Us Air Force Academy Tours Colorado Springs

Access To and Tours of Cadet Area for AOG Members

Responding to a number of requests, the AOG has created a program to allow AOG members escorted access to the cadet area. We will make every effort to arrange necessary escorts whenever contacted, but appreciate one week notice to schedule a volunteer.

Visits with Cadet, USAFA Staff Members and Departments

AOG members who wish to visit a cadet, Academy staff member or department should contact the cadet/staff member/department directly so they may arrange for your escort. AOG Customer Service will be pleased to provide telephone numbers or email addresses of individuals or departments.

Tours

Most of the Academy is open to all tourists. You may visit the Visitors Center, Chapel, Arnold Hall, the Field House and Hall of Excellence without escort. The Cadet Area (Terrazzo) has always been closed to the general public, including graduates, and is now fenced. Special access is required to tour the Cadet Area. The AOG will make every effort to provide tours of the Cadet Area at times requested for the member and up to four guests, but on occasion, AOG staff may not be available to conduct them. (If your group is larger than the member plus four, please see the additional instructions below) If you are not a member, AOG Customer Service will be pleased to sign you up for membership.

Tours will be conducted at 1100 hours during normal duty days, and they will last two hours. Cadet activities within the cadet area and weather, though, could cause cancellation of tours on certain days. No tours are authorized when basic cadets are training in the cadet area, during reunion weekends, holidays, or when Cadet Wing training dictates. Tours begin and end at the Chapel Wall. An AOG volunteer will meet the group, then:

• Proceed down the south Chapel Ramp;
• Cross the Terrazzo in front of Sijan Hall, going to Mitchell Hall;
• Continue to the lectinar area on the south end of Fairchild Hall;
• Progress along the east side of Fairchild Hall, past the parade ground and the base of the ramp to the McDermott Cadet Library;
• Cross the Terrazzo next to the Graduate War Memorial and flag pole, along Vandenberg Hall;
• Continue along the Class Wall;
• End the walking tour at the north Chapel Ramp/Stairs..

Tour guides schedule the tours at 1100 to view the noon meal formation and enter Mitchell Hall while cadets dine. Noon meal formations are scheduled with CW and are not guaranteed on the day of tours. Guests should arrive early to tour the Chapel on their own. The Chapel docents give a comprehensive tour. (Attention: The Chapel renovation project is scheduled January 2019-June 2023. No access to the Chapel area is authorized.)

Even though grads are not permitted inside the cadet dormitories during these special individual tours, grads may enter them during class reunions, Parents Weekend, and Graduation Week.

Special Instructions for groups larger than 10.

Once the tour group arrives at the chapel wall, the member will have the option of:

1. having entire group hear verbal tour of cadet area on Chapel Wall (no entry to Terrazzo); or
2. choosing four people (plus themselves) to proceed on the Terrazzo for the tour; or
3. given two weeks' notice for the tour, the AOG will try to coordinate additional volunteers. The access badges and escort privileges authorize each volunteer to escort five (max) individuals on the Terrazzo.

The AOG tour program supports purchasing Memorial Cabinets for graduates killed in recent worldwide conflicts. The six foot, wooden, display cabinets are placed in the deceased graduate's squadron and filled with personal and military tributes. Any contribution made to the tour program will go directly to this endeavor.

Groups more than twenty require coordination with the cadet wing and security forces. Please contact the Visitor's Center.

How to Arrange an AOG Escorted Tour for an AOG Member

Requests for tours should be made as far in advance as possible. To schedule a tour, please contact the AOG at (719) 472- 0300.

Request a Tour Online!

Us Air Force Academy Tours Colorado Springs

Source: https://www.usafa.org/Membership/Tours

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