From Chattooga County to Colorado Springs: Cooper Hampton Is Now a U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet

Chattooga County’s Cooper Hampton Earns Spot at the U.S. Air Force Academy — Here’s What He’s Going Through Right Now

Getting accepted to the United States Air Force Academy is no small feat. Earning a spot in the Class of 2030 puts Cooper Hampton of Chattooga County in elite company — and right now, he’s in the middle of one of the most demanding six weeks of his life.

On June 24, Hampton’s family made the trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado — home of the Academy, nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains — to drop him off. The moment they said their goodbyes, Basic Cadet Training officially began. From that instant, he became what the Academy calls a C4C — a fourth-class cadet — and civilian life was left at the door.

Getting to this point was itself an achievement. This year’s incoming class came through one of the most competitive admissions cycles in Academy history, with applications up 11 percent and appointment acceptance rates at record levels. More than 80 percent of cadets offered appointments accepted, with over 1,130 young men and women committing to join the Class of 2030.

Hampton is one of them.

What He’s Going Through Right Now

Basic Cadet Training, known as BCT, is a six-week program designed to guide the transformation of new cadets from civilians to military academy cadets prepared to enter a four-year officer commissioning program. It is split into two distinct phases.

First BCT takes place in the cadet area under the instruction of upper-class cadets, focusing on the transition from civilian to military life. Military customs and courtesies, the cadet Honor Code, Air Force and Space Force heritage, room inspections, drill, dress and appearance, and reporting procedures are all part of the curriculum, combined with daily physical conditioning. And of course, the haircut.

In the first days and weeks, Hampton and his fellow basic cadets will undergo processing, medical and dental clearance, academic placement tests, physical fitness assessments, and the start of military drill — learning to march, salute, and carry themselves as cadets. There are inspections, lectures, and evaluations, and basic cadets must score 80 percent or higher on standardized tests of foundational Air Force knowledge, including chain of command, standards and discipline, and customs and courtesies.

Personal cell phones and mobile devices are prohibited during Basic Cadet Training. Mail is the only way to communicate with basic cadets, and cadets are encouraged by their trainers to write letters home. For Hampton’s family back in Chattooga County, that means patience — and a mailbox worth checking. And many, many letters are being sent to Colorado.

Hampton’s younger brother dressed in yellow to standout

Jacks Valley: The Next Challenge

On July 12, Hampton and his fellow basic cadets will march out to Jacks Valley — and that’s where things get even harder.

Second BCT takes cadets to Jacks Valley, a 3,300-acre rural training area on Academy grounds. There, activities push their physical limits to build self-confidence and teamwork skills. Second BCT also introduces cadets to small-unit tactics and firearms.

Mandatory BCT graduation requirements at Jacks Valley include successfully completing the Obstacle Course, Assault Course, Confidence Course, and Leadership Reaction Course. Self-Aid Buddy Care and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense training are also conducted in line with U.S. Air Force requirements.

The cadets will live in tents, train in the field, and face challenges designed to test them physically and mentally. Hampton will march back from Jacks Valley on July 24, then continue training on base before the finish line comes into view.

A-Day: August 5

Basic Cadet Training concludes on August 5 — known as A-Day, or Acceptance Day — when the newest members of the Cadet Wing are officially accepted into the Academy family. It is also the first day Hampton’s family will get to lay eyes on him since dropping him off on June 24.

The conclusion of BCT includes the Acceptance Parade, marking the transition into the academic year and the acceptance of new fourth-class cadets into the Cadet Wing. In a ceremony associated with the parade, the newly minted fourth-class cadets take the Academy’s Honor Code Oath and pledge to live by its principles.

The very next day, August 6, Hampton begins classes — and by all accounts, the academic load at the Air Force Academy is no easier than BCT. Before he left, his family got a look at a sample class schedule, and rigorous doesn’t begin to cover it.

Eyes on the Sky

Beyond the classroom and the training field, Hampton already has his sights set on something that combines ambition with a little bit of gravity-defying adventure: competition parachuting. The Academy’s Wings of Blue parachute team is one of the most recognized competitive parachuting programs in the country, and it’s exactly the kind of goal that fits a young man willing to pack everything up and take a leap — literally and figuratively — in service to his country.