Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL)
Civil Engineering (CE) majors - rising juniors from USAFA, AFROTC, and our sister service academies - spent Summer Session 1 at the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL). Started at USAFA in 1994 and renowned as the only program of its kind in existence, this 3-week program allows cadets to practice their CE skills in a deployed or field environment.
At FERL cadets complete over 20 activities including surveying; roadway paving; concrete pad construction; concrete beam construction and testing; materials testing; wood frame house construction; heavy equipment operations; welding and steel bridge erection; stream, pipe and open channel flow design; expeditionary wastewater treatment; deployed operations practice; and field trips to material and processing plants in the local area.
These activities allow the cadets to assume the role of technician while guided by expert mentors from the enlisted, commissioned, and civilian workforce. As these cadets continue their academic work, they will be able to relate their theoretical classroom education to real-life construction experience gained during FERL.
NOTE: Cadets were divided into 5 flights, each identified with a signature hardhat: A Flight/Green, B Flight/Blue, C Flight/Red, D Flight/Orange, E Flight/Yellow. Finding out your cadet's flight will make searching for photos easier!
VIEW PHOTOS: Go to Galleries > Summer Programs > Academic Year 25-26 (at top LEFT of page) > FERL. Sort photos OLDEST to NEWEST.