Fourth-class yearU.S. Air Force Academy · Four-degree (freshman)

Role

"As followers and teammates," four-degrees learn the profession of arms under upperclass supervision¹.

Milestones

Parents' Weekend over Labor Day, a wing-wide Culminating Exercise, and Recognition & Promotion, when four-degrees "receive their prop and wings to acknowledge their transition to upper-class cadets"¹.

In-processing Day (I-Day)

"Each June," new cadets are dropped off and immediately start getting instruction from upperclass cadets. Appointees take the Oath of Office and become Basic Cadets¹. For the Class of 2031, the fact sheet lists In-processing Day as June 24². Confirm with your appointment packet.

Length

BCT is "a six-week education program." It starts no earlier than the last week of June and ends the first week of August³.

Two phases

• First BCT in the cadet area: customs and courtesies, the Honor Code, room inspections, drill, and daily conditioning.
• Second BCT at Jacks Valley, a 3,300-acre training area: assault and obstacle courses, small-unit tactics, and firearms³.

Standards

Basic cadets must score 80% or higher on tests of foundational Air Force knowledge³. Mail is the only way to reach them, and personal phones are put away until shortly after Jacks Valley³.

Acceptance

BCT ends with the Acceptance Parade. New fourth-class cadets get their shoulder boards and take the Honor Code Oath³¹.

Training weekends

Cadets spend two weekends a month on military training, from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon⁴.

Daily life

Wake-up at 5:15 a.m. Classes run from about 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on alternating "M-Day" and "T-Day" schedules. Cadets must be in their rooms by 11 p.m.⁴. Fourth-class cadets keep their doors open starting at 7:15 a.m. until evening study time⁵.

Privileges (officially documented)

• Passes: 2 Weekday Sign Out Passes a month starting after Parents' Weekend, and 2 Weekend Overnight Sign Out Passes a month starting in spring semester⁴.
• Clothes: No civilian clothes on base or in the local area, except on leave or when the Commandant authorizes it, which "usually occurs during the spring semester"⁴.
• Room items: 2 personal items on display⁴.

When it becomes binding: At the start of second-class year. Cadets who leave after the first day of fall classes owe 2 years of active duty as second-class cadets and 3 as first-class cadets⁶. This is marked by the Commitment Dinner⁷.

Cadets get leave over Thanksgiving, about two and a half weeks for winter break, and a one-week spring break. Most cadets in the upper three classes get about three weeks of summer leave⁴.