United States Air Force Academy

  

Designed for the future, the United States Air Force Academy campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories, observatories and a library containing over 700,000 volumes. Other landmarks include the cadet chapel with its seventeen spires that soar 150 feet toward the Colorado sky. Spanning 18,000 spectacular acres nestled against the Rocky Mountains, the Academy draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
The Air Force Academy Mission is to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation.

The staff and faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the interest of our future national security, molds outstanding young men and women into the future leaders of our Air Force and this nation. Before its graduates enter various flying and support specialties, the Academy trains them to be, first and foremost, Air Force officers. Of the more than 39,737 (including the Class of 2007) cadets that have graduated in 49 (including the Class of 2007) classes, more than 39.5 percent are still on active duty.

During its history, the Academy has become a leader among undergraduate institutions. Thirty-three cadets have earned Rhodes Scholarships. Six cadets have accepted Marshall Scholarships. Ninety-two cadets have been accepted as Guggenheim Fellows. Seventy-five cadets have been selected as National Science Foundation Fellows. Thirty-two cadets have accepted Fulbright-Hays Scholarships. Ninety-four cadets have accepted scholarships to attend Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Thirty-six cadets have been selected as Hertz Fellows. And 619 cadets have entered medical school.

Cadets complete four years of studies leading to a bachelor of science degree. Emphasis is given to academics, military training, athletic conditioning, and spiritual and ethical development. Academics include classes in the basic sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and military strategic studies. Within this framework, all cadets complete a core curriculum consisting of 105 (reflects the new curriculum for the Classes of 2011 and beyond) semester hours. They can specialize in any of 32 academic majors and 4 minors.

Military development is central to the Academy experience and distinguishes it from other institutions of higher learning. Four primary areas are stressed: professional military studies, theoretical and applied leadership experiences, aviation science and airmanship programs, and military training. The intent is to provide cadets the knowledge, skills, values, and behavior patterns necessary to meet the leadership challenges of the 21st century.

The Honor Code is the centerpiece of a cadet's moral and ethical development. Cadets pledge: "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." All cadets take formal courses in ethics and receive honor and ethics instruction as part of their training.