Forum: Future F-16 crew

I'm a junior in high school with [Link pending approval] cumulative gpa, have been taking as many ap classes as I could have. I will take 4 more AP's my senior year (comp sci, calc bc, lit, and physics c) and expect to maintain my above [Link pending approval] gpa.
I have taken practice ACT and SAT tests and when I actually do take them, I know I can at the least get above a 30 and 2000 respectively.

I do not play varsity sports. Instead, I play tennis, soccer, and swim (all three for jv).
I do not see myself getting into varsity next year because my school is pretty competitive and has lots of talented sports teams. (ie, I can beat my peers from different schools even though they are varsity).
Regardless, I consider myself to be athletic. (Sorry, hard to be humble in this situation)
I read the physical test for USAFA and I can do most of them (bare minimal at least).
I generally pick up most sports I play and am known to be strong and fast.
I have been told countless times to do track, but I chose tennis over track because I enjoy tennis as a sport. However, should I consider doing track and getting a varsity letter?

As for leadership,
I have led a church praise team with guitar and vocals.
I have taught sunday school kids every week.
I have volunteered in COSI and other programs.
I am in NHS for school.
I am highly involved in church related activities and have many hours of volunteering.

My questions is this:
Do I have a high chance of getting into USAFA?
and, How can I improve my chances?
What else can I do aside from the things I am doing right now?

I desire to be a pilot and I know that getting into USAFA will improve my chance of being one.
I am asking also because I seem to be lacking in sports (mainly getting varsity).
I am also afraid of the nomination letter. I have heard the academy is highly competitive and getting a letter from a congressional person sounds quite difficult.

Thank you for reading this huge post.
Help is much appreciated~

F-16.net Sponsor

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

Getting a letter from a congressman isn't difficult. Just mail them a request and whenever they read it they'll either want to meet with you once or just send the recommendation letter. Try giving their office a call, it might be faster. As for the sports thing. Make sure passing the AF PT test is easy for you. Be able to take one once a month and you'll never have to worry about your fitness again. If you have a JROTC at your school (or nearby) you might improve your chances if you can get the det commander to write a letter of recommendation. I wouldn't sweat it, kid. It sounds like you'll do fine.

Three words...Civil Air Patrol.

You're off to a good start - check your PM.

You're definitely on the right track. I sent you a PM as well.

If you do make it in...be prepared for some hard work.

Salute!

Yeah, the varsity sport thing is a plus for some, but not the biggest or second biggest thing or even the third..... I wouldn't worry about it.

The extra-curricular stuff away from the school is very important, as it shows "service" and "diversity". I was in church choir, was an instructor at the YMCA, and was in the Civil Air Patrol ( where I learned to fly and soloed at 17 yrs old).

IMPORTANT!!! Ask your Rep and Senator ( apply to both, as well as the Vice Presidential category) to set up a physical. In my case, both required I take a physical first thing. So I took the physical for USAF as well as USNA when I was 16 years old. I took the real deal for both academies the spring of my senior year in high school.

Delta ( above) and I have corresponded for a long, long time and he done good!!! he has the latest and greatest poop. Another guy to look up on F-16,net members is greekness. He's there now and can help, so drop him a PM.

Finally, get with USAFA and meet with your local USAFA liason officer.

Gums sends....

Don't forget that the rest of the US military has flight programs. I will say the flybys at Coast Guard are not quite as impressive as the ones at Navy and Air Force...

At least four of the academies (not sure about Merchant Marine- who can commission into all services) offer a weeklong summer program. These are an excellent way to get your foot in the door. Apply for as many as your schedule/checkbook can manage. These are a good way for you to test drive the academy and for them to look at you.

Apply for ROTC as well. The commission is what matters.

Come up with a plan in case you cannot pass the medical exam. Commissioning programs / Congressional nomination boards take a dim view of people who only want to fly and offer blank looks when that question is posed. You will be an officer first.

Good luck. Start running now.

/USNA, Naval Aviator, USNR, happily retired
//USCGA parent x 2

Forum: Future F-16 crew

What should I do to guarantee my admission into USAFA?