Day: July 26, 2011

This ticket has the cadet sea of blue in the background.  You can also see the 2011 USAFA Class Crest.  Each crest is loaded with symbolism.  How many items can you pick out?  Here’s what I see:  the graduation year (2011), an eagle, the US Flag, Polaris (the North Star), a sabre (worn by Firsties — fourth year cadets), the cadet chapel, their class motto in Latin (Infiniti Orbis Finientes), their graduating class number in Latin (LIII = 53; they are the 53rd graduating class from USAFA), and finally, three aircraft — an F-15, F-16 and F-22 (the numbers add up to 53 and their graduating class).

 

All of this was leading up to wearing these.  The rank of second lieutenant.

 

Ok, on with the Thunderbird’s demonstration.

 

Coming in for a big climb with the sea of blue in the foreground.

 

The classic diamond, 4-ship formation.

 

Smoke on.

 

Pass in review.

 

A mirror?  Public relations?

 

 

A high-speed pass.  It was interesting seeing the differences between the USAF and French AF demo teams.  In fact, it was similar to this year’s Women’s World Cup.  The French are all about finesse and grace.  Americans tend to be more about power, energy and explosiveness.   These two aircraft were an example of that.

 

Standing on the engine.  Demonstrating a great thrust to weight ratio.

 

 

 

This is one of my favorites.  The 4-ship was going slow with gear down.  The solo came in with a lot of closure and goes right through the center.

 

Afterburner.

 

A high-g, max performance turn. Ouch.

 

 

 

Off they go.

 

 

Col Maïni, Manu, Maggie and me after the ceremony.

 

Col Maïni with this adorable little girl who’s the niece of a classmate of mine (Sam), and also related to a graduate from 2011.  It’s a small world … and much smaller Air Force.

 

The USAFA chapel.  At one point, this was the most popular man-made tourist attraction in the state of Colorado.  I don’t know if it still is (with the new security measures), but it’s still majestic … even for non-believers.

 

This is the cadet area, inside this big square (which is about 75% visible) is where I spent most of my four years here.

 

 

Col Maïni and Manu standing in front of the chapel.

 

 

Manu and I.

 

The B-24 memorial in the Honor Court.

 

The Tuskegee Airmen memorial.

 

A final image of the chapel.

 

And that does it for the trip to the US.  It was short and packed with things to do, but I had a good time.

 

Up next will be our quick trip down to Tuscany for my birthday.

 

Until then…

 

–Jim

 

After our brief time in the mountains of Colorado, we got to business (=lots of meetings).  It was fun to be back at USAFA.  Some things have really changed (a lot more security) and others are identical (most of the buildings).  What surprised me the most was the flood of emotions I felt.  I hadn’t really expected that.  For example, when walking through the labs, I felt the same excitement and anticipation that I had as a cadet.  Or, walking through the library it felt as if I should have been studying for some impending exam.  But, that’s not why we came.  We went to strengthen the bond and understanding between the French and American leadership of our respective Air Force Academies.  Plus, we had a moment to present the former exchange cadets a certificate of completion from France.  Col Maïni was kind enough to perform that ceremony.

The main event was of course the graduation ceremony (still one of the top 5 emotional events in my life).  So, watching the graduation ceremony really brought me back 10 years.  Simultaneously it felt like my graduation was yesterday and a lifetime ago.  Strange.

 

Here are the soon to be graduates of the USAFA Class of 2011.

 

Streaming out onto the field.

 

About 1,000 graduate from USAFA each year (a few less for my class ~876).

 

Not too bad on the alignment…  As I recall, there was only 1 practice.

 

Plenty of people were on hand for the ceremony.  As you can see the stadium was about half full which means that 20,000 people attended.

 

The Sea of Blue.  The rest of the Cadet Wing (about 3,000 cadets) attends to watch the graduating class receive their diplomas.

 

On stage is the USAFA Superintendent, Lt Gen Michael Gould.  He is joined by the other USAF leaders.  Behind them are the underclassmen from the outstanding cadet squadron for the year.

 

 

The Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable Michael Donley, gave the commencement address.

 

Secretary Donley congratulating some very happy graduates.

 

Nancy and the Secretary exchanging a salute.  You may recall Nancy was one of the students who came to France last fall.

 

She’s now a second lieutenant and a USAFA graduate.

 

After they salute the Secretary (or President, or General, depending on the year), they salute the prior graduate who is waiting at the bottom of the ramp.

 

Then, share a smile, hug or something similar.

 

It’s a very happy moment.

 

 

 

Finding her way back to her seat, friends congratulated Nancy.

 

Yay!!!

 

Maggie shaking hands with the General, then waiting to salute the Secretary.

 

Maggie and the Secretary of the Air Force.

 

Well done, Maggie.

 

 

Picture perfect salutes.

 

Run, don’t walk.

 

 

Wow!  Can you believe it??!

 

 

I know EXACTLY how she’s feeling.

 

A USAFA diploma and Second Lieutenant Bars.  A great combination.

 

 

Toward the end of the ceremony, young kids are gathered in the end zone.  The tradition is that when the graduates are dismissed and throw their hats in the air, it’s bad luck to retrieve it.  So, kids are brought on the field to pick up the hats as a souvenir.  Also, many graduates tape the number of cents of their graduation year (e.g. 2011 = $20.11 or 2001 = $20.01).  So, it adds a nice little present for the lucky child who picks up the hat.

 

Taking the oath of officer to officially & finally become second lieutenants.  You can see the one guy who wasn’t wearing his white gloves is wearing his class ring.  The wearing of a class ring was started by West Point in the mid-nineteenth century.  It has since permeated to all the service academies.  It’s required for all graduates to have a ring (although there’s no requirement to wear it).

 

The Air Force Band playing the Air Force Song.

 

Class of 2011, you are dismissed!

 

Do you think they’re happy??

 

Woo hoo!!

 

The kids waiting for a chance at a hat (and maybe some money).

 

 

Well, that covers the graduation ceremony.  At the same time the graduates threw their hats in the air, the Thunderbirds (the USAF aerial demonstration team) roared overhead.  It’s a great exclamation point on the ceremony.  I remember my family telling me how surprised they were.  I hadn’t told them what to expect and the Thuderbirds fly by in afterburner which really shakes things up.

 

So, up next, I have a bunch of images from the airshow that followed.

 

Until then…

 

–Jim