Leadership, character, honor on '59ers' minds

  • Published
  • By Ann Patton
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Except for the addition of a few words, the Academy Honor Code hasn't changed in a half century. 

That was one of the messages about 40 members of the Class of 1959 received during cadet-led briefings Tuesday at the Falcon Club as part of the Falcon Heritage Forum.
Before and after the briefings cadets and 1959 class members visited during roundtable discussions. 

Briefing the '59ers were Cadet Wing Commander Cadet 1st Class Jonathan Yates, Character Officer C1C Kavir Patel and Wing Honor Chair C1C Nate Leach. 

Cadet Yates shared his journey from an enlisted aircraft mechanic to realizing his ambition to fly. He also reflected on the days when there were only 12 squadrons and no soaring or jump programs. 

The need for leaders of character also hasn't changed, he told the class. 

"One of the hardest tasks is to develop it in others," he said and added as cadet wing commander he sees very little of what goes on day to day "in the trenches." 

Nonetheless, he praised those in cadet leadership positions for their accomplishments as "unlike anything else I have ever seen." 

Cadet Yates also spoke of cadets training members of the Class of 2012 this year. 

"I'm proud of them," he said of the fourth degrees. "We put them through the wringer, and they did a great job." 

Cadet Patel paid homage to the '59ers for the heritage they created. 

"We are here because of the traditions you left behind," he said. 

He reiterated the Academy's pattern of character development in cadets through experience and practice and touted the wing's hefty record of community service as well as the National Cadet Leadership Symposium which gives cadets opportunities to hear and visit with leaders of character in all walks of life. 

Cadet Leach detailed to class members the intricacies of the multi-layer honor system and praised the 80 cadets who serve in leadership capacities in Wing Honor. 

"This is truly a cadet-run system," he said. 

The cadets not only process alleged honor violations but present lessons and discussions to cadets as part of their Academy training. 

"It's not just the minimum effort," he said. 

See next week's Academy Spirit for more coverage on the Class of 1959 reunion.