Firefighters

Senior Airman Jessica Morehouse, drags a loaded fire hose toward the saloon doors during the Firefighter Combat Challenge competition Wednesday. Once she crosses the saloon doors, then she can hit the target with a stream of water to knock down the target and complete the fourth of five events on the course. Airman Morehouse is a founding member of the Fire Fembots, a combined Academy-Colorado Springs team of women firefighters who own both the world record time in their category and are three-time defending world champions. (U.S. Air Force Photo/John Van Winkle)

97.7 KAFA

KAFA started in the early 70s and has continued to evolve from playing records to full automation capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration)

On the air

Cadet 3rd Class Cody Nelson, or DJ Sparky, plays tunes for listeners on 97.7 KAFA, the Academy's radio station. DJ Sparky is one of 24 cadets and five permanent party volunteer DJs who fill time on KAFA's airwaves. KAFA started in the early 70s and has continued to evolve from playing records to full automation capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

Academy professor earns state honors

Dr. Thomas Yechout was named Colorado's professor of the year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education on Nov. 17, 2011. Yechout is an instructor with the Air Force Academy's Aeronautics Department whose publications include "An Introduction to Aircraft Flight Mechanics" and who has involved Academy cadets with such research projects as NASA's Return to Flight effort and Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Air power on display

A C-130 Hercules and HH-60 Pave Hawk fly over the Air Force Academy as part of a combat search and rescue demonstration Nov. 4, 2011. Airmen with the 58th Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., took part in the demonstration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Air power on display

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (right) records a combat search and rescue demonstration by the 58th Rescue Squadron during a visit to the Air Force Academy Nov. 4, 2011. Gooding visited the Academy to promote his upcoming film, "Red Tails," based on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen. The 58th Rescue Squadron is based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Air power on display

Tech. Sgt. Jose Mercado (right) and another Airman disembark from their HH-60 Pave Hawk at the Air Force Academy Terrazzo after a combat search and rescue demonstration Nov. 4, 2011. The crew is assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., a geographically separated unit of the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB, Ga. Mercado is a pararescueman with the 58th. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Air power on display

Pararescue Airmen with the 58th Rescue Squadron lift an Airman into an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a combat search and rescue demonstration at the Air Force Academy Terrazzo Nov. 4, 2011. The squadron, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is a geographically separated unit belonging to the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

USAFE commander to cadets: Get ready

Gen. Mark Welsh III speaks to Air Force Academy cadets in the Academy's Arnold Hall Theater Nov. 1, 2011. Welsh, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and a 1976 Academy graduate, told cadets they would make a difference as Air Force officers and shared with them what the Air Force would expect after they graduated. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sarah Chambers)

Dean honors visiting faculty

The cadet a cappella singing group "In the Stairwell" performs at the visiting faculty reception in the home of Brig. Gen. Dana Born at the Air Force Academy Oct. 27, 2011. Born is the Academy's dean of the faculty. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sarah Chambers)

Academy shines at latest Assembly showcase

Gillian Sorensen speaks at the Air Force Academy-hosted Academy Assembly Oct. 23, 2011. Sorensen is the senior adviser at the United Nations Foundation in New York. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy shines at latest Assembly showcase

Christopher Hill speaks at the Air Force Academy's annual Academy Assembly Oct. 20, 2011. Hill is the dean of the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sarah Chambers)