rates than men and have left the Air Force in higher numbers than men.
=== Recent history ===
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the academy graduated the Class of 2020 six weeks early. This was the first time that any USAFA class was ever commissioned early, and the first time for any military academy since the Vietnam War. This was also the first time that cadets were commissioned into the U.S. Space Force, with General Jay Raymond administering the oath of office to 86 graduates.
The US Space Force established its first unit at the academy when Detachment 1 of Space Delta 13 was activated in November 2021. It is expected that approximately 10% of graduates at the academy will enter the Space Force.
In 2025, the academy dropped "educate" from its mission statement.
== Campus and facilities ==
The campus of the academy covers 18,455 acres (29 sq mi; 75 km2) on the east side of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains, just north of Colorado Springs. Its elevation is normally given as 7,258 feet (2,212 …
