United States Air Force Academy

Basic Cadet Training

Basic Cadet Training begins on inprocessing day and continues until the Sunday before the start of the academic year. BCT emphasizes the fundamental concepts of military organization: drill, ethics, honor, Air Force heritage and physical training. Basic cadets also study the military role in American society and the Air Force's mission and organization.

BCT tests cadets' mental and physical abilities and helps them transition from civilian to military life. Cadets develop alertness, physical endurance, emotional resilience, self-reliance, attention to detail, punctuality and individual initiative as they are subjected to rigorous discipline.

On their first day, cadets are issued clothing and receive their room and squadron assignments. They swear an oath of allegiance to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and faithfully discharge their duties as cadets. A public swearing-in ceremony takes place on the second day of BCT.

During BCT, cadets wake up at 5:30 a.m. and go to bed at 10:30 p.m. Time is provided in the evenings to shower and attend to personal hygiene as well as to study, write letters or rest. Adequate time is also provided for sleep, meals, breaks and religious worship.

BCT consists of two phases, both administered by upperclass cadets with commissioned officers serving as advisers and with the commandant of cadets providing overall supervision.

-- The first phase of BCT takes place in the Cadet Area and is devoted to military orientation programs with an emphasis on learning basic military skills and responsibilities, improving physical conditioning and adapting to teamwork through competitive sports.

-- The second phase of BCT consists primarily of field-training activities contucted at the Jacks Valley encampment site five miles north of the Cadet Area. Cadets march to the campsite, construct a tent city and live there for 18 days. The cadets expand their military orientation, learn weapons skills and develop their mental and physical confidence through challenging obstacles.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on BCT or contact us with your questions at bct_faq@usafa.edu.

Inside USAFA