To be academically competitive for an appointment to the Academy, you should complete the following high school courses:

• English: four years
• College-prep math: four years, up to pre-calculus or higher
• Social studies: three years (to include a course in U.S. history)
• Science: four years: Lab-based and should include chemistry, physics, and biology
• Modern foreign language*: two years. We look for modern foreign languages with an emphasis on strategic languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Russian. While not a modern foreign language, Latin, Hebrew, and American Sign Language are acceptable courses.
• Computer science: one year Computer Science course or related courses that focus on coding and programming (recommended).
• Rigorous course work is especially valuable in your preparation for the Academy. Honors, Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement coursework are all considered in our review process. Consult your high school counselor to see if this coursework is appropriate for you.

Please ask your counselor to include a school profile of last year’s graduating class from your high school with your transcript.

Students take the ACT, CLT, and SAT as many times as they’d like. Only the highest scores will be counted. The Academy ACT code is 0530 and the SAT code is 4830.

Teacher Evaluations
The School Official’s Evaluation is critical to your application. We use three evaluations to gain further insight into your academic performance and your personal character.

If you are in high school, these evaluations MUST come from your 11th- or 12th-grade English teacher, Math teacher and Other (Science teacher, ROTC instructor, school official…). If you are in college, you can have your college instructors complete the evaluations. With approval from an Admissions counselor, homeschoolers can have individuals within their community who know them well complete the forms.

Essays
In the essay section of the online application, you will have three questions to evaluate your background and aptitude for commissioned service. The third question is optional but highly recommended to complete.

The essays allow you to speak directly to the Admissions selection panel in your own words. Use this section as an opportunity to show the unique aspects and experiences of your life. Your answers should reflect who you are using specific, concrete details. They should also clearly demonstrate critical thinking, organizational and grammatical abilities.

Responses can be a maximum of 3,000 characters.

Letter of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are not required but are strongly encouraged. You may submit two letters from individuals who can speak about your character, integrity, leadership abilities and experiences. These letters are separate from the required teacher evaluations and should be from different individuals.

Conduct Questionnaire
For the arrest and/or citation record, be sure to include all incidents, including traffic violations. Provide complete details (date, location, charge, monetary amount of fine, points assessed, community service, required classes, etc.) as well as a detailed explanation in your own words of each incident. You may include a copy of official court/police documents in addition to your statement if you wish.

Include any cases in which the record may have been expunged or sealed, including juvenile records. Your application will not be evaluated unless a complete and detailed description of each incident is provided.

If you are appointed to the Academy, any fines, probation, deferred sentencing, or community service must be completed prior to in-processing.

Failure to report any such incidents may be grounds for withdrawal of an appointment or subsequent dismissal from the Academy.

If you are appointed and subsequently involved in an incident, you must report it to the Admissions office immediately. If selected as a cadet, a complete background investigation will be administered for purposes of granting a security clearance.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Questionnaire
Please read the “Definition of Terms” carefully and complete the drug and alcohol abuse questionnaire. Carefully read all items of the “Certification at the Time of Application” and “Statements of Understanding.” Be sure you understand each before you mark the appropriate blocks.

You MUST answer all appropriate boxes.

Note: While past experimentation with marijuana is not necessarily disqualifying, current use detected during DoD or Air Force drug testing will be disqualifying.

Recertification at Time of In-processing
If you receive an appointment to the Academy, you will be required to complete an AF Form 2030 with your full legal signature upon entry into the Academy and recertify that that the information you provided in the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Questionnaire is still true.

Any abuse of drugs or alcohol after you sign the 2030 and before In-processing Day may cause us to withdraw your appointment. If you are appointed and subsequently involved in an incident, you must report it to the Admissions office immediately. Should that occur, you would not be entitled to any travel expense reimbursement or travel home at government expense.

Enlisted Members Only: You must provide a copy of your original Air Force Form 2030 that you filled out upon enlisting. Contact your Military Personnel Flight (MPF/MPS) for a copy and upload it to your portal.

The interview will be scheduled after you have completed enough of your application items to determine if you are serious about completing your application. Your interviewer’s name and contact information will be posted on your portal after you have completed your checklist items marked with a hashtag (# ). Proactively, schedule your interview. Please note that many of our ALOs have jobs that require travel and that you must be persistent in setting up your interview. If you do not have a scheduled interview within two weeks of your ALO assignment, please contact your counseling team.

