32 C.F.R. Subpart B—Nomination Procedures and Requirements
Title 32 - National Defense
The Air Force Academy conducts a precandidate evaluation program as an initial step in the admissions process and as an aid to Members of Congress in screening their applicants for nomination. (a) Applicants normally are sent a precandidate packet, including USAFA Form 149, Precandidate Questionnaire, with a request for the applicant to provide academic, athletic, leadership, and medical information. (b) The Academy evaluates the precandidate information and provides an analysis to appropriate congressional offices. Such information gives the nominating authorities an indication of the applicant's potential to qualify for admission and the applicant's self-reported medical status; it does not, however, reflect the applicant's final admission status. It is intended only to aid in selecting the best-qualified applicants for nomination. (c) Applicants whose evaluation indicates they are fully qualified will be notified and advised to seek a nomination. Individuals whose evaluations reflect areas needing improvement are informed and encouraged to submit additional test scores or information in an effort to meet the qualifying levels. Individuals who meet the basic eligibility requirements of §901.4 may apply for a nomination according to their domicile (permanent legal residence). (a) U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, the District of Columbia Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico are each authorized a quota of five cadets attending the Academy at any one time. If a vacancy occurs in their quota, each may nominate ten candidates to fill each vacancy. (b) Delegates in Congress from Guam and from the Virgin Islands are each authorized a quota of two cadets attending the Academy at any one time. If a vacancy occurs in their quota, each may make ten nominations. Eligible residents may apply for a nomination directly to their Delegate. (c) The Governor of Puerto Rico, the Delegate from American Samoa, and the Panama Canal Commission Administrator may each have one cadet attending the Academy and each may nominate ten candidates to fill their vacancy. (1) Applicants domiciled in and natives of Puerto Rico may apply to the Governor of Puero Rico in addition to the Resident Commissioner. (2) Applicants domiciled in American Samoa may apply to their Delegate. (3) Children of civilian personnel of the U.S. Government residing in the Republic of Panama who are citizens of the United States may apply to the Panama Canal Commission Administrator. (d) Nominating authorities in these categories normally submit their nominations by January 31 for the class entering the following summer. (1) These nominating authorities may nominate only if a vacancy occurs from their authorized quota of cadets attending the Academy. Vacancies normally occur from graduation or separation of cadets from the Academy. Failure of a member of a graduating class to complete the Academy program with his class does not delay the admission of his or her successor. HQ USAF/DPPA maintains the master records of cadets nominated and appointed, determines vacancies in each nominating authority's quota, and validates nominations submitted by each nominating authority. (2) These nominating authorities forward their nominations on DD Form 1870, Nomination for Appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, or Air Force Academy, for each Air Force Academy nominee through HQ USAF/DPPA, Washington, DC 20330–5060, to USAFA/RRS, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840–5651. The Vice President of the United States nominates from the United States at large, and is authorized a quota of five cadets attending the Academy at any one time. For each vacancy occurring in the quota, ten individuals may be nominated to fill the vacancy. Requests for a nomination are submitted directly to the Vice President no later than October 31. Any individual who meets the basic eligibility requirements of §901.4 may apply to the Vice President for a nomination. The Vice President forwards nominations on DD Form 1870 for each Air Force Academy nominee through HQ USAF/DPPA, Washington, DC 20330–5060, to USAFA/RRS, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840–5651. Appointments to fill vacancies from this category are made from candidates in order of merit. One hundred appointments are authorized each year. (a) The child of a Regular or Reserve member of the Armed Forces of the United States is eligible for nomination if: (1) The parent is on active duty and has completed 8 years of continuous active duty service (other than for training) by July 1 of the year that the candidate would enter the U.S. Air Force Academy; or (2) The parent was retired with pay or was granted retired or retainer pay (children of reservists retired and receiving pay pursuant to 10 U.S.C., chapter 67, are ineligible); or (3) The parent died after retiring with pay or died after being granted retired or retainer pay (children of such reservists who were retired and receiving pay pursuant to 10 U.S.C., chapter 67, are ineligible); and (4) The applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements for the Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CODDV) nomination category. (By law, a person eligible for appointment consideration under the DOCCV category is not a candidate in the Presidential category.) (b) An eligible individual applies to USAFA/RRS, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840–5651. A suggested letter format is included in the precandidate packet. The nominating period opens on May 1 and closes January 31. Applicants do not write directly to the President of the United States, since the applications are processed by the Air Force Academy. Note: For the purpose of this category, children are defined as the natural children of a parent and adopted children whose adoption proceedings were initiated before their 15th birthday.
