1. Col Rick Thompson (USAF, Retired) Admissions Liaison Officer

2. Five Military Service Academies
Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO
Military Academy
West Point, NY
Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
US Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
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3. Snapshot of Service Academies
Appointment to a Service academy is the equivalent to a 4-year scholarship
U.S. govt provides room & board, medical & dental care, textbooks & a monthly salary (latter does not apply to Merchant Marine Academy)
Selection rate is approximately 16%, with about 1,350 students entering the Military, Naval & Air Force Academies, and 275 students entering the Coast Guard & Merchant Marine Academies
In addition to academics, Service Academies focus on “Whole Person Development”: Military, Athletic & Character and Leadership
Service Academy graduates earn a Commission as a military officer
Graduates (except Merchant Marine) incur a minimum five-year active duty commitment & an additional three-year reserve commitment
Merchant Marine Academy graduates are not obligated to join the active-duty military, but they do have a service obligation
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4. Eligibility Requirements
U.S. citizen
years of age (25 for Merchant Marine Academy)
Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents (does not apply to Merchant Marine Academy)
Good moral character
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5. Basic Steps to Admission
To be eligible to compete for an appointment, applicants must:
Have an Official Nomination (excluding the Coast Guard);
Be Academically Competitive;
Be Medically Qualified; and,
Be Physically Qualified
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6. Academy Nominations
To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, an applicant must have a nomination from an authorized nominating source
Congressional
Both U.S. Senators
Representative
Vice President
Military Related
Presidential
Regular / Reserve Components
Honor Military Schools / ROTC / JROTC
Deceased / Disabled / MIA
Medal of Honor
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7. USAFA Admission Measures
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8. USAFA Academic Composite (60%)
GPA / Class rank / AP & Honors Courses
School’s percentage of graduates going on to college
SAT and ACT Scores
Highest individual scores from multiple test dates taken
Profile of the USAFA Class of 2010
HS GPA #1 in Class - 8%
Top 10% - 50% Top 25% - 81%
SAT
Verbal Math - 660
ACT
English Math - 29
Reading Science Reasoning - 28
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9. USAFA Extracurricular Activities (20%)
Athletic & Non-Athletic
Profile of the USAFA Class of 2010
Class President/Vice President - 18%
National Honor Society - 63%
Eagle Scout/Gold Award - 13%
Civil Air Patrol - 11%
Athletic Letter - 81%
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12. USAFA “Other” (20%) Admission Liaison Officer Evaluations
Teacher Evaluations
Common fitness assessment required by all service academies
Max Score
Event Men Women Averages
Basketball Throw 102’ ’ ’ / 41’
Pull-ups (Flexed-Arm Hang is / 2
optional for females)
Shuttle Run (4x10 yd) 7.8 sec sec / 11.5
Crunches / 65
Push-ups / 30
One-mile Run 5: : :00 / 8:00
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13. USAFA Admissions Calendar
Senior
Junior
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Take ACT / SAT
Complete Admissions File
Take Medical Exam
Take CFA
Request Nom
Appointment Offers
Class Enters
Class Filled
Request and Return Application
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14. Current & Projected U.S. Demographics vs. USAFA Cadet Wing
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic/Latino
Asian/Pacific Islander
Native American
Race and Ethnicity
USAFA Cadet Wing
2000 U.S. Population
2040 U.S. Population
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15. Academy Life is Regimental
School Day
Time
Activity
5:15-7:20 a.m.
Personal time
7:25-7:40 a.m.
Breakfast
7:50-11:43 a.m.
Classes (4)
11:50-12:20 p.m.
Noon Formation & Lunch
12:30-1:20 p.m.
Professional Military Training
(Ancillary Training on Tuesday & Thursday)
1:30-4:23 p.m.
Classes (3)
3:30-6:30 p.m.
Practice for Cadets Involved in NCAA Intramural Sports
(Others Participate in Intramural Sports Twice Weekly)
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Optional Evening Buffet
7:10-11:00 p.m.
