r/USAFA • u/FewStaff5314 • 23h ago
What do you guys even do?
For context, I am a Soldier that was stationed at Fort Carson for about three years. I would always drive by the academy going to Denver on the weekend. I remember driving by it again when I PCSd. I’ve always been curious what was going on there. Is it like basic training for four years?
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u/SoftwareOk4037 RTB 2022 11h ago
USAFA is a university that is top rated in academics, highly rated in sports (especially the CIC trophy this year, not to brag) and looked upon well by much of the community that surrounds it.
…With that being said, it is a bubble to the real Air Force. It is a leadership lab, where high ranking leadership can inject scenarios to cause stress and make life more difficult than necessary, in the interest of allowing young leaders to make decisions and fail early to learn from it now. So when these LTs get into adverse scenarios as leaders, they know how to react and it’s a small bit less stressful.
Freshman/doolie year when I was there, was equatable to phase 0 of tech school on steroids…for 8ish months until recognition. This is where your day is packed full of classes and then training with your frontline supervisors. Physical training, mental fortitude tests, and of course K-Tests (IYKYK). Ruck rifle charge runs to the bears, sessions down in the quads all of that.
Sophomore year (3- deg year) is where you get your frontline supervisory experience. Cadet SSgt/TSgt roles for the equivalent. On top of this, in my experience, this is the most heavy lift of academics in my time there.
Junior year (2-deg) is where you are really getting into the academics for your major. The core classes slow down a bit but you are getting into the Senior Enlisted positions in your cadet squadrons. So your cadet First Shirt, your element leaders, flight superintendent roles. Getting into organizational leadership. This is also when you are committed to the Air Force. After your sophomore summer, you start the junior year on commitment. Meaning if you do leave USAFA, you owe either money to compensate your education or Active Duty Service Commitment.
Firstie year (Senior year) you are mostly in Majors courses academically. You are also filling the Cadet Officer roles in the squadrons. Flight commanders, XO, Director of Operations, Squadron Commander. You will be doing a lot more leadership and will have to be a lot more involved, because after this you will be commissioned and will be leading troops and airmen in most careers following this.
I know this is long winded, but I hope this helps someone/anyone by answering a question or showing what USAFA really is. It’s a huge commitment, but if you are going you have to commit. It is not easy and not for everyone, there will be lost weekends. There will be training weekends. There will be short breaks and work in your downtime. But remember that while you may be dragging, the people around you will be going through the same. I made some of my best friendships and have brothers that I know I can call anytime and rely on. Anytime, anywhere I am. So you go to USAFA for whatever reason, but when you get there into the grind, you stay there for the people that you’re with. The people you are there with make your experience.
Hope this helps.
-RTB 2022
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u/FewStaff5314 8h ago
I appreciate the response! This really does answer my question. I’ve always wondered what happened there, especially being in the Army at a nearby installation (Fort Carson). Seems like an intense schedule.
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u/Extreme-King 15h ago
Basic Cadet Training is 6 weeks long and similar to any service's basic training - except its preparing a basic cadet to be a forthclass cadet (freshman)
The academic year is ongoing military training, university-level academics, and mandatory athletes.
Each year increased responsibility and military education, and is preparing the cadet for the next year. Firstie year (Senior) is finally preparing the cadet to be a 2nd Lt.
The cadet graduates after 4 years with a degree and a commission.
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u/sillysailor74 13h ago
It is a very intense 4 year undergraduate program. Cadets will come out with a bachelor degree just like other 4 year colleges. The difference is, during their summers they do stuff like jump out of airplanes and learn survival training. In addition to having super high academic standards for admission, candidates have to also be very physically fit and pass all of the physicals required for military service.
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u/InfallibleTheory C/O 22 22h ago
Freshman year has some basic training aspects as you do formal “basic” on entry before the freshman year starts, and then rules are similar in big picture intent to A school (wanting you to learn how the military works by limiting some freedoms). Through it all is the undercurrent of teaching you officer ship (mainly through observing bad leaders) and a relatively rigorous degree.
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u/FewStaff5314 8h ago
So what I’m getting is that it’s almost like a 4 year long AIT that’s more academically challenging?
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u/ComfortablePhone4707 23h ago
College+military training to commission into USAF or USSF upon graduation