Terms and Expressions

A Hall Arnold Hall (cadet recreation center and theater) AAOCA Associate AOC for Academics, a faculty member who is academic advisor for those cadets without a major ACADEMY SPIRIT The weekly base newspaper ACPRO Academic probation-a deficient academic condition.  Restrictions placed on cadets who fail to meet a grade point average of 2.0 ACQ Academic call to quarters/time cadets must be in their dorms Admissions Liaison Officer Active duty, retired Air Force or Air Force Reserve volunteer who helps recruit for the Academy and helps students with the Academy application process AF Air Force AFA Air Force Academy AFI Air Force Instruction/ the instructions provide a set of policies and guidelines outlining Air Force operating procedures. AFT An aerobic fitness test (1.5-mile run) AH Department of Athletics Air Gardens An area on the terrazzo between the flagpole and Mitchell Hall; each of the trees represents a grad who died in combat in Vietnam; forbidden area for fourthclassmen ALO Admissions Liaison Officer; active-duty, retired Air Force or Air Force Reserve volunteer who helps recruit for the Academy and helps students with the Academy application process AMI An a.m. inspection (refers to a high level of cleanliness for cadet rooms) AOC Air Officer Commanding; officers who work closely with cadets to help them achieve their potential as officer candidates AOG Association of Graduates/the USAFA alumni association Appointee A qualified candidate who has been offered an appointment to the Academy Appointment An offer of admission to a candidate Appointment Considerations At least 17 years old by July 1 of the year entering the Academy ; not have passed 23rd birthday on July 1 of the year entering the Academy ; a U.S. citizen (international students authorized admission are exempt from the U.S. citizenship requirement) ; high moral character ; high leadership, academic, physical and medical standards and ; unmarried, with no one depending on them for support AptPro Aptitude probation; for cadets displaying a less than desired attitude and/or performance ARC Academic Review Committee; determines the status of cadets deficient in academics (recommends retention or dismissal) ARNIE’S Nickname cadets use to refer to Arnold Hall lounge named in honor of General Hap Arnold Basic The first 6 weeks of life at USAFA, or a person fortunate enough to be undergoing this period of "transition" BASICS Name given to new cadets just entering the Academy BCT / Beast Basic Cadet Training; initial 6 week training session during the summer of fourthclassman year  BDUs Battle dress uniforms (camouflaged fatigue uniforms) Bearing Military behavior or manner Beast The nickname for Basic Cadet Training (BCT) Bird ("the Bird") The USAFA mascot; a falcon or a gift (statue) given to visitors/guest speakers BOR Base of the Ramp, the area at the bottom of the "Bring Me Men" ramp  C Store Cadet Store (where cadets can buy books, snacks and needed supplies) C1C Cadet First Class (a fourth year or senior cadet)/“Firstie” C2C Cadet Second Class (a third year or junior cadet)/“2 Degree” C3C Cadet Third Class (a second year or sophomore cadet)/“3 Degree” C4C Cadet Fourth Class (a first year or freshman cadet)/“4 Degree” Cadet an appointee who has been admitted to the Academy and has taken the oath of allegiance Cadet Wing Military organization of all cadets, consisting of four groups, totaling approximately 4,000 cadets Cadre Upperclassmen holding leadership / raining positions Candidate A precandidate who has a nomination in an authorized category (also referred to as a nominee) Candidate Kit Kit containing forms and information for students whose Precandidate Questionnaires have been received, screened and approved, including complete information about Medical Eligibility, the Physical Aptitude Exam and other necessary steps in the admissions process Carry On The command given to resume normal duties CCQ The cadet in charge of quarters (squadron representative who answers phones, takes messages, etc.) Checkpoints A daily listing of "must-know" knowledge for fourthclassmen (consists of meal menus, days until graduation for each of the three upper classes and who is senior officer of the day), also the title of a magazine published quarterly by the Association of Graduates (AOG) CIC Cadet In Charge Command Post Cadet Wing Operations Center, the organization in charge of day-to-day operations for the Cadet Wing Comm's List The Commandant's List for outstanding military performance; cadets on this list wear a silver wreath showing they've earned a military performance average (MPA) of 3.0 or greater ConPro Conduct probation; for cadets displaying a less-than-desired conduct Contrails The "bible" of fourthclassmen knowledge (contains USAFA heritage information, quotes and various details of USAFA life) Cover Headgear or hat CST Combat survival training (conducted during second summer, it emphasizes survival training) C-STORE Cadet term referring to the AAFES outlet in Vandenberg Hall CW Cadet Wing OR the former organizational title of the 34th Training Wing (Commandant of Cadets) Dean's List The Dean's List for outstanding academic achievement; cadets on this list wear a silver star on their uniforms Demerit Punishment for a military infraction DF Dean of Faculty/organization responsible for cadet academics DI Dormitory Inspection, night check for accountability Dining In A formal dinner for officers, NCOs (noncommissioned officers) and cadets Dining Out Same as dining-in, but guests may be invited DOD Department of Defense Dodo Underground humor magazine, for cadets only Doolie Fourthclassman or Fourth class cadet, equivalent to a freshman(comes from the Greek "duolos," meaning a slave) DOOLIE A new, first year cadet at the Academy DOOLIE DAY OUT Basic cadets’ first opportunity to leave USAFA/generally spent with a cadet sponsor in their home EI Extra Instruction Element The basic unit of a squadron, consisting of about 12 cadets FAIRCHILD HALL Building that houses the Commandant of Cadets, library and academic facilities Fall In The command given to come to the position of attention Fall Out The command given to release members from formation or not being able to keep up with the rest of the group (i.e., "falling out" of a formation) First-Class Cadet Firstclassman or a senior Firstie Firstclassmen or 1-degree or senior Flight Consists of three elements, about 36 cadets Form 10 A for to report cadet conduct, good or bad Four-Degree Fourthclassman or a freshman Fourth-Class Cadet A freshman GDNCO Group duty Noncommissioned Officer GE Global Engagement GR Graded Review (a major academic test) GRAD Short for graduation.  