DAFI 36-3501: UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY OPERATIONS

DAFI 36-3501 — index record

Number	DAFI 36-3501
Title	UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY OPERATIONS
Published	May 9, 2022
Certified current	July 30, 2025
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	UpdateContact, July 23, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (50 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This instruction implements Department of the Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 36-35, United States Air Force Academy. It establishes specific roles and responsibilities involving the oversight, command, operation, and support of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and its mission as outlined in Title 10 United States Code (USC), Sections (§§) 9431 et seq.; United States Air Force Academy, describes the set of performance management indicators and associated reporting requirements necessary to indicate successful accomplishment of the USAFA mission; includes operational authorities for institutional involvement with the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation; outlines required support for cadet development programs; and provides direction for administratively disenrolling, separating, and discharging cadets from the USAFA. This instruction applies to Regular Air Force, Regular Space Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard personnel, except where noted otherwise. Air Staff roles and responsibilities may also apply

Summary of changes, as printed

This interim change revises DAFI 36-3501, United States Air Force Academy Operations by removing all diversity and inclusion concepts and programs pursuant to Executive Orders. A margin bar (|) indicates newly revised material.

Chapter 1—GENERAL INFORMATIONp. 5
Chapter 2—PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM FOR USAFAp. 25
Chapter 3—SUPPORT OF CADET DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMSp. 27
Chapter 4—DISENROLLMENT AND SUSPENSION OF CADETSp. 31
Chapter 5—(DELETED)p. 46
Chapter 6—ADDITIONAL GUIDANCEp. 47
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 50
Attachment 2—ANNUAL OPERATIONS AIR FORCE TIMELINEp. 56

All 48 contents entries

Chapter 1—GENERAL INFORMATIONp. 5
1.1. Scopep. 5
1.2. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 5
1.3. Delegations of Authority and Waiversp. 19
Chapter 2—PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM FOR USAFAp. 25
2.1. Goalp. 25
2.2. Reporting Requirementsp. 25
2.3. Significant Incidentsp. 25
2.4. Academy Oversightp. 26
Chapter 3—SUPPORT OF CADET DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMSp. 27
3.1. Descriptionp. 27
3.2. Core Cadet Development Programsp. 27
3.3. Cadet Development Program Responsibilitiesp. 27
3.4. Resourcesp. 29
3.5. Command and Controlp. 29
3.6. Security Clearancesp. 30
3.7. Evaluating Performancep. 30
Chapter 4—DISENROLLMENT AND SUSPENSION OF CADETSp. 31
4.1. Goalp. 31
4.2. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 31
4.3. Enrollment and Disenrollment Acknowledgementsp. 34
4.4. Conditions Supporting Disenrollmentp. 34
4.5. Disenrollment Considerationsp. 34
4.6. Collateral Consequences Considerationsp. 34
4.7. Disenrollment/Discharge Resulting in Entry-Level Discharge Characterizationsp. 35
4.8. Medical Evaluation Board and Physical Evaluation Boardp. 35
4.9. Active Duty Service Commitments, Grade Awards and Educational Delaysp. 35
4.10. Disenrolling Cadets with Prior Servicep. 36
4.11. Disenrolling Foreign Cadetsp. 37
4.12. Service Characterizationp. 37
4.13. Voluntary Resignationsp. 37
4.14. Resigning In Lieu Of Further Disenrollment Actionp. 38
4.15. Resigning for the Good of the Servicep. 39
4.16. Fulfilling Service Commitmentsp. 39
4.17. Conducting Additional Investigationsp. 39
4.18. Reporting Disenrollmentsp. 39
4.19. Involuntary Discharge Action based on Serious Misconductp. 39
4.20. MRR Programp. 40
4.22. Pregnancyp. 43
4.23. Dependencyp. 44
Chapter 5—(DELETED)p. 46
Chapter 6—ADDITIONAL GUIDANCEp. 47
6.1. Goalp. 47
6.2. Cadet Assignment Processp. 47
6.3. Air Officer Commanding Selectionp. 47
6.4. Officer and Enlisted Assignmentsp. 48
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 50
Attachment 2—ANNUAL OPERATIONS AIR FORCE TIMELINEp. 56

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

500 DAFI records on the Air Force index. Search the full index.

Works of the United States Government are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. § 105). This site is not affiliated with the Department of the Air Force or any government agency.

DAFI 36-3501

DAFI 36-3501 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

Calculators for the subject of this series