Title 32: National Defense
PART 901—APPOINTMENT TO THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Subpart B—Nomination Procedures and Requirements
§ 901.7 Precandidate evaluation.
§ 901.8 Congressional and U.S. Possessions categories.
§ 901.9 Vice-Presidential category.
§ 901.10 Presidential category.
§ 901.11 Children of deceased or disabled veterans and children of military or civilian personnel in a missing status category.
Appointments to fill vacancies from this competitive category are made from candidates in order of merit. Appointments authorized in this category are limited to 65 cadets at the Academy at any one time.
(a) The child of a deceased or disabled member of the Armed Forces of the United States is eligible for nomination if:
(1) The parent was killed in action or died of wounds or injuries received or diseases contracted while in active service or of preexisting injury or disease aggravated by active service; or
(2) The parent has a permanent service-connected disability rated at not less than 100 percent resulting from wounds or injuries received or diseases contracted while in active service, or of preexisting injury or disease aggravated by active service.
(b) The child of a parent who is in “missing status” is eligible if the parent is a member of the Armed Services or a civilian employee in active government service who is officially carried or determined to be absent in a status of missing; missing in action; interned in a foreign country; captured, beleaguered, or beseiged by a hostile force; or detained in a foreign country against the person's will.
(c) To request a nomination in this category, an individual submits an application to USAFA/RRS between May 1 and January 31. A suggested letter format is included in the precandidate packet.
Note: For the purpose of this category, children are defined as the natural children of a parent and adopted children whose adoption proceedings were initiated before the 15th birthday.
§ 901.12 Honor military and honor Naval schools—AFROTC and AFJROTC category.
Appointments to fill vacancies from this competitive category are made from candidates in order of merit. Twenty appointments are authorized each year.
(a) Honor military and honor Naval schools:
(1) Five honor graduates, or prospective honor graduates, from each designated honor military and honor naval school may be nominated to fill the vacancies allocated to this category. School authorities must certify that each nominee is a prospective honor graduate or an honor graduate, and meets the basic eligibility requirements.
(2) School authorities submit nominees directly to the Academy (USAFA/RRS) using specific nomination forms. Such nominations are submitted no later than January 31 of the entry year. Nominations are not limited to honor graduates of the current year. An individual eligible for nomination in this category applies to the administrative authority of the school involved.
(b) AFROTC and AFJROTC:
(1) Five students from each college or university AFROTC detachment may be nominated to compete for the vacancies allocated in this category.
(i) Students must apply for nomination to the Professor of Aerospace Studies (PAS) who must certify that the applicants meet the basic eligibility requirements and have or will have satisfactorily completed at least 1 year of scholastic work at the time the class for which they are applying enters the Academy.
(ii) The PAS uses the forms provided by the Academy to recommend for nomination the five best-qualified applicants to the president of the educational institution in which the AFROTC detachment is established.
(iii) Nominations from the president of the institution are submitted directly to the Academy (USAFA/RRS) by January 31 of the entry year.
(2) Five students from each high school AFJROTC detachment may be nominated to compete for the vacancies allocated to this category.
(i) Students must apply for nomination to the Aerospace Science Instructor, who must certify that the applicants meet the basic eligibility requirements and have or will have successfully completed the prescribed AFJROTC program by the end of the school year.
(ii) The Aerospace Science Instructor uses the nomination forms provided by the Academy to recommend for nomination the five best-qualified applicants to the principal of the high school in which the AFJROTC detachment is established.
(iii) Nominations from the principal of the high school are submitted directly to the Academy by January 31 of the entry year.
§ 901.13 Children of Medal of Honor recipients category.
(a) The child of any Medal of Honor recipient who served in any branch of the Armed Forces may apply for nomination. If applicants meet the eligibility criteria and qualify on the entrance examinations, they are admitted to the Academy. Appointments from this category are not limited.
(b) The applicant applies directly to the Academy requesting a nomination in this category. The nominating period opens on May 1 and closes January 31. A suggested letter format is included in the precandidate packet.
