USAFA Firmly on course as America’s Premier Military Service Academy: 2025 in Review
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2025 graduates toss their hats skyward in Falcon Stadium, May 29, 2025. The Class of 2025 includes 791 cadets who were commissioned into the Air Force, and 93 were commissioned into the Space Force as second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2d Lt Brandon Lindner)
USAFA firmly on course as America’s Premier Military Service Academy: 2025 in Review
By Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind
As the calendar year draws to a close with cadets and permanent party preparing for the holiday season, we are taking stock of a demanding but decisive year and our solemn responsibility of forging warrior-leaders for our nation. As we look back on the year, we are exceptionally proud of the entire USAFA team for enacting purposeful transformation and delivering excellence, all while overcoming various challenges.
Our transformation is based upon our requirement to be a premier Military Service Academy that ensures year-round harmony between our military, academic, and athletic missions. Unlike most institutions of higher learning, we know our graduates must be ready to lead and execute in an uncertain and volatile geopolitical environment…our Nation deserves nothing less and our adversaries are watching. Simply put, our job is to generate combat power by developing premier air and space warrior-leaders…this demands adversary-focused military training, nationally recognized and rigorous STEM-focused academics, and highly competitive athletics…and our results over the past year are impressive.
Cadets 2nd Class Luke Plesko and Owen Hess demonstrate the pilot and copilot role of the Teal 2 Small Unmanned Aircraft System during the Fall Validation Exercise, Stillman Field, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. Oct. 11, 2025. The two-day field exercise tests leadership, teamwork and warrior ethos. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Year-round Military Training and Warrior Ethos
To forge warfighters to win, the Academy’s year-round military training and education curriculum strengthened cadets’ air, space and cyber mindsets while instilling universal combat skills. Cadets undertook realistic and adversary-focused training experiences and field exercises to enable Ready Airman Training and support familiarization with the doctrine of Agile Combat Employment. Examples of this military training include:
- Class of 2029 qualified on both the M4 rifle and M18 pistol, Classes of 2026 and 2027 will complete qualification by the end of AY25-26, and 2028 will qualify on both weapons next summer. Our goal is for all classes to qualify on both weapons every year.
- Scenario-based training reinforces their tactical-level C2, movement under fire, tactical combat casualty care, communications in degraded and contested conditions, and boosted familiarization of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) employment.
- Demonstrations and initial execution of existing capabilities such as Close Air Support, Theater Ballistic Missile Warning, and Operational-Level C2.
U.S. Air Force Academy basic cadet completes the Assault Course during expeditionary skills training, Jacks Valley, Colo., July 15, 2025. The objective of the Assault Course is to stimulate the warrior spirit in new Basics by familiarizing them with a rigorous and practical application of hand-to-hand combat; negotiate a time obstacle course with a fixed bayonet and compete in a judge pugil fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)
Basic Cadet Training
We executed significant enhancements to Basic Cadet Training for the Class of 2029. During the first half of BCT, 1,112 basic cadets completed drill and ceremony training and academic requirements. At Jack’s Valley, basic cadets completed the assault course, obstacle course, confidence course, leadership reaction course, field expeditionary skills training, land navigation training, weapons training and qualification, gas chamber training, and medical training. We returned to weapons qualification, vice familiarization, with 93% qualifying and 15% achieving expert. The Jack’s Valley portion of BCT concluded with a new exercise where cadets defended their base and tested their Shoot, Move, Communicate, Automate, and Medicate skills.
Cadets 1st Class Kathleen Horton and Paige Davis conduct nighttime operations during the 2025 Spring Culminating Exercise at the Academy, Colo., March 5, 2025. The exercise was designed to cultivate a warfighter mindset among cadets, ensuring they developed confidence in decision-making, physical and mental resilience, and realistic combat preparation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Cadet Wing Exercises
Building upon the three-day Spring Culminating Exercise (CULEX), the USAFA team supported the two-day Fall Validation Exercise (VALEX). More than 3,500 cadets planned, executed, and evaluated competencies in mission planning, communications, integrated base defense, land navigation, tactical combat casualty care, weapons handling, and other core combat skills. Cadets established multiple forward operating bases and stations, reacted to intelligence injects and simulated missile launches, and integrated close air support demonstrations, small, unmanned aircraft system employment, space and cyber effects, commercial satellite terminals replicating expeditionary communications, and the Academy’s Multi-Domain Laboratory in a command-and-control role. Cadets executed these activities with an impressively high level of precision and improved tremendously from the Spring CULEX to the Fall VALEX.
