Medical Standards
Medical Standards Overview
All candidates admitted to the United States Air Force Academy must meet, at a minimum, the medical and weight standards for commissioning in the United States Air Force or Space Force. Qualification for flying duties requires meeting more stringent requirements.
Visual Acuity
Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least 20/40 in each eye; current near-visual acuity of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye
Refractive Error
Current refractive error (hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism) in excess of -8.00 or +8.00 diopters spherical equivalent or astigmatism in excess of 3.00 diopters
Hearing
Current hearing threshold level in either ear that exceeds: pure tone at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 cycles per second for each ear of more than 25 decibels (dB) on the average with any individual level greater than 30 dB at those frequencies; pure tone level more than 35 dB at 3,000 cycles per second or 45 dB at 4,000 cycles per second for each ear
| Frequency | Loss |
|---|---|
| 500 Hz | 30 dB |
| 1000 Hz | 30 dB |
| 2000 Hz | 30 dB |
| 3000 Hz | 45 dB |
| 4000 Hz | 55 dB |
Height and Weight
Your standing height must be not less than 4’10” (58 inches) and not more than 6’8″ (80 inches). Weight standards are indicated in the following weight table. If you exceed the U.S. Air Force Academy weight standards, you must undergo a procedure to determine your percent body fat. The maximum allowable body fat is 18 percent for males and 26 percent for females. Once the weight standard has been exceeded, the body fat standard becomes the entry requirement.
If you exceed the U.S. Air Force Academy weight standard for your height, we will request you provide measurements on a USAFA Form 0-220. This form must be completed by a school nurse, family physician or qualified paramedic and will be available at your online status page. Once we receive this form, we will calculate your body fat and determine if you meet the U.S. Air Force Academy standards. If you exceed the U.S. Air Force Academy standards for body fat and if it is determined you are otherwise competitive for an offer of appointment, the admissions office will consider you for a waiver and/or ask you to be remeasured. Please ensure your file is complete by your deadline so you may be reviewed for an appointment. The admissions office will review all files in mid-March.
| Height | Weight |
|---|---|
| 4'10" | 119 lb |
| 4'11" | 124 lb |
| 5' | 128 lb |
| 5'1" | 132 lb |
| 5'2" | 136 lb |
| 5'3" | 141 lb |
| 5'4" | 145 lb |
| 5'5" | 150 lb |
| 5'6" | 155 lb |
| 5'7" | 159 lb |
| 5'8" | 164 lb |
| 5'9" | 169 lb |
| 5'10" | 175 lb |
| 5'11" | 179 lb |
| 6' | 184 lb |
| 6'1" | 189 lb |
| 6'2" | 194 lb |
| 6'3" | 200 lb |
| 6'4" | 205 lb |
| 6'5" | 210 lb |
| 6'6" | 216 lb |
| 6'7" | 221 lb |
| 6'8" | 227 lb |
Other Requirements
As part of your medical examination, you will undergo an external visual inspection of the genitalia to determine if any abnormalities are present (women may have this part of their exam done by their private physicians at their own expense). You should also have a thorough dental examination by your private dentist and complete any treatment before taking the military dental examination.
Tattoos, Brands, Body Piercings
While having a tattoo, brand or body marking does not automatically disqualify you from consideration, they must meet the standards outlined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2903. Tattoos, brands or body markings anywhere on the body that are indecent; commonly associated with gangs, extremist and supremacist organizations; advocate sexual, racial, ethnic or religious discrimination; or project an improper military or cadet image are prohibited. Tattoos, brands or body markings located on the hands, head, neck, face, tongue, lips, eyes and scalp are prohibited, except as may be permitted in AFI 36-2903. You may review AFI 36-2903, Chapter 3, for more information.
If offered an appointment and you accept, you will have to complete AF Form 4428 with your Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO) disclosing information on your tattoo(s)/brand(s)/body marking(s) such as location, size and significance. The form will be maintained in your personnel file throughout your Air Force career.
All piercings must be removed prior to in-processing as a basic cadet. Following Basic Cadet Training, females may be authorized to wear one small, spherical, conservative earring per earlobe. Male cadets are specifically prohibited from wearing earrings at any time.
Pilot Vision Requirements
All candidates admitted to the Air Force Academy must meet the vision requirements for basic commissioning in the United States Air Force. However, vision requirements for candidates for pilot, other aviation-related specialties and special operational duty career fields are stricter and will not be fully assessed until a complete Air Force vision exam is accomplished during your second (sophomore) year as a cadet.
Most cadets with visual acuity outside the medical standards may become medically qualified for aviation if vision is successfully corrected by corneal refractive surgery (i.e., PRK or LASIK), which will be available to you as a cadet if you meet preoperative qualification criteria. Applicants should NOT pursue refractive surgery PRIOR to entry to USAFA as this is disqualifying if accomplished within 180 days of the DoDMERB examination and strict preoperative requirements must be met that are often not adhered to by civilian ophthalmologists.
Note that color-vision testing accomplished during the DoDMERB medical examination is NOT the same as, and may not correlate well with, the more advanced color-vision testing employed for aviation and special operational duty clearance. The bottom line is the DoDMERB medical examination is not the official flying class examination used for occupational clearance for aviation and special operational duty career fields. The required flying class examination will be performed during the third academic year (junior year) at the Air Force Academy and will encompass more in-depth testing than was used during the DoDMERB physical exam.