Academic Call To Quarters
(Tuesday & Thursday Includes Military Call to Quarters for 30 Minutes)
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16. USAFA Majors/Minors* Offered
Basic Sciences
Engineering
Humanities
Social Sciences
Aeronautical
Foreign Area Studies
Behavioral Science
Bio Chemistry
Astronautical
English
Economics
Biology
Civil
Foreign Language*
Geospatial Science
Chemistry
Computer
History
Management
Electrical
Political Science
Mathematics
Environmental
Legal Studies
Social Science
Meteorology
General
Mil Strategy
Ops Research
Mechanics
Philosophy*
Physics
Systems
Space Ops
Systems Mgt
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17. Academy Life is Regimental--Cont
Uniforms must be worn during the school day
Cadet rooms must be maintained in “inspection state”
Privileges earned
Only 15 days of personal time during summer--remainder of summer is training
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18. Preparatory Schools
Each of the 5 military service academies offer preparatory schools-- most are co-located on the Academy grounds
Intended for Academy applicants who have potential and are otherwise qualified except for a slight deficiency in grades, physical fitness, or extracurricular activities
10-month program of intense academic preparation, military training, and athletic conditioning, designed to develop the skills and character necessary to be successful at the academy
Curriculum is focused on mathematics, English & basic sciences
Intended for active military, minorities & athletes
High school students may not apply directly to the Prep School
Between 75 and 80 percent of all entering students earn an appointment to the academy
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19. Academy Summer Programs
“Summer Seminar” (Navy and Air Force)
“Summer Leaders Seminar” (Army)
“Academy Introduction Mission” (Coast Guard)
Six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in HS (Coast Guard’s is one-week)
Intended to teach interested students about the respective service academy
Selection and eligibility criteria varies by Academy--at a minimum:
Unmarried, not pregnant and have no legal obligation to support anyone;
Superior HS performance to include: GPA, class standing, and/or strong PSAT/SAT/ACT;
Demonstrated achievement in athletics and extracurricular activities; and,
Physically fit and in good health
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20. Academy Summer Programs - Cont
Cost is $350, which pays for room and board, as well as a variety of materials. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation
Naval, Air Force and Coast Guard Academies offer three sessions, while the Military Academy offers two sessions
Students apply on-line
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21. Snapshot of ROTC
Reserve Officers Training Corps (“ROTC”) is the program for training students in colleges/universities to serve as officers in the military
Can attend colleges/universities that offer ROTC or through “cross- town” agreements, i.e., attend college/university that does not offer ROTC and participate in ROTC classes at a nearby college/university
ROTC offered by the Army/Navy/Air Force
ROTC encompasses leadership development, military skills & adventure training
Graduates earn a commission as an officer in the military
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22. AFROTC Academic Requirements
Applicants are measured on academic performance using an Academic Composite
SAT and/or ACT scores (no mixing allowed)
Class rank
GPA
# of advanced placement or honors courses completed through 11th grade
Profile of AFROTC scholarship recipients for 2009
Class Rank Top 12%
Average GPA 3.77
Average SAT 1260 (Math and Verbal portion only)
Average ACT 27
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23. AFROTC HS Scholarship Program
Scholarships are based on a student's merit, not financial need
Students can apply on-line beginning May 1st of their junior year to Dec 1st of their senior year
Type 1
Pays full college tuition, most fees and $900 per year for books
Type 2
Pays college tuition and most fees up to $18,000 and $900 per year for books (if tuition exceeds $18,000 per year, then student pays the difference)
Type 7
Intended for in-state colleges/universities with a cap of $9,000 and $900 per year for books—tuition above $9,000 is not qualifying
Cadets receive a nontaxable monthly allowance during the school year
$300 for freshmen, increasing annually, $500 for seniors
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24. Contrasting ROTC vs Academy
Similarities
Very competitive process--applicants must be well-rounded and meet Academic, medical and physical requirements
Both Academy & ROTC graduates earn a degree
Both Academy & ROTC graduates earn a commission as a military officer
Graduates can be directly sent to medical school or law school at govt expense
Selection extremely competitive
1 additional year of commitment for every year of school
Non-Similarities
Nomination not required for ROTC
ROTC is far less regimental
Greater likelihood for Academy graduates to get pilot slots
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25. How You Can Help Students
Let students know about service academies early
Encourage qualified students to:
Take IB, AP & Honors courses, including:
Computer Science--minimum of 1 year
English: 4 years, including written composition
Foreign Language--minimum of 2 years
Math: 4 years of college-prep, including algebra, geometry & trigonometry
Lab Sciences--4 years, including biology, chemistry, and physics
Social Sciences--3 years, including history, economics, government & behavioral sciences
ACT/SAT early & often
Take on leadership roles in all activities
Be involved in athletics
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26. Orientation Tours for Educators
Air Force and Naval Academies have programs that bring educators to the respective academies
Deadline to apply for Air Force‘s program is 6/1 for sessions offered in first week in Nov and Dec
Navy offers sessions during 1st and 3rd quarters—deadline to apply is typically four months prior to session
Four day program
Some out-of pocket expenses, e.g., Air Force pays transportation and meals, but not lodging
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27. Websites and Local Points of Contact
Military Academy -
POC: Leah Scherr, ,
Summer Leaders Seminar:
Naval Academy -
POC: Ed Joyce, ,
Summer Seminar:
Air Force Academy -
POC: Major Jennifer Morrison, ,
Summer Seminar:
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28. Websites and Local Points of Contact - Cont
Coast Guard Academy -
POC: Norm Simpson, ,
Academy Introduction Mission -
Merchant Marine Academy -
No local POC
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29. Questions
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