They can request either Air Force or Space Force. USAFA is the academy for both branches right now. As I understand it, fewer are chosen for Space Force and it depends on major and performance.
One of the hardest parts may have been getting a congressional nomination. There was an error in teacher reporting for one state official, another state official did not have any USAFA slots this year. For the final official, DS ended up being competitive alternate.
The other hard part was deciding that joining the armed services was the right path for DS because he is still a teenager and this is the first big life choice he is making. That and having a serious girlfriend attending college l in a different state.