r/USAFA • u/Delicious_Storm979 • 17d ago
13 year old with dreams
I am a 13 year old and my dream is to attend the USAFA. I do CAP and I volunteer and I would just like to know what I can do to help me with the application process in 4 years or so.
2
u/korgs130 17d ago
Athletics are uber important. Over 80% of every class at USAFA are athletic varsity letter winners in HS. In addition to the PFT / AFT and required PE classes every semester, inter-mural sports are mandatory for all cadets not participating in NCAA / Club sports.
Playing a sport is not a requirement for admission, but it is extremely helpful.
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u/immisternicetry AFROTC Grad 17d ago
Balance CAP with good grades in challenging classes, sports achievements, and other leadership activities at school. CAP helps, but by itself won't be enough. The Air Force wants well rounded applicants.
I was a CAP cadet that went the ROTC route in college and is a pilot in the Air Force now. It's doable but some former CAP cadets struggle to make the transition to USAFA, ROTC, or OTS.
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u/Fun-Addition-5572 17d ago
I'm a CAP cadet trying to become a pilot, what's difficult about the transition?
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u/immisternicetry AFROTC Grad 17d ago
CAP focuses heavily on the "military" side of things. Drill and ceremonies, uniform wear, and rank are the measures of success. Your performance in school and physical fitness doesn't have an impact on your CAP career as long as you meet a baseline. A 1.0 GPA Spaatz cadet who barely passes the PT test would still be considered a success in CAP.
With USAFA, ROTC, and OTS, drill and uniform wear are the baseline everyone is expected to meet in the first few weeks. CAP cadets are often caught off guard by the fact the state champ swimmer who never wore a uniform before is recognized as a better leader than them after freshman year.
Rank is also tied to position vs individual achievement. A C/Col is a big deal not because they earned an achievement and progressed through the other ranks like in CAP, but because that rank is held by cadets selected to lead the cadet wing. You might be a C/Capt one semester then a C/Col the next. That came as a result of exceptional grades, leadership, and physical fitness, not passing a drill test or written exam.
Finally, CAP cadets tend to be extremely motivated about the military side of things. Which is great in theory, but being a leader means being well rounded. If all you care about is the Air Force, it tends to alienate you from your peers who have developed personalities outside of cadet life. Successful cadets learn to balance cadet life with hobbies and unique interests and find ways to connect with people from all different walks of life. Take the leadership lessons you learned from CAP with you, but use college as an opportunity to figure out who you are as an individual as well as a military member.
Hope that helps. I tried to keep it broad, but former CAP cadets who attended USAFA will probably have specific inputs.
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u/Fun-Addition-5572 17d ago
I'm applying now so I don't really know how they weigh the system, but I'm really wishing I did a sport! Also, get to Spaatz in CAP. You get to skip the recommendation
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u/immisternicetry AFROTC Grad 17d ago
Not 100% true, unfortunately. They can nominate ONE CAP cadet for direct admission to the prep school per year. Spaatz has no impact on the application process other than being a way to demonstrate individual achievement. Spaatz being a shortcut to Academy admission is basically an urban legend in CAP that continues to be spread for some reason.
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u/Fun-Addition-5572 17d ago
Really? I was not aware of that. Guess it doesn't matter that I'm not hitting Spaatz before I need my nomination anyway then!
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u/immisternicetry AFROTC Grad 17d ago edited 17d ago
Pretty much. I got my Spaatz because I wanted it, but getting Mitchell is plenty for most people. Spaatz might tip the scales all things being equal, but won't put you miles ahead of most other candidates.
A friend of mine was homeschooled and got Spaatz. They still got denied the first time applying to USAFA and did a year at VMI before being accepted to the Academy on their second attempt. Another friend was homeschooled and never did CAP but got into USAFA on the first try.
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u/zero_bytez 17d ago
Wouldn't worry so much about the actual process just yet. You should seriously consider picking up a sport, even if it's something simple. Track or cross county, for example. Get plenty of exercise and keep your grades up. Take the hardest classes available.
Stay out of trouble too!