to play ball, those 10-20 are on the team. But if they do anything against the rules, they can lose their scholarship and basically be kicked off the team and out of school.
My son was a recruited athlete. Football. But he didn’t get recruited until the end of November, and he already received an appointment in a October. (Yes, it’s rare, but some can get appointments before January, February, March, or April). He did the signing day and all the pomp and circumstances. He played football for the first year at the academy. The 2nd year, there were too many at his position and he was cut. It hurt at the time, but no regrets. He was still a cadet. Same as he was before getting recruited.
And looking back, he says getting cut was the best thing that happened to him. While he pulled off a 4.0gpa the first year at the academy, it was tough. School and football. Getting cut, he concentrated more on the academy, making friend, grades, girl friend, traveling, etc. He got to go to Peru and England. A lot of snowboarding. (Coach wouldn’t let him do that as a football player). He graduated #7 out of roughly 1000 at the academy. Got selected to grad school out of the academy and finished his masters in 1 year and his PHD In 2 more years. And he’s in the career field he wanted.
I bring this up for those who are interested in playing sports at the academy. You don’t need to have an LOA to be a recruited athlete. Unlike a traditional school, once at the academy, you aren’t committed to staying in the sport if your interests change. Unlike a traditional school where you don’t get to stay in school if you quit the team. (Unless you want to pay your own way). Even though you may be called a recruited athlete at the academy, there’s no assurance you’ll still be on the team the 2nd-4th Year’s. And if you aren’t, so what. You’re still a cadet. You can still,graduate from one of the premier schools in the country. Still get commissioned and serve your country. Athletics are not the primary purpose at the academy.
And if I’ve discouraged anyone applying, because their passion and main goal is to play NCAA sports in college, then I’m glad. You should reconsider the academy and think about a traditional school. The academy’s main purpose is to train future military leaders. Athletics are important. It is the most closely related activity to the military and its concept of “Team Work”. Nothing can compare. That’s why more than 90% of all cadets played organized sports in their high school years, and why the military puts so much I,portable on athletics. It’s not the physical fitness part. It’s the teamwork, team building, common goals, etc. that is instilled in the individuals.
If you can play sports at the NCAA level at the academy, good for you. It’s a lot of fun and hard work. If your sports help in your application to get an appoint, that’s great too. Some excel in grades, some leadership, some in other activities like music, and some excel in sports. Make sure your application emphasizes what you excel in. The academy wants well rounded individuals. But remember..... the academy is only 4 years long. It’s not the goal or end game. It’s a path to the “Big Show”. Becoming a commissioned military officer, leader, and defender of our country.