<p>Is anyone up to speed on the AFA cultural issues that I have been reading about? I am now listed as a candidate for the class of 2009. Now, I think, all I am waiting to get an approval from the Academy Review Board and looking forward to turning Blue. In the meantime, I am reading the Agenda for Change and catching news articles on the 2003 sex scandal, cadet cheating, and drinking. This appears to be centered around a few cadets but is also being tied to the need for cultural changes at the Academy. Big issues or little issue?</p>
<p>Big issues, but issues that are not uncommon at every college and university in America. What makes the issues more visible and important at USAFA is the context. We expect more from our cadets and those that lead them, thus they are held to a higher standard than almost anywhere. Even small anomalies become big deals here. I can, however, assure you that the leadership (both USAF and USAFA) are actively engaged now to remedy existing problems and prevent future issues from becoming serious problems. They've made progress and will make more.</p>
<p>While never acceptable, I can absolutely assure you than the three issues you cited occur with an order-of-magnitude less frequency than at the vast majority of top-tier schools in America (if not all except USNA and USMA), based on existing data, and personal and anecdotal experience.</p>
<p>I encourage all applicants to read USAFA's Agenda for Change and the new Officer Development System. Learn as much as you can about the problems, issues, solutions, and procedures at USAFA--doing anything less is to put blinders on. but please, also talk to current cadets, recent and "old" grads to keep all of this in its proper (important) perspective.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input Doc, it is good to have the inside view. These issues are of interest to me because I have always thought the Academy way was to take it up a notch or two and not down. Since the day I was taken on an unofficial tour of the campus by two cadets the summer I was 13, I have been in awe of the Academy. I dont think this can happen now with all the security in place. Now that my turn to attend appears to be in sight, I am looking deeper into things. I picked up the book Into the Mouth of the Cat and one on the History of the Air Force in a used book store. I am also working out and running regularly.</p>
<p>I just got an invitation to the All-Academies Holiday Ball at Offutt AFB and am really looking forward to this. I will have an opportunity to talk to the cadets from the Academies and with other candidates. Hope dancing isnt a prerequisite.</p>
<p>Sounds good, AJB. Remember, though, when talking to cadets that they can be a cynical group that may not always seem that positive--it comes with the difficult/challenging life-style. A cadet's pride in USAFA does, it seems, increase with distance from the Aluminum Womb--both physical and temporal.
And don't worry--USAFA's standards will ALWAYS be higher in almost every conceivable way than ANY civilian university. And I base that judgment on my personal experience at two nationally prestigious universities (grad school) and other information.</p>
<p>On another note--yes, you can still take tours of USAFA given a cadet escort. I don't know what year you are, but if you're a junior you should be thinking about applying to USAFA's Summer Scientific Seminar. I think apps are made in January and are based largely on your PSAT scores. The program is for one week in early June and will give you a great view of USAFA and a chance to experience the place in a low-stress way with other candidates. All three large service academies have similar programs (though each with different sizes and intents) and I highly recommend them to anyone applying.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>