Saturday Recap: Weekend Two

It was intramurals on Saturday for the USAFA class of 2022. And once again, it appears Graham was playing soccer. So, they must have a choice as to which IM sport they wish to participate in, as he’s played soccer three straight times.

Another IM day, another soccer game.

They’ve also been doing a lot of PT. Lots of PT. And according to the USAFA Commandant, Brigadier General Kristin Goodwin, the Hellcats have been bringing it!

Graham is circled in red.

This makes the second weekend at USAFA for Graham. I wanted to take a look back to in-processing day, as we’ve gotten some questions from people was to what that bus ride was all about, and what the footprints are all about, and why everyone is wearing a red hat.

First the bus ride. From the stories shared, it goes something like this.

"Get off my bus!"

Once those bus doors open, as the basics are bussed from the USAFA Field House to just outside the Core Values gate, those words explode out.  And the basics come scurrying off at high speed.

Accustomed to being on top of their respective worlds--they had high grades, top ACT scores, and were chosen from among nearly 12,000 applicants to the Academy--these men and women are now reduced to being screamed at by fellow students just two years ahead of them.

Just think of those scenes from all movies of drill sergeants yelling at new recruits at the top of their lungs, blood vessels bulging out of their necks, as it is not far from the truth.

Onboard the bus, the basic cadets look tight and nervous in the photos that have been shared. The upperclassmen, called Cadre, begin screaming out commands, telling the basics exactly where to hold their hands, not to speak unless spoken to, that they must recite the seven basic--and only--responses to questions they were now allowed and more.

Graham's bus ride would have been no different.

Another member of the Cadre, in a video shown, snidely calls out the names of West Point, Annapolis, and the Officer Candidates School, the officer training grounds of, respectively, the Army, Navy, and Marines. "Nobody even comes close," she yells. "We are the service academy for the last superpower on the face of the planet. You have made the right choice."

Then the bus stops. But the door hasn’t opened yet.

"If any of you are not a person of absolute integrity, stay on my bus," the Cadre holler. "If you are not willing to sacrifice for your nation, stay on my bus. If you accept the minimum as your own personal standard, stay on my bus. If you are not ready to give your best...stay on my bus. And, you'd better be ready to live up to the legacy in front of you...and that begins right now!"

The basics run to where a cluster of Cadre are waiting in front of a large mat emblazoned with footprints for them to stand on.

Graham is marched off the bus.

And finds his footprint to stand on, properly.

Didn't find a photo of Graham being berated, but I'm certain that his turn came.You can see him in the pinkish shorts.

Cadre stand in front of the group of basics shouting out commands. They keep their feet at a 22.5 degree angle from their head, meaning that their feet open at a 45 degree angle; their hands are held, cupped, at their sides, with their thumbs even with the seams of their pants. Then the Cadre "correct" any mistakes they see in how the basics are standing.

You get the idea. Mess up, and you draw attention.

Lots and lots of attention.

This, of course, is their excuse to loudly, energetically, and enthusiastically rush around and berate the basics. The footprints for the class of 2022 are painted red. They are one of four colors for each incoming class.

In modern architecture, the three primary colors are prevalent in the design of the Air Force Academy. Since the Academy was to reflect modern architecture, red, blue, and yellow were chosen for the original Academy colors. Silver was added. The following are the significant aspects of these colors:

Red The sun

Blue The sky

Yellow The grasses on the plains

Silver Stainless steel to mirror aircraft technology

So, Graham stood on red footprints with his classmates. They sport red caps for the duration of basic cadet training.

Graham can be seen, in the last squadron on the right. Third from the back, row closest to you.