Cadet empowerment was vital. Through the inaugural summer Cadet Warfighter Instructor Course (CWIC), 480 upper-class cadets completed intensive preparation in small-unit tactics, land navigation, weapons handling and instructional techniques before returning to their squadrons as instructors. During VALEX, these instructors served as the opposing force in the exercise, as well as evaluating the Cadet Wing across tens of thousands of tactical actions.
Year-round military training increases cadet proficiency at the individual and team level, while strengthening operational leadership under stress, critical thinking, teamwork, and confidence in core warfighting skills. This adversary-focused training reinforces that a graduate from the Academy is an officer in the Profession of Arms, a member of the Long Blue Line, and a leader whose decisions have lethal consequences and secure victory.
Cadet 1st Class Steven Newcomer requests clearance from the tower to go onto the center runway to be able to take off, Davis Airfield, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., July 8, 2025. Newcomer is an instructor pilot in the basic soaring program, Airmanship 251. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Airmanship & Air Mindset
Airmanship remains a hallmark of the USAFA experience. Through Airmanship, cadets were exposed to aviation, learned fundamentals of flight, and developed an Air Mindset: a perspective of how airpower and control of the air domain provide the strategic advantage. Programs like soaring, powered flight, jump training also build confidence, judgment, risk-management skills, and leadership in demanding environments.
Competitive aviation achievements further reinforced the Academy’s dedication to forging air-minded warrior-leaders. Examples of last year’s excellence:
- Our Flying Team secured the 39th-straight Region I National Intercollegiate Flying Association Championship, multiple event titles and safety awards
- Our Wings of Blue delivered 16 Gold Medals, 11 Silver Medals, 10 Bronze Medals, and 2 National Collegiate records
- In the 2025 Pulitzer Air Race, an Academy Cadet finished first in their division and second overall (and the only competitor from a U.S. military service academy).
Cadets 2nd Class Jacob Grayson and Ashley Baklarz conduct research in the Laser and Optics Research Center, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., April 11, 2025. Across 24 research centers and institutes, cadets have unparalleled opportunities and resources to conduct research that impacts national defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Sustained Academic Excellence
Throughout 2025, the Academy’s nationally recognized academic program continued to develop cadets as warfighting scholars, with a challenging program that integrates rigorous academics, immersive training, and cutting-edge research to prepare our graduates to challenge the status quo.
With a total current faculty of 475 personnel, USAFA boasts an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8.8 – one of the lowest in the country. But beyond the ratio and USAFA’s relatively small class sizes, a more important point is that despite a reduction in available resources, USAFA sustained a broad catalog of core courses and electives—over 750 offerings—preserving all 30 Majors, while adding three new Minors. Cadets also participated in more than 180 independent research studies with faculty and external partners on real-world challenges in areas such as space operations, cyber defense, advanced materials, propulsion, human performance and data science. While 25 civilian faculty members departed this year, primarily through natural retirement, term-limited positions, and the Department of War’s Deferred Resignation Program, USAFA hired 19 additional military instructors to offset the civilian departures. Each of these military instructors brings relevant operational experience while possessing all requisite degrees and credentials to ensure continued accreditation. USAFA also added 11 Distinguished Visiting Professors and one Visiting Scholar in 2025, all of whom bring high-level experience from other universities and federal organizations.
Due to the amazing work of the faculty and an impressive generation of cadets, it should come as no surprise that U.S. News and World Report once again recognized USAFA as one of the top universities in the nation. In its latest round of college rankings, the Academy remained the #2 Top Public School in the nation and climbed to #5 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, up from #8 in 2024. USAFA’s engineering programs remain top tier, with multiple specialties consistently in the top 10 among undergraduate-only schools.
Cadet 1st Class Irisa Reyes works on a research project in the Department of Chemistry, Jan. 22, 2025. U.S. Air Force Academy science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs provide technical and critical-thinking skills our future warfighters need. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)
STEM, Space and Cyber for the Future Fight
As the character of war shifts ever-more toward space, cyber, long-range kill chains, and unmanned aerial vehicles, the Academy remains laser-focused on its top STEM programs, ensuring our graduates are prepared to meet the challenges in the coming decades. All cadets earn a Bachelor of Science degree, reflecting a deliberate emphasis on technical education in support of modern warfighting. Cadets excelled throughout 2025 in national and international academic and technical competitions, including cyber operations, engineering design, policy simulations and research showcases, to include:
- USAFA was awarded 7 patents involving 19 cadet inventors, including a variable-payload magazine with an automatic reload feature.
- USAFA faculty published 64 copyrighted works, reflecting sustained demand for Academy expertise in broader academic and policy discussions.
- Our Cyber Team earned top honors over other service academies in an NSA exercise with challenges in digital forensics, policy, cryptography, hardware and cyber combat.
