Your entire Academy experience motivates you to become a career Air Force officer. When you accept your commission as a second lieutenant, you begin the six-year active-duty commitment you agreed to upon entering the Academy. More than 50 percent of the Air Force Academy's graduates enter flight training. This training lasts approximately one year, and you incur a longer service commitment following its completion. However, the majority of Academy graduates choose to make the Air Force a career and remain in the service for 20 years or more. The Air Force Academy's extensive information and counseling program helps you make a reasonable choice of your initial assignment and develop tentative long-range plans for your career. Outstanding officers from major Air Force organizations, representing the broad range of Air Force skills, meet with you to discuss professional opportunities, flying and technical training, graduate education and personal aspects of service life. Your Air Officer Commanding, the Cadet Counseling Center and other Academy faculty and staff members provide individual counseling.

FLYING CAREER ASSIGNMENTS
Many Air Force Academy graduates initially pursue flying assignments. Possessing an aeronautical rating will broaden your Air Force opportunities, as many important staff and command positions require a flying background. The Academy conducts both pilot and navigator indoctrination programs and medically-qualified cadets may enter either pilot or navigator flying training following graduation. Air Education and Training Command bases provide undergraduate pilot and navigator training. After completing that instruction and earning your wings, you'll be scheduled for advanced training. Pilots and navigators may specialize in aircraft such as bombers, transports or fighters. Following completion of flying training, you can expect to be assigned to a combat operational unit or mission support unit for several years. As Air Force requirements permit, you may assume duties in other career areas. However, you must anticipate that a significant portion of your Air Force career will be in duties related to flying.

NON-FLYING CAREER ASSIGNMENTS
Not everyone who graduates from the Academy becomes a pilot. In fact, half of Academy graduates will serve in one of four non-flying categories. Your assignment following graduation will relate directly to your Academy training and the needs of the Air Force. But, no matter what field you enter, you'll be an Air Force officer! The four non-flying categories, along with sample specialties are listed on this page. A few graduating cadets will receive scholarships to attend civilian graduate schools immediately after graduation. Other graduates may also have opportunities for graduate education through the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) program. Most degree-granting programs are conducted in conjunction with civilian universities.