Academy Dreams
The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel with the Rampart Range behind it

USAFA · High school roadmap

Senior year: U.S. Air Force Academy12th grade · Finish strong

Your 12th grade checklist for USAFA, built from the official pages we track.

USAFA Cadet Chapel, August 2019. Photo: Anthony Quintano via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Why this year matters

Seniors in fall 2026 are applying for the Class of 2031. The month-by-month deadlines are below. The essentials:

Dates come from official pages (accessed Oct. 17, 2026). Your congressional offices and your USAFA portal may set earlier personal deadlines, and those win.

Checklist for senior year

Start here

  • Medical exam (DoDMERB, using the DMACS portal). The process:
    • Each academy sends your name to DoDMERB.
    • DoDMERB emails you a link to the DMACS 2.0 Applicant Portal, where you register and fill in your medical history.
    • A contractor (CIV Team) emails you to schedule exams through DoDMETS. The medical and eye exams may be at different places.
    • If DoDMERB needs more information, your status becomes "Remedial."
    • Waivers are decided by the academy, not DoDMERB1.
    • CIV Team tries to reach you up to 4 times. If you don't schedule in that window, you start over1.
    • USAFA warns the whole process can take "up to four months"2. Check your email, including spam, and schedule right away.
    • When your name goes to DoDMERB depends on the academy:
      • USAFA: after you finish 3 of 5 checklist items3.
      • USCGA: after it has your counselor recommendation with transcript, test scores, and fitness test score4.
      • USMMA: after your application, 11th-grade transcript, and unofficial scores5.
      • West Point: once you're an official candidate6.
  • Interviews. USNA requires a Blue and Gold Officer interview7. USAFA requires an ALO interview, which is virtual, lasts 1.5–2 hours, and must be held with no parents within earshot2. USCGA interviews only if requested, but then it's required8.
  • Teacher evaluations. West Point wants math, English, and lab science teachers9. USAFA wants 11th- or 12th-grade English and math teachers plus one other2. USCGA wants math, English, and counselor recommendations10. USMMA asks for math, chemistry or physics, English, counselor, and CFA evaluator contacts5.

Key deadlines

Already happened (catch up now if you missed any)

  • Applications opened: West Point Feb. 15, 202611; USAFA PCQ Mar. 1, 20263; USNA April 202612; USMMA May 1, 20265; USCGA July 158.
  • USAFA candidate checklists opened no earlier than July 1. West Point's medical window opened after July 1311.

October 2026

  • Take or retake the CFA (USNA, West Point, USAFA, USMMA) or the USCGA fitness test1113.
  • Respond to DoDMERB and DoDMETS scheduling emails right away1.
  • Contact your BGO (USNA) or ALO (USAFA) to schedule your interview72.

November 2026

  • Some congressional offices have later deadlines. For example, one House office lists Nov. 1314. Never assume yours is late. Check it.
  • Keep working your checklists and medical remedials.

December 2026

  • Dec. 31: USNA accepts no new applications after this date7. USAFA's Pre-Candidate Questionnaire deadline3.
  • Early December: last practical SAT/ACT/CLT date for USAFA. Tests should be taken by early December, and "tests taken in March will not be considered"3.
  • Dec. 1: USAFA Summer Seminar opens for juniors (a heads-up for younger siblings)15.

January 2027

  • Early to mid-January: many nomination notifications go out7.
  • Jan. 31 (big day):
    • USAFA official scores due3; Vice Presidential and military-affiliated nomination requests due16. Your personal USAFA checklist deadline is in your portal3.
    • Vice Presidential nomination application closes for USNA, West Point, and USAFA17.

February 2027

  • Vice Presidential nominees are "normally" notified in February or March17.
  • February–April: USAFA reviews applications and offers most appointments3.

March 2027

  • Keep checking your portals and finish any remaining medical remedials.

April 2027

  • Apr. 1: USCGA Regular Admission decisions are out, and Regular candidates' medical exams must be done8. West Point's medical exam window ends11. At USAFA, if no medical waiver has been requested by now, one is unlikely2.
  • By Apr. 21: most USAFA candidates know their status3.

May 2027

  • May 1: reply deadline at USNA7, USAFA3, USCGA8, and USMMA18. It is also USCGA's medical qualification/waiver deadline8. West Point's reply date: not published on the pages we reviewed.

June 2027: reporting

  • USAFA In-processing Day is listed as June 24 ("late June")3.

Dates change. Always confirm on the official USAFA admissions site and your congressional offices’ pages.

USAFA-specific notes

Eligibility basics2

  • Age: 17 to not past 23rd birthday on July 1
  • Other basics: U.S. citizen; unmarried; no dependents

Sources

  1. DHA: DoDMERB (dha.mil)
  2. USAFA Requirements (usafa.edu)
  3. USAFA Grades 11–12 (usafa.edu)
  4. USCGA Handbook 2025–26 (uscga.edu)
  5. USMMA 8 Steps (usmma.edu)
  6. West Point Medical (westpoint.edu)
  7. USNA Apply (usna.edu)
  8. USCGA Apply (uscga.edu)
  9. West Point Steps (westpoint.edu)
  10. USCGA Requirements (uscga.edu)
  11. Timeline (westpoint.edu)
  12. USNA PAO (usna.edu)
  13. USCGA PFT Guide (uscga.edu)
  14. Rep. Newhouse PDF (newhouse.house.gov)
  15. USAFA Summer Seminar (usafa.edu)
  16. USAFA Nominations (usafa.edu)
  17. White House (whitehouse.gov)
  18. USMMA Admissions (usmma.edu)

Keep every USAFA date on your calendar.

Coming soon: reminder emails before applications open, nomination deadlines close and summer program windows shut.

Reminders coming soonAll deadlines