Enlisted Airman to USAFA

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
1

<p>My goal in the United States Military has been to become an officer at some point.</p>

<p>Before, i didn’t even really consider going to the USAFA. I was just going to go the OTS route once i received my Bachelors, while being enlisted in the USAF.</p>

<p>I am currently enlisted and I am an A1C.</p>

<p>I was wondering what are the differences in the USAFA if you’re prior enlisted?</p>

<p>I mean… I know how to march, stand at attention, wear my uniform, etc. I’ve gone through BMT.</p>

<p>So do you just have to re-learn all that, basicly?</p>

<p>What are the differences? Not just training wise, anything else? Are there any other differences in being there if you’re prior enlisted?</p>

<p>Thanks!
A1C Duncan</p>

2

<p>Well because of Force Shaping OTS isn’t looking great right now. My understanding they did not even have a class appointed through OTS last year. ROTC appointments are currently being delayed for some ROTC participants.</p>

<p>USAFA will likely mean a year a the Prep-School for you first. They will address any weakness Academically. They have they own version of Basic and Recognition. You will go on to BCT upon completion and spend your first year as a Doolie at the Academy. In Basic and during the first part of the year most of the Cadets with no prior experience will count on you for whatever guidance and help you can give. By mid term Prog things will have evened out and you may find that advantage slipping the other way. </p>

<p>In short your experience wont be any different just possibly longer.</p>

3

<p>Sounds wonderful. Ha.</p>

<p>Would i get to wear my earned ribbons or occupational badge while there? Or do i have to wear a blank uniform like everyone starting fresh?</p>

<p>Is USAFA pretty good after the first year? Because the first year sounds completely terrible. Basicly a whole year of basic. =/ Basic wasn’t bad, but it was long and tiring, and a year of it seems like it’d be TERRIBLE.</p>

4

<p>The AFA LOVES to receive airmen “from the force” into the academy! It’s a superb source of future officers.</p>

<p>Now…for an AD airman, you will need to apply through a program called “LEAD.” That’s “Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development.” It’s a CofS program that is HIGH visibility. The base education office will know about it and will be able to start you in the process. It will involve your current commander, 1st SGT, etc.</p>

<p>IF you get into that, then you do EVERYTHING like everyone else for the application process: test scores, HS history, etc…etc…AND your AF record; all are looked at.</p>

<p>MOST airmen do get appointed to the prep school and receive a year of academic preparation, physical training, etc. THEN they head up the hill to USAFA. From my experience (27 years in the AF and still counting) prior service cadets and then officers do VERY well. They’re already been there and done that in AD and have a “leg up” on their classmates. They usually take the lead and help their classmates achieve and excel.</p>

<p>As for your ribbons and qualification badges; anything you’re wearing on your uniform today, you would wear at the prep school AND at the academy, and why not? You’ve earned them!</p>

<p>Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83</p>

5

<p>Four degree year isn’t an entire year of basic. It’s not a normal year by any means, but it isn’t basic.</p>

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<p>All i’ve really heard are the bad stories. What’s like the layout of the four-degree year?</p>

7

<p>John no whitewash it will be difficult! I have a young lady that was and EOD Tech from my last Squadron before retirement who graduated last year. She was able to go directly back to EOD, and is currently scheduled to take a vacation in Afgahnistan.</p>

<p>During her 4 years there she struggled just like every other cadet. She also had a lot of opportunities because of her prior status. By Firstie year she was the Squadron Commander of her Cadet Squadron. I know at several points she considered switching to ROTC, or just going back to EOD as enlisted. She also got to make a lot of mistakes with her Cadet Squadron that she wont be making with her AD troops! I wish I could say her time there tempered her, but I think she will always be the sharper edge of the sword…maybe the EOD thing.</p>

<p>That said the daughter who is a Firstie now and did not have any prior service (unless you want to count being a dependent), has had just as many bumps in the road. Lot’s of low points, but in the end just as many high points. Today she is flying and doing what she loves. In about a week the AF is going to tell her “sorry”, we know we gave you a pilot AFSC, but we are taking it back because your not tall enough. In the end she will move on to something else and have a lot to look back on and remember.</p>

