USAF Academy Admissions
Medical Information
The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) is
responsible for determining if you are medically qualified for admission
into the Academy. After you have completed a medical, dental, and optometric
(eye) examination, DODMERB will inform you and the Academy of your medical
status. DODMERB or a civilian contractor will contact you to schedule these
appointments. The government will pay for a complete physical examination.
If there is a need for additional medical tests or evaluations, you may
use the military medical treatment facilities of any Service (Army, Navy,
Air Force, or Coast Guard) at no cost or you may use your own physician,
dentist, or optometrist, as appropriate, at your own expense.
Before you take the medical examination, review your medical history
with your parents and your family physician. The examining facility must
compile the medical history carefully and in detail, including complete
documentation of all illnesses, injuries, and operations. To avoid delay
in evaluation of your medical qualification, obtain statements from your
attending physician or from hospital records concerning any past or present
medical care and present them to the examining facility when you report
for the examination. You also must bring photo identification.
If clinically indicated, women must have a pelvic examination. However,
a woman may have this portion of the examination completed by her family
physician at her own expense. Otherwise, men and women will undergo, as
part of their medical examination, an external, visual inspection of the
genitalia to determine if there are any abnormalities present. Also, get
a thorough dental examination by your private dentist and complete any
treatment before taking the military dental examination. If you are presently
undergoing orthodontic treatment this treatment must be completed prior
to arrival at the Academy; however, you may wear a retainer appliance.
Following your acceptance by the Air Force Academy and within 72 hours
after your arrival at the Academy, you must undergo drug and alcohol abuse
testing as required by Public Law (Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 978). HIV
testing will also be accomplished at this time. Photo identification is
required.
Refer questions concerning your medical status or examination scheduling
to:
DODMERB
8034 Edgerton Drive
Suite 132
USAF Academy, CO
80840-2200
Submit all requests for medical waivers to the:
 Academy Office of Admissions
 HQ USAFA/RRS
 2304 Cadet Drive
 Suite 200
 USAF Academy, CO
 80840-5025
Vision Requirements
All candidates admitted to the Air Force Academy must meet the vision requirements
for commissioning in the United States Air Force. In addition, qualification
for flying duties requires stringent color vision testing and depth perception.
Nearsightedness (myopia) commonly develops in the late teenage years.
Therefore, it is possible you could meet the vision requirements for a
flying career upon admission but not at graduation, thereby precluding
you from ultimately being pilot or navigator qualified.
Procedures to reverse the nearsightedness, including radial keratotomy
and similar surgical and non-surgical alterations to the cornea (orthokeratology),
and experimental operations (photokeratectomy), disqualify you for all
military programs.
If you wear contact lenses, you must remove hard lenses at least 21
days and soft lenses three days before the vision examination. An examination
conducted without the required removal of contact lenses for the designated
time is invalid and will delay your medical examination processing. If
you wear prescription eyeglasses, bring them with you at the time of your
physical examination. After you enter the Academy, periodic vision care
and counseling will be provided at the eye clinic.
Medical Standards
All candidates admitted to the Air Force Academy must meet the medical
and weight standards for a commission in the United States Air Force. If
you don't maintain the standards as a cadet, you may be disenrolled. DODMERB
will carefully evaluate your medical examination report. We have included
a general list of medical standards that apply to all applicants.
Potential Pilot and Navigator
Visual Acuity
No worse than 20/50 (pilot) and 20/200 (navigator).
Refractive Error
Refractive limits of +2.00/-1.00 in any meridian and .075 astigmatism (pilot)
and +2.00/-1.50 in any meridian and 2.00 astigmatism (navigator).
Color Vision and Depth Perception
Successful completion of the Pseudoisochromatic Plates or Farnsworth Lantern
color vision tests and the Vision Test Apparatus-Near and Distant (VTA-ND)
or Titmus Stereofly or Randot Stereo or Verhoeff depth perception tests.
These standards are the same for both pilot and navigator qualification.
Hearing
Maximum hearing loss in either ear cannot be greater than as follows (ISO-1964
-- ANSI Standards 1969):
Frequency 500 1000 2000 3000 4000 6000
Loss 25 25 25 * * *
* No more than a total of 270 decibel loss for both ears at 3000, 4000,
and 6000Hz. These standards are the same for both pilot and navigator qualification.
Standing Height
64 inches minimum to 77 inches maximum for both pilot and navigator qualification.
Sitting Height
34 inches minimum (pilot) and 33 inches minimum (navigator) to 40 inches
maximum (both), measured while sitting erect, the distance from top of
head to chair seat.
Commission
Visual Acuity
Distant: correctable to 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other, or 20/30
in one eye and 20/100 in the other, or 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the
other.
Refractive Error
Farsightedness (hyperopia) no greater than +8.00 diopters and nearsightedness
(myopia) no greater than -8.00 diopters spherical equivalent.
Standing Height
Male--not less than 60 inches to 80 inches maximum.
Female--not less than 58 inches to 80 inches maximum.
Weight
See the Height/Weight Standards Section.
Hearing
Maximum hearing loss in either ear cannot be greater than the following:
Frequency 500 1000 2000 3000 4000
Loss 35 35 35 45 55
Pure tone at 500, 1000, and 2000 cycles per second of not more than 30
dB on the average (either ear), with no individual level greater than 35
dB at these frequencies; and level not more than 45 dB at 3000 cycles per
second each ear, and 55 dB at 4000 cycles per second each ear.
Height-Weight Standards
If you exceed the height and weight standards, you will undergo a body
fat measurement. The maximum percentage for males is 20% and females is
28%.
Medical Waivers
The Air Force Academy Surgeon may grant a limited number of waivers for
medical disqualification. A medical waiver will allow you to be admitted
to the Academy with a medical disqualification. You may request a waiver
by writing a letter to HQ USAFA/RRS, 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200, USAF
Academy, CO 80840-5025.
Candidate Fitness Test
Applicants who enter the candidate phase of the admissions process normally
take the Candidate Fitness Test (CFT) which measures
coordination, strength, endurance, speed and agility. You'll be scheduled
for a CFT by the Admissions Office. The CFT examining center will be as
close as possible to your home. If there is no site within a reasonable
distance of your home, other arrangements will be made for you. The required
events and the minimum scores necessary for admission follow. However,
you should do the best you can on each event.
Pull-ups
From a momentary hang position on a horizontal bar, palms away from your
face, raise your body until your chin is above the bar. Return to the straight-arm
hang position and repeat as many times as possible, without resting between
pull-ups.
MEN WOMEN
Minimum Average Minimum Average
Pullups 4 10 1 2
Situps (2 minutes) 49 69 46 68
Pushups (2 minutes) 24 41 9 24
300-Yard
Shuttle Run 65 sec 60 sec 79 sec 69 sec
Situps
Lying flat on your back, legs flexed, with your feet comfortably apart,
place your hands on the back of your head with your fingers interlocked
and have someone hold your feet. Sit up and touch your elbow to your opposite
knee and return to the starting position. Alternate the knee you touch
with the opposite elbow on successive situps. Resting is allowed in the
up position, and there is a two-minute time limit.
Pushups
Start from a position lying face down, with your hands on the floor directly
under the outside points of your shoulders. Raise your body by straightening
your arms, keeping your body straight from your shoulders to your heels.
Lower your body until your chest touches the floor. No resting is allowed,
and there is a two-minute time limit.
300-Yard Shuttle Run
Run six round trips between two turning lines, 25 yards apart, in the shortest
time possible. You must stay within a five-foot wide lane.
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