United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA or Air Force)Unlike the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, which are often referred to by their respective city names, the Air Force Academy is not normally referred to as "Colorado Springs." is an American military college. It was created in 1954. The Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of people who want to be officers for the United States Air Force or United States Space Force. The college is north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County. The Academy's goal 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.""A Quick Look at the U.S. Air Force Academy, , "USAFA Fact Sheet, May 2008 It is the youngest of the five United States service academies. The Academy had its first graduation in 1959. Graduates of the Academy's four-year program get a Bachelor of Science degree. Most become second lieutenants in the United States Air Force.Since 1959, cadets have also been able to "cross-commission" into the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, and each year a small number of graduates does so, usually in a one-for-one "trade" with similarly inclined cadets at the other service academies. Foreign cadets and graduates who have lost their medical qualification for commissioning while at the Academy (a small number each year) may receive a degree but are not commissioned.

The Academy is one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado. More than a million people visit it each year. Students are called "cadets".

The Air Force Academy is one of the most selective colleges in the United States. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked it tied for 5th place in the category Undergraduate Engineering Programs.USNWR web site . Forbes magazine, in 2009, ranked the Academy the #2 public college in the United States and the #7 college overall in its "America's Best Colleges 2009" publication.Forbes.com, America's Best Colleges (2009), Retrieved Aug. 19, 2009. People wanting to study at the Academy are judged on their academic achievement, leadership, athletics and character. They must pass a fitness test, pass a medical examination, and be nominated by the member of Congress where they live. Recent classes have had about 1,400 cadets. Normally, less than 1,000 of the cadets will graduate. The cost of going to the Academy, Housing and food are paid for by the U.S. government.  Cadets are paid monthly while at the Academy. They must be a part of the military for a number of years after they graduate.The commitment is normally five years of active duty and three years of reserves, although it has varied. The obligation attaches on the first day of a cadet's second class (junior) year, and non-graduates after that point are expected to fulfill their obligations in enlisted service.

The program at the Academy is based on the Air Force's core values. These are  "Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do". They are also  based on four "pillars of excellence": military training, academics, athletics and character development. Cadets study military training and a large curriculum in engineering, humanities, social sciences, basic sciences, military studies and physical education. All cadets take part in athletics. The academy has a character development and leadership curriculum.
History
The National Security Act of 1947 started the Air Force within the United States military. Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington made an agreement. Up to 25% of West Point and Annapolis graduates could ask to become officers in the new Air Force. This was only meant to happen for a short time. Disagreements between the parts of the military led to the creation of the Service Academy Board. It was created by Secretary of Defense James Forrestal. In January 1950, the Service Academy Board was controlled by Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was the president of Columbia University at the time. The board said that the two U.S. service academies were not able to train enough officers for the Air Force. They decided that an air force academy was needed.Steven A. Simon, "A Half-Century of History," Fifty Years of Excellence: Building Leaders of Character for the Nation, 2004.  President Eisenhower signed a law on 1 April 1954 to begin building the Air Force Academy.

On 7 October 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law that let women study at the United States service academies. On 26 June 1976, 157 women went to the Air Force Academy. . On 28 May 1980, 97 of them finished the program and graduated from the Academy. They made up about 10% of the graduating class. Women now make up about 20% of the classes.

The first Honor scandal happened in 1965. A cadet who was leaving the Academy said that more than 100 cadets had been part of a cheating ring. One hundred and nine cadets had to leave the Academy. Cheating scandals were at the Academy again in 1967, 1972, 1984, 2004.Erin Emery, 19 AFA Cadets Admit Cheating, Denver Post, Feb. 8, 2007 In April 2004, cadets were given a military knowledge test over the computer in cadet dorms. An estimated 265 cadets were questioned for cheating then, when academy officials noticed it took only three minutes for cadets to take a 25-question test. Several cadets resigned during the investigation. and 2007.  After each scandal, the Academy tried to learn why the cheating took place. They also looked at complaints that the academic system put too much pressure on the cadets. Changes were made to try to reduce the events from happening again.

In 2005, there were complaints that some Evangelical Christian cadets and staff were trying to convert others to their religion at the Academy.Zealots at the Air Force Academy, editorial, New York Times, Jun. 11, 2005  Because of this and how the Air Force deals other religious issues, Academy graduate Michael L. Weinstein filed a lawsuit against the Air Force.Weinstein's 2006 book With God on Our Side () details the alleged proselytization and harassment at the Academy.

Notes

References

Further reading
 Bruegmann, Robert. Modernism at Mid-Century: The Architecture of the United States Air Force Academy. University of Chicago Press: 1995. .
 Celebrating the U.S. Air Force Academy's Golden Anniversary, (Colorado Springs) Gazette, Special Edition, Spring 2004.
 Contrails (various years)
 Fagan, George V. Air Force Academy: An Illustrated History. Johnson Books: 1988. .
 Fifty Years of Excellence: Building Leaders of Character for the Nation, 2004.
 Lui, Elizabeth Gill. Spirit and Flight: A Photographic Salute to the United States Air Force Academy. 1996. .
 Nauman, Robert Allen. (2004).  On the Wings of Modernism: the United States Air Force Academy. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ;  OCLC 52542599
 Schemo, Diana Jean.  Skies to Conquer: A Year Inside the Air Force Academy.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: 2010.

Other websites

 Official website
 Official military website
 Official Athletics website
 USAFA Association of Graduates (Alumni organization)

Category:Military schools
Category:United States Air Force
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