8

<p>BCT - two part deal. First part on the hill just like Lackland lots of marching from this class or that issue stop. Learning how to keep your room, and getting acquainted with your new squad.</p>

<p>BCT-2 march out to Jacks and run through all the Obstacle Courses, SABC, M-16 etc. Living in tents all that fun stuff. </p>

<p>March back and have your Acceptance Parade</p>

<p>Transition week - you will move to your Doolie year Squadron and start getting ready for classes</p>

<p>Parents weekend - Labor Day Weekend , all the folks come up for a few days. You have the big football game and get to escape for a couple days.</p>

<p>Back to school - Core classes like English, Chem, Physics, Math during the week. Things like Chem and Physics are cut courses designed to be hard. If you struggle things like Ac/Pro will keep you restricted to the Cadet Area unless you complete a SSS (Staff Summary Sheet) requesting a day away. In the evenings your training staff will do the military thing (knowledge, physical training etc.) Your weekends will be Blue or Silver and that determines if you have military obligations (SAMI’s) room inspections or other training. You will have to go to home football games no matter the weather. You will have intramurals in the afternoons unless you become an IC Athlete.</p>

<p>Prog - your mid-term grade check. If you are doing well great, if you are having trouble academically you will be placed on Ac/Pro. </p>

<p>Thankgiving Break - You get a week to go home and recharge. Most Cadets are really excited to get home and within 24 hours of return have a visible apprehension come over them.</p>

<p>Finals - Suck it up everything counts. If you do well, you may end up on the deans list 3.0 or better, Comm’s list (Military), or Athletic Director List (AFT/PFT)</p>

<p>Christmas Break </p>

<p>Second Semester - More Core Classes, 40 days training (build-up to recognition) This period is also known as the Dark Ages. The Weather become less friendly and things can be depressing.</p>

<p>Recognition - everything has been building to this weekend event. You will go through a lot of physical training, and military knowledge training, the Big SAMI. At the end run to the rock and come back to your Celebration Dinner and Prop & Wings.</p>

<p>Spring Break</p>

<p>Back to classes</p>

<p>Finals</p>

<p>Summer training will be three parts - CST (survival training) GE(base defense stuff), Leave, Soaring or Jump. If you fail anything this is when you will repeat the class too.</p>

<p>Year 2 a lot more freedom and the cycle above repeats for your new basics. You will do CQ now, and have some type of work in the Squadron if you choose. (Clerk etc.) In the summer you will get to go to a base (maybe take an orientation flight), Leave, and something else that is slipping my old mind.</p>

<p>Year 3 now you get to take classes for your major. Still some required Math, and other classes. You will have a job in the Squadron or Wing (First Sgt, Training NCO, Superintendent, Recondo NCO) Your summer will still be three parts but you can do Deployed Ops and go to the AOR, or a Research Project too, Daughter is doing Powered Flight.</p>

<p>Last year you’re a Firstie now. Classes for your major, a job in the Squadron or Wing more freedom you can stay out until TAPS.</p>

