Most people in this world want to be accepted.
A group of those people has been waiting for some of that
acceptance since their arrival in Colorado Springs as Air Force
Academy Basic Cadets. They really want to be accepted — accepted
into the Cadet Wing that is. They want to wear the rank of
fourth-class cadets.
The rank of a fourth classmen is a squiggly line, a sine wave,
commonly referred to as a cloud. Upper-class cadets will say
fourth-class cadets get the cloud because it’s where their heads
are most of the time. Of course, upper-class cadets were once
fourth-class cadets, so they should know.
When Jacks Valley training ends, the basic cadets will march
back to the Cadet Area. Some will be glad to see it, others less
so. Jacks Valley, though physically demanding, was a group-bonding
time, and the memories of the first part of basic training in the
Cadet Area were not too pleasant. But, they must return, because it
is where their life will be for the next four years.
Many of the basic cadets will be happy because their return
means basic training is coming to an end. They still have some
things to do once they get back. Fitness testing is the main thing,
and some will have made great strides in their fitness levels while
at Jacks Valley.
Finally, the day will arrive when the cadets get accepted into
the Cadet Wing. It happens in the Acceptance Parade. The Cadet Wing
marches onto the Cadet Parade Field in formation. They halt and the
upper-class breaks off and slides the fourth-class epaulets onto
the shoulders of the basics, now fourth-class cadets. Maybe at that
time, there will be words of encouragement; they would be some of
only a few that have been heard for the past six weeks and that
will make them feel especially proud.
Being accepted as a cadet means more freedom. As basic cadets,
they had to be escorted by upper-classmen everywhere. As
fourth-classmen they can go on their own — but there are still
restrictions — such as having to walk or run at attention while in
the Cadet Area and greet all they see. They will also have limited
time off the academy grounds, but none will really care on the day
of the Acceptance Parade.
Eleven hundred and thirty-five young men and women got off the
bus on June 25, 2011 with hopes of becoming Air Force Academy
cadets. As this story hits the Web, 1,081 remain — a number that
will likely be even smaller when those who make it through, are at
last, accepted academy cadets.
Alan Arata is a 1983 graduate of the United States Air Force
Academy and a Tri-Lakes area resident. He writes a regular
commentary on life at the Academy viewed from the eyes of someone
who lived it.