Note: For the purpose of this category, children are defined as the natural children of a parent and adopted children whose adoption proceedings were initiated before their 15th birthday.
§ 901.14 Regular airmen category.
Appointments to fill vacancies from this competitive category are made from candidates in order of merit. A total of 85 appointments are authorized from this category each year. Applications must be submitted no later than January 31 of the entry year.
(a) Any enlisted member of the Regular component of the Air Force may apply for nomination. Selectees must be in active duty enlisted status when appointed as cadets.
(b) Regular category applicants must arrange to have their high school transcripts submitted to USAFA/RRS. They must also complete AF Form 1786, “Application for Appointment to the United States Air Force Academy Under Quota Allotted to Enlisted Members of the Regular and Reserve Components of the Air Force,” and submit it to their organization commander who:
(1) Determines if the applicant meets the basic eligibility requirements shown in §901.4 of this part. If disqualified, the application is returned and the applicant is informed of the reason.
(2) Advises the Consolidated Base Personnel Office (CBPO) to hold any reassignment action of the airman pending selection for an appointment. The CBPO places the airman in assignment availability code (AAC) 05 and coordinates on AF Form 1786. Applicants not selected are reassigned on Academy notification to the CBPO. Applicants to technical school follow-on training (if there is any) or PCS to their end assignment also are reassigned. The initial application package from the technical training center CBPO to USAFA/RRS includes the following information on all pipe-line students: name, SSN, AFSC, course graduation date, follow-on training, and end assignment.
(3) Completes an indorsement and forwards AF Form 1786 through the CBPO to USAFA/RRS, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs CO 80840–5651. The commander's indorsement must include a comprehensive statement of the applicant's character, ability, and motivation to become a career officer. Statements in the application regarding component, length of service, and date of birth must be verified from official records.
§ 901.15 Reserve airmen category.
Appointments to fill vacancies from this competitive category are made from candidates in order of merit. A total of 85 appointments are authorized from this category each year. Applications must be submitted no later than January 31 of the entry year.
(a) Any enlisted member of the Air Force Reserve or the Air National Guard of the United States (ANGUS) may apply for nomination.
(b) A Reserve commissioned officer who satisfactorily completes 1 year of service in an active Reserve assignment by July 1 of the year in which admission is sought may apply for vacancies in this category. (Reserve commissioned officer on extended active duty (EAD) may apply for vacancies in the Regular competitive category.) If selected, such candidates must have commissioned officer status terminated and be in the enlisted Air Force Reserve before appointment as Air Force Academy cadets. Cadets in this category who are separated from the Air Force Academy without prejudice and under honorable conditions may apply for reappointment as Reserve commissioned officers.
(c) Reserve category applicants must arrange to have their high school transcripts submitted to USAFA/RRS, complete AF Form 1786, and submit it to their organization commander. The organization commander processes the application as outlined in §901.14(b). A Reserve applicant is not placed on active duty to be processed for nomination or appointment to the Air Force Academy.
(d) Reserve airmen on EAD as a result of an honor suspension from the Air Force Academy Cadet Wing must reapply for admission under the procedures specified in §901.14(b). Additionally, the AF Form 1786 which they submit must be endorsed by their wing commander, as well as their squadron commander, and must make specific recommendations about their potential to conform to Cadet Honor Code standards.
§ 901.16 Superintendent category.
Fifty eligible applicants who have not secured a nomination to the Academy from any other nominating authority may be nominated by the Superintendent. Highly qualified applicants are selected for nomination from the nationwide precandidate program by the Academy. Appointments from this category are made in order of merit from the nationwide pool of qualified alternates to fill the class.
§ 901.17 Foreign students category.
(a) The Academy is authorized to provide instruction to as many as 40 foreign persons at any one time. Foreign citizens must apply to the government of their own country. Coordination with the U.S. Embassy is necessary to ensure all admission and appointment requirements are met. HQ USAF/DPPA effects necessary consultation before nomination invitations are forwarded to each country.
(b) The application must contain complete particulars about the applicant's background and must be submitted as early as possible. Nominations from this category must be received by the Academy by December 31 before their desired summer admission. Applicants in these categories must meet the eligibility and admissions requirements established for all Academy candidates, except the requirement to be a U.S. citizen, and they must be able to read, write, and speak English proficiently.
§ 901.18 Appointment vacancy selection.