Refers to an Academy graduate HARMON HALL Building located due south of Arnold Hall.  Houses the Superintendent, Civilian Pay, Legal Office, and other Academy administrative support functions Honor Guard The USAFA rifle drill team IP An instructor pilot IRI In Ranks Inspection JACK’S VALLEY Site of encampment training during BCT. Wooded area on the north side of the Air Force Academy used for basic cadet field training exercises LMD Last military duty March On A formation marching onto the parade field or into the football stadium MAS Military Art and Science MITCH’S Abbreviation for Mitchell Hall (the Cadet Dining Facility) / named in honor of General Billy Mitchell MPA Military performance average; a reflection of a cadet's military standing (similar to GPA for academics) MRC Military Review Committee (convened to determine military aptitude of a cadet found deficient in military performance) (see "ApPro") MSS Military Strategic Studies MTL Military Training Leader; an Air Force NCO (noncommissioned officer) who oversees military training in each cadet squadron, the MTL assists the "AOC" MTL Military Training Leader MWR Morale, Welfare and Recreation NCO noncommissioned officer (a senior enlisted person) NCOIC Noncommissioned Officer in Charge NMF Noon Meal Formation Nomination The selection of a precandidate as an official candidate for admission to the Academy by a legal nominating authority OI Operating Instruction (outlines how an organization conducts business) OIC Officer in Charge One-Degree Firstclassman (a senior) PA USAFA Public Affairs Office/responsible for the official release of all Academy related information PCS Permanent Change of Station PDP Professional Development Program PEA Physical Education Average, cadets with a PEA of 3.0 or higher are awarded a silver lightning bolt by the Director of Athletics PFT Physical Fitness Test PKR Professional Knowledge Review POV Privately Owned Vehicle PQ Pilot Qualified Precandidate A student interested in attending the Air Force Academy who has returned a completed application/precandidate questionnaire Precandidate Questionnaire The first step in the application process, interchangeable with the term "application" Principal Nominee A nominee whom a member of Congress ranks as first choice for an authorized vacancy Prog The point midway through each semester where academic grades are provided Prop & Wings The emblem of an upperclassman; the goal of every "doolie" Qualified Alternate A qualified candidate not chosen to fill any specific nomination category but placed in a nationwide pool from which additional appointments are made to fill the entering class Qualified Candidate A candidate who has met all admissions requirements RECOGNITION Following a period of training in the spring, fourth class cadets are officially recognized as members of the Cadet Wing, bringing with it less stringent restrictions RETREAT Military ceremony signaling the end of a duty day.  As a gesture of respect, in the event you are outside the building when retreat is sounded, you are required to stop and face the direction of the nearest flag Reveille The bugle call that wakes cadets SAMI A Saturday morning (a.m.) inspection SCA Scheduling Committee Actions/all cadet programs must be approved by this agency SDO Squadron Duty Officer Second-Class Cadet secondclassman or a junior SFS Security Forces Squadron SIJAN HALL Cadet dormitory located on the south side of the terrazzo SOD Senior Officer of the Day, firstie in charge of the cadet wing for the day Sound Off To speak out loudly and clearly Squadron Consists of three flights, about 108 cadets Square Corners One of the duties of every fourthclassman or "doolie" (they must always "square" corners when walking) Stellar Outstanding Stract A very military person SUMMER PREP WEEK The week of activities culminating in the graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium Supt's List The Superintendent's List for outstanding academic, military and athletic performance, cadets on the Supt's list wear a silver star within a wreath surrounded by two lightning bolts Taps The mournful tune that signifies the end of the day for cadets TDY Temporary Duty (any trip or official business that takes one away from his duty station) Tentative Candidate A precandidate who appears to have the potential to be a qualified candidate, based upon self-reported information Terrazzo (T'zo) Name given to the open paved, large flat area between the dormitories and other buildings in the cadet area Third-Class Cadet Thirdclassman or a sophomore Three-Degree Thirdclassman or a sophomore Tour 60-minutes of marching with a rifle (is "awarded" for a variety of infractions, used for disciplinary purposes) TOURS Cadets marching with a rifle as a form of punishment Two-Degree Secondclassman or a junior UOD Uniform of the day; the prescribed uniform ensemble cadets are required to wear for that day Upper class Cadet members of the top three classes at USAFA (sophomores/juniors/seniors or third, second and first classes) USAFA United States Air Force Academy Vandenberg Hall One of two cadet dormitories (also referred to as Vandy) VANDENBERG HALL The cadet dormitory located on the north side of the terrazzo/the largest of the two cadet dormitory facilities  Zoo Nickname for USAFA (i.e., the blue "zoo") Zoomie Graduate or cadet at USAFA