'Traveling' basic cadets observe modified Ramadan

Basic Cadet Omar Obeidat helps Basic Cadet Mohammed Gallala perform wudu in preparation for evening prayer in Jacks Valley July 22, 2012. Wudu is a Muslim form of ritual purification that consists of washing one's hands, feet, mouth and face before praying or touching the Qur'an. Obeidat is a native of Jordan, and Gallala is a native of Tunisia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Prep School Inprocessing

Cadets get fitted for uniforms during inprocessing at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School July 18. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Prep School Inprocessing

Cadet candidates received an eye-opening introduction to Academy life during inprocessing at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School July 18. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Memorial Service

Cadet 2nd Class Yung C. “Andrew” Chin, who passed away June 19 in Las Vegas, was honored and laid to rest at the Air Force Academy Cemetery July 13. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

Front Range bases assist with displacement vouchers

Senior Airman Joshua Thomas reviews 1st Lt. Rachael Clark's travel voucher as part of a processing line set up for Air Force Academy base housing residents July 9, 2012. More than 600 families were evacuated from the Academy June 26-29 due to the Waldo Canyon Fire, which burned 18,000 acres of forest and 346 homes south of the base. Thomas is a finance specialist with the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base. Clark is assigned to the Academy's Economics and Geosciences Department. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Front Range bases assist with displacement vouchers

Senior Airman Jennifer Schneider and Airman 1st Class Chelsey Neumeier sign Air Force Academy base housing residents' travel orders during a processing line at the Academy's Community Center July 9, 2012. Residents were evacuated from the Academy June 26-29 as a result of the Waldo Canyon Fire, which did not destroy any structures on base but burned more than 18,000 acres and 346 homes in Colorado Springs. Schneider and Neumeier are assigned to the 50th Force Support Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Inprocessing

Appointees study about what it takes to succeed in the cadet environment during inprocessing for the Class of 2016 on June 28. Approximately 1,050 basic cadets joined the Long Blue Line even as the Waldo Canyon fire burned to the south. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Inprocessing

An appointee receives a haircut during inprocessing for the Class of 2016 on June 28. Approximately 1,050 basic cadets joined the Long Blue Line even as the Waldo Canyon fire burned to the south. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

Academy continues mission in face of Waldo Canyon Fire

An ominous cloud of smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire rises from the south behind the Air Force Academy's Cadet Chapel as cadets head for a briefing on evacuation procedures June 27, 2012. The Academy evacuated more than 600 families and 110 dormitory residents from the base the evening of June 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/Carol Lawrence)

Saber Strike 2012

Lt. Col. Jaak Tarien is the chief of staff of the Estonian Air Force and a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Tarien said while at the Academy he learned that Estonia has “good allies. People who are willing to stand up for what is right, globally.“ Tarien made the comments June 14, 2012, during Saber Strike 2012, a multinational exercise based in Estonia. (Air National Guard photo by SSgt. Rachel Barton)

Seniors' star study offers down-to-Earth lessons

Cadets 1st Class Samantha Latch and Gordon Spahr discuss observation data on Wasp-12b, an extra-solar planet more than 870 light-years away in the constellation Auriga, during research at the Air Force Academy April 12, 2012. Techniques used to gather data on Wasp-12b can also be applied to satellites orbiting the Earth, giving the Air Force greater space situational awareness. Latch will attend pilot training after graduation, while Spahr will study for a master's degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sarah Chambers)

Class of 2012 Graduation

Cadet 1st Class Daniel Taubenslag renders a salute to a classmate after crossing the stage as "Tail End Charlie" during the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2012 graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23, 2012. "Tail end Charlie" is a term for the last graduate to receive a diploma. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Class of 2012 Graduation

President Barack Obama congratulates Cadet 1st Class Perri Leake as she crosses the stage during the Air Force Academy Class of 2012 graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23, 2012. Leake is one of a record 237 women in the Air Force Academy's graduating class. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Class of 2012 Graduation

Cadets in the Air Force Academy's Class of 2012 march into Falcon Stadium to kick off the gradution ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo. May 23, 2012. An audience of more than 28,000 people attended the ceremony, which featured a commencement address by President Barack Obama and an air show by the Thunderbirds Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Obama to Class of 2012: Your spirit is essence of America

President Barack Obama receives a gift from senior ranking cadets after delivering the commencement address to the Air Force Academy's Class of 2012 at Falcon Stadium May 23, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Obama to Class of 2012: Your spirit is essence of America

President Barack Obama speaks with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz after delivering the commencement speech for the Air Force Academy's graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium May 23, 2012. This is the last commencement for Schwartz as chief of staff: the 1973 Academy graduate is set to retire in August. Obama has nominated 1976 Academy graduate Gen. Mark Welsh III as Schwartz's successor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Obama to cadets: Your spirit is essence of America

President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech to the Air Force Academy Class of 2012 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23, 2012. The Class of 2012 is the Academy's 54th graduating class. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Hayhurst named as top Class of 2012 graduate

Cadet 1st Class Dustin Hayhurst poses for a photo during a ceremony recognizing him as the top graduate for the Air Force Academy's Class of 2012 May 18, 2012. Hayhurst, a native of Freeport, Fla., was also named the Air Force's top cadet May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Taking the plunge

Cadets 1st Class Tim Jefferson and Anthony Wright Jr. go for a splash in the Cadet Area fountains May 7, 2012. The fountain dive is a tradition for seniors who have finished their last set of final exams. Jefferson is an Atlanta native, and Wright hails from Cleveland. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Heritage, history, honor: Former Otis House owner shares memories in book

Buster Cogswell (right) reads from his mother’s historical book written about her famiily’s life and time, while living at the Otis House. The Otis House is now the home of Brig. Gen. Richard Clark (center), his wife, Amy (left) and their two children. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadet Wing wraps up 1st Polaris Warrior

Cadets scale an obstacle at the Air Force Academy's obstacle course April 28, 2012. The obstacle course was one of six compulsory events in Polaris Warrior, an end-of-academic-year challenge testing cadets' military readiness. Cadet Squadron 05 won the obstacle course portion of the event with a total time of 12:05. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Cadet Wing wraps up 1st Polaris Warrior

Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel speaks with cadets at the conclusion of Polaris Warrior at the Air Force Academy April 28, 2012. Fiel is the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Chemistry instructor brings magic of science to students, teachers

Dr. Ron Furstenau explains the chemical reaction taking place between water and dry ice during a chemistry magic presentation at Garden of the Gods April 21, 2012. Furstenau, an instructor with the Air Force Academy's Chemistry Department, first became interested in chemistry in ninth grade. He graduated from the Academy in 1978, returning to teach there in 1984 and again in 1990. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Cyber warriors: Cadets shine in NSA competition

Cadet 1st Class Jordan Keefer, center, coordinates cadet efforts to defend their network during the National Security Agency's Cyber Defense Exercise April 17, 2012. The Air Force Academy team took first place in the competition, outscoring the other U.S. service academies as well as two post-graduate Air Force Institute of Technology teams. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)