FALCON FAMILY NEWS


September 2008

CLASS STATISTICS (as of 31 August 2008)
Class Men Women Total
2009 893 175 1068
2010 860 191 1051
2011 907 225 1132
2012 1007 279 1286
WING 3672 871 4543


AIR FORCE ACADEMY NAMED BEST SCHOOL IN THE WEST (from the Public Affairs Office)

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy was named the best baccalaureate college in the West for the second year in a row, and received top rankings in engineering in the U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009 rankings.

U.S. News & World Report evaluated 319 universities which offer only undergraduate degrees, and ranked the colleges in four geographic regions: West, North, Mid-west and South.
In the west region, the Academy was the hands-down #1 best baccalaureate college. This region includes Texas, Oklahoma, and every state north, south and west of Colorado, including Alaska and Hawaii.

The ranking was based on a wide range of criteria, including student-faculty ratio, percentage of full time faculty, acceptance rate, average class size, and freshman retention rates. At the Air Force Academy, the student-faculty ratio is 8-to-1; 100 percent of the faculty is full-time; acceptance rate is 17 percent; freshman retention rate is 91 percent; average graduation rate is 78 percent; 66 percent of classes here have less than 20 cadets in the classroom; and zero classes have 50 or more cadets.

The Academy also received top rankings in undergraduate engineering. Overall, the Academy’s undergraduate engineering programs are tied with Pennsylvania’s Bucknell University for the #8 program in the nation this year. The Academy ranked #2 in the nation in aeronautical and astronautical engineering for the eighth consecutive year, behind only Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s main campus. The Academy also tied Massachusetts’ Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering for the #8 slot in the nation in Electrical Engineering. And in undergrad management programs, the Academy tied for #52 with a dozen other colleges.

The engineering rankings are produced after examining a weighted combination of factors. These start with peer assessment by university deans and senior faculty (25 percent), and add in graduation and retention rates (25 percent), faculty resources (20 percent), student selectivity (15 percent), financial resources (10 percent), and alumni giving rate.

The engineering program rankings are separated by which universities offer graduate education programs, and those which have only undergraduate degrees, such as the Air Force Academy.


POLARIS YEARBOOK CLASS OF 2008

Parents of USAFA Class of 2008,

Recently the Cadet Wing Media discovered that some of the Family, Friends and Supporters Messages submitted for the 2008 Polaris yearbook were not published. After conducting a thorough investigation, we discovered that an entire file was omitted during the file transfer to the publisher. We would like to extend a sincere apology for this error. We did not meet our own expectations and more importantly, failed to meet your expectations.

The Cadet Wing Media continues to strive toward our commitment to provide timely products that have set the standard for service academies and civilian colleges and universities. Currently, we are diligently working toward acceptable solutions to compensate this omission. All affected customers have been identified and will be contacted by the Cadet Wing Media office with additional information and proposed solution(s).

Once again, we apologize for any frustration and/or inconvenience this may have caused. Please contact our office via email, cwmedia@usafa.edu, or at 719-333-4644 to discuss any media products. Cadet Wing Media strives to produce the highest quality products and your valuable input contributes to our future success.


CADET STATION POST OFFICE TO OFFER PASSPORT FAIR SEP 23-24 Need a passport? New passport laws planned to go into effect over the next year will soon require all Americans and foreign nationals to have passports when traveling to or from nearby countries like Canada and Mexico, the Americas and Caribbean countries.

The Cadet Station, will offer a special PASSPORT Fair for Cadets and anyone with Cadet Area access on September 23-24 from 0830-1430.

“We will have postal staff knowledgeable in all aspects of processing passport applications including taking your photo for your passport if needed,” said Officer In Charge James Ramirez. “We hope that this special event will make it more convenient for those needing passports that are not able to get to the Community Center Post Office.”

The Post Office recommends bringing the following items to help the process go smoothly: Many area post offices offer passport application service. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or go to www.usps.com to find a passport post office near you and service hours. You can download the application form and get passport costs.

Passport fees: It costs $100 total for adults (16 years and older), with separate payments of $25 to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee and $75 paid to the Department of State for the passport application fee. If you need your passport in less than 6 weeks your application can be expedited for an additional $60 fee for each application, payable to the Department of State. Two-way overnight delivery is strongly encouraged. In such cases, the applicant pays overnight (Express Mail service) delivery costs to the U.S. Postal Service.


