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United States Air Force Academy

4102 Pinion Dr, USAF Academy, CO 80840

http://www.usafa.edu/

Photos:

The Class Wall in 2004
The Class Wall in 2004
[source]

School Description

Provided by 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.

Our nation requires intelligent, assertive, well-rounded young men and women as leaders and defenders of freedom. The mission at the United States Air Force Academy is to inspire and develop outstanding young men and women to become Air Force officers with knowledge, character, and discipline. Rock solid integrity is essential for honorable military service to our country. A cornerstone of cadet life at the Academy is the Cadet Wing Honor Code that states: 'We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.' Rigorous military training, a stimulating academic curriculum, and challenging athletics highlight the four-year Academy program. The Academy's world-class military training and academic curriculum prepares graduates to meet the diversified and specific challenges of military service. From survival school to flying sailplanes, you'll have opportunities to demonstrate 'excellence in all we do' while learning and growing physically, mentally and spiritually. It's not easy to get into the Academy; it's even tougher to make it through to graduation but it's more than worth every bit of the effort."

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United States Air Force Academy

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA or Air Force), is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The Academy's stated 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." It is the youngest of the five United States service academies, having graduated its first class in 1959. Graduates of the Academy's four-year program receive a Bachelor of Science degree, and most are commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force. The Academy is also one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado, attracting more than a million visitors each year.

The Air Force Academy is among the most selective colleges in the United States. Many publications such as U.S. News and World Report do not rank the Academy directly against other colleges because of service academies' special mission. However, a few do; Forbes Magazine recently ranked the Academy 16th in the nation (just behind MIT and just ahead of Stanford and Pomona) in its "America's Best Colleges 2008" publication. Candidates for admission are judged on their academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, athletics and character. To gain admission, candidates must also pass a fitness test, undergo a thorough medical examination, and secure a nomination, which usually comes from the member of Congress in the candidate's home district. Recent incoming classes have had about 1,400 cadets; historically just under 1,000 of those will graduate. Tuition, books, room and board are all paid for by the U.S. Government. Cadets receive a monthly stipend, but incur a commitment to serve a number of years of military service after graduation.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Rockies
Type:
Public
Size:
Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Falcons
Nicknames:
Air Force, USAFA

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
4,266
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Admissions

Selectivity:
Most Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at United States Air Force Academy

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

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    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
      • English Language and Literature
        A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.
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    • General Studies See more schools with programs in General Studies
      • General Studies
        An undifferentiated program that includes instruction in the general arts, general science, or unstructured studies.
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      • Humanities/Humanistic Studies
        A program that focuses on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy and religion.
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    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • American History United States
        This major program studies the history of America from the Pre-Columbian period to the present. This program includes instruction in American historiography, American history sources and materials, historical research methods, and applications to the study of specific themes, issues, periods, and institutions.
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      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
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      • Other History
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  • Business

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    • General Business See more schools with programs in General Business
      • Business Administration and Management
        Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
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  • Engineering

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    • Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
      Individuals in this program apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and operational evaluation of aircraft, space vehicles, and their systems. Students of Aerospace Engineering also learn about applied research on flight characteristics and the development of systems and procedures for the launching, guidance, and control of air and space vehicles.
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    • Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical, electronic and related communications systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
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    • Engineering Mechanics
      A program with a general focus on the application of the mathematical and scientific principles of classical mechanics to the analysis and evaluation of the behavior of structures, forces and materials in engineering problems. Includes instruction in statics, kinetics, dynamics, kinematics, celestial mechanics, stress and failure, and electromagnetism.
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    • Engineering Science
      A program with a general focuses on the general application of various combinations of mathematical and scientific principles to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems, including applied research in human behavior, statistics, biology, chemistry, the earth and planetary sciences, atmospherics and meteorology, and computer applications.
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    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
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    • General Civil Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material moving, transportation, water resource, and material control systems; and environmental safety measures.
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    • General Computer Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.
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    • General Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organization, public works, and commerce.
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    • Materials Science
      A program that focuses on the general application of mathematical and scientific principles to the analysis and evaluation of the characteristics and behavior of solids, including internal structure, chemical properties, transport and energy flow properties, thermodynamics of solids, stress and failure factors, chemical transformation states and processes, compound materials, and research on industrial applications of specific materials.
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    • Mechanical Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.
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    • Operations Research
      A program that focuses on the development and application of complex mathematical or simulation models to solve problems involving operational systems, where the system concerned is subject to human intervention. Includes instruction in advanced multivariate analysis, application of judgment and statistical tests, optimization theory and techniques, resource allocation theory, mathematical modeling, control theory, statistical analysis, and applications to specific research problems.
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  • Interdisciplinary Studies

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    • Behavioral Sciences
      Behavioral Sciences programs combine the studies of the social sciences, psychology, and biomedical sciences to study the fascinating complexities of human individual and social growth and behavior.
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    • International/Global Studies
      A program that focuses on global and international issues from the perspective of the social sciences, social services, and related fields.
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  • Legal Professions

