I like this thread, always fun to hear others reasons and motivation for applying.
As an 8th grader I flew out to USAFA to see my sister graduate. Anyone who has been to an Academy graduation knows, if that does not make you want to attend then I do not think anything will! However it was not just Thunderbirds that made an impression on me. The camaraderie she had with her fellow classmates made them a family. That type of bond was something I knew I wanted. Also I knew, at that time, that I wanted to be a military pilot and the best way to get a slot is through an Academy. High school flashes by and I am sitting on a 27 NS ACT fall of my senior year. What I thought at the time was that there was no way I would be able to get into USAFA so I began to pursue state college and ROTC. Senior slide began to kick in and my grades slipped and overall just was not a very motivated individual. I get into the state school however did not receive a ROTC scholarship. My parents offered to pay my first year tuition if I promised to not repeat my senior year attitude. I felt like I wasn't mature enough to handle college at the time and I did not want to waste my parents money so I looked into enlisting in the AF since the military was something I still wanted to pursue. My sister then told me about enlisted airman have the opportunity to attend USAFA. After looking into it, my dream of attending USAFA became very real again and it lit a fire under me. Graduated HS, swore in and waited 6 awful months in DEP waiting for a job to drop and to ship to basic. Being an airman has been the greatest time of my life. I have matured greatly, learned an awesome AFSC, work with great people, appointed to USAFA, all while being paid! I was once very ignorant and thought people enlisted as a last resort type deal. I have since learned about what it means to be enlisted and have great pride in my enlisted heritage. Having this knowledge of E's will make me a better O in the end. So roundabout way to USAFA but would not change a thing! Sorry for the wall of text.
tl:dr: camaraderie, pilot slot, free education, and actively drinking the blue kool-aid!