- USAFA cadets and alumni represented well in the CISA President’s Cup Finals garnering 1st place teams (Delograds++), 4th/7th place offensive and 9th place defensive tracks.
- Our #1 Forensics program ranked nationally (3rd year running).
- Our Mock Trial Teams, Venture Capital Team, Model Arab League, and our Negotiations Team achieved regional and national successes.
- Our cadet Capstone Research Teams and individual cadets received numerous awards.
Cadet 1st Class Ian Miles and Cadet 1st Class Jaden Liu use the Cyber City diorama at the Madera Cyber Innovation Center to learn how cyber-attacks can affect critical infrastructure, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Aug. 7, 2025. This hands-on experience helps develop a cyber mindset that extends beyond network defense to include the ethical and operational complexities when a city suffers a cyberattack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Cyber education took a major step forward with the opening of the Madera Cyber Innovation Center, which houses the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences, Air Force CyberWorx and the Institute for Future Conflict. Purpose-built labs allowed cadets to train for military conflicts, identify cyber warfare threats, and explore emerging technologies in realistic environments. Every cadet develops a baseline Cyber Mindset, with advanced pathways available for those pursuing cyber-focused majors and minors.
Space-focused education, research, and support remained a top-priority in 2025, to include the commissioning of 93 Cadets into the U.S. Space Force in May. Guardianship and building a Space mindset in our cadets were strengthened through multiple initiatives such as the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies’ space mindset effort, which began with an event that brought 75 cadets to U.S. Space Command for operations and intelligence briefings highlighting how space-based capabilities underpin joint and coalition combat power. Additionally, 37 cadets travelled to Kennedy Space Center for the launch of FalconSAT-Xtra on the Falcon-9 Rocket, which will conduct experiments to study and enhance next generation capabilities in the contested space domain. The Azimuth Summer Space Program provided a selective, immersive experience that combined academic seminars, visits to Space Force units and industry partners, neutral buoyancy and zero-gravity training, and a rocket design and launch intensive. Finally, Det 1 brought SEMPER SUPRA Week to USAFA, to put a Space Force spotlight on 8 USAFA sports teams competing in USSF uniforms, cadet engagements with Space Force senior leaders, hands-on demonstrations from the 16 EWS, the first-ever terrazzo rocket launch by USAFA’s rocketry team, an SDA demo on the terrazzo with AR goggles, and the Cadet Wing’s first-ever Space Silver Friday military training session.
Cadets 1st Class Robert J. Miller and Anirvin Puttur, recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship, pose for a photograph prior to attending Ring Dance at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., May 23, 2025. Miller and Puttur are the Academy’s 45th and 46th Rhodes Scholars. (Photo courtesy of Cadet 1st Class Robert J. Miller)
Scholarships and Honors Programs
Nationally competitive scholarships further highlighted the strength of the Academy’s academic environment, and USAFA cadets earned the following prestigious scholarships (and more to come!):
- 2x Rhodes Scholars (first time since 2019)
- 5x Fulbright Scholar selectees
- 2x Barry Goldwater Scholars
- 1x Truman Scholar
- 1x Holaday Scholar
The Martinson Honors Program (MHP) continues to attract top talent from across the nation, drawing cadets seeking enriched academic opportunities at USAFA. For the Class of 2029, 90 high-performing cadets were competitively selected into this rigorous and rewarding program. Based on the synergy between our MHP scholars and cadets competing for Nationally Competitive Scholarships, we will leverage growing support for our Graduate Studies Office to ensure we continue to provide enhanced academic and research opportunities for those competing. Lastly, we selected 9 pathfinding cadets to lay the groundwork for earning an AFIT Masters during their time at USAFA, and potentially a short time after they graduate and commission.
Finally, in times of reduced resources, military organizations focus their efforts on their primary missions…we have done the same. Despite the challenges, I am proud to report that our team has ensured the Classes of 2026 and 2027 will have no impact to their declared Majors. Our confidence remains high for the Class of 2028 as well.
Falcon short stick defensive midfielder, Cadet 1st Class Nathan Crouse, controls the ball during the first half of a lacrosse game against Denver, Feb. 8, 2025, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. The Falcons, now making their fourth Division I NCAA Championship Tournament appearance, have battled to a winning record at 8-7 overall and secured the Atlantic Sun Conference lacrosse tournament championship title. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)
Competitive Athletics and Warfighter-Focused Physical Training
Warrior ethos was further cultivated through competitive environments. The Academy’s Division I athletics, club sports, intramurals and physical education courses placed cadets in environments that demanded physical toughness, mental resilience, discipline, teamwork and composure under pressure. Examples of 2025 athletic excellence include:
- 6 Individual National Champions and 3 Team National Champions
- 36 All-American Honors
- 3 programs finishing in NCAA Top 25
- Conference Title for Men’s Lacrosse
- Women’s Soccer making the conference playoffs for first time since 2017
- Men’s Cross Country Team & 2x Women competing in the NCAA Nationals
- Marathon team was 9th/10th/14th place (out of 30,000+ finishers) at Marine Corps Marathon…3 cadets finished in top 0.8% of all runners at Boston Marathon.