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  • Life Science

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    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biochemistry
        Study the chemistry of living systems in these four, six, or eight year programs. Students of biochemistry learn the intricacies of the chemistry of living systems and their chemical pathways and information transfer systems. This program includes instruction in bio-organic chemistry, protein chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, bioseparations, regulatory biochemistry, enzymology, hormonal chemistry, calorimetry, and research methods and equipment operation.
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      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
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  • Mathematics and Statistics

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    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
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  • Military Science

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    • Military Technologies
      A program that prepares individuals to undertake advanced and specialized leadership and technical responsibilities for the armed services and related national security organizations. Includes instruction in such areas as weapons systems and technology, communications, intelligence, management, logistics, and strategy.
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  • Natural Sciences

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    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
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    • Meteorology See more schools with programs in Meteorology
      • General Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of the atmospheric envelopes surrounding the earth, the effect of earth's atmosphere on terrestrial weather, and related problems of environment and climate. Includes instruction in atmospheric chemistry and physics, atmospheric dynamics, climatology and climate change, weather simulation, weather forecasting, climate modeling and mathematical theory; and studies of specific phenomena such as clouds, weather systems, storms, and precipitation patterns.
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    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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  • Social Sciences

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    • General Social Sciences
      A program that focuses on the general study of human social behavior and social institutions using any of the methodologies common to the social sciences and/or history, or an undifferentiated program of study in the social sciences.
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    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
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    • Geography See more schools with programs in Geography
      • General Geography
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of the spatial distribution and interrelationships of people, natural resources, plant and animal life. Includes instruction in historical and political geography, cultural geography, economic and physical geography, regional science, cartographic methods, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and applications to areas such as land-use planning, development studies, and analysis of specific countries, regions, and resources.
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    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
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  • Technology

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    • Information Systems Operation and Management See more schools with programs in Information Systems Operation and Management
      • General Computer Science
        A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
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Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Men 82%
Women 18%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 79%
Other 6%
Hispanic 6%
Asian 5%
African-American 4%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 95%
In-State 5%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
California 10%
Texas 10%
Colorado 5%
Illinois 4%
Florida 4%
Percent of Students International: 1%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 102%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Mountain West Conference)
Basketball (Mountain West Conference)
Baseball (Mountain West Conference)
Track (Mountain West Conference)

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 18% (Most Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 55%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 610, Math: 630
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 690, Math: 710
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 33%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 28, Verbal: 27, Math: 28
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 31, Verbal: 31, Math: 32

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Not Required
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Recommended
TOEFL: Not Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo
***k***
***k***

Question: Which service academy should I go to? (Please answer only if you know what I'm talking about)?

I have 2 appointments-1 to the US Coast Guard Academy and 1 to the US Air Force Academy. The problem is I really like both schools. People have told me to choose based on what career I want and they both have the ones that I want (aviation and intelligence). They both have majors I am interested in. CGA has Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering and AFA has Environmental Engineering. CGA has Government with a concentration in International Affairs and AFA has Foreign Area Studies. The pros of going to the CGA are that it is much closer to home and that it is a smaller school so they have had less problems than the AFA in the past. The pros of going to the AFA include more academic and extracurricular opportunities. I will enclose a list I made comparing the two. Which should I choose to attend? Thanks so much for everything! Majors USAFA-Environmental Engr, For Area Studies USCGA-CE with Enivron Engr, Gov't with International Relations Summer Opps USAFA- 4/c-Basic Cadet Training 3/c-Jump (parachute) or glide training 2/c and 1/c-Leadership opportunities-BCT cadre, flight instructor, etc USCGA-4/c-Swab Summer (Military Training) 3/c-5 weeks on CGC Eagle/5 weeks on another CGC(Coast Guard Cutter) 2/c-Leadership opportunities-training swabs, helping prospective cadets, serving aboard a CGC 1/c-10 weeks CGC or 5 weeks CG internship/5 weeks CGC THANKS AGAIN And I'm not enlisting. I am going to have one of the best educations in the world. When I graduate I'll have a commision as either an Ensign(CG) or a 2nd Lieutenant(AFA) which is higher than what I would be if I enlisted. And I'm not enlisting. When I graduate I'll have a commision as either an Ensign(CG) or a 2nd Lieutenant(AFA) which is higher than what I would be if I enlisted.
33 months ago
gsespen10
gsesp...

Best Answer

Hey- I’m going to be shipping out to the Coast Guard Academy for the class of 2011! Have you visited either of the academies? b/c that was the real deciding factor for me. The Cg has a great program where you follow a cadet around for a day. I'm so stoked that I'm already memorizing the runnign light and going crazy with the pushups and running. I guess I’m just wondering if letting other people influence your decision on this site is the right thing to do? Anyway, not to creep you out or anything, but I’m going to throw my myspace out there- so feel free to throw it right back at me. It’s myspace.com/sespe7 Hope to hear from you about how your decision and preparations are going! GSN
PvtMac
PvtMac

Question: has anyone been in the USAFA? Then advice on Fighter Pilot?