Your interview will be conducted remotely using a virtual platform or as a last resort by telephone. Anticipate the interview to last 1.5 to 2 hours. Treat this interview as a job interview as this is an important part of our holistic review. For the interview, candidates are required to find an interruption-free environment to allow for unhindered discussion. No parent(s), guardian(s), or any other third party will be allowed in room/location or within earshot. Public areas, such as a coffee shop or library, are acceptable if a low noise/interruption-free location can be found for this virtual meeting.

You must complete Extra-curricular Activities and Achievements. You are HIGHLY encouraged to add up to ten (10) Extracurricular Activities from high school, college, and active-duty, and any anticipated activities. You will select from the various categories: Activities, Athletics, Honor/Award, Licenses, Work/Internship, Volunteer, and Military Awards if applicable. We value leadership. Use the Additional Information section to provide a detailed description of the activity, the impact you made, and leadership lessons learned. The narrative you provide with your extracurricular activity will be reviewed when your file goes to committee and provided to your Evaluator ALO before your interview. It is to your advantage to provide a detailed description. Include anticipated 12th grade activities and ensure this section is complete. All activities are subject to verification.

NOTE: College Students and Airmen/Guardians: Ensure your extracurricular activities include both high school activities and what you have done since high school. Be sure to include any post-high school activities, leadership experience, and any awards or honors. If you have routinely participated in an activity and it hasn’t started for this year, please be sure to include it in the extracurricular activity section as it is an anticipated activity. Also, let us know if frequent moves, distance from school, or other factors have hindered your participation in any activities.

You will select from the various categories: Activities, Athletics, Honor/Award, Licenses, Work/Internship, Volunteer, and Military Awards if applicable.

Activities
Identify any involvement in school and community sponsored activities and student-led organizations. Mark the appropriate class year and level of participation. If you are a member and an officer in the activity, please be sure to identify the highest level of involvement within your extracurricular activity information. Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Athletics
Identify all events that were sanctioned by regional, state, or national sports organizations. This includes high school, college, and club athletics. You may identify regional and/or state rankings for individual and team sports. Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Honor/Award
Identify any academic awards, athletic awards, noted accomplishments, and extracurricular achievements (Amelia Earhart Award, Gen Billy Mitchell Award, Scouting awards, or All State/District Band or Orchestra). Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this honor/award. Provide a reasonable description of the honor/award, the impact on you, and any leadership lessons learned.

Leadership
We look for demonstrated leadership (Captain of a team, Commander of a JROTC/CAP unit, Student Council, Yearbook Editor). Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Work/Internship
Identify the total hours worked or internship participated in each grade level for the year. Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Volunteer Activities
Identify the total volunteer hours for each grade level for the year. Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Licenses
Identify any progress toward or completion of specialized licenses in this section. If you received a license, you must upload documentation verifying the receipt. Do not include driver’s licenses. Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Military Awards (LEAD)
Active duty, reserve, and guard airmen/guardians should use this category to identify activities/awards such as airmen of the year, honor guard, etc. Provide any additional information you would like us to know regarding this activity. Provide a reasonable description of the activity, the impact you have had, and any leadership lessons learned.

Consideration will be given to candidates from schools that do not offer typical athletic and extracurricular activities, as well as to candidates who work after school or who have unusual accomplishments either in or out of school. Enlisted members must include high school, college, and military activities.

This test of strength, agility, speed and endurance is designed to help determine whether you possess the stamina required to successfully complete the physical program at the Academy.

Watch the video for Cadet Fitness Requirements

Candidate Fitness Assessment
In order to qualify for admission, you must take the CFA. Become familiar with the six events in the CFA and practice them to score well. The events are administered consecutively with specified start, finish and rest times.

It is imperative that you perform to the best of your ability on each of these events:

• Basketball Throw
• Pull-ups/Flexed Arm Hang
• Shuttle Run
• Modified Sit-ups (crunches)
• Push-ups
• One-mile Run

You should remember that your score is a combination of your best efforts on each of the six events.

Competitive Scores
Before taking the CFA, it’s recommended to practice each exercise in order to meet and hopefully exceed the averages for each event.

Exercise	Men’s Average	Women’s Average
Basketball Throw	69′	42′
Pull-ups/Flexed Arm Hang	12	2
Shuttle Run	8.1 seconds	9.4 seconds
Modified Sit-ups (crunches)	81	78
Push-ups	62	41
One-mile Run	6:29	7:30

Finding an Examiner
Your examination may be administered by any physical education teacher, Service Academy Liaison Officer or JROTC instructor. Any active duty commissioned officer or non-commissioned officer (NCO) may administer the CFA for service members. It is your responsibility to arrange for a qualified person to conduct your examination.