To fill a vacancy in the Vice-Presidential quota or in the quota of a nominating authority in the congressional and U.S. Possessions categories, selections for appointment offers are made according to the following nomination methods.
(a) The principal numbered-alternate method. The nominating authority indicates his or her personal preference by designating a principal nominee and listing nine numbered alternate nominees in order of preference, and the appointment is offered to the first fully qualified nominee.
(b) The principal competitive-alternate method. The nominating authority designates his or her principal nominee and names up to nine other nominees who are evaluated by the Academy and ranked behind the principal nominee in order of merit. If the principal nominee is fully qualified, that individual is offered the appointment; otherwise, the fully qualified nominee ranked the highest by the Academy is offered the appointment.
(c) The competitive method. At the request of the nominating authority, the Academy evaluates the records of all the nominees and ranks them in order of merit. The fully qualified nominee ranked the highest by the Academy is offered the appointment.
§ 901.19 Qualified alternate selection.
Fully qualified candidates not offered appointments in their nominating category are placed in a nationwide pool of qualified alternates. To bring the Cadet Wing up to full strength, additional appointments are selected from this pool in order of merit. The first 150 additional appointments are of individuals having nominations from Members of Congress. Thereafter, three of every four additional appointments are of individuals having nominations from the Vice President, Members of Congress, Delegates to Congress (from the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, and Guam), Governor of Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, or Administrator of Panama Canal Commission.
§ 901.20 Notice of nomination.
The Director of Admissions (USAFA/RRS) acknowledges receipt of all applicants' nominations. If not previously received, USAFA/RRS forwards a precandidate questionnaire for completion. If the precandidate questionnaire indicates the potential to qualify for admission to the Academy or the Preparatory School, USAFA/RRS sends the individual a candidate kit which includes: USAFA Form 146, AFA Candidate Personal Data Record; USAFA Form 147, AFA Candidate Activities Record; and USAFA Form 148, AFA Request for Secondary School Transcript; AF Form 2030, Drug Abuse Certificate; and complete processing instructions.
§ 901.21 Notification of selection or nonselection.
(a) Notification of candidates selected for appointment are furnished by USAFA/RRS to HQ USAF/DPPA. HQ USAF/DPPA notifies Members of Congress and the Vice President of offers of appointment. After HQ USAF/DPPA notifies the nominating sources and advises USAFA/RRS that notification has been completed, USAFA/RRS notifies each appointee (civilian, Regular or Reserve service member) by letter, enclosing an acceptance or declination statement form. On receipt of an acceptance statement for each unconditional offer of appointment, USAFA/RRS forwards the completed candidate file to Cadet Examinations and Records (USAFA/RR). Conditional offers of appointment that have been accepted are held by USAFA/RRS until the conditional factor is resolved—medical status cleared, satisfactory preparatory school or college transcript received, proof of citizenship provided, etc. HQ USAF/DPPA is notified of removal of conditional status from offer of appointment in order to notify nominating sources as stated above. USAFA/RR completes admissions in-processing by:
(1) Forwarding an appointment kit which includes detailed reporting instructions to each appointee.
(2) Issuing invitation to travel orders.
(3) Notifying the Directorate of Cadet Personnel (USAFA/DPYC) of Regular airmen appointees. Regular airmen in technical school completes all phases of training, if time permits, before reporting to the Academy. On graduation, the airmen remain at the technical school in casual status (unless otherwise directed by HQ AFMPC/MPCRAC1) until earliest reporting date for the Academy.
(b) The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) notifies applicants of their medical status. USAFA/RRS informs HQ USAF/DPPA of changes in medical status of candidates offered conditional appointments.
(c) USAFA/RRS notifies each unsuccessful candidate by May 1. For active duty Air Force personnel, the servicing CBPO also is notified and cancels the airman's Assignment Availability Code 05.
§ 901.22 Notification of change of address or station assignment.
The applicant or nominee is personally responsible for notifying USAFA/RRS, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840–5651, of every change of address or station assignment. Notifications from military personnel must include complete name, grade, SSN, and new organization or unit to which assigned.
§ 901.23 Filling Presidential and airmen nominating categories.
If any of the annual quotas of cadets authorized in the Regular airman, Reserve airman, or Presidential nomination categories are not filled, then candidates from the other two categories may fill the vacancies on a best-qualified basis.
