In our previous post, Jackie and I told you about a tradition established as a formal ceremony to recognize renewed commitment to the Armed Forces. Commitment Dinner for the second (rising juniors) class takes place at the start of the fall semester. Once the cadets return to the Academy for their junior class year, they incur the financial or active duty “commitment” for their education if they depart the Academy prior to graduation. In other words, if Graham chose to leave USAFA at this point, he would have to pay back the school, as USAFA is a free ride, other than the 5-year commitment of service post-graduation. A commemorative coin is presented to each Cadet in recognition of this milestone.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, the Cadet Wing instead held an official formation on the USAFA Terrazzo instead of the formal dinner event. Brigadier General Michele C. Edmondson, Commandant of Cadets welcomed the class back to Academy and spoke on how proud and excited she is for the Class of 2022 before she administered the Commitment Oath. After the oath was administered, the cadets were released to their squadrons to have dinner in small groups. Prior to the formation, two C-130's buzzed over to Terrazzo.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, Medevac, and cargo transport aircraft.
We also got to see the new fatigues. In May 20218, the Air Force announced that it planned to drop the old Airman Battle Uniform and shift to the Army’s Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) over the next three years. The Air Force Academy has already begun transition to the OCP uniform across the service.
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Cadet Maas can be seen third from back
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Little closer: Cadet Maas can be seen third from back
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| Lockheed C-130 Hercules flyover |
This was a huge milestone for Cadet Maas. We are extremely proud that he is halfway through his college experience, and all that he has had to endure.
August 12 was the first day of classes. Cadet Maas is excited, as he is finally entering the meat of his major and classes that he truly is interested in. Another reason is, he has been looking forward to a class with Dr. James Carey, a distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Philosophy.
Class structure will be unique, with some virtual learning from their dorm rooms, to regular class room settings, to outdoor learning. Graham's class load for the fall semester is:
- Ancient Western Philosophy
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Political Theory
- Physical Geography
- Airpower & Joint OPS Strategy
- Team Leadership
- And for PhyEd, water survival and pickleball
I have to say, we've been impressed by USAFA's dedication to keeping all the cadets safe and healthy. To that end, we can announce that Cadet Maas is officially out of the required 2-week quarantine period, having all negative results on five COVID-19 virus tests.
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Cadet Maas, off to his first class of the 2020 Fall Semester
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First day of class outdoor learning.
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First day of class, regular class room learning
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