The essential and enduring mission of the United States Air Force Academy 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. As a commissioning source, USAFA must ensure all education and training supports Air Force development goals, objectives, and competency requirements as outlined in AFI 36-2014. The Officer Development System (ODS) is USAFA’s approach to developing cadets in the Air Force’s overarching Force Development process. The ODS’s purpose is to: 1) develop each cadet’s appreciation that being an officer is a noble way of life, 2) foster a commitment to character-based officership, and 3) develop competencies essential to this identity as a character-based officer/leader. The ODS replaced the previous overarching training document called, “The USAF Academy Training Philosophy” (ATP) in 2004. The operational development of cadets is managed through the Cadet Military Education and Training Plan (CMETP) which integrates education, training, and experiences at the right place Written by Russell W. Meyer, and time during a cadet’s four years at the Academy to develop leaders of character. In support of Deputy Director of Training and Support this developmental growth plan, the competencies from the appropriate level of leadership (Personal, the tactical level. To the maximum extent possible, cadets are responsible for planning and executing all the military training that occurs Interpersonal, Team, and Orgaat USAFA. Cadet training officers work with permanent party officers, NCOs and civilians to build their military training activities, nizational) are defined for each and then are mentored by their Air Officers Commanding and Academy Military Trainers during the execution phase. These military phase of a cadet’s development, leadership opportunities enhance the leadership and character growth throughout a cadet’s four years at USAFA. All cadets participate and require cadets be assigned spein a number of military training events infused throughout the fall and spring academic semesters. cific duties within their squadron Academic year training includes; dorm and uniform inspections, parades, drill and ceremonies, open ranks inspections, safety to implement military training at and unit compliance inspections, and preparation for two wing-wide culminating training events each year. Four Degree Recognition is the pinnacle event of every fourth-class cadet. Fourth-classmen are pushed to their limits in displaying their discipline, stamina, fitness and military knowledge over three days of grueling and intense training events. Recognition is signified by awarding of the Cadet Prop and Wings and signifies that they have conquered their first year at USAFA. Polaris Warrior is a measure of squadron level leadership and execution of small unit military objectives. Each squadron trains throughout the year and then competes against 39 other squadrons in combat arms skills, small unit tactics, land navigation and the firemen’s challenge. These two culminating events are designed to instill a warrior ethos in each cadet and enhance unit pride. Much of the military training that occurs during the academic year builds cadet cadre expertise to execute military training during the nine weeks of summer training. The myriad of summer military and leadership training programs makes the Academy unique from AFROTC, OTS and other Universities. There are three main military training programs at USAFA that all cadets must participate in. Two of these programs have existed at the USAF Academy since the Academy’s inception—basic cadet Training (BCT) and Operation Air Force (Ops AF). For all intents and purposes, BCT has not changed significantly overtime. BCT in-processes new Cadet Candidates into the USAF Academy, and jumpstarts them on their four-year journey to becoming an officer of character. Much like academic year squadrons, all aspects of BCT are led and executed by upperclass cadet cadre. basic cadets are trained to wear the uniform correctly, observe military customs and courtesies, march, maintain proper room standards, and enhance their physical conditioning. During the last two weeks of the 38-day program, basic cadets march out to Jacks Valley where they are exposed to a number of military training, team, and endurance-building events. While in the Valley, the basic cadets live in a bare-base environment (tent city), run through the Obstacle course, Confidence Course, Assault Course, Leadership Reaction Course, and fire the M-16 rifle at the Combat Arms Training Facility. All third-class cadets go through Expeditionary, Survival and Evasion Training (ESET), which is a relatively new program at USAFA. ESET includes hands on lessons in dismounted operations, military operations in urban terrain, tactical combat casualty care, handgun and M-16 familiarization, CBRNE, urban evasion, personnel recovery operations, sustenance and land navigation. The program culminates with 48 hours of evasion on the front range of the USAF Academy. Gone from the previous SERE pro-
The state of military training at USAFA is in one word, “Strong.”
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