United States Air Force Academy, Military academy in Colorado Springs, United States.
The United States Air Force Academy is a military training institution in Colorado Springs that covers 7,300 hectares at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The grounds sit at roughly 2,170 m elevation and include classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities, and military training areas.
Congress approved the creation of the academy in 1954 after decades of support from military leaders for a separate air service training center. Classes began in 1959 once the Colorado site was selected and the initial buildings were completed.
The training program blends academic coursework with physical exercises and leadership preparation that cadets follow each day. Visitors can observe future officers in uniform marching across campus and taking part in organized activities.
About one million people visit each year to explore the facilities, which include technical labs, teaching rooms, sports complexes, and military training grounds. The campus is open to the public during daylight hours, with security checks at the entry gates.
The graduating group in 2020 finished their training six weeks ahead of schedule because of the pandemic and became the first cadets commissioned into both the Air Force and the newly formed Space Force. This unusual class marked the start of a new era in military space operations.
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