MESSAGE FROM MEDICAL GROUP

Cadet Standards

Greetings, and thank you for tuning in to the USAFA parent’s newsletter. I am Colonel Christopher McNulty, commander of Cadet Medical Standards at USAFA. I am board certified in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Association, owned and operated a private practice in Dallas, Texas, for seventeen years, joined the Air Force in 2001, and have been an operational flight surgeon for the last seven years. It has been my delight and honor to have served the cadets at USAFA in a variety of positions for the last three years.

Today, I’d like to discuss the function of Cadet Medical Standards and what we do for cadets pursuing futures as United States Air Force aviators.

Flying safety is the overarching theme of Cadet Medical Standards. The focus and intent of the graduation physical exam process is to medically screen cadet pilot applicants for the Air Force and to ensure a safe, effective flying environment for that individual, his/her aircrew, and the airframe. Most often, we are successful at getting our cadets pilot qualified. However, some individuals we screen have medical conditions that preclude their ability to function safely as a flyer; putting at risk their own safety and health, and jeopardizing mission completion or other aviators. Utilizing specific written guidance, Cadet Standards and the authorities who ultimately qualify cadets as pilots work closely with functional career managers, specialty consultants, flyers and other aircrew (the “line side”) to determine which medical conditions are waiverable and conducive to flying duties, and which cadets are able to safely complete their flying missions without otherwise endangering their health.

I’d like to talk about how we accomplish this task. The Medical Flight Screening program is the primary tool we use to assess the overall medical condition of cadets as it pertains to aviation (piloting) ability, suitability, and safety. The program is managed by Cadet Standards and consists of neuropsychiatric testing, hearing, vision and dental screenings, physical examinations, medical history review and adaptability rating for military aircraft, space & missiles, combat rescue, special tactics, commissioning and aerospace physiology. Most of this testing occurs on-site in our offices. Cadet Standards then collects this data and puts it into a cadet pilot candidate’s “graduation package”. We then work with local medical specialists, the Air Consult Service (ACS) at Brooks City Base, TX, Headquarters Air Education Training Command (the approval authority for graduation flying packages), Air Staff at the Pentagon, and the Cadet Wing here at USAFA to develop and script medical waiver packages for those cadets with medical issues.

The completed “graduation package” is then sent to Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Headquarters USAFA, or Headquarters Space Command for approval. Medical authorities at those locations decide whether to pilot qualify or disqualify a candidate. They also may defer a pilot qualification decision and send the case to the Air Force’s medical specialty authorities at the Air Consult Service. The Air Consult Service reviews the case by either assessing the cadet in person or reviewing the cadet’s medical package, and then making their recommendation to Headquarters.

Two other programs deserve special mention. First, through the Medical Flight Screening program, Cadet Standards works with USAFA’s Laser Refractive Eye Surgery Center to arrange for cadet pilot candidates with significant visual refractive errors to receive corrective Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery on an expedited basis. This outstanding program allows cadets who are otherwise disqualified from flying due to excessive refractive errors, to become pilot qualified before graduation. On average, the USAFA enables 125 or more cadets to receive PRK each year, and most of these do become pilot qualified! Secondly, Cadet Standards works with Headquarters Air Education and Training Command and the Cadet Wing to manage the program for cadets who don’t meet Air Force anthropometric requirements (height, reach, and weight) for functional cockpit checks. Cadets are flown to various AF bases where their ability to manage cockpits and flight decks in a variety of airframes is assessed, thereby allowing those cadets to become pilot qualified in specific types of Air Force aircraft.

Cadet Standards processes Medical Flight Screening packages for over half of the Air Force’s pilot candidates each year. Last year, Cadet Standards provided the Air Force with 685 cadets and their completed Medical Flight Screening packages. My staff and I are very busy, but I can’t think of a better job in the Air Force. Working with our cadets, and seeing them realize their dreams to fly is exciting and humbling. Also, encouraging cadets who are not pilot qualified, and showing them that they too can have a significant impact in today’s Air Force in a variety of challenging positions has been a truly rewarding experience for me. It is an honor and a privilege to work with these young men and women.

Please let me know if you have any questions at: christopher.mcnulty@usafa.af.mil


AIR FORCE MASCOT, THE BIRD, MAKES ALL-AMERICAN MASCOT TEAM

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. –The Bird from the Air Force Academy has been named to the seventh annual Capital One All-America Mascot Team, made up of 12 over-sized and often under-appreciated characters – including three birds, three cats, one bison, one horse, one wolf, one turtle, one bear and a dog. Each of the mascots will be putting their best claw, paw, hoof and talon forward while attempting to claim the title of “Capital One National Mascot of the Year.”

Starting Sept. 8, fans can vote on-line at www.capitalonebowl.com, for their favorite All-American Mascot, who will be announced during the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1. The Bird will be competing in a weekly one-on-one battle with a different mascot.

