NCAA Air Force (and other Academies)

[daniTS]

With AF having such a good season this year, I'm curious about how sports and scholarships work there (I'm not from the US so I only know a little bit about the military schools anyway). But they all get 'scholarships' right? In that it's 'free' but you owe military time after? Does that mean they are exempt from scholarship limits or that their team size can't go past...16? 20? (I've lost the plot on the current roster rules).

Is there any option to be there on a sports scholarship and exempt from the military side of it? Maggie Slife did an interesting interview on All Things Gym Pod recently but they didn't really get into that side of it.

Thanks!

 

[JDB]

Is there any option to be there on a sports scholarship and exempt from the military side of it?

There is not. The service academies are for military officer training. Students don't pay tuition and receive a salary for training. It's different from a sport scholarship.

 

[falcon9]

They cannot go past the roster cap of 20.

Someone that is highly recruited at USAFA is called a "blue chip". Being "blue chipped" at USAFA means a coach has designated a recruit as a high-priority talent, moving them to the top of the applicants. It acts as a "golden ticket," where, if the athlete meets the medical and academic standards (which are very high), they are likely to be admitted. Once admitted... they are normal cadet in every way.

Here is the class of 2027 budget for a female cadet...

https://www.usafa.edu/app/uploads/Budgets-AY-25-26.pdf

Maggie is a 2027 so scroll to page 3.

It is military first at USAFA (from day 1)...



The description of the post...

On college gymnastics’ highest stage, Air Force Gymnastics honors the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) community in recognition of recent missions around the globe and all other unsung operations carried out as a collective effort to keep our air crews safe. Maggie’s championship leo is a testament to both CSAR efforts and of her personal commitment to giving her life in service of our country and its people.

Her leotard was a tribute to this recent mission...

The rescue mission that brought 2 F-15E Strike Eagle crew members home

The operation marked the first publicly acknowledged U.S. ground presence inside Iran since 1980.

www.militarytimes.com

Maggie is waiting to see what career she gets... her first choice was pilot. If she receives a pilot slot she will go off to flight school after the academy. After flight school she will serve active duty in the US Air Force for a minimum of 10 years. Cadets that do not receive a pilot slot serve a minimum of 5 years active duty.

I know Maggie well... I am her Dad.

 

[irichluck21]

Congrats to Maggie!
She did a fantastic job at regionals and nationals.

 

[rlayt]

I’m sure you are proud of her Justin. i hope she gets that Flight School slot.