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aria-label="Submit Search" id="submit-search" class="btn btn-icon" disabled> <span class="icon-search"></span> </button> </div> </form> <ul id="menu-apply-1" class="list-inline"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-6460 list-inline-item Apply <span class="sr-only">to the U.S. Air Force Academy </span>Now"><a class="btn" target="_blank" href="https://usafacrm.experience.crmforce.mil/usafacademy/s/login/"><span class="label">Apply <span class="sr-only">to the U.S. Air Force Academy </span>Now</span></a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header> <div class="main-contents"> <nav class="d-none d-lg-block d-xl-block tertiary-nav" aria-label="Tertiary"> <div class="menu-glossary-container"><ul id="inline-tert-nav" class="list-unstyled"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4292 A–E"><a href="#a–e">A–E</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4293 F–L"><a href="#f–l">F–L</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4294 M–R"><a href="#m–r">M–R</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4295 S–Z"><a href="#s–z">S–Z</a></li> </ul></div> </nav> <div class="main-body" id="main-body"> <section class="card module___jumbo-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h1 class="h2">Glossary</h1> <h2 class="display-1">Learn the Lingo</h2> <p>This glossary will help you understand some of the terms you may encounter during the application process and while at the United States Air Force Academy. If you become a cadet, it might help your parents understand you too.</p> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <a class="anchor" id="a–e"></a> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">A</h2> <ul> <li><strong>AAOCA</strong>: Associate Air Officer Commanding for Academics, a faculty member and academic advisor for cadets without a major</li> <li><strong>ABU</strong>: Airman Battle Uniform</li> <li><strong>ACQ</strong>: Academic Call to Quarters</li> <li><strong>AFT</strong>: Aerobic Fitness Test</li> <li><strong>AOC</strong>: Air Officer Commanding, an active-duty officer in charge of a 100-person cadet squadron</li> <li><strong>Applicant</strong>: A person applying to the Academy who has completed a Pre-candidate Questionnaire</li> <li><strong>Appointee</strong>: A person who has successfully applied for admission to the Academy and who has received an offer to attend the Academy</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">B</h2> <ul> <li><strong>BCT</strong>: Basic Cadet Training</li> <li><strong>Beast</strong>: Slang for Basic Cadet Training</li> <li><strong>BOR</strong>: Base of the Ramp</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">C</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Cadet</strong>: Student of the U.S. Air Force Academy</li> <li><strong>Cadet Wing</strong>: Military organization of all cadets, consisting of four groups, totaling approximately 4,000 cadets</li> <li><strong>Cadre</strong>: Refers to people in leadership positions. Cadet Cadre are upperclassmen holding leadership positions.</li> <li><strong>Candidate</strong>: An applicant who has completed the Pre-candidate Questionnaire and who has been approved to pursue appointment to the Academy</li> <li><strong>Candidate Kit</strong>: Kit containing admissions forms and information for students whose Pre-candidate Questionnaires have been received, screened and approved, including complete information about medical eligibility, the Candidate Fitness Assessment and other necessary steps in the admissions process</li> <li><strong>CCQ</strong>: Cadet-in-Charge of Quarters</li> <li><strong>CE</strong>: Commissioning Education or Civil Engineering</li> <li><strong>CIC</strong>: Cadet-in-Charge</li> <li><strong>Command Post</strong>: Cadet Wing operations center, organization in charge of daily operations for the cadet wing</li> <li><strong>Comm’s List</strong>: Commandant’s list for outstanding cadet military performance</li> <li><strong>Contrails</strong>: The bible of the U.S. Air Force Academy fourth-classmen knowledge (contains U.S. Air Force Academy heritage information, quotes and various details of Academy life)</li> <li><strong>CST</strong>: Combat Survival Training</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">D</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Dean’s List</strong>: Dean’s list for outstanding academic performance</li> <li><strong>DI</strong>: Dormitory Inspection, night check for accountability</li> <li><strong>Dining-in</strong>: A formal dinner for officers, NCOs and cadets</li> <li><strong>Dining-out</strong>: Same as dining-in, except you may bring a guest</li> <li><strong>Doolie</strong>: Fourth-class cadet (a freshman)</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">E</h2> <ul> <li><strong>EI</strong>: Extra Instruction</li> <li><strong>Element</strong>: Basic unit of a squadron (about 12 cadets)</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <a class="anchor" id="f–l"></a> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">F</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Firstie</strong>: First-class cadet (a senior)</li> <li><strong>Flight</strong>: Three elements (about 36 cadets)</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">G</h2> <ul> <li><strong>GDNCO</strong>: Group Duty Noncommissioned Officer</li> <li><strong>GE</strong>: Global Engagement</li> <li><strong>GR</strong>: Graded Review (an important exam)</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">I</h2> <ul> <li><strong>IP</strong>: Instructor Pilot</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">J</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Jacks Valley</strong>: Site of Encampment training during BCT</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">L</h2> <ul> <li><strong>LMD</strong>: Last military duty</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <a class="anchor" id="m–r"></a> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">M</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Mitch’s</strong>: Mitchell Hall (the cadet dining hall)</li> <li><strong>MPA</strong>: Military Performance Average</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">N</h2> <ul> <li><strong>NCO</strong>: Noncommissioned Officer</li> <li><strong>NCOIC</strong>: Noncommissioned Officer in Charge</li> <li><strong>Nomination</strong>: Required by law (Title 10) to receive an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy; each pre-candidate must apply for a nomination from their senators, congressional representatives and/or military affiliation.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">O</h2> <ul> <li><strong>OCP</strong>: Operational Camouflage Pattern</li> <li><strong>OIC</strong>: Officer in Charge</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">P</h2> <ul> <li><strong>PEA</strong> <strong>(Physical Education Average)</strong>: Cadets with a PEA of 3.0 or higher are awarded a silver lightning bolt by the Director of Athletics for outstanding physical education performance.</li> <li><strong>PFT</strong>: Physical Fitness Test</li> <li><strong>Pre-candidate</strong>: A student interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy who has returned a completed Pre-candidate Questionnaire</li> <li><strong>Pre-candidate Questionnaire</strong>: The first step in the application process, interchangeable with the term application</li> <li><strong>Prop and Wings</strong>: Insignia traditionally awarded to U.S. Air Force Academy cadets at the end of their grueling fourth-class (freshman) year, signifying that they have been “recognized” as upper-class cadets</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">Q</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Qualified Candidate</strong>: A candidate who has met all admissions requirements</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <a class="anchor" id="s–z"></a> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">S</h2> <ul> <li><strong>SAMI</strong>: Saturday A.M. Inspection</li> <li><strong>SDO</strong>: Squadron Duty Officer</li> <li><strong>SOD</strong>: Senior Officer of the day, firstie-in-charge of the Cadet Wing for the day</li> <li><strong>Squadron</strong>: Consists of three flights, about 108 cadets</li> <li><strong>Square Corners</strong>: One of the duties of every fourth-classman or “Doolie”; they must always use facing movements to turn a corner.</li> <li><strong>Supt’s List</strong>: Superintendent’s list for outstanding academic, military and athletic performance</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">U</h2> <ul> <li><strong>UOD</strong>: Uniform of the Day</li> <li><strong>Upper Class</strong>: Cadets in the first, second and third classes</li> </ul> </div> </div> </section><section class="card module___basic-text"> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="display-1">Z</h2> <ul> 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