I'm trying to decide between the Air Force Academy and West Point. I've gotten into both, but can't make a decision on which one to attend. Can anyone tell me what the main differences are between the 2 academies based on their experiences?

Wow. Congrats! If you have a chance, I would highly recommend visiting both academies to help make your choice.

well what do you want to do afterward?

fly planes/ be an engineer?

or

crawl through the mud, live in tents and shoot things?

When I attended the AF Academy in the early 60s graduating in 64, I remember how we used to refer to West Point as "a 100 year old institution unhampered by progress".

Hopefully, you understand that this was just in jest. There was always mutual respect for each other but a little fun was had by both at times.

Go Air Force.

Go with Air Force. More opportunities for space flight, flight in general, and being involved with many civilian companies of the same fields. Good luck with which ever one you choose.

I ranked AF first but West Point was a close second when I was interviewing for nominations. There is something to be said for becoming part of "the long grey line." West Pointers tend to refer to AFA as the country club of the service academies.

West Pointers say that?...meh...

Go to the academy for the service you want to be part of.

USMA has quite an alumni association

At West Point, much of the history we teach was made by people we taught.
Grant
Lee
MacArthur
Eisenhower
Patton
Schwarzkopf

Carl Spaatz, Class of 1914. 1st U.S.A.F. Chief of Staff (1947–1948)
Thomas D. White, Class of 1920. 4th U.S.A.F Chief of Staff (1957—1961)
John P. McConnell, Class of 1932. 6th U.S.A.F. Chief of Staff (1965–1969)
John Dale Ryan, Class of 1938. 7th U.S.A.F Chief of Staff (1969–1973)
Lew Allen, Class of 1946. 10th U.S.A.F. Chief of Staff (1978-1982)
Charles A. Gabriel, Class of 1950. 11th U.S.A.F. Chief of Staff (1982-1986)
Michael Dugan, Class of 1958. 13th U.S.A.F. Chief of Staff (1990)

Arnold
Borman
Aldrin
Collins

And over 80 recipients of the Medal of Honor

It kind of makes it easier to say that when you have over 200 years of graduates!
The 50th class at USAFA hasn't even graduated yet.

I had a primary appointment to USAFA and was an alternate to West Point. I chose the Air Force and never looked back. That being said, I think that either school would be an outstanding institution to attend. As someone said earlier, what do you want to do after you graduate? That should be the issue which helps make your decision.

Whichever you choose, good luck and make the most of the opportunity which you have. You will never regret it.

They are both outstanding institutions. Just please, please, do not become a ringknocker or we may have to kill you.

Hi JB11,
Not sure if it's too late and you've already made your decision, but some general points:
1. Both are fine institutions--not a matter of 'better' or 'easier', but just what your goals are.
2. More important than the actual school, think about the type of service and the lifestyle/career you want afterwards and how long you imagine staying in the service.
3. You can email me at Tino_Dinh@yahoo.com if you have any specific questions about AFA--I am a 1999 graduate and have recently left the service to pursue a private sector career.

Best of luck, congrats, and thank you for your willingness to serve.

Some people seem to be ignorant to the fact you can major in engineering at both USAFA and USMA. The difference is in the technology training you'll receive. Don't get me wrong. If you major in History you'll still graduate with a BS, since they're not classified as Liberal Arts schools.
If your future is a career, either service academy will prepare you well. If your future is working with a Defense contractor, either service academy will prepare you well. If you want to better yourself as a confident person, learn leadership management, cohesiveness, and camaraderie, they both will provide you the tools you need to succeed.
If you're looking for a great place to enjoy four years of your life, Colorado Springs or the upper Hudson River Valley, you can't go wrong with either school.
Since you've been accepted at both, consider your options with care. USMA is going to train you for combat, most likely in a ground unit, and the Air Force will train you for combat flying, if you qualify. Your chances of seeing combat action is going to be greatly enhanced in the Army. Your ability to go to Spec Ops schools will be at a greater opportunity in USMA.
USAFA gives you the opportunity to work in flying, NASA, Contractor Test Pilot, etc...
Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by MCO85:crawl through the mud, live in tents and shoot things?