U.S. Air Force Academy cadets participate in a core physical education course at the Academy, Colo., Sept. 30, 2025. The training develops essential skills, such as water confidence, while also instilling the grit, resilience, and teamwork needed for future officers, aviators, and warfighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Warfighter Physical Education and Fitness Standards
Our Athletic Department improved our physical education with additional warfighting courses and enhanced physical fitness standards. Across 23 courses and more than 500 total sections, cadets built foundational fitness, air/land/sea warrior skills and confidence, and future job-focused fitness.
New warfighter physical education courses were introduced to include:
- Rated Physical Readiness prepared aviation focused cadets for operational career fields.
- Advanced Water Survival built teamwork/decision-making.
- Close Quarters Battle emphasized small-team tactics in confined spaces.
- A Warfighter Capstone (beta) course combined fitness, mental toughness, combatives and water survival concepts in a single, integrated team experience.
Finally, we raised minimum performance thresholds on our cadet fitness assessments. Beginning with the fall 2025 testing cycle, cadets were required to meet minimum standards on every PFT event and a minimum time on the AFT to pass, reinforcing that every graduate must be prepared to meet the physical demands of operational service. Cadets rose to the challenge and increased the overall Cadet Wing’s fitness scores by nearly 3%.
U.S. Air Force Academy cadets attend the Exemplar Dining-In at Mitchell Hall, Sept. 4, 2025. The Class of 2028 honored Sgt John Levitow, who earned the Medal of Honor as an Airman First Class during the Vietnam War, as their class exemplar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)
Class Accomplishments
Class of 2025 “Psycho” –
909 graduated with 791 commissioning into USAF, 93 into USSF, 5 cross commissions, and 14 internationals with 448 to rated jobs (16% increase from prior year).
Class of 2026 “Sarge” –
962 cadets stepped up to lead the Cadet Wing through significant change. 862 going to USAF and 100 going to USSF with 605 rated slots (35% increase from prior year).
Class of 2027 “Scourge” –
98.6% of the Class of 2027 (1,010 cadets) who completed their C3C year committed to serve our nation (one of the highest rates in last 17 years).
Class of 2028 “Spooky” –
1,058 finished their C4C year and chose their Class Exemplar, Medal of Honor Recipient, Sgt John Levitow.
Class of 2029 –
1,092 cadets joined the Cadet Wing. The Class of 2029 came prepared and excelled on their first physical fitness test…delivering the highest scores in the last 5 years.
Future Class of 2030 –
As of today, the Academy had more than 10,000 applicants for a future class, an 11% increase over the previous 3-year average at this point in the admissions cycle.
A U.S. Army Soldier from Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, instructs Cadet 1st Class Neo Takazawa and Cadet 2nd Class Henry Rasmussen on small-unit tactics during the Cadet Warfighter Instructor Course at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., on July 31, 2025. Using Army Green Berets to coach and mentor upper-class cadets on the required skills to train basic warfighting skills to underclassmen cadets will improve the quality of future military training at the Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Looking Forward
While we could never capture all the incredible accomplishments of our team, we are exceptionally proud of our Academy, our permanent party who wake up every morning to give their all to our future leaders, and those future leaders who will step up to defend our great nation. As this year ends, cadets, faculty, staff, and families can look back on a period that gave us challenges and tested our resilience, to include sustaining our mission through the nation’s longest government shutdown. Yet, by every key measure, our Academy advanced our mission and strengthened our position as America’s premier military service academy.
Through warfighter-focused military training, rigorous academic programs and highly competitive athletics, our Academy is forging leaders of character motivated to a lifetime of service. Our graduates are being developed to lead highly capable teams, deter adversaries and, if deterrence fails, fight and win our Nation’s wars…in air, space and cyberspace.
Our standard is excellence, and that standard applies equally to military training, academics and athletics. Everything we do must have clear operational relevance to the Air Force and Space Force we serve. I am deeply grateful for the hard work, professionalism, and perseverance of our cadets, faculty, staff and families across Team USAFA this year—they are the reason we remain on course, shaping air- and space-minded officers who will stand at the forefront of America’s defense for decades to come.