Members of the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2016 pinned on their first cadet military rank and swore to uphold the Academy Honor Code at their Acceptance Parade, Aug. 7, on the Academy’s Stillman Parade Field.
Members of the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2016 pinned on their first cadet military rank and swore to uphold the Academy Honor Code at their Acceptance Parade, Aug. 7, on the Academy’s Stillman Parade Field.
After successful completion of seven challenging weeks at Basic Cadet Training, the parade marks the Class of 2016’s acceptance into the Cadet Wing, when they transition from “basic cadet trainees” with no rank, to pinning on their fourth-class cadet rank and becoming fourth-class cadets or “doolies”.
Derek Fitle of Cypress was among these new freshmen and joins his two older brothers, Kyle a cadet first class (senior) and Troy a cadet second class (junior) at USAFA. Their parents, John and Lynn Fitle, were delighted to be present for this milestone and to witness Kyle and Troy pinning on Derek’s shoulder boards.
The Honor Code is the minimum standard of behavior and performance expected of all Air Force Academy cadets, and reads, “We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.”
The newly minted freshman cadets began their academic semester Aug. 9. Beyond continuing their military training, athletic competitions and character development activities, each new cadet will take 15 semester hours, before ramping up to the average course load of 18 semester hours in the spring.