If he goes to Westpoint and graduates, he'll be a Lieutenant in the Army, and I don't think he'd be crawling through the mud as an Officer.

quote:

Originally posted by AF_C_SSgt_Moffeit:
If he goes to Westpoint and graduates, he'll be a Lieutenant in the Army, and I don't think he'd be crawling through the mud as an Officer.

Who do you think leads men in combat? Army officers are right there with their enlisted men. Of course, we all know the Army isn't as primitive as MCO85 makes it out to be. They have their share of high tech & flying jobs too.

I know Officers lead Soldiers into combat and are along side their enlisted troops but I find it hard to paint a picture of an LT. crawling through the mud on a daily basis MCO85's post was just plain stereotypical about the Army in general.

You are taking me too seriously. Not everyone in the AF is an engineer or flies planes either.

My point still stands though.

I have a friend in the Army who comes out looking pretty dusty, and he is an officer.

Back to answering the question, you will spend only four years at which ever institution you attend. In that time, you will most likely not be put in the situation that risks your life. Do not make the decision based soley on where you will be for those four years, but instead also consider where you will be for at least the five years following you walking across the stage to receive a diploma and then your commission.

quote:

Originally posted by AF_C_SSgt_Moffeit:
If he goes to Westpoint and graduates, he'll be a Lieutenant in the Army, and I don't think he'd be crawling through the mud as an Officer.

An LT in the Army and an LT in the Air Force is NOT always the same in that regard.

I have been good and muddy with more than one LT. We had some West Pointers with mud boogers just like the ROTC guys...and the rest of us. You do NOT learn to lead ground troops without getting your 'gentleman's handkerchief' a little dirty.

I slept in a tent with no floor (sand bottomed) next to an E-9 and an O-6 in the Army for a time in the sandbox.

I ate the same nasty mermite food, and caught the same case of the runs from the nasty food, as did my O-3 Company Commander...

...and he ate last...AFTER all of us "E"'s got OUR chow first. That was how he was taught to lead in the field...and he was a West Pointer.

But that was in the Infantry. I'll have to unlearn all that now that I wear Air Force blue.

To the original poster...I am an NCO. I never went to either Academy, so I can't tell you what you want to know.

But I will tell you that if you have the brass cojones...the intestinal fortitude...to attend and graduate ANY of our service academies...

I'll be proud to raise my hand in a salute to you...so long as you practice everything you learned there in TAKING CARE OF YOUR ASSIGNED TROOPS. If you can do that...if you can remember that THEY COME FIRST...no matter what...then you will do well no matter WHAT service academy you choose.

Try to decide what you picture yourself to be when you close your eyes and dream of being the best American Military Officer you can possibly be.

If that picture in your mind is wearing blue...go to Colorado Springs.

If that picture in your mind is wearing green...go to West Point.

But whichever one you pick...do not quit...and EARN that salute that I will give you when you finish.

HUGE congratulations to you for qualifying to attend both schools. That is no easy task...good job...and good luck.

I am in the same situation as the original poster of this thread only it is for the class of 2014.

I have received LOAs to both West Point and USAFA. I will interview w/ my congressman soon and he will want to know my first choice.
I have been to the Summer Seminar at both academies and loved them both. It will be an honor to attend either one.

In the end though, its about which branch of the service to enter. I am a female who is NOT seriously considering flying (although I am staying open to all possiblities) and I am not interested in direct combat or very high risk jobs, but I want to do something more interesting than be a paper pusher.

I am considering the fields of intelligence, international affairs, public affairs, and possibly law. My interests are politics, national security, community involvement, public speaking, reaching out to others. I always stay open to any possiblities because there is much I have not experienced or been exposed to yet!

In the end I want to be a good effective leader, be involved in what's happening in our nation and make a difference.

I would love to hear from both Army and AF and would also appreciate any info on resources that will help me decide which branch is the best fit for me.

Thank you!