Soaring or Jumping

KiwiBird

USAFA Cadet, Co 2025
Joined
Oct 8, 2020
Messages
286
I want to try out both the glider and parachuting programs. Are you able to do both?
 
It depends on your definition of programs, let me explain.

Every student is required to complete an Airmanship program - Jump, Soaring, or Drone. In general, the typical summer schedule will only have room for 1 program. You earn your solo wings for glider or achieve the military basic jump rating. It is logical to me that you could give up vacation/leave in lieu of participating in a second airmanship program. This would be akin to electively taking summer school in place of leave which is allowed.

There are follow-on programs of Glider Instructor Pilot or competition teams, and there is a competitive skydiving team. You would not be able to do both. The time commitments are significant and you would need to choose.

Tangent - I took Thermodynamics and Astronautical Engineering over two summers. Highly recommended because you can complete a challenging course in 3 weeks with 100% focus. Sure, you give up the largest block of vacation you will see at USAFA, but it was worth it to me.
 
If you’re interested in doing both, I highly recommend you do soaring during the summer after your freshman year. The reason behind that is because, for one, it’s a lot better than jump (I am a little biased), but also, you can do jump during the academic year of your senior year. I’m pretty sure you can’t take soaring after the first summer period.
But, if you want to be a WOB, then you have to take jump summer after freshman year.
But if you’re more interested in doing both programs, I highly recommend you do soaring over summer
 
My DS is a rising 3 degree. His jump class starts Monday. He was concerned he wouldn't be able to also do soaring, but he managed to get a soaring class scheduled this fall. So, I guess it is possible.
 
^ I second Stealth_81 - I took Soaring after freshman year, Powered Flight first semester junior year, and Jump as a second semester junior. If you really want to you absolutely can go through multiple airmanship programs while you're there, just let your AOC and ac advisor know.
 
My son wanted soaring but was slotted to jump for his summer after 4th year. He really wants to be a glider IP. Can he get into soaring during 3rd (sophomore) year and still become a glider IP?
 
My son wanted soaring but was slotted to jump for his summer after 4th year. He really wants to be a glider IP. Can he get into soaring during 3rd (sophomore) year and still become a glider IP?
No
 
DS did soaring spring Doolie year, jump on the summer, powered flight as a 3 deg in the fall. You can do all of the airmanship programs.
 
Summer programs are assigned by request based on overall order of merit, requested which break period they wanted, etc. I have seen summer schedules change without request up until a couple weeks of first summer period. Cadet can try to speak with their advisor or maybe their AOC but odds are definitely not with them. Good luck but I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. Could be he gets his jump wings, loves it so much tries out for wings of green. Could be he meets his future wife which never would have happened if he got soaring instead. Endless changes for good things to happen.
 
With whom should he speak to plead his case to get into soaring for the summer? Anything in his control can he act on?
He still can get hired as a Soaring IP. 3-degs (sophomores) can take soaring their FALL semester. From there they can apply for the upgrade and be picked up as what’s called a “spring-ie”. A upgrade Cadet who starts in spring whereas most upgrades start in fall. Your son can talk to any IP and they will explain.
 
With whom should he speak to plead his case to get into soaring for the summer? Anything in his control can he act on?
Chain of Command should be first stop. There are ways to do both in one summer and there are ways to add to Fall courseload(coord w/ A3), but either way they need to talk to their Chain of Command and AOC.
 
With whom should he speak to plead his case to get into soaring for the summer? Anything in his control can he act on?
You can get picked up for soaring IP if you take it Fall 3-deg year, but there are VERY few picked up. This year only 6 were picked up. If your DS wants to be an IP, have him contact his AMT and his airmanship liaison (should be a cadet in each sq who is familiar with airmanship and has connections with A3). If he can't find them, PM me and I can get you in contact with one. This summer is his best shot at becoming an IP.
 
As others have said, generally summertime is the best period to take soaring if he intends to apply for AM-461 (IP upgrade program). Generally, over the summer we'll get around 200 applications for roughly 50 spots. We also do a smaller round of accelerated spring hires in the spring; around 60-70 apply for round 10 spots (this year was unusually small due to a variety of factors). So yes, fall is more competitive, but not impossible to get. Summer schedules are finalized and published tomorrow I believe so I wouldn't be too hopeful about switching schedules at this point but definitely try and make them tell him no. If he can't, still encourage him to ask his academic advisor to schedule fall AM-251.
 
As others have said, generally summertime is the best period to take soaring if he intends to apply for AM-461 (IP upgrade program). Generally, over the summer we'll get around 200 applications for roughly 50 spots. We also do a smaller round of accelerated spring hires in the spring; around 60-70 apply for round 10 spots (this year was unusually small due to a variety of factors). So yes, fall is more competitive, but not impossible to get. Summer schedules are finalized and published tomorrow I believe so I wouldn't be too hopeful about switching schedules at this point but definitely try and make them tell him no. If he can't, still encourage him to ask his academic advisor to schedule fall AM-251.
When you say “summer schedules are finalized”, is that the case for all sessions and activities or just for Soaring. Thanks
 
If you desire to tryout for the Wings of Green (Blue), then jump that first summer is a must. That team defined our son's Academy experience, and the time spent at the airfield, sparked his interest in aviation, some 554 jumps, and now more than 3,000 hours later. Summer periods at the Academy were spent as a jumpmaster, which he absolutely loved, and got him out of having to serve as BCT cadre, etc. The convenience of wearing a flight suit, nearly everyday, for 3 years was also gold.
 
A retired Air Force Colonel told me that outside of USAFA, generally only enlisted get jump qualified and get to wear the jump wings. He said one of the longer-term benefits of doing jump at USAFA is that once you commission, everyone will know you want to the Academy because you will be an officer with jump wings. He did not go to USAFA, but he said when he walked into a room he knew someone was a USAFA grad if they had jump wings.
 
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