USAFA Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Semester Schedules, Key Dates & Cadet Milestones

USAFA Academic Calendar 2026-2027 serves as the master operational schedule approved by the United States Air Force Academy, governing academic coursework, military exercises, and cadet training blocks across the entire academic year.

Whether you are a cadet mapping out course requirements, a military family arranging travel for Parents’ Weekend, or an appointee preparing for Basic Cadet Training (BCT), having exact dates for the USAFA academic calendar 2026 and 2027 terms is essential for navigating life at the Academy.

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) operates on a structured semester-based system featuring a Fall Semester and a Spring Semester, followed by three intensive summer development periods.

Each primary term delivers instruction across an alternating schedule of 41 “M-Days” and 41 “T-Days” (spanning M1–M41 and T1–T41).

Cadets carry a rigorous workload averaging 15 to 21 credit hours per semester—combining core STEM and humanities courses with physical education and military leadership requirements.

The academic routine is further supplemented by a Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), Commandant’s Training Days, and dedicated Silver Training Weekends throughout the year.

This overview covers all major milestones for the 2026–2027 year—from Fall Convocation (August 4, 2026) and Fall VALEX (September 16–18, 2026) to Spring Crucible exercises (April 21–24, 2027) and Graduation Week (May 30–June 3, 2027).

Readers can also access and download the official USFA Calendar 26-27 PDF to keep key dates, exam blocks, and holiday leave schedules readily accessible.

USAFA Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. The third Summer Period ends on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
2. The Cadet Wing returns at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
3. Transition and onboarding take place from Sunday, August 2, 2026, through Monday, August 3, 2026.
4. Convocation takes place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
5. Transition and onboarding take place from Tuesday, August 4, 2026, through Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
6. The first day of Fall classes (M1) is Thursday, August 6, 2026.
7. The first day of T-Day classes (T1) is Friday, August 7, 2026.
8. Transition Day takes place on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
9. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
10. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, August 21, 2026.
11. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
12. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, August 28, 2026.
13. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
14. Basic Cadet Training (BCT) ends on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
15. Basic Cadet Training (BCT) Graduation takes place on Monday, August 31, 2026.
16. USAFA Parents’ Weekend takes place from Friday, September 4, 2026, through Saturday, September 5, 2026.
17. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and there are no classes.
18. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
19. Commandant’s Training Day takes place on Friday, September 11, 2026, and there are no classes.
20. Fall VALEX begins after classes on Thursday, September 17, 2026, with a Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC).
21. Fall VALEX takes place on Friday, September 18, 2026, and there are no classes.
22. Fall VALEX and Silver Training Weekend take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
23. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, October 2, 2026.
24. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
25. Fall grades are due on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
26. Columbus Day is observed on Monday, October 12, 2026, and there are no classes.
27. Departmental Special Assistance and Testing (DSAT) takes place from Thursday, October 15, 2026, through Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
28. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
29. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and there are no classes.
30. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, November 13, 2026.
31. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
32. USAFA Thanksgiving Break 2026 begins at Last Military Duty (LMD) on Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
33. Thanksgiving Day is observed on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
34. The Cadet Wing returns from Thanksgiving Break at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 29, 2026.
35. Dean’s Weekend takes place from Friday, December 4, 2026, through Saturday, December 5, 2026.
36. The last day of instruction (T41) is Thursday, December 10, 2026.
37. Study Day takes place on Friday, December 11, 2026.
38. Final examinations take place from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
39. Fall semester grades are due on Sunday, December 20, 2026.
40. Winter Break takes place from Monday, December 21, 2026, through Saturday, January 2, 2027.

USAFA Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. New Year’s Day is observed on Friday, January 1, 2027.
2. The Cadet Wing returns at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2027.
3. Transition Days take place from Monday, January 4, 2027, through Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
4. The first day of Spring classes (M1) is Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
5. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, January 8, 2027.
6. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, January 9, 2027.
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and there are no classes.
8. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, January 23, 2027.
9. The National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) takes place on Friday, February 12, 2027.
10. The National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) and Silver Training Weekend take place on Saturday, February 13, 2027, and there are no classes.
11. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027, and there are no classes.
12. Midterm grades are due on Friday, March 12, 2027.
13. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, March 12, 2027.
14. Silver Training Weekend takes place on Saturday, March 13, 2027.
15. Spring Break begins at Last Military Duty (LMD) on Friday, March 19, 2027.
16. USAFA Spring Break 2027 takes place from Saturday, March 20, 2027, through Saturday, March 27, 2027.
17. The Cadet Wing returns from Spring Break at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
18. Commandant’s Training Day takes place on Friday, April 9, 2027, and there are no classes.
19. Departmental Special Assistance and Testing (DSAT) takes place from Wednesday, April 14, 2027, through Saturday, April 17, 2027.
20. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
21. Crucible begins after classes on Wednesday, April 21, 2027, with a Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC).
22. Crucible takes place from Thursday, April 22, 2027, through Friday, April 23, 2027, and there are no classes.
23. Crucible and Silver Training Weekend take place on Saturday, April 24, 2027.
24. A Modified Schedule of Calls (SoC), with afternoon sections starting one hour early, takes place on Friday, May 7, 2027.
25. Dean’s Weekend takes place from Friday, May 14, 2027, through Saturday, May 15, 2027.
26. The last day of instruction (T41) is Friday, May 14, 2027.
27. Final examinations take place from Monday, May 17, 2027, through Thursday, May 20, 2027.
28. Summer Prep Week takes place from Friday, May 21, 2027, through Saturday, May 29, 2027.
29. Spring semester grades are due on Sunday, May 23, 2027.
30. Graduation Week takes place from Sunday, May 30, 2027, through Wednesday, June 2, 2027.
31. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31, 2027.
32. Graduation and Commissioning Day takes place on Wednesday, June 2, 2027.

USAFA Academic Calendar Summer 2027

1. Summer Transition takes place on Thursday, June 3, 2027.
2. The first Summer Period begins on Friday, June 4, 2027.
3. Juneteenth is observed on Saturday, June 19, 2027.
4. The first Summer Period ends on Friday, June 25, 2027.
5. The second Summer Period begins on Saturday, June 26, 2027.
6. The Class of 2031 enters and the first day of Basic Cadet Training (BCT) begins on Wednesday, June 30, 2027.
7. Independence Day is observed on Sunday, July 4, 2027.
8. The second Summer Period ends on Friday, July 16, 2027.
9. The third Summer Period begins on Saturday, July 17, 2027.
10. Basic Cadet Training (BCT) ends on Wednesday, August 4, 2027.
11. Basic Cadet Training (BCT) onboarding takes place on Thursday, August 5, 2027.
12. The third Summer Period ends on Friday, August 6, 2027.
13. The Cadet Wing returns at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 6, 2027.
14. Transition and onboarding take place from Saturday, August 7, 2027, through Monday, August 9, 2027.
15. Convocation takes place on Monday, August 9, 2027.
16. The first day of Fall 2027 classes (M1) is Wednesday, August 11, 2027.

For more on the USAFA Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the United States Air Force Academy Calendar website.