EL PASO COUNTY — An Air Force Academy (AFA) parade on Wednesday at Stillman Field was held in celebration of the class of 2027.
The parade marks the class' acceptance into the cadet wing, their transition from basic cadets to fourth-class cadets, and their completion of summer training.
The new cadets just completed basic training at "Jacks Valley," and marched today in the ceremonial inspection by senior members of the academy's command staff. Members of the class of 1977 took part as guest speakers and presented awards to the top-performing cadets from the new class.
Members of the cadet wing say that while their first few months at the academy were tough they are proud of what they accomplished in basic training and are looking forward to the challenges ahead.
"It was tough at first because I couldn't talk to my family," said Ethan Dillinger, Cadet 4th Class, USAFA. "There was a lot going on, but the more that we got into the swing of things sticking together with our classmates, it it got a lot better."
Wednesday's ceremony also saw several changes in the command structure of the cadet wing that take place every semester.
"It's a necessary part of the tradition of the United States Air Force Academy, and it's a culminating event, a way to congratulate them on five and a half weeks of success in basic cadet training," says Brigadier General Gavin Marks USAFA, Commandant of Cadets.
This class consists of 1,132 cadets (325 women and 793 men) selected from a pool 10,118 applicants, according to the AFA.
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