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Newcomer Information

Welcome to the U.S. Air Force Academy and congratulations on your new assignment. You'll shortly become part of the wonderful experience of preparing more than 4,000 cadets for careers as Air Force leaders. The mission requires everyone's effort to succeed -- officers, enlisted Airmen, civilian employees, contractors and family members. As a part of the Academy, you will help prepare our future leaders by serving as a role model both on and off duty. You will set the example through your performance on the job, your appearance, your attitude and your conduct. Become involved with cadets, because your participation is important to their personal and professional development. Your involvement can take many forms: attending intramural, club and intercollegiate activities, coming to lectures presented by guest speakers, becoming a squadron participant and, if eligible, by becoming a cadet sponsor. While you're here, you can take advantage of our extensive recreational facilities, which are among the finest in the Air Force. We offer a wide range of seasonal programs to help make Colorado and its seasons enjoyable for our base community.

Online Base Guide

Arriving

Your sponsor will help you with any questions or problems before your arrival and while you're getting settled. Please exchange phone numbers, e-mail addresses and your travel itinerary with your sponsor. If you can't contact your sponsor, call the base locator at 719-333-1110 or your gaining unit orderly room.

Upon arriving, check in with your sponsor and inprocess with your assigned commander's support staff. You must inprocess in uniform and hand-carry your orders and the sealed records package from your previous military personnel flight.

After you have obtained a local address and phone number, you should update your address information in your virtual Record of Emergency Data, or vRED. In the first month after you arrive, you will attend a briefing from the finance office, MPF and, if applicable, a first duty station and equal opportunity orientation. Spouses and teenage family members are encouraged to attend.

Driving in Colorado

Colorado's terrain and weather challenge both drivers and vehicles. Pay close attention to weather warnings or watches and make sure your vehicle is in top shape -- especially the steering, suspension and brakes. A good set of all-season radial tires is a must.

Snow routes are posted both on and off base. Snow routes receive priority for plowing and sanding, making them the safest roads to use during inclement weather.

When driving up hills, slower-moving vehicles are required to stay in the right lane to keep the passing lane clear. If you meet oncoming traffic while on a narrow mountain road, the vehicle going uphill has the right-of-way unless it is close to a turnout.

In Colorado, effective as of December 2009, drivers may not use cell phones while driving unless equipped with hands-free devices.

Civilian In-processing

If you are an appropriated fund civilian employee arriving for employment at the Academy, you will conduct your in-processing through the Civilian Personnel Flight in the 10th Air Base Headquarters building. You will be scheduled for orientation briefings within your first 60 days.

If you are on a leave-without-pay status from a previous non-appropriated fund position, you should report to the NAF Human Resources office, located in the upper level of the community center next to the library, to apply for current open positions.

Winter Safety

If you will arrive at the Academy during the winter months, ask your sponsor to send an Academy snow route map in your welcome package. During inclement weather, only portions of the base's roads are open for traffic. Additionally, winter weather can bring poor visibility and slippery roadways. Here are some tips to reduce your chances of being involved in an accident:
  • Take your time and be patient.
  • Pick up speed slowly. Accelerating too quickly can cause your vehicle to lose traction.
  • Never slam on the brakes, as this can cause them to lock and result in loss of steering control. Instead, squeeze the brake pedal down until you feel they're about to lock up, then let off the brake and squeeze again. For those with anti-lock brakes, press evenly on the brake pedal and let the vehicle's braking system control your stop.
  • Keep plenty of distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. Colorado spreads crushed stone on roadways to enhance traction, but this can result in cracked windshields if you follow the vehicle in front of you too closely.
In addition, check your vehicle for the following:
  • Under the hood: Check the cooling system, windshield washer system, battery and connections, the air filter, the oil and the oil filter.
  • Outside the car: Check the tires and windshield wiper blades.
  • In the trunk: Carry a shovel, chains, a bucket of sand, flares, defroster sprays, jumper cables, tow rope and an orange or yellow streamer for your antenna.
Academy Snow Route Map