How to Speak Academy
A
AOC: Air Officer Commanding, an active duty officer in charge of a 100 person cadet squadron
AAOCA: Associate AOC for Academics, a faculty member – an academic advisor for cadets without a major
ABU: Airman Battle Uniform
ACQ: Academic Call to Quarters
AFT: Aerobic Fitness Test
Applicant: A person applying to the Academy who has completed a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire.
Appointee: A person who has successfully applied for admission to the Academy and who has been provided an offer to attend the Academy
B
BCT: Basic Cadet Training
Beast: Slang for Basic Cadet Training
BOR: Base of the Ramp
C
Cadet: Student of the United States Air Force Academy.
Cadet Wing: Military organization of all cadets, consisting of 4 groups, totaling approximately 4,000 cadets
Cadre: Upper classmen holding leadership positions
Candidate: An applicant who has completed the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire and who has been approved to pursue appointment to the Academy
Candidate Kit: 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
CCQ: Cadet-in-Charge of Quarters
CE: Commissioning Education or Civil Engineering
CIC: Cadet-in-Charge
Command Post: Cadet Wing Operations Center, organization in charge of daily operations for the Cadet Wing
Contrails: The bible of United States Air Force Academy fourth-classmen knowledge (contains USAFA heritage information, quotes and various details of Academy life)
Comm’s List: Commandant’s list for outstanding cadet military performance
CST: Combat Survival Training
D
Dean’s List: Dean’s list for outstanding academic performance
Dining-In: A formal dinner for officers, NCOs, and cadets
Dining-Out: Same as Dining-In, except you may bring a guest
DI: Dormitory Inspection, night check for accountability
Doolie: Fourth-class cadet (a freshman)
E
EI: Extra instruction
Element: Basic unit of a squadron (about 12 cadets)
F
Firstie: First-class cadet (a senior)
Flight: Three elements (about 36 cadets)
G
GDNCO: Group Duty Noncommissioned Officer
GE: Global Engagement
GR: Graded Review (an important exam)
I
IP: Instructor Pilot
J
Jacks Valley: Site of Encampment training during BCT
L
LMD: Last military duty
M
Mitch’s: Mitchell Hall (the cadet dining hall)
MPA: Military Performance Average
N
NCO: Noncommissioned Officer
NCOIC: Noncommissioned Officer in Charge
Nomination: Required by law (Title 10) to receive an appointment to the Air Force Academy; each pre-candidate must apply for a nomination from their senators, congressional representative and/or military affiliation
O
OIC: Officer in Charge
P
PEA: Physical Education Average. 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
PFT: Physical Fitness Test
Pre-Candidate: A student interested in attending the Air Force Academy who has returned a completed Pre-Candidate Questionnaire
Pre-Candidate Questionnaire: The first step in the application process, interchangeable with the term application
Prop & Wings: Insignia traditionally awarded to Academy cadets at the end of their grueling fourth-class (freshman) year, signifying that they have been “recognized” as upper class cadets
Q
Qualified Candidate: A candidate who has met all admissions requirements
S
SAMI: Saturday A.M. Inspection
SDO: Squadron Duty Officer
SOD: Senior Officer of the day, firstie-in-charge of the Cadet Wing for the day
Square Corners: One of the duties of every fourth-classman or “Doolie.” They must always use facing movements to turn a corner.
Squadron: Consists of three flights, about 108 cadets
Supt’s List: Superintendent’s list for outstanding academic, military, and athletic performance
U
UOD: Uniform of the Day
Upper Class: Cadets in the first-, second- and third classes
Z
Zoomie: Graduate or cadet at United States Air Force Academy