Journal of an Underachiever – Getting to USAFA

We didn’t have a lot of money to spare, but I expected to go to college. I new vaguely that I was destined to become an engineer, but that was about it. I started looking for where I wanted to go. There was always the University of Delaware, a good, small school that didn’t cost all that much. That was my backup plan. The only other university I remember paying any attention to was Purdue.

Something brought the Air Force Academy to my attention. I recognized that somewhere along the line I needed to put in military service. After all, Dad had served in the big war as had my uncle Pat. It was in the family. One thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want to be in a foxhole if I ever had to face an enemy, and I figured it was better to be an officer than an enlisted man. Besides, the Academy wouldn’t charge me any tuition. In fact, I’d be paid to attend. In addition, my experiences in the CAP had convinced me that I wanted to fly, and at that time physically qualified graduates of the Academy were expected to go to pilot training.

I looked into the application process and sent off a letter to one our senators, J. Allen Frear. Before I knew it, I received a notification to go to a written test in Dover. We filled a whole classroom. I think we were Frear’s candidates for all the academies. My test taking ability took over, and I breezed through the test, which was extensive. I don’t remember if we ever saw scores from the test, but I did well enough to move on to the next level.

Somewhen in there I also went to Wilmington to take the College Board exams. Again, my test taking ability took over. I don’t remember how long each test was, but I do remember finishing each of them before the required time and going out to walk around the campus till it was time to go back for the next test.

It reminded me of taking the standardized biology test when I was in the tenth grade. I had carried a C through the entire year because I didn’t put any work into the class projects. When the scores came back on the standardized test, mine was in the 99 plus percentile. That brought my final grade up to a B. I don’t remember any specific grades from the College Board, but I do know that none of the tests was hard. As I mentioned earlier I never had a problem with tests. You’ll note that I’m not claiming to be exceptionally smart, just to have a phenomenal test taking ability.

The next step was going to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to the Air Force Base there (I can’t think of the name at the moment). We spent a whole day of testing, both written and physical. To no surprise to me most of the other candidates were better athletes than I. The one significant test was pull ups. I had never before in my life done ten consecutive pull ups, but I did then. I found out later that ten was the minimum passing. I had barely made it.

Sometime before our class trip to DC I was notified that I had been selected to attend the Academy. While we were in DC, I got to meet and personally thank Senator Frear.

Finally the day before the big day came. We drove to Washington and what is now Reagan International. After saying goodbye to Mom, Dad, Richard, and Susan, I boarded a Lockheed Constellation for the flight to Denver. I don’t remember anything about the flight other than the airplane type. I spent the night in the Oxford Hotel, and the next morning I carried my suitcase down to Union Station.

Once again my shyness kicked in. The Academy was supplying transportation from the station. I saw the NCO who was driving, but I didn’t know what kind of transportation I was supposed to be looking for and couldn’t work up the courage to approach him to see if he was picking up incoming newbies. After he left, I realized I had missed the bus (or car) literally, and I had no idea when or if more transportation would show.

I lugged my baggage to the nearest bus stop and found out how to get to Lowry. The number 13 bus dropped me off at the old Base Exchange. I can’t recall for sure how I got to the Academy part of the base, but I think there was a base bus.

That’s where the fun began.