9

<p>What a great summary- We should keep that for future reference ;-)</p>

10

<p>2* year: YOU CAN OWN A CAR!</p>

11

<p>Couple of thoughts from a USAFA 91 grad that just retired.
I started out on a ROTC scholarship to a civi school. After the 1st year I reapplied to USAFA – I had not got an appointment the previous year. My roommate at the zoo (usafa’s nickname) was a PE ( prior enlisted ) who went through the process described above – selected then prep school then bct. By and large the PE’s, which I think make up about 10% of the cadets, are very sharp and do well.
There’s something however I think I need to tell you. While the above description of the freshman (and following) years is technically correct, it is, I think, misleading. My roommate and I and most of the cadets will tell you that while BCT is officially over when school begins, we all felt it really doesn’t end until recognition in late march, early April each year. You are treated as a ‘smack’ if not a basic for the entire June 30 - Apr recognition. The only ‘safe’ zones are your room after 800 pm each weekday and when your cross the bridges to the academic building every morning. Outside of those 2 areas, basic rules make you in an intense situation with 3 years of upper class cadets (Drill Instructor knock offs!!) watching, correcting etc. etc. as you sound off and stick to your smack requirements until recognized. I never saw much difference between BCT and the rest of the year. The ‘breaks’ - Christmas leave, etc.) are the only time you can get away as most weekends end up with inspections or academic catch up or you just don’t get many passes as a freshman-- so take good advantage when/if you get out of there!.
I would not wish the experience on any one – especially if they went in expecting something else-- like bct is over and then the school year starts, etc., including my children, if someone told them otherwise. I hated, and I mean literally hated, my time there. Even Upperclass 3 years has a lot of unusual – not like any other school, stress. And I say this having attending one of the most difficult engineering schools in the nation for my year before going to the zoo. But If you are still reading this, and when and If my kids ask me about it, I will tell them, for me, it was necessary and worth it! I just retired after 20 years, most of the time being an attack aircraft pilot. I don’t think I would have made it through pilot training, let alone survived and excelled in combat. 3 wars, almost 1500 combat hours, probably 50 engagements of the bad guys, many (unfortunately!) near death experiences that I was able to stay mentally tough and successfully work through, Hundreds of good guys save/protected, etc., etc. What the freshman year does to airmen/cadets (and the other service academies are similar, I am sure) is pretty unique. It places them in that ‘basic’ stressful situation for 10 months. What I saw in the three years as an upperclassman, reiterated what I experienced as a freshman. The young men and women of the early BCT and fall semester were very different than the men and women at the end of freshman year. Dealing with the pressure while performing the Cadet freshman (and later) years change the way you react to stress, the way you follow others and the way you lead and do your job. I honestly believe it saved my life and made it possible to succeed in tough and difficult combat. I hated being there but I always knew it was right for me. I loved ROTC, and for the other members of my ROTC det, they were in the right place, but for me, the Zoo changed me in necessary ways. It gave an average joe the tools necessary to lead an extraordinary life and make a positive impact on the USAF and the nation. If you want to go, I think you will do well – just take each day, one day at a time. There is a lot of BS and you will rarely do anything right the 1st time. But when it’s over, and you’ve survived (that’s all I can say I did), you slowly realize the effort really was worth it, and I have never regretted being FROM USAFA – while I often wished I wasn’t there while I was a cadet!!! It’s a great place to be… FROM!
Good Luck and God Bless</p>

12

<p>^^^
Congrats on your retirement and THANKS for your service!</p>

13

<p>Great post!! Thank you!</p>

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<p>As a 2010 grad, I did notice a fairly big difference between BCT and the academic year. That said, pre-recognition is still a very stressful time with a LOT of rules and scrutiny. Make no mistake, the being a cadet is a fairly unique lifestyle, and being a 4 degree can be a struggle. </p>

<p>Is it worth it? Well, for me (with a grand total of about 1.5 years since graduation), not only YES, but HELL YES! The academy is unique, and that cuts both ways. I definitely had opportunities that very few others will ever get. I got to fly gliders and light aircraft, catch a trip to Spain, go on C-17 low-level and refueling training missions, compete on the academy’s combat shooting team, meet people like the Candy Bomber and Bud Day, get a ride in an F-15, and develop great friendships—and get paid to do it.</p>

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<p>My name is Christopher Summers and I had went to a local state college and Embry Riddle for my first year. Since college was too expensive, and that I am not able to pay for it, I had decided to enlist into the Air Force instead of joining after college. My career goal is to become a pilot, for any aircraft, for the United States Air Force and to also be the best leader that I can be. The only thing that is really stressing me out is the fact that the age limit for being a pilot is 28 and I am already 19. I am signing a six year contract, and will have the rest of my college paid for on the Post 911 G.I. Bill. The questions I have are: Can I be selected as a candidate for the Academy during my initial enlistment years? If so, how can go about and approach this path? Would I be able to apply for OCS by getting a B.A degree while in the Air Force Community College? Finally; What would be the best way to approach becoming a pilot for the U.S. Air Force. </p>

<pre><code> Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

                        Thank you!

</code></pre>

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<p>Review the following USAFA admissions site:
[Enlisted</a> Airmen | Air Force Academy](<a href=“http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/advice-to-applicants/enlisted-airmen/]Enlisted”>Enlisted Airmen | U.S. Air Force Academy)
I believe it will answer most of your questions and point you in the correct decision.
Good Luck!</p>