Air Force Academy Class of 2018 Graduation Day

Thousands gathered inside Falcon Stadium at the Air Force Academy Wednesday morning to see their loved ones take the next step in their military careers.

It’s graduation day for the Academy’s Class of 2018, and we’ll be bringing you updates throughout the day as the pomp and circumstance is on display. ( PHOTOS )

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis took the stage to speak to the cadets. Mattis spared us all the “three-hour version” of his speech, much to the delight of the cadets, clad in full uniform under a bright May sun.

Mattis cracked a few jokes, but amid his light-hearted demeanor was a message of hope for the future : that the enemies of America would know the lethality of the Air Force with the aid of this class. He called on the soon-to-be second lieutenants (at the time of this writing anyway) to be “harder than a petrified woodpecker’s lips” and said he was proud of the work they put in at the Academy.

Mattis was also presented with a gift from the Class of 2018 and was named an honorary member of the group.

Close to 1,000 senior cadets will be dismissed as second lieutenants Wednesday, and the graduation ceremony will be followed by a performance by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. WATCH:

Keep up with this article throughout the day for pictures and videos from the event. Be sure to watch our LIVESTREAM as well.