Blog Post #6 - Air Force Academy

The Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Cadets attend the Academy to earn a Bachelor of Science degree while also receiving athletic training, military training. The program lasts four years and, by the end, the cadets will at an officer level position in the United States Air Force. The education at the Academy is valued at $416,000, but it is paid with a signed commitment. Once a student has been accepted to the Academy, they have essentially signed a contract with the Air Force. The commitment is that the person must complete the education program at the Academy unless they are expelled. After completing the education, the person must accept a commissioned position and serve as an officer for at least eight years after graduation. Five of those years have to be active duty and the rest can be served as inactive reserve status.

Once you are accepted to the program and you arrive to the Air Force Academy, you take the Oath of Allegiance. You must take the Oath or else your travel expenses to and from your home are taken away. If you complete the pilot training program, you must commit at least 10 years because they put so much money and effort to train you for that position.   

The Academy is a competitive program to get involved in. Every year, over 12,000 people apply and only a little over 1,000 cadets are admitted.

To be eligible to apply to the Academy:

• At least 17 but not past your 23^rd birthday by July 1 of the year you enter the Academy
• A United States Citizen
• Unmarried with no dependents
• Good moral character