More Information
Candidates who have taken the CFA as an applicant for the U.S. Military Academy or U.S. Naval Academy may submit the CFA test results to the Academy. However, we recommend you review our averages before requesting your CFA scores to be sent to us. The three service academies require the same six-event CFA but have different passing guidelines for each event and the overall score. If you have already taken the CFA for Army or Navy, you may ask them to upload a copy of the exam to your portal.

Any questions the CFA examiner or candidate may have should be addressed to the Candidate’s Admissions Team that can be found on the applicant portal.

Team Blue
Email: team_blue@afacademy.af.edu
Phone: 719-333-3801

Team Silver
Email: team_silver@afacademy.af.edu
Phone: 719-333-3802

If you fail the first CFA you will be given the opportunity to re-test providing there is still time in the application cycle. You must retest by the prescribed deadline to remain in the application process. If you fail the second CFA, your file will be evaluated for its overall competitiveness. Only the most competitive candidates in other application areas will be allowed a third test. In most cases, failure after the second attempt will result in your file being closed.

All candidates admitted to the Academy must meet the weight standards for commissioning in the Air Force or Space Force.

DoW standards for entry to Academy and commissioning can be found in DoDI 1304.26, Qualification Standards for Enlistment, Appointment, and Induction.

DoW medically disqualifying conditions can be found in DoW Instruction 6130.03, Volume 1, Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction, Section 6.

Waivers are possible for highly qualified candidates. Therefore, the Academy recommends that you not self-eliminate and take the DoDMERB examinations if you are highly motivated to attend.

The DoDMERB is responsible for determining the medical qualification of Academy applicants. All academies and commissioning sources use one general standardized medical and eye examination to determine medical qualifications.

DoDMERB Examination
Once you have completed your checklist items marked with a hashtag (#), we will forward your name to DoDMERB and you will receive specific scheduling instructions. The examination center will be as near to your home as possible based on availability within your ZIP Code. Scheduling an initial exam can take up to 30 days.

Schedule medical exams as soon as you are notified to begin the process to ensure they are completed. You should know that it can take up to 30 days to schedule your initial medical evaluation, 60 days for completion and possibly another 30 days for a medical waiver if required. This can result in up to a four-month process for candidates.

Preparing for Your Medical Examination
You must be prepared for your medical examination appointment. If you do not follow appropriate guidelines, your examination will be invalid and must be rescheduled.

• Hard contacts must be removed 21 days prior to taking your medical exam, and soft contacts must be removed three days prior.
• You cannot be undergoing active orthodontic treatment when you enter the Academy. If this is your only disqualifying factor, please notify Admissions at USAFA_Medical_Questions@afacademy.af.edu .
• Provide medical records or documentation concerning major surgeries, illnesses and injuries at the time of your medical examination.
• Use good judgment when listing medical problems. Do not self-diagnose a problem. List the full circumstances, treatment received and age during each episode.
• Candidates who withhold obviously disqualifying medical information will be disenrolled and won’t be eligible to reapply to the Academy.
• Other commissioning sources, such as ROTC programs, use DoDMERB for their certification process and will be supplied information as to why the cadet was disenrolled.

Medical Examination Results
DoDMERB will use the results of your examination to determine whether or not you are medically qualified to attend the Academy. After DoDMERB receives your medical examination results, they will evaluate your medical file for qualification.

If additional medical information or evaluations are required, DoDMERB will notify you to request additional tests and/or evaluations, otherwise known as remedials.

Note: The medical qualification for Academy entrance is based on the assumption that your DoDMERB medical examination reflects your true medical status. You can ensure this by IMMEDIATELY reporting any change in your medical status (injury, physical or mental illness or diagnosis of a new condition) to DoDMERB after you have finished your examination.

DoDMERB Contact Info
If you have any questions concerning the medical examination process, contact DoDMERB directly. Refer questions concerning your medical status or examination scheduling to:

Email: dha.ncr.dod-merb.mbx.helpdesk@health.mil

Academy Contact Info (process questions only)
Should you need additional assistance you may contact the Academy directly at USAFA_Medical_Questions@afacademy.af.edu . Please be aware that assistance from the Academy is limited to process questions only. We do not have a doctor or technician on staff and cannot answer your medical questions.

