Air Force athletics nears end of 2017-18 year with graduation ceremony
Air Force athletics is nearing the close of 2017-18, as cadet-athletes from the class of 2018 participate in graduation ceremonies today in Falcon Stadium. The class of 2018 includes cadets from 27 intercollegiate sports, plus boxing and cheer.
The newly-commissioned second lieutenants will be going into career fields such as contacting, remotely piloted aircraft, pilot training, meteorology, engineering, personnel, acquisitions, diversity recruiting, logistics, aircraft maintenance, financial management, missile operations, intelligence, space operations, cyber operations, systems acquisitions and graduate school.
Air Force athletics had anotheR Banner years, with track and field still competing at the national level. Thus far, 33 cadet-athletes have earned All-America honors. The Falcons have won four conference championships, including men's soccer in the Western Athletic Conference, men's indoor track in the Mountain West, ice hockey in the Atlantic Hockey Conference and men's outdoor track in the Mountain West.
Five coaches have won six conference coach of the year honors, including Doug Hill in men's soccer, Kim Gidley in women's tennis, Ralph Lindeman for indoor and outdoor track and field, Doug Day for women's gymnastics and Jeff Robinson for men's gymnastics. Two athletes took home athlete of the year honors. Senior John Reynolds was named the Mountain West Outstanding Performer for indoor track while junioR Billy Christopoulos was named the Atlantic Hockey Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Air Force completed the 2017-18 season with a 15-15 mark in head-to-head competition against service academy rivals Army and Navy. Air Force was 8-9 vs. Army and 7-6 vs. Navy. The Falcons are 42-32-2 overall vs. Army and Navy the last three seasons.
Air Force is on track for its best-ever Learfield Director's Cup standings rank. The Falcons are currently second in the Mountain West and 47th nationally with 278 points. Air Force leads the three service academics for the seventh straight season. Air Force has scored points in men's cross country (15th NCAA, 60 points), men's soccer (33rd NCAA, 25 points), rifle (5th in NCAA, 73 points), women's indoor track (51st in NCAA, 22 points), fencing (18th NCAA, 38 points) and ice hockey (5th in NCAA, 60 points).
2017-18 Air Force Athletics Accomplishments
(See attached for entire rundown)
Conference Championships (4)
2017-18
Men's Soccer - WAC
Men's Indoor Track -- MW
Ice Hockey -- AHC
Men's Outdoor Track -- MW
Air Force won nine conference championships the last two seasons (2015-16, 2016-17), the most in school history in back-to-back seasons. The Falcons earned five in 2015-16 and four in 2016-17.
Coach of the Year Awards (6)
2017-18
Doug Hill - Men's soccer (WAC)
Kim Gidley - Women's tennis (USTA Intermountain Region)
Ralph Lindeman (2) - Men's Indoor Track and Field (MW); Men's Outdoor Track and Field (MW)
Doug Day - Women's Gymnastics (MPSF)
Jeff Robinson - Men's Gymnastics (USAG)
Air Force has had 17 coaches recognized as conference or national coach of the year the last two years. The Falcons had 12 earn the honor in 2015-16 and five earn it in 2016-17.
Athlete/Player of the Year Awards (2)
Senior John Reynolds (Men's Indoor Track and Field) - Mountain West Championships Outstanding Performer
Junior Billy Christopoulos (Hockey) - Atlantic Hockey Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player
Air Force had five athletes earn athlete of the year honors six times in 2016-17. Two of those athletes return this season. Senior Jamiel Trimble earned Mountain West Outstanding Performer honors in both indoor and outdoor track and field last season. Senior Shelley Spires earned U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Mountain Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year (USTFCCA) in indoor and outdoor track.
GRADUATION FACT SHEET: USAF ACADEMY CLASS OF 2018
(Information as of 21 May 2018)
When They Entered on 27 June 2014:
1,498 were offered appointments
1,206 were inducted into the Academy
High School:
Average GPA: 3.85
Average SAT scores: 633 Verbal, 663 Math
Average ACT scores: 30.0 English, 30.0 Reading, 30.0 Math, 30.0 Science Reasoning
As They Graduate on 23 May 2018 (as of 21 May 2018):
Graduating: 984 = 971 + 13 (Includes Internationals)
Men: 772 (78%) Women: 212 (22%)
Minorities: 273 (28%), 77 African American, 105 Hispanic, 65 Asian, 13 Pacific Islander, 13 Native American (does not include Internationals)
Non-Minorities: 711
International Students: 13 (Gabon, Kazakhstan (2), Malaysia, Moldova (2), Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates)
Total International Grads for all years: 374 + 13 = 387
Service commitment: In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 9348 and AFI 36-2107, all Service Academy Graduates entering active duty will incur a 5 year service commitment and an additional concurrent service commitment depending on the type of training or schooling (scholarships) they receive. For instance, members of the Class of 2017 who attend pilot training incur an active duty service commitment of ten years after earning their wings. Following successful completion of training, combat system operators (navigators), remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) sensor operators and airborne battle managers (ABMs) incur a six year commitment. For example, Service Academy Graduates completing ABM training would incur two service commitments running concurrently (the 5 year Service Academy Graduate commitment and the ABM training 6 year commitment)
Total Graduates for all years: Male Female Total
Including Class of 2018: 44,094 (+ 772) = 44,866 5611 (+ 212) = 5823 49,705 (+984) = 50,689
USAFA Graduates Who Have Attained the Rank of General: Number: As of 21 May 2018 there were 737 General Officers that graduated from USAFA (includes 10 Brig Gen selects). As of 21
May 2018 there are 131 on active duty (includes 10 Brig Gen selects).