The team consists of:

The Contenders

Auburn University – Aubie North Carolina State University – Mr.Wuf
Boise State University – Buster Bronco North Dakota State University – Thundar
Brigham Young University – Cosmo Cougar UCLA – Joe Bruin
Iowa State University - Cy University of South Carolina - Cocky
Louisiana State University – Mike the Tiger University of Tennessee - Smokey
University of Maryland -- Testudo United States Air Force Academy – The Bird


“We created this contest to celebrate the unsung heroes of college football,” said Steve Schooff at Capital One. “Last year, a kangaroo from the University of Akron hopped and kicked its way to the top mascot title in the land. This year, we’re anxious to see which mascot will rise to the challenge and claim the throne of Capital One National Mascot of the Year.”

The fan vote is the sole determinant of the winner; the people choose. Voting consists of 11 weekly head-to-furry-head match ups between the All-Americans, with fans being able to vote daily for their favorite mascots. The mascots with the best win/loss records face off in online playoffs starting in November. The winner will be pronounced Capital One National Mascot of the Year on January 1, 2009 during the Capital One Bowl.

“Mascots work as hard as anyone on the field, but are lost in the shadows of touchdown celebrations and pre-season and post-season accolades of the flashy all-star quarterbacks and running backs,” said Dr. Roy Yarbrough, mascot guru and historian. “This is a great tribute to them, and fans should show their support. Bragging rights and national recognition are on the line.”

This year’s eclectic crew of birds, mammals and reptiles were chosen from Division IA and IAA athletic programs with college football teams. They made the squad after being ranked on mascot musts such as interaction with fans, originality and pedigree. The panel of judges included mascot guru and historian, Dr. Roy Yarbrough, and representatives from Capital One.

Over the past six years, Capital One has helped thrust the spotlight on these unsung heroes of the gridiron. The Bird will be starring in a national advertising campaign, which this year features the mascots participating in the Capital One Mascot Challenge – Top Tailgater, a series of unusual (and fictitious) grilling, cooking and tailgating competitions. In addition to the hoopla, The Bird receives $5,000 for its school’s mascot program. The Capital One National Mascot of the Year receives an additional $5,000 scholarship to help fund its school’s mascot program.


U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY
ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
2169 FIELD HOUSE DR.
USAF ACADEMY, CO 80840
(719) 333-2313

Monday, Sept. 8, 2008

AFA’s Peter French earns NCAA sportsmanship award for Division I athletics


USAF Academy, Colo. – Air Force junior Peter French was named the Division I winner of the NCAA Sportsmanship Award today, according to an announcement from the organization. French is one of six national winners, one male and one female each coming from NCAA Division I, II and III.

French is also the Mountain West Conference Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award recipient for 2007-08. The MWC, established in 2005-06 and re-named in honor of the former UNLV faculty athletics representative, is presented to the student-athlete who has distinguished him or herself through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athlete also must demonstrate good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting and be in good academic standing. French is the first Air Force student-athlete to earn the MWC Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award.

“If ever there was an example of a cadet at the Air Force Academy living our top core value, integrity first, it’s Peter French’s act of sportsmanship at the international fencing championships,” said Air Force Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh. “In a perfect world, all athletes would exhibit that level of sportsmanship, but that’s not reality. We’re all very proud that peter has ingrained such a high level of character that this act was spontaneous and natural for him. Our congratulations go out to him for an award well earned.”

A native of Austin, Texas, French has competed as a member of the Falcons' fencing team for two years. He routinely portrays the ideals of sportsmanship and competitive respect, and his character was never more evident than during a match at the 2008 Junior Men's Epee World Cup in Basel, Switzerland. During a bout to determine the top eight individuals and eventual selection to the world team, French struck the floor in a failed attempt for his opponent's foot. The scoring director did not observe the floor touch, and awarded a point to French. Immediately, French acknowledged the mistake and asked the director to remove a point from French's score - a gesture not usually exhibited in international competition. French's opponent thanked him for his sportsmanship and the bout continued. Several touches passed, and French's opponent accidently hit the floor. He, too, acknowledged his mistake with a mutual understanding he was returning the earlier favor. French emerged from the bout victorious and later finished third in the competition, leading to his selection to the world team.

In addition to his academic and athletic commitments, French maintains an active role in the fencing community, conducting weekly instruction classes with local youth to help them develop their fencing skills while instilling the ideals of sportsmanship, respect and integrity. He has been involved in house-building projects and sports camps in post-Katrina New Orleans and has also extended his community service role overseas, teaching English in a Latvian orphanage.