Character Camp

High school senior Ryan Domson (far left) pushes (left to right) high school freshman Carlos Diaz, Cadet 1st Class Lindsey Byrd and high school junior Heather Sherrill across the lake in a canoeing exercise to demonstrate teamwork. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Sarah Chambers)

Character Camp

Character Camp participant Carlos Diaz maneuvers through the ropes course to practice leadership virtues. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mike Kaplan)

Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory

Thirty-five active- duty Airmen and reservists came to the Academy this year to help mentor cadets in FERL activities. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory

Cadet 2nd Class Nicholas Arellano of Cadet Squadron 02 uses a circular saw during the Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory June 4. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Firearms training

The simulator offers cadets different training exercises such as a video training mode, a computer graphic mode, reload drills, stoppage drills, direct fire planning for team leaders and moving targets. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mike Kaplan)

Firearms training

A specially designed M-4 rifle is one of three weapons cadets can use to perfect their skills in the new firearms training simulator, which is conveniently located in Vandenberg Hall. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mike Kaplan)

AMT ropes

Tech. Sgt John Craven, NCOIC of Basic Cadet Training, participates in a cadet training exercise. Academy Military Training NCOs play a key role in the training and development of cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Kaplan)

AMT ropes

Academy Military Training noncommissioned officers began wearing the aiguillette, or rope, as it’s more commonly called, April 15.

Class of 2013: 'Recognition granted'

Brig. Gens. Sam Cox and Dana Born and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Ross lead the Class of 2013 on the Run to the Rock during Recognition at the Air Force Academy March 13, 2010. Recognition consists of several days of mentally and physically demanding activities and culminates with the ascension of the freshmen into the ranks of upper-class cadets. General Cox is the commandant of cadets, and General Born is the dean of the faculty. Chief Ross is the commandant of cadets' superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadets learn about strategic management in India

Cadets dance with villagers in India’s golden triangle during a cultural immersion trip. From l-r is Capt. Rob Mishev, and Cadets 1st Class Lars Hinrichsen, Collin O’Bryant, and Bryce Luken.

Cadets' research ensures astronauts' safe return from moon

Cadet 1st Class Christopher Oravetz uses a plumb line to center a group of Pitot tubes inside a wind tunnel March 7 at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colo. His experiment tests the wake coming off different designs, speeds and angles of attack for the new crew exploration vehicle to be used by NASA to return man to the moon. By determining the wake caused by different experiments, his results will help NASA decide how large to make parachutes to install on the finished vehicle. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)

Cadets research fuel line bacteria

Cadet 1st Class Jonathan Stralka transfers a single bacteria colony from an agar plate in a laboratory at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The research done here by cadets has real world implications. Cadet Stalka is studying bacteria that digest jet fuel, resulting in a slimy substance that can foul an aircraft's engine. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)

Gen. Hobbins meets U.S. Air Force Academy officials

Gen. Tom Hobbins, Commander U.S. Air Forces in Europe (left), meets with retired Col. Douglas Murray, fomer Chairman of the Department of Social Science and Permanent Professor of Political Science, and Brig. Gen. Dana Born, Dean of Faculty, during his February 2007 visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Col. Susan Strednansky)

Gen. Hobbins meets U.S. Air Force Academy cadets

Gen. Tom Hobbins, Commander U.S. Air Forces in Europe, meets with Cadet 1st Class Lance McPeak (left), Cadet 1st Class Sean Mortenson and Cadet 1st Class Joanne Pretz during his February 2007 visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Col. Susan Strednansky)

AFPC commander newest Prep School Exemplar

Maj. Gen. Tony Przybyslawski was recently selected by the Air Force Academy Preparatory School Class of 2007 as their exemplar. General Przybyslawski is the Air Force Personnel Center commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Robbin Cresswell)

Light Blue Worksuit

Example of U.S. Air Force Academy light blue worksuit. (U.S. Air Force photo)

ROVER adds extra set of eyes to sky

Lt. Col. Gregory Harbin briefs basic cadets during a visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 28. He demonstrated the Remote Operated Video Enhanced Receiver, which receives video captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle. Colonel Harbin is with the 609th Combat Operations Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dennis Rogers)

Operation Air Force

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- EDITOR'S NOTE: CADET WALKER DID NOT FLY ABOARD THIS MISSION. Technical Sergeant Steve Valenti (right) briefs Cadet First Class James Walker about the take-off parameters of a C-130 Hercules before an airlift mission to Iraq. Cadet Walker and 18 of his US Air Force Academy classmates are at a forward deployed location participating in Operation Air Force. Ops Air Force is a 30-day program that allows USAFA cadets to gain first-hand knowledge of the operational Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Future of Air Force Medical Service train at Wilford Hall

Cadet 1st Class Michelle Bonneau adds buffer to a protein fractionation system at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on Wednesday, July 5. Cadet Bonneau learned that the system separates proteins and is the first step for protein identification. She is participating in the Cadet Summer Research Program through the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. David Herndon)

Future of Air Force Medical Service train at Wilford Hall

Cadet 1st Class Bryan Lawson looks at a cell culture through a microscope with Lt. Col. Marla Dejong at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on Wednesday, July 5. Cadet Lawson is a student in the Cadet Summer Research Program, and is a biochemistry major at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Colonel Dejong is the 59th Clinical Research Squadron director of nursing research. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. David Herndon)

"Operation Air Force" brings cadets to fight

Cadet 1st Class Erica Olson, a senior cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, goes over C-17 flight controls with Capt. Bruce Cohn on the flightline. Cadet Olson and 19 other cadets deployed here with "Operation Air Force."

Jacks Valley

S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – 1st Lt. Don Dixon, 4th SOPS, loads cartridges with blanks and places them in ammunition canisters before the third day of convoy exercises here at Jacks Valley.

From playing fields to battlefields

Cadet 4th Class Ryan Lowenstein has his endurance and lung capacity analyzed at the Air Force Academy Human Performance Lab on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. The lab is refining techniques to help today's warfighter adapt to high-altitude locations like those found in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Michael Brothers)

Alternate Spring Break 2006

Cadet 3rd Class Cory Pilinko and Cadet 4th Class Ariana Allen from the Air Force Academy work with Habitat for Humanity in Covington, La., to finish painting a newly constructed house, Monday, March 27, 2006. Approximately 140 cadets volunteered their spring break to help rebuild the disaster-struck area in Biloxi, Miss., and surrounding cities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Brian M. Boisvert)