Every summer, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado introduces its newest basic cadets to military life through basic cadet training. Over 38 days, military training instructors and cadet cadre teach the customs, standards and teamwork that prepare them for the academic year and life in the Cadet Wing.
"The basics are leaving an environment where they excelled and are joining a group made up of the nation's most accomplished men and women," said Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Sarah Price, basic cadet training cadet group commander. "It's a significant transition that causes them to reassess their strengths and weaknesses."
The grueling course serves as the academy's largest leadership development program and is a no-fail mission where the cadet cadre must lead effectively, Price said.
"Our focus is creating a training environment that is challenging, disciplined, safe and purposeful to develop the next generation of Air Force and Space Force officers," she said.
Teaching and Enforcing Standards
Cadet cadre are upper-class cadets who have received specialized preparation from academy military trainers before leading the daily basic cadet training curriculum. They teach and enforce military standards throughout classroom instruction, physical training and practical exercises. The basic cadets learn to march in formation, military customs and courtesies, the honor code, and Air Force, Space Force and academy history.
"[Basic cadet training] is demanding because meaningful growth rarely occurs within our comfort zones," Price said. "We intentionally built structured mentorship into this year's program where cadre spend dedicated time investing into the trainees."
The basic cadets receive a Peak Performance Center resiliency briefing, learn Saturday morning inspection skills for dorm room standards and dive deep into the latest edition of "Contrails," a small handbook issued to new cadets containing information they are expected to learn and recite verbatim.
"This training is more than learning military standards, skills and camaraderie," said Air Force Master Sgt. Kayla Welch, master military training instructor. "It's about instilling a warfighter mindset that will carry these basic cadets through the toughest circumstances during their time at the academy and throughout their careers."
Prior to field training, basic cadets also receive M18 pistol training from combat arms instructors and introductory training in tactical combat casualty care, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear procedures.
Advancing Warfighter Readiness
The second phase of basic cadet training began July 12 with the march out to Jacks Valley, a 3,300-acre training complex located on the grounds of the academy. Basic cadets marched in formation from the academy's terrazzo to an austere field location. Home to basic cadets' field training since 1966, Jacks Valley features rugged terrain and limited infrastructure support. Price said the field conditions require basic cadets to adapt, think critically and solve problems.
"We need the basic cadets to realize that they're capable of far more than they initially believed," she said. "Experiences such as Jacks Valley are difficult in the moment, but they build confidence, strengthen character and forge a team."
Jacks Valley hosts a number of demanding events such as an obstacle course, confidence course, leadership reaction course and assault course. Basic cadets also learn land navigation, qualify on the M4 carbine and apply CBRN techniques in a gas chamber.
"[Basic cadet training] might look similar from year to year, however, the program evolves alongside academy priorities," Price said. "Each class experiences training shaped by the institution's current goals and philosophy."
Cadre increased the intensity of physical training this year to align with current Air Force and Space Force fitness priorities, she said. They also added more leadership-mentorship opportunities and created a curriculum that extends into the academic year.
"They learn to recognize each other's strengths, support one another through adversity and rise together," Price said. "Those strong relationships become an essential source of resilience throughout training and well beyond these first six weeks."
Preparing for the Academic Year
Once the basic cadets return from Jacks Valley, they will finish basic cadet training and prepare for the academic year. They'll perform service dress inspections, attend cadre training time, pass a physical fitness test, take an end-of-course exam and participate in a culminating event.
"Our basic cadets arrived at the academy from every imaginable background," Price said. "Some have dreamed of military service while others discovered the academy while researching college opportunities. Whether they're athletes, JROTC, preparatory school grads or prior enlisted, they're on the same path and same team now. They've put aside their individual identities and built a common foundation built on discipline, accountability and attention to detail."
Following basic cadet training, the Class of 2030 will enter the Cadet Wing as fourth-class cadets during the Acceptance Day Parade Aug. 5.