I'm planning on going to the Air Force Academy after high school and was wondering if anyone has been there before and could give me an idea on things that could make my application stand out and an idea of what it is like? {I want to be commissioned as an Officer so after I can become a US Air Force Fighter Pilot. If anyone has any information on that it would be very helpful} thank you in advance.
34 months ago
firetdriver_99
firet...

Best Answer

Keep your scores in Math very high.
aewing08
aewing08

Question: If you go to the Air Force Academy does the mean you have to bein the Air Force?(Air Force as in College)?

34 months ago
kimpenn09
kimpe...

Best Answer

8 years of service are required after graduation--5 years of active service + 3 years of inactive reserve.
d29061
d29061

Question: im considering applying to the us naval academy or to the us air force academy. Any tips?

I'm a sophomore in high school....what are some requirements...how should i do the interview? waht kind of grades do i need? thanks!
39 months ago
Chuck
Chuck

Best Answer

The best source of information would be the catalogs for the Naval Academy and Air Force Academy. You can write to them and ask for the catalogs. You may need to send a small amount of money for the catalog. The Academies are very prestigious, and really they are looking for the best of the best. It is true that you need a recommendation from your Congressman or Senator and each of them can recommend two candidates per year to each of the Academies. If your high school has JR ROTC that might be worth checking out. However ROTC programs in colleges and universities are the nations second source of military officers. While the military won't draw attention to the fact, almost every officer at the highest ranks is an academy graduate. First, why do you want to go to the academy? What are your goals. You need to be clear on that, and you need to be able to communicate it well. Grades are important. Do everything you can to get a 4.0, straight A's ( not to worry candidates get accepted without straight A's). But the military is not interested in bookworms only. Extra curricular actives are also important. I know students who were accepted to the academies with records in with gymnastics, cheer leading ( yes, young women can go the academies.) or work on the volunteer ski patrol. Think about sports, debate team, boy scouts, many males at the academies are Eagle Scouts. Take the time to become involved in leadership. Class president, or an officer in a school club are good indicators that you have the leadership ability and motivation to succeed. Fitness is important. I missed out on the academy because I did not take the fitness requirements seriously. Get the catalogs read about the physical fitness tests, and get a program going to be sure you are strong enough. Inside story: most cadets at the academies have trouble during their first Summer of training because they do not have the upper body strength required to succeed at the obstacle courses. Have a regular fitness routine, running, and weights for strength, even if you are star of all your high school sports ( and especially if you more the debate and chess club type!) If you get in, be prepared for the hardest most difficult experience of your life. They will ask more of you than you can possibly imagine in the first year. All I can say is always remember you are up to it, but they program will push you to the point where you feel like you can't go on. Even them remember you are tough enough to make it through. Some high schools have JR. ROTC. You could look into this. Another program is the Civil Air Patrol Cadets. Some communities have CAP groups ( civilians who fly search and rescue missions) and these groups may sponsor cadet groups for high school students. CAP is a great program if you can find it. I want to share an encouraging story. I went to high school with a guy we all called dumb Roy. Well Roy decided he wanted to go to the Air Force Academy. He was passed over the first year he applied because we had better candidates from our high school. He went to college and joined ROTC there. He applied again in his freshman year of college to go to the Academy, and got passed over. Well Roy didn't give up. He kept up in college and worked very hard to be the best in ROTC and applied again in his second year of college and with the recommendation of his ROTC instructor, he was able to get accepted to the Air Force Academy. He It took him 6 years to finish college because at the Academy he had to start over at year 1 even though he had already done well in two years of college. Of the seven students I went to high school with who went onto the military academies, Roy was the only one to finish and is a very happy career Air Force Officer. Success is possible. Look at who you are, why you want to do this, and put together a program for you next three years that will allow you to do you best.

Photos

  • The Class Wall in 2004
    The Class Wall in 2004 [source]
  • Basic cadets complete the obstacle course during BCT
    Basic cadets complete the obstacle course during BCT [source]
  • The Eagle and Fledglings Statue at the south end of the Air Gardens in inscribed with the quote, "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge".
    The Eagle and Fledglings Statue at the south end of the Air Gardens in inscribed with the quote, "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge". [source]
  • "Thor," one of USAFA's trained peregrine falcon mascots.
    "Thor," one of USAFA's trained peregrine falcon mascots. [source]
  • Cadets in parade dress
    Cadets in parade dress [source]
  • [source]
  • Air Force Academy Falcon Stadium
    Air Force Academy Falcon Stadium [source]
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United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO 80840
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