What should I do to get into the Air Force Academy?

My response must be measured by the fact that my three attempts or nominations to the AF Academy were more than 30 years ago and things could be different today, yet what I garner is that they are not much different so my experiences will give you a good guide.

I was a Cadet Commander, Commander of the Drill Team that won state and regional drill competitions, and an IACE cadet to UK for the summer of 1978. In 1976 and 77 my parents allowed us to host German Air Cadets (one of whom we are lifelong family friends to this day and he and his wife are doctors in Germany). I had always wanted to fly, and particularly in the Air Force for most of my childhood, and when I was 16 completed private flying training to get my license by sometime in the year I was age 17. I graduated H.S. in 1978 and just before that my dad and others on my behalf got many letters of recommendation and Congressional nomination to the AF Academy, and I was turned DOWN! Yikes! (I had no H.S. sports "letter").

So in fall of 1978 I entered my freshman year at college and joined ROTC. At ROTC, the PAS (Professor of Aerospace Studies) learned my wishes and helped me get a package together for an ROTC nomination to the AF Academy...again, I was turned down...and I was the only freshman at that time, to be asked to be on the Honor Guard because I knew what I was doing, and the subsequent freshman classman of the year won an award in my name as sharpest cadet of the freshman class!!!

Late in the first couple years of ROTC, I was tracking for a pilot slot and had to take a flight physical and found "color blind" (I was not, but "shade deficient", yet at that time airlines weren't hiring and the USAF pilots were "staying in", so the slots were not opening up fast and competition to get a "rated slot" were fierce). Once labeled "color blind", thus could not track into flying, I became despondent and dropped out of college, enlisted in the Air Force and after basic training and technical school, was assigned to an active duty unit. I had earned honor graduate from basic and tech school and was noted as a "sharp, fast burner" in the enlisted ranks with others expecting me to make a career and become a "chief" So the commander of my outfit learned of my dream and got a friend of his who was also a Lt. Col and an "Academy Liaison Officer" to come visit me and I got an "Airman's Nomination" to the Academy! The third time!!! But I was turned down.

I am not saying this to be bitter, but to cut to the chase: My mom worked in our school district I graduated from in high school and the year after I was in ROTC (the second time turned down to the Academy), a friend of hers who also worked in our schools son was directly appointed to the Academy because he was captain of the Hockey team. Another family acquaintance was a liaison officer who had an appointee (like me) with CAP and other nominations, but NO letter in a sport...nor "minority status" (sorry if this offends you but this PC stuff is real) and he was told to "drop the excellent candidate and offer a direct appointment to a high school "Tennis Star"! And more stories like this.

In each case I found the persons or my folks knew their families and learned these kids had: 1) no interest in the military prior to being offered an appointment to the Academy; 2) they had less academic standing than I did; 3) some had glasses (at the time that was almost a sure no-appointment due to non-fly status) which I did not have glasses; 4) they had no Civil Air Patrol, nor other military oriented experience nor predisposition; and 5) they had no political recommendation such as I did, i.e., the mayor, state and federal legislators, business and religious leaders and teachers, etc., for appointment (all that I had: 13 appointment recommendations).

When on active duty, a few minority men, women, and guys who were jocks then who were Academy grads told me directly, as long as I never use their names, that they had far less qual's than I did and they know the got in due to their "status".

You need letters of recommendation from: priest/clergy; mayor, council members, coaches, teachers, mentors, relatives if they have any notable accomplishments in the military, your state Congressional leaders (both state and federal). You should have at least one letter in a high school sport, be active in two to three extracurricular activities with accomplishments of merit. Again, this eclipses CAP and Scouts (strangely, and sadly) unless you have Spaatz (CAP) and Eagle (Scouts). Even a private pilot license as I had is of NO significance if you are not a "jock". If you are, however a "jock" and get any offers for a scholarship to any other college because of your athletic position, you can almost certainly get a direct appointment to the Academy without any further adieu.

Keep up those grades. Don't worry if you don't get straight A's, a B, maybe two won't kill you. Being on a team sport is important, but go with what you like. It sounds like you are practicing good moral character, also good.

It would be good to get involved in a public service activity. Boy Scouts or becoming a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadet comes to mind. The Academy application takes special note if you are an Eagle Scout or Spaatz cadet (CAP cadet full colonel). Neither are easy to achieve, but dedication and commitment will get you there. The CAP cadet program is a Air Force-like program for kids from 12-18 (21 if your are already a cadet). You can learn to fly, get involved in emergency services and other activities. Along the way you learn and practice leadership and learn aerospace and aviation topics. CAP also supplies two bid to the Academy each year, that's an other avenue in.

Programs like these allow you to do exceptional things. Don't be shy about dropping a hint to a reporter when you achieve these. A published account of your achievements is helpful. Look at websites for your US Representative or US State Senator. Not right away, but eventually you will need to catch the eye one of these people. Getting involved in a program they look favorly on will give you a chance to display your leadership abilities. A letter of recommendation to the Academy is often needed for consideration for entry.

Are you taking medication for ADHD? That could be problematic, I don't know.

As indicated in another answer, unless you are not being medicated for Adhd, you will be disqualified not only the Air Force Academy, but, military service. From page 168 of the Usafa Catalog:

"Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Seizure disorders (except febrile convulsions in childhood) or recurrent or severe headaches are disqualifying. History of mental illness, learning disorders and/or any other disorders that may interfere with performance of military duties are disqualifying."

The Air Force Academy website offers outstanding advice to students prepping for a service academy, rotc scholarship or any highly selective university. Open all links to the left of the dialog box. Be sure to open the "Leadership Preparation" link and read it carefully."

http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Preparation

The selection process is nearly identical at the Naval Academy, West Point, and the Air Force Academy, so, whatever is stated on one service academy website or in its catalog with regard to admissions, course selection etc generally holds for the others. If you read the following answer and open the links it should help to explain the selection process and the path to an appointment:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Akhc0...

Page 19 of Chapter 2 of the Naval Academy Catalog indicates classes for a high school student to take to make himself competitive for admission. The classes are arranged in a hierarchy:

http://www.usna.edu/Catalog/

The military considers that the prime goal should be to serve as an officer regardless of service branch or commissioning source. Applying to more than one commissioning program tends to strengthen each application. You should currently be prepping for the Psat (and Sat if you have already taken Algebra 2.) The Psat is only offered once each fall. The Psat Math tests Algebra 1 and Geometry; the Sat adds Algebra 2; the Act adds Algebra 2 and Trigonometry. The Sat should be taken the first time in the Spring of the year taking Algebra 2. Extracurricular reading, looking up unknown words in a dictionary will help with Cr scores:

http://reading.berkeley.edu/

You will need scores from one of these exams to apply for the Air Force Academy Summer Seminar when it opens for applications from HS Juniors on Dec 1 1(accepts 1125.) West Point SLS in mid December(accepts 1,000) and UsnaSummer Seminar on Feb 1(accepts 2250), Coast Guard AIM in February, and Sat or Act scores are also needed to apply for Rotc, Afrotc and Nrotc Scholarships when they open for applications from high school juniors in the Spring of 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao1hC8StUWw

For colleges that require them, schedule Sat Subject exams to coincide with the AP or Final Exam in the course. Suggest joining NHS, as membership is considered leadership by all the service academies and about 2/3 of each Usafa, Usma and Usna class have been members.

Good Luck!

Usafa Honor Guard

make sure you fit all of the physical/medical requirements

join Civil Air Patrol and try to find some sort of JROTC

Take a tour, because unless you don't require medication and your ADHD is minor, you can't join the military.

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Dude you're to young focus on graduating High school first.