Medical Standards
All candidates must take the DoD Medical Examination Board physical and eye examinations and meet qualifying standards. Qualification for flying duties requires meeting more stringent requirements that are determined in the junior year at the Academy.

Height and  Weight
Your standing height must at least be 4’10” (58 inches) and not more than 6’8″ (80 inches). If you are below or above the height standard and are competitive for an appointment, the Academy may consider a waiver.

If you exceed Academy weight standards for your height, you must undergo a procedure to determine your percent body composition. The maximum allowable body composition is 20 percent for males and 28 percent for females. The Academy will request you provide measurements on a body composition form. This form must be completed by a school nurse, family physician or qualified paramedic and will be available at your online status page. Once we receive this form, we will calculate your body composition and determine if you meet the Academy standards. If you exceed the Academy standards for body composition and if it is determined you are otherwise competitive for an offer of appointment, the Admissions office will consider you for a waiver and/or ask you to be remeasured. Please ensure your file is complete by your deadline so you may be reviewed for an appointment. The Admissions office will review all files in mid-March.

Other Requirements
As part of your medical examination, you will undergo an external visual inspection of the genitalia to determine if any abnormalities are present (women may have this part of their exam done by their private physicians at their own expense). You should also have a thorough dental examination by your private dentist (note: braces must be removed prior to entry) and complete any treatment before taking the military dental examination.

Tattoos, Brands, Body Piercings
While having a tattoo, brand or body marking does not automatically disqualify you from consideration, they must meet the standards outlined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2903 and the stricter Academy standards that require that no tattoos/brands/body markings will be on the hands, head, neck (anything visible above the open collar uniform), face, tongue, lips, eyes, and scalp. Tattoos, brands or body markings anywhere on the body that are indecent; commonly associated with gangs, extremist and supremacist organizations; advocate sexual, racial, ethnic or religious discrimination; or project an improper military or cadet image are prohibited.

If offered an appointment and you accept, we recommend you do not get new tattoos which could potentially disqualify you. Disclose all information on your tattoo(s)/brand(s)/body marking(s) such as location, size and significance.  All piercings must be removed prior to in-processing as a basic cadet. Following BCT, females may be authorized to wear one small, spherical, conservative earring per earlobe. Male cadets are specifically prohibited from wearing earrings at any time.

Pilot Vision Requirements
All candidates admitted to the Academy must meet the vision requirements for basic commissioning in the Air Force. However, vision requirements for candidates for pilot, other aviation-related specialties and special operational duty career fields are stricter and will not be fully assessed until a complete Air Force vision exam is accomplished during your third (junior) year as a cadet.

Most cadets with visual acuity outside the medical standards may become medically qualified for aviation if vision is successfully corrected by corneal refractive surgery (i.e., PRK or LASIK), which will be available to you as a cadet if you meet preoperative qualification criteria. Applicants should NOT pursue refractive surgery PRIOR to entry to the Academy as this is disqualifying if accomplished within 180 days of the DoDMERB examination and strict preoperative requirements must be met that are often not adhered to by civilian ophthalmologists.

Note that color-vision testing accomplished during the DoDMERB medical examination is not the same as, and may not correlate well with, the more advanced color-vision testing employed for aviation and special operational duty clearance. The bottom line is the DoDMERB medical examination is not the official flying class examination used for occupational clearance for aviation and special operational duty career fields. The required flying class examination will be performed during the third academic year (junior year) at the Academy and will encompass more in-depth testing than was used during the DoDMERB physical exam.

Medical Waivers
There is no need for you to request a medical waiver. If you are competitive for an appointment to the Academy or one of our preparatory programs, you will be notified through your Admissions portal if a waiver is requested on your behalf. Medical waivers will only be requested for competitive candidates. They are not automatic despite information that may be posted on the DoDMERB website. A request for a medical waiver is not guaranteed. If Admissions requests a medical waiver, a waiver approval is not guaranteed. If the waiver is approved, an offer of appointment is not guaranteed. If a medical waiver is not requested by April 1 of the application cycle, it is unlikely that you will be submitted for a waiver.

You will be notified directly by DoDMERB if there are any additional requirements, tests or evaluations for the waiver process. DoDMERB may request additional tests or evaluations to support your waiver. These may be obtained at a military facility at no cost to you or at a civilian facility at your cost.

Please keep in mind that DoDMERB is working on your and our behalf to acquire the medical waiver and that DoDMERB is not the waiver authority.