Sample Letter

To request a nomination in the Presidential, Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, Military or Civilian Personnel in a Missing Status, or Children of Medal of Honor Recipients categories, follow the sample military-affiliated format letter included in this section. Mail the letter to the Admissions Office, HQ USAFA/RRS, 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200, USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025. If you are eligible to apply in one of the other military-affiliated categories, follow the specific instructions for that category.

Presidential

We may have up to 100 appointments in the Presidential category. This category is reserved for children of career military personnel. To qualify, the parent must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be on active duty and have served continuously on active duty for at least eight years, or
• Have retired with pay or have been granted retired or retainer pay, or
• Children of reservists may also be eligible (see Section 12733 Title 10 USC for details), or
• Have died after being retired with pay or being granted retired or retainer pay;
• For adopted children, proceedings must have begun before the child's 15th birthday.

Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans

The child of a deceased or disabled member of the Armed Forces is eligible if the parent was killed or 100 percent disabled by wounds or injuries received or diseases contracted while in active service or from a preexisting injury or disease aggravated by active service.

Children of Military or Civilian Personnel in Missing Status

The child of a parent who is in "missing status" is eligible if the parent is a member of the armed services or a civilian employee in active government service who is officially carried or determined to be absent in a status of missing; missing in action; interred in a foreign country; captured, beleaguered or besieged by a hostile force; or detained in a foreign country against his or her will.

Children of Medal of Honor Recipients

The children of Medal of Honor recipients from any branch of the armed services may apply under this category.

Air Force Regular and Reserve Components

Vacancies are available under this category for members of the Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard in accordance with Air Force directives available through any base education office. The application form (AF Form 1786) should be obtained through normal Air Force publications supply channels.

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

Five students may be nominated to the Academy every year from each college or university AFROTC detachment, as well as honor graduates from each eligible honor high school with Air Force Junior ROTC. College or university students must submit their applications to the Professor of Aerospace Studies. High school students must submit their applications to the Aerospace Science Instructor.

Honor Military and Naval Schools

Any school designated by the Departments of the Army and Navy as an honor school with distinction may nominate five candidates from among its honor graduates. The eligible schools have applications for students.