United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School
 |
|
| Type | Federal military academy prep school |
|---|---|
| Established | 1961 |
| Commander | Colonel Gerald P. Szybist |
|
Administrative staff
|
60 faculty |
| Undergraduates | 240 cadet candidates |
| Location | Colorado Springs, CO, USA |
| Campus | USAF Academy grounds |
| Athletics | 7 varsity teams |
| Colors | Midnight blue █, and white █ |
| Nickname | Huskies |
| Website | USAFAPS Web site |
The U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School—usually referred to as "the Prep School" or "The P School"—was established in May 1961. The school's founder and first commander was Colonel Lee Charles Black. It is located on the campus of the United States Air Force Academy near the Community Center. The Prep School's mission is to prepare, motivate, and evaluate for admission to and success at the Air Force Academy. Students at the prep school are referred to as "cadet candidates" or more informally as "preppies."
The prep school has a staff of 57 people and offers a 10-month program of intense academic preparation, military training, and athletic conditioning, designed to develop in cadet candidates the skills and character necessary to be successful at the Academy. The academic curriculum is focused on mathematics, English, and sciences.
Prospective cadet candidates must:
Like the Academy, admission to the prep school is competitive, with selections made by the Academy director of admissions. If a civilian, Airman, either Active Duty or Reserve, applies for but does not receiving a direct appointment to the Air Force Academy they will automatically be considered for the Prep School. Air Force enlisted may apply directly to the Prep School via Air Force Form 1786, submitted through the unit commander and MPF. Consult AFI 36-2021 for details. Enlisted members from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are not eligible for nomination but can be considered as civilians.
Approximately 240 cadet candidates enter the prep school each summer. Civilian selectees are placed on active duty in the Air Force Reserves while attending the Prep School. Successful completion of the Prep School improves one's chance for an appointment to the Academy but it is not guaranteed. If not selected, prior enlisted are assigned to other duties, usually their previous AFSC, while previous civilian cadet candidates are discharged from the Reserves with no further obligation to the Air Force.
Between 75 and 80 percent of all entering students earn an appointment to the academy. To qualify for an appointment, students must successfully complete the Prep School program in academics, military training, pass the Cadet Physical Fitness Test, exhibit strong ethical character, receive a recommendation from a congressman or the prep school commander and be approved by the Academy board.
Like the main Academy the Prep School is set up like a military unit. Services, engineering, communications, and security are provided by the 10th Air Base Wing.
All cadet candidates are in the Group with their own cadet candidate group commander. They are then divided into 3 squadrons, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, each having their own Air Officer Commanding (AOC) and an Academy Military Training (AMT) enlisted member. AOC's are generally Majors and are in charge of cadet candidates training and discipline. The AMT is a noncommissioned officer who supports the AOC and cadet candidates as well as mentoring over the 10-month program. Each squadron also has a cadet candidate squadron commander. Squadrons are further subdivided into 3 flights consisting of approximately 25 cadet candidates each with their own cadet candidate commander.
...
Wikipedia