The United States Air Force Academy, the military academy of the United States Air Force, is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded on April 1, 1954. On July 11, 1955, the first class of 306 cadets was sworn in at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver. Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon, a key figure in the development of the Academy, was appointed the first superintendent. On August 29, 1958, a wing of 1,145 cadets moved to the present site, and less than a year later the Academy received accreditation. On March 3, 1964, the authorized strength of the Cadet Wing was increased to 4,417, and was later reduced to its present number of 4,000.

Contents

1 Women at the Academy 2 Sports at the Academy 3 External links 4 Source

Women at the Academy

President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation October 7, 1975, permitting women to enter the military academies. Women entered the Air Force Academy for the first time on June 28, 1976. The first class with women graduated in May 1980. Twelve percent of the women who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2003 reported that they were victims of rape or attempted rape while at the Academy [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/29/national/29ACAD.html?th . It is estimated that about 20 percent of all women students were victims. Sexual predation was mainly directed toward freshmen and sophomores. Women who complained were generally pushed or counciled out of the academy. This situation has been generally known among the leadership of the United States Air Force, but little has been done until recently to correct the situation or to discipline officers in leadership positions at the Academy [2] http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/23/politics/23CADE.html?th [3] http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/08/politics/08cadets.html?th .

Sports at the Academy

The Air Force Academy competes in the NCAA's Division I-A. Its primary conference is the Mountain West Conference; its gymnastics (men and women) and men's soccer teams compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and its hockey team competes in College Hockey America. The sports teams are called the Falcons.

Air Force plays Colorado State in football every year for the Ram-Falcon Trophy, a travelling award that alternates between the schools. It also has traditional service academy rivalries with Navy and Army.

External links

• Official website http://www.usafa.af.mil
  • Official athletics site http://www.airforcesports.com
  • Official band site http://www.usafacademyband.com/

Source

• Bruegmann, Robert. Modernism at Mid-Century: The Architecture of the United States Air Force Academy. University of Chicago Press: 1995. ISBN 0226076938.
• Fagan, George V. Air Force Academy: An Illustrated History. Johnson Books: 1988. ISBN 1555660320.
• Lui, 'Elizabeth Gill. Spirit and Flight: A Photographic Salute to the United States Air Force Academy. 1996. ISBN 0965258505.