First day for future cadets at Air Force Academy
Future cadets being yelled at by people with higher ranks and the demand for excellence. The Air Force Academy brought out its version of the welcome mat to more than a thousand new students.
It was an emotional day for thousands of families kissing, hugging and wishing their kids good luck as they begin their journey in the Air Force Academy.
Parents are giving their kids to academy leaders to mold them into future military leaders.
“I’ll give him a chance to explore his own way. I hope I will get a call every now and then,” Amber Isley said.
“She’s going to be missed but she is doing what she wants to do,” a parent of a future cadet said.
Future cadets said they are both excited and nervous.
“It’s an amazing opportunity, there is a lot to embrace,” Elizabeth Heinz said.
“I’m a little nervous for all the screaming and pain that is coming,” Thomas Mandel said.
Twelve hundred people were selected to join the academy. Fourteen of them are international cadets from twelve countries: Bulgaria, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Moldova, Pakistan, Romania, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
As the parents said their final goodbyes. It’s all business for the future cadets.
Cadets with higher ranks yelled and told the future cadets their expectations.
“It’s shock and awe and letting them know the people who are in charge have power, but the power is earned,” CADET Daniel Bradley said.
Even though it is tough love at first, the future cadets want to join the thousands of cadets who graduated by throwing their hats in the air as the Thunderbirds fly by on graduation day.
Basic cadet training runs through Aug. 2.
On July 21, the future cadets will live in tent city out at Jack’s Valley on the academy for field training.
Future cadets will go through physical conditioning, marching drills, inspections, weapons training, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, first aid, and honor and ethics lessons.
Future cadets will not receive their first military rank until after Aug. 5. They will then start classes at the academy on Aug. 13.