United States Air Force Academy

I got to attend the USAFA graduation last week and what an honor that was. The procession was the best I have ever seen. It was amazing to see the President of the United States speak also. I’m still in awe of that moment. The President shook hands with every graduate and that is an amazing honor for every single USAFA graduate that walked across that stage.
The base is huge. I was able to go to one of the halls and to the stadium for the graduation. Beautiful scenery all around. I was glad I was able to go there for a couple of days. Also amazing to see the thunderbirds air show. So cool to see the show after the graduation. Great experience to see this campus while in Colorado Springs.

If anyone gets a chance to play golf here, do not miss that opportunity! The golf course is very well maintained, the beautiful scenic views of the area, so relaxing. During the middle of the day, you’ll see gliders flying around. I love the feel that this course has, makes me proud of all those that served our country and am very grateful. Just a reminder, please respect the course and area, full of history and wonders.

Not a bad way to kill a few hours. Countryside/​mountain setting is quite nice. Something to see where you can feel all weepy-​eyed and patriotic and such. The «Gate Security» grunts are fairly annoying and take things really seriously, they give you the third degree about going inside the compound, hassle you about using the wrong gate, etc. Guess it is a huge target though, but it is sad that they need such fanatic security levels.
The Chapel is insane. Like from some Stalinist Horror Movie. Worth seeing. A full-​metal-​jacket encased, «Militarized Church» as it were. With a chapel like that, there is no doubt that «God is on our Side.»

I was here for a football game, and really enjoyed my time. The parking lot leaves less to be desired; the volunteers need more training on guiding cars into parking spots. There is little to choose from for drinks inside the stadium, its really just water and Pepsi and everything else is sold out before the end of the first quarter. All the food stands are vendors, there isn’t a permanent stand.

After having worked at USAFA as an assistant professor and counselor, and being a retired Air Force officer, I must admit that I am a bit biased. BUT … the Academy IS THE BOMB!
The most majestic location of any of our service academies (sorry West Point and Annapolis), the scenery is awe inspiring. The iconic Cadet Chapel with its towering spires and modern design is the centerpiece, but there is so much more to see.
The Eisenhower Golf Courses (Blue and Silver) are top-​notch, abutting the Rampart Range and challenging even the best golfers, particularly the Robert Trent Jones designed 7,200+ yard Blue Course. I have seen a 12-​point buck (deer) and his harem standing next to the tee munching on an early morning breakfast of grass and, just the other day, a group of wild turkeys foraging through the thickets surrounding the par 5 5^th hole (Blue).
Enter through the North Gate and follow the signs to the Visitor’s Center where you can see many exhibits and take a short walk to the overlook and an up close view of the Cadet Chapel and «The Terrazo» where you can view cadets marching to and from classes, lunch, and appointments during the school year.
CombatCritic Gives the United States Air Force Academy 10 Bombs Out of 10

Stunning is not a strong enough word to describe the beauty of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The Academy is among the most prestigious universities in America. One needs to receive a congressional nomination in order to apply for admission. Even then only fifteen percent of applicants are admitted. Each cadet at the Academy graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation, they commission as second lieutenants in the Air Force, owing a minimum five years of service.
The Air Force Academy was established on April 1, 1954. It was dedicated to training America’s future airmen for «the war in the sky.» The first class consisted of only 306 men. It wasn’t until 1975 that President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation allowing women to enter United States service academies. That piece of legislation led to 157 women entering the Air Force Academy in 1976 – and thousands more from then on. Since the first graduating class, the Academy has graduated over 37,000 officers eager to serve their country.
The Academy offers a wide range of actives for visitors and cadets alike. With 18,000 acres perched along the mountainside, hiking is a popular pastime. Eagles Peak provides a steep, scenic hike with an elevation of 9,368 feet and a rugged trail. The top of the peak offers expansive views that include a bird’s eye view of the Academy campus. The hike is two and a half miles round trip and takes roughly three hours to complete.
Breathtaking turnouts along the road also provide onlookers with fantastic views of the modern Academy campus and the massive Rocky Mountains. Numerous turnouts have displays of Air Force planes that are no longer in use. Signs identify the plane and explain what each particular model was used for.
The Air Force Academy Chapel is another must-​see, beautiful on the inside and out. Seventeen large aluminum spires reach for the sky, and concrete steps lead to the doors of the Protestant Chapel. Inside, the stained glass windows provide a gorgeous purple glow that shines onto the pews, which resemble World War II airplane propellers.
Because the Air Force Academy is a military base, there are rules for visitors. Visitors must enter through the North gate and present a photo I.D. All vehicles are subject to a search, and it is likely that the airmen working the gate will ask you your purpose for visiting and check your trunk. Visitors are not allowed into the gated Academy campus unless escorted by a cadet in full uniform. These security measures are understandable since 9/​11, but it is unfortunate that much of the campus goes unseen to many visitors.
If you find yourself in the Colorado Springs area, it is definitely worth the trip to visit the Air Force Academy. Whether you are looking for outdoor activities or you just want to leisurely explore, the Academy has something to offer. Most activities are free, giving visitors the opportunity to see the mountainous beauty of Colorado.

