Deadlines & Fees
Quick NavigationNational Character and Leadership Symposium
Base Access during 2026 NCLS
Access procedures at the U.S. Air Force Academy continue to affect the visitor experience. While the installation remains open, anyone without a DoD ID card must request and obtain a visitor pass to enter the base using the link below. Once your request is received, the 10th Security Forces Squadron’s Pass and Registration Office will conduct a background check, and you will receive a decision via text within 72 hours. If approved, proceed to the North on the day of your approved visit date and present a Real ID for base access. Employees and sponsored visitors should plan for increased security measures and longer wait times at the gates. While on the installation, all personnel are subject to search. Guests under the age of 18 (and 18-year-old students with D20 student IDs) Do Not need to request visitation access. Any individual 18 or older will need to do the pre-registration online.
If anyone has issues with receiving an approval message (they receive “error” messages or never receive a message back at all), please re-apply. If the issue persists, please go to the Pass & Registration Office outside of South Gate to get a physical pass for the day of the event.
Please note: Guests may only have one active code at a time. Applying for multiple such as a different event, will revoke the last.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Oct. 14, 2026 | Registration opens for visiting students and faculty |
| Dec. 16, 2026 or when at capacity, whichever comes first |
Registration closes for visiting students |
| Jan. 6, 2027 | Registration and speaker sessions open for all other participants |
| Feb. 5, 2027 | Registration closes to all participants |
| Feb. 17, 2027 | NCLS check-in for visiting students and faculty |
| Feb. 18, 2027 | NCLS check-in for Community/Donors (am) Speaker Sessions, and Symposium Dinner |
| Feb. 18-19, 2027 | NCLS Speaker Sessions |
CONFERNCE FEES
Speaker sessions (no meals) – Free
A limited number of meals are available for purchase for an additional cost during registration, available to community participants. Please note that due to the high volume of in-person participants and the limited food vendors available onsite, we highly encourage participants to consider registering for meals in advance during the registration process. The meal options and pricing are available upon registration and can be selected and confirmed until Feb. 5, 2027.
Payment policy
Cancellations for meal registrations must be done before Feb. 5, 2027, at 5 p.m. MST. If you have registered for meals and do not attend the event without notification of cancellation, you will be liable for the balance of the meals you registered for. We cannot accommodate new meal requests past this deadline. If you need to cancel your meal registration, you can do so via your email confirmation (edit your registration), or by emailing us at ncls@afacademy.af.edu with your request before Feb. 5, 2027 5 p.m. MST.
When registering for meals please notate any dietary restrictions, also notate the type of restriction.
Exceptions
Service academy cadets: The meal fee will be waived in the registration system with a discount code provided to your faculty representative.
Visiting students staying at the Academy
The mandatory meal fee includes all meals for duration of stay at Mitchell Hall for the duration of your stay.
Check-in process
All community participants, visiting students and faculty, and distinguished guests must check-in at Arnold Hall. Cadets, staff, faculty, and 10th Air Base Wing personnel will not require check-in. You will report directly to Arnold Hall for your sessions, with your CAC.
Check-in
Location: Arnold Hall
Early check-in will be available on Feb. 17 from noon-10 p.m.
Community and Distinguished Visitors can check-in on Feb. 18 from 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.