Air Force
How is the United States Air Force Academy place among the other four Military Academies?
If possible, can you rank the 5 military Academies in order? I just got accepted to the Air Force Prep School and am wondering what types of people that graduate from the Prep School doesn’t get accepted the the Air Force Academy.
First, to qualify my answer: I am a graduate of USAFA and worked at USNA shortly after commissioning (I cross-commissioned to the Navy because I could not fly). I also applied and lived near West Point and Kings Point growing up so I saw them both close up repeatedly. I have never been to the Coast Guard Academy and was not interested in attending. I would rate the academies as such:
1. USAFA – better well-rounded education. All courses are 3-credits, you do not get additional credit hours for classes with labs so you have to complete a heavier course load to graduate. They also have a wider variety of majors than the others. The athletic facilities are far superior than the other academies and Colorado has some great scenery. However, in terms of military culture – I generally disliked Air Force culture and much preferred working with the Army, Navy and Marines.
2. USMA – strong sense of history and pride in their school. The location in NY gets very cold and depressing in the winter and there is nothing to do in the area. Engineering education there is excellent.
3. USNA – also a strong sense of pride in their school. The facilities are in poor condition and there is no additional space to expand since Annapolis is right outside the gate. That is a major benefit though, being close to a major city. However, it is also close to D.C. and that means too much publicity when bad things happen.
4. USCGA – smaller than the other 4 and focused on commissioning USCG officers. Their athletics program is inferior in the sense they do not recruit athletes and do not compete on a level with the previous three academies.
5. USMMA – the forgotten military academy. This school gives an excellent practical education in becoming a licensed mariner. Kings Point competes more directly with the state maritime academies in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, etc. It is actually right across from SUNY Maritime at Fort Schuyler. MMA graduates serving in the Navy and Coast Guard tend to do very well in ship handling and other nautical skills.
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History of the Air Force One
The Air Force 1 basketball sneaker features patented air technology created by Nike, Inc. The sneaker also features a full-length air sole that increases the level of comfort and cushioning of the Air Force 1. This sneaker was originally released in 1982. While produced in Asia, Air Force 1 sneakers remain one of the most popular sneaker types in the United States.
Where to get your sneaker
Readily found as a low or mid-top sneaker, the Air Force 1 has maintained a similar design since its inception in 1982. This basketball sneaker also features the “swoosh” symbol that differentiates all Nike products.
Air Force 1 sneakers can vary in price, but will often cost approximately $80.00 – $150.00. These basketball sneakers can be found in Niketown stores or through the website www.nike.com. Footlocker and Finish line are also authorized dealers of Nike footwear.
Increasingly, the ease of online shopping has made the purchase of Air Force 1 sneakers easy to acquire in the virtual market. Consumers must always remain cautious, however, because the popularity of the Air Force 1 has also made the shoe a likely candidate for illegal replication. Furthermore, because this is a limited sneaker, new releases of Nikes are exclusively offered through Nike retailers. However, older, or collectible versions of the Air Force 1 are available through private individual resellers and dealers.
Eastbay, an online retailer, features small quantities of Air Force 1 sneakers for men, women, and children. Most of their Air Force 1 sneakers will be available for purchase in late January 2007.Their website, www.eastbay.com, offers the Nike Big Kids Air Force 90 for $70.00, as well as the Men’s Air Force 25 Supreme Black/Black/Chrome for $175.00. The Nike Air Force 25 basketball shoe is also available in red and white for $150.00. Other versions of the sneaker are also available online through specific site prompts made available through the site’s search engine.
Ever-changing Style
Classic versions of the Air Force 1 can uniquely created through the Nike homepage www.nike.com. This site allows the user to customize a select number of sneakers. Through the online customization process, consumers may play with the colors of the sole, ties, patented logo, and more. In most instances, the easy process of customization can be completed in less than ten minutes for approximately $150.00.
Air Force One sneakers, as Limited Edition footwear, are also popular collector’s items. Often, once the sneaker’s production line has ceased, the cost of the sneaker will greatly increase. In fact, according to Forbes magazine, one Special Edition model of the Air Force 1 is so rare, that it may retail for $1000.00 or more. Examples of other special edition Air Force 1 sneakers include the Superman model, as well as versions created for music videos or holidays such as the Chinese New Year. Updated listings of available Air Force Ones are available on the website www.nike.com.
About the Author
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