It’s funny, my husband and I being prior Air Force, how absolutely little we know about the Air Force Academy. Looking for some free things to do in the area, we decided to check it out.
I was really impressed. Such a beautiful campus. I do recommend going to the visitor’s center first and watching the 20 minute film of the process a cadet goes through. It really allows you to look at each area you explore on the campus with a different set of eyes, understanding the steps every cadet takes each year.
The uniquely shaped chapel is the most gawked at part and it is beautiful. I especially loved that organ. I haven’t seen an organ quite that large. But for me, just walking the trails, seeing the views and the campus as a whole was the part I enjoyed most. The visitor’s center, again, is filled with a lot of information to read about. For a free thing to do, I surely recommend it.

We were in Colorado Springs so we had to go out to see the University. The first thing to do is go to the visitor center. They have a great short movie to view and then browse the gift shop. There are only a few places you can visit since ⁹⁄₁₁. One is the Chapel. It is a must see. It is absolutely gorgeous. There are two floors. The upstairs is all faiths and the downstairs is Catholic. Be sure to peak in at booth of them. We you drive out there are a couple of pull outs, one to view the Athletic Fields and another view of the Chapel. And another one to see the giant B-​52 Bomber. It is a sight to see. It’s a shame that so much is off limits but, it is well worth the time to go see.

It’s an alright place to check out. The church is pretty much the –only– unique thing here other than a small memorial building on the other side of the public portion of the base. The church was cool but its only real feature was that it looks unique for the outside. The video inside of the visitor center looked like a genuine recruiting video for making people want to go here for schooling.
Me and a friend ventured around the entire base seeing what we could see but in the end it seems more likely to be just a public relations thing rather than a look inside of the base. You won’t see anything relating to the school or actual operations here unless you have a military clearance.
It’s actually kind of ironic that the church is a symbol here at this school due to the military nature of the actual academy, since there was a lot of news awhile ago about the school promoting religion and forcing students to be religious and ignoring religious views of «other» religions. There is definitely a secretive nature going on that the public cannot see such as an ominous nature being hidden from view to the public.
Short version: It’s cool and all but lacking in public oversight of the actual academy/​base. Many things here seem secretive in nature and such that this public attraction is purely used for minor public relations

Definitely one of the most beautiful universities in the country. The chapel is STUNNING, worth the trip if you’re in Colorado at all.

The most stunning university campus I’ve visited, filled with so many great characters and driven, compassionate personalities.
My well wishes and thoughts go to some of the best raw talents, my little brother, cadets and family members of all classes here at the Academy!
I cannot wait to step foot on this amazing campus comes Parents’ Weekend again and for my brother’s graduation.

If you are in the area, there is no reason not to visit. It’s not so spectacular that I’d go out of the way but by that I don’t mean it’s not worthwhile. The chapel is a modernist masterpiece. Be sure to go downstairs and look at the Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist chapels, all of which are rather interesting. However, it’s the main chapel upstairs that is the real «grabber». Go to the visitors center and watch the film, it’s free and pretty good. I did succumb to kitschmania and bought an Air Force shot glass. The campus is huge and beautiful.

construction. ALL THE TIME.
too many cadets talk and move around in formation.
the flyovers are too high and too slow.
no one takes the hill anymore. not worth it.

Make sure you go to the visitor center first and watch the movie. Then explore some of the displays in the building… you will have a better understanding of the displays.
Most of all, be sure to walk over to the Chapel and go inside to witness the beautiful stain-​glass windows on the ceiling and enormous pipe organ on the second floor (back of the chapel)
Also, watch for cadets who are walking to their classes. See if you can pick out the upper classmen vs the freshman

Wow.
I had seen pictures of the USAFA’s Protestant Chapel, but actually standing in front of it is overwhelming. The design is very modern – it looks like a number of jets upended and in a row – but I like it a lot more now that I’ve seen it at full-​scale. We could not go into the main chapel because weddings were going on, but we did get to go into the basement, where the Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist worshipers are relegated. (Maybe there’s a sub-​basement for everyone else!)
The hike from the visitor’s center to the chapel was moderate and doable, and I walked up with my dad (87). We did stop a few times to admire the view and catch our breath.
All the cadets we saw were so respectful and polite to my parents! (And me.) USAFA, you are doing a good job, these young people are great ambassadors.
The visitor’s center is informative and nicely laid out. As a falconer, I was hoping some of the famous AFA gyrs and peregrines would be doing a demo, but we did not visit on the right day. Oh well, maybe next time! (Can you imagine going to a great college – for free! – and doing falconry as an activity?)
The scale of the USAFA is amazing. Of course, it’s the country’s newest service academy, and aircraft requires a lot of room.
We were there on a beautiful day.
The AFA is very impressive. If you’re in the area, go!

