USAFA Preparatory School
Mission of the USAF Academy Preparatory School
The mission of the USAF Academy Preparatory School is to motivate, prepare, and evaluate selected candidates in an academic, military, moral, and physical environment to perform successfully and enhance diversity at USAFA.
The United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, better known as the "Prep School," is designed to academically, physically and militarily prepare qualified young men and women to enter the Academy. If you are not accepted into the Academy, you may receive an appointment to the Prep School. Successful completion of the Prep School improves chances for appointment as an Air Force Academy cadet, but does not guarantee one.
Basic Military Training
Military training at the Prep School is focused on the Air Force Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. Military training is a part of a Cadet Candidate's everyday life. Upon arrival at the Prep School, Cadet Candidates enter a 18-day indoctrination program called Basic Military Training (BMT).
BMT is designed to orient Cadet Candidates to the military lifestyle and teach them about the organization of the Air Force, military customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, military history, Core Values, the Honor Code and proper wearing of the uniform. Cadet Candidates are briefed in detail on the standards of conduct and appearance they will be expected to maintain while at the Prep School. To ensure that they uphold these standards, candidates undergo regular inspections of their uniforms and personal appearance as well as their rooms and the overall dormitory.
The Department of Military Training is led by the Commander of the 1st Preparatory Group. Working directly with each squadron is the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), the Military Training Officer (MTO) and the Academy Military Training (AMT) Noncommissioned Officer (NCO). The role of the AOC, MTO, and AMT NCO is trainer, disciplinarian, counselor, advisor, and often mentor and confidant to the Cadet Candidates. Each year is concluded with a three-day exercise called the Transition Exercise (TX). It is designed to be a physical and mental review of all they have learned for the year.
Parents' Weekend -- Labor Day Weekend, 3-6 September, 2010
Parents' Weekend will take place during the Labor Day Weekend, 3 – 6 Sep 2010. This is an annual event not only for the Preparatory School but also for the USAFA Academy's nearly 4,000 cadets. For this reason it is important to make reservations for transportation and lodging as early as possible. As you can imagine, with the onslaught of so many proud parents and friends visiting the Colorado Springs area, the availability of airline tickets, hotels, and rental cars is limited. For local information on hotels, rental cars and local attractions, contact Colorado R & R. Their phone number is (719) 333-7367 or 1-877-517-3381 (toll free) or www.coloradorandr.com. Another option available is the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce at www.coloradospringschamber.org.
Several activities are planned for this exciting weekend. Some of these activities include a Preparatory School campus and classroom visit, a Preparatory School military parade, a Preparatory School football game, and an Air Force Academy football game. In addition to events specifically provided by the Air Force Academy, there are also many tourist attractions in Colorado Springs to visit and explore.
Although the schedule is not yet fixed, there are several factors that you might want to consider when making your plans. Parents and family have the opportunity to accompany their cadet candidate to class on Friday morning…classes begin at 0730 and end at 1130. Cadet candidate Appointees are required to attend our football game on Friday afternoon, the parade on Saturday morning, and the USAF Academy Football game on Saturday afternoon. They will be allowed to spend the remainder of the weekend with their family and friends until 1800hrs (6 pm) on Monday, 6 September. There is a full color parking pass included in this packet that will admit you to the Prep School parking lot. Only one parking pass per student; please do not photocopy the pass but detach it from this packet and bring with you to Parent's Weekend. More detailed event information will be available starting on 1 Aug at http://www.usafa.edu/superintendent/pl/Parents/ParentsWeekend.cfm.
Information is updated daily so please check the web site regularly. If you do not have access to a computer you may call Student Services for updated information at (719) 333-3057. As stated above, the schedule is not yet fixed. For this reason the cadet candidate Appointees will be briefed after classes begin in August regarding Parents' Weekend events. After that briefing, your cadet candidate Appointee will have more information for you concerning specific events.
United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School 2010 Football Schedule
To be announced
Graduation 2011
15 May 2011 -- Baccalaureate
17 May 2011 -- Graduation
2010-2011 Academic Calendar
| July 14 | Prep School Class of 2010 Arrives |
| July 31 | BMT Graduation |
| Aug 4 | First Quarter Begins |
| Sep 3 - 6 | Parents' Weekend |
| Sep 6 | Labor Day Holiday (No classes) |
| Oct 6-7 | First Quarter Final Exams |
| Oct 8 | Second Quarter Begins |
| Oct 11 | Columbus Day Holiday (No classes) |
| Nov 11 | Veteran's Day Holiday (No classes) |
| Nov 24 - 28 | Thanksgiving Day Holiday (No classes) |
| Dec 16-17 | Second Quarter Final Exams |
| Dec 18 - Jan 2 | Winter Break |
| Jan 3 | Third Quarter Begins |
| Jan 17 | Martin Luther King, Jr Day (No classes) |
| Feb 21 | President's Day Holiday (No classes) |
| Mar 2 - 3 | Third Quarter Final Exams |
| Mar 10 | Fourth Quarter Begins |
| Mar 19 - 27 | Spring Break |
| May 9 - 10 | Final Exams |
| May 11 - 14 | Team Building Exercise (TX) |
| May 15 | Baccalaureate |
| May 17 | Graduation |
Mailing letters and packages
Each Cadet Candidate (C/C) is issued a PO Box number. This address is for 1st class mail [letters, cards, magazines, etc] and boxes delivered via USPS. The address will look like the following:
C/C John Doe
PO Box XXXX
5136 Eagle Dr
USAF Academy CO 80840
Packages delivered by UPS or FEDEX cannot be mail to the PO Box because someone must be present to receive and sign for the package. Employees of the U.S. Post Office will not provide this service. Packages delivered by either UPS or FEDEX are mailed to the following address:
C/C John Doe
5216 Cedar Dr, Ste 204
USAF Academy CO 80840
This address is the Student Services office. Student Services receives and signs for all packages delivered via UPS and FEDEX. The cadet candidate is notified of the received package and picks it up and sign for it at Student Services.