§ 901.24 Supply of forms.
USAFA Forms 146, 147, 148 and 149 are stocked and issued by USAFA/RRS, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840–5651. DD Form 1870 is stocked and issued by the Air Force Academy Activities Group, HQ USAF/DPPA, Washington, DC 20330–5060.
§ 901.25 Obligation of cadet appointment.
(a) A cadet who enters the Air Force Academy directly from civilian status and takes an oath of allegiance as a cadet normally assumes a military service obligation of not less than 6 years nor more than 8 years under 10 U.S.C. 651.
(b) A cadet who enters the Air Force Academy from the Regular or Reserve component of the Air Force and fails to complete the Academy course of instruction reverts to enlisted status to complete any prior service obligation under 10 U.S.C. 516.
(c) If they are minors, cadets are required to sign an agreement with the parent's or guardian's consent that they will fulfill the following obligations:
(1) Complete the Academy course of instruction unless disenrolled from the Academy by competent authority.
(2) Accept an appointment and on graduation serve as a commissioned officer in a Regular component of one of the armed services for 5 years.
(3) Serve as a commissioned officer in the Reserve component until the 8th anniversary if authorized to resign from the Regular component before the 8th anniversary of their graduation.
(4) Be subject to the separation policies in AFR 53–3 and, perhaps, be required to serve on active duty in enlisted status if disenrolled from the Academy before graduation.
(5) Reimburse the U.S. Air Force under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force for the costs of Academy education if the recipient, voluntarily or because of misconduct, fails to complete the period of active duty incurred.
§ 901.26 Cadet's oath of allegiance.
On admission, each appointee (except foreign cadets) will be required to take the following oath of allegiance:
I (name), having been appointed an Air Force cadet in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which I am about to enter. So Help Me God.
If an appointee refuses to take and subscribe to the oath, the appointment is terminated.
§ 901.27 Charging of appointees.
Appointment of candidates is according to §901.18. Selecting of the charged cadets from the nominees for each vacancy is accomplished as follows:
(a) Principal nominee, numbered-alternate method. Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged. Otherwise the 1st alternate, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged or the next succeeding numbered alternate who meets the admission criteria is appointed and charged. In instances where a candidate received two principal nominations from two Congressional sources, the principal normally is charged to the Member of Congress submitting the principal nomination first.
(b) Principal nominee, competitive-alternate method. Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged. All alternates are ranked according to merit. If the principal does not meet admission criteria, the highest ranking alternate is appointed and charged.
(c) Competitive nominee method. The group of competitive nominees are evaluated, ranked according to merit, and the highest-ranked nominee, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged.
(d) Multiple Congressional nominations. For candidates receiving numerous nominations, normally the candidate is charged to the congressional source. If the candidate is nominated by several congressional sources, the candidate normally is charged to the slate of the congressional member where the candidate ranks the highest, unless the candidate is the principal nominee or a numbered alternate.
(e) Other sources of nomination. All other candidates not nominated by congressional, Vice-Presidential, or U.S. Possessions who are appointed are charged to that nominating source (Presidential, AFJROTC, AFROTC, CODDV, Medal of Honor, etc.).
(f) Qualified alternates. To bring the Cadet Wing up to strength, the qualified alternate appointed according to §901.19 is charged to the Secretary of the Air Force as a qualified alternate. Those candidates having congressional, Vice-Presidential, or U.S. Possessions nominations appear as a qualified alternate for that nominating source.
(g) Multiple congressional and other sources of nominations. For appointees who have multiple nominations, USAFA/RRS determines the appointment category to which they are assigned. Normally a cadet with both congressional and non-congressional nominations is assigned to a congressional authority. Designation of “charged” cadets (those filling a Vice-Presidential, congressional, or U.S. Possessions quota) also is accomplished by USAFA/RRS according to §901.18. USAFA/RRS notifies HQ USAF/DPPA of these assignments which are audited and verified by HQ USAF/DPPA. The Vice Presidential and nominating authorities in Congress and U.S. Possessions are notified of their charged appointees and other nominees who win appointments by HQ USAF/DPPA.
§ 901.28 OMB approval of information collection requirements.
The information collection requirements in this part 901 have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control numbers 0701–0026, 0701–0063, 0701–0064, 0701–0066 and 0701–0087.
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