Great place to stop when visiting Colorado Springs.
+ Free admission
+ Informative welcome video
+ Hiking trails
+ Museum and store inside visitors center

President Obama was here! What an honor it was to be here watching him speak and witnessing this amazing Commencement! The fabulous Thunderbirds flew over! Another highlight? My kids caught a hat tossed by a cadet!
What a spectacular event! Hubbys a graduate so it was surreal being here with kids to watch the best of best recieve their diplomas!
If you didn’t make it to the graduation, this is still a wonderful place to visit. Don’t miss it! Beautiful grounds, lots of places to stop and enjoy a great photo op, and the Cadet chapel is usually open during visitors hours.

What a regal piece of real estate! 18,500 acres to be exact. Perched on the mountainside and camouflaged by the pine flora. This was my place of duty for the week during the 2012 Warrior Games. The impressive sporting facilities here are top notch and provided the perfect platform for competing wounded service men and women from all branches of the military, including the British Armed Forces and SOCOM.
The highlight attraction here is the Cadet Chapel, completed in 1962 by renowned architect, Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago. The most striking aspect of the Chapel is its row of seventeen spires. The original design called for nineteen spires, but this number was reduced due to budget issues. The structure is a tubular steel frame of 100 identical tetrahedrons, each 75 feet (23 m) long, weighing five tons, and enclosed with clear aluminum panels. The panels were fabricated in Missouri and shipped by rail to the site. The tetrahedrons are spaced a foot apart, creating gaps in the framework that are filled with 1-​inch-​thick (25 mm) colored glass. The tetrahedrons comprising the spires are filled by triangular clear aluminum panels, while the tetrahedrons between the spires are filled with a mosaic of colored glass in aluminum frame.
The Cadet Chapel itself is 150 feet (46 m) high, 280 feet (85 m) long, and 84 feet (26 m) wide. The front façade, on the south, has a wide granite stairway with steel railings capped by aluminum handrails leading up one story to a landing. At the landing is a band of gold anodized aluminum doors, and gold anodized aluminum sheets apparently covering original windows. The shell of the chapel and surrounding grounds cost $ 3.5 million to build. It houses on the main floor, the Protestant chapel with the Catholic and Jewish chapels below it. Be sure to enter the Protestant chapel to admire the daunting pipe organ displayed there.
The Visitor’s Center is a great place to catch up on the Academy’s history and to learn more about their falconry program. Apparently this is one of Colorado Springs’ top tourist attractions. Totally worth a trip if you’re in the area.

2012 Review #120:
This is a review of the chapel. I came and performed here some years ago. We looked through the museum area which was sort of interesting, and then went to the chapel to perform.
Yes, it’s pretty inside. It does show its age or at least its design era. Somewhere around here, if not in here, there’s a strange recreation of the shroud of Turin, which I found a little strange. Regardless, I was there to sing.
You know what’s awesome about singing or playing by yourself in a church? You sound freaking amazing. It’s like singing in the best shower ever. You barely have to project and you sound absolutely incredible. You know what’s awful about singing or playing with others in a church? Imagine that ringing, echoing projection, times 50, in 4 part harmony. Unless you’re the Vienna Boys Choir, that is not gonna be as pretty as you’d like to think. It’s like being just outside the bathroom door when your roommate is singing in the shower. You know what they’re hearing is awesome, but that’s certainly not what you’re hearing.
Also, we came here to sing on tour, and there was literally no one there to hear us. I’m assuming part of our tour fees went to paying the Academy for the space and time. The least they could do was make it known to all the visitors at the museum that we were there to sing for them. Since my trip there, I’ve never returned, and I think one visit is about all you need.

An incredible campus set amidst the mountains. Everything is well-​maintained, clean, orderly, and impressive. The tennis courts are in one of the most attractive settings in the world (at least as far as all the ones I have played on) with the mountains looming over the entire athletic facility and the lights of the city coming from the other way.
All of the cadets are very nice, pleasant, well-​rounded young individuals. The staff, faculty, officers, and everyone else not a student that is still affiliated with the Academy are also just as nice and pleasant. No attitude or pretentiousness like at the Ivies.
Great experience all around. If you get the opportunity to attend a lecture, Forensics tournament, academic conference, or any other event on campus you truly should.