'Our Time'

Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Ashleigh Peck celebrates following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy at Falcon Stadium May 27. Lieutenant Peck was among 1,046 cadets in the Class of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dennis Rogers)

Class of 2013 on path to learning basics

Basic cadets pack issued equipment into duffelbags during Class of 2013 cadet inprocessing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 25. Issue items include Airman Battle Uniforms and physical training uniforms. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Welcome to the Air Force Academy!

Col. (Dr.) Jane Hendricks-Vesel draws blood from a basic cadet during Class of 2013 inprocessing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Cadets must pass physical exams administered by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board, a tenant unit at the Academy that schedules, evaluates and certifies applicants for all U.S. service academies, ROTC scholarship programs and direct commissioning programs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

Welcome to the Air Force Academy!

Cadet 2nd Class Anthony Lavy introduces himself to a basic cadet during cadet inprocessing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 25. The average basic cadet's unweighted grade point average was 3.86, and 65 percent of the 1,376 members of the Class of 2013 belonged to high school academic honor societies. Cadet Lavy is assigned to Cadet Squadron 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

Welcome to the Air Force Academy!

Basic cadets wait to board a bus from the Association of Graduates' Heritage Trail to the cadet area during cadet inprocessing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 25. Of the more than 1,300 cadets accepted into the Class of 2013, 41 are prior enlisted servicemembers, and 31 graduated from the Academy's Preparatory School. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dennis Rogers)

Welcome to the Air Force Academy!

A basic cadet learns basic responses during cadet inprocessing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 25. Females comprise 20 percent of the Class of 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Welcome to the Air Force Academy!

Cadet 2nd Class Mark Mosby ensures new basic cadets follow cadre instructions during cadet inprocessing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 25. Approximately 1,400 cadets were selected for the Class of 2013 out of nearly 10,000 applicants. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

FERL promotes 'build first, design later'

Cadets 1st Class Jon Brateng and Matt Buscemi and their mentor, Tech. Sgt. Denver Long III, hang drywall during a Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory activity June 11. Sergeant Long is assigned to the 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

FERL promotes 'build first, design later'

A Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory cadet practices welding on a FERL flight project at the U.S. Air Force Academy June 5. The FERL program is mandatory for cadets majoring in civil engineering. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

FERL promotes 'build first, design later'

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 2nd Class Drew Miller cuts a two-by-four during a Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory activity June 5. Cadets learned skills such as surveying, concrete placement and a self-help project at billeting that will save $40,000 per year in laundry costs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

Cadets rescue 3 from likely drowning in Panama

Cadet 3rd Class Allan Foote was one of four Air Force Academy cadets who rescued three Panamanians from drowning during a trip to Panama June 7. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Cadets rescue 3 from likely drowning in Panama

Cadet 3rd Class Ben Garoutte was one of four Air Force Academy cadets who rescued three Panamanians from drowning during a trip to Panama June 7. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

A C-17 Globemaster flown by Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Samuel Cox, Class of 1984, and Maj. Dan Rohlinger, Class of 1997, flies over the U.S. Air Force Academy Terrazzo during a noon formation March 31. Leading Cadet Squadron 28 in the formation (inset) is Cadet 1st Class Andrew Groberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlachwade and Mike Kaplan)

Academy competes in cyber-defense exercise

Cadets successfully defend a computer network against simulated intrusions during a Cyber-Defense Exercise April 24. The cyber exercise is a computer security competition designed to educate cadets about the role of information assurance in protecting critical information systems. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Taking the Hill

Class of 2009 cadets dive into a fountain in the cadet area May 8 to celebrate finishing their final exams. Graduation is scheduled for May 27 at Falcon Stadium. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Taking the Hill

Class of 2009 cadets celebrate their last day of academic classes after "taking the hill" in the Cadet Area of the U.S. Air Force Academy May 8. Graduation is scheduled for May 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

USAFA cadet, former 50th TFW pilot share two families

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet 1st Class Sean Andrews' father, Col. Bill Andrews (background, lower left), was one of a handful of prisoners of war during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Colonel Andrews was an EF-111 Raven and F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot for the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn Air Base, Germany. Cadet Andrews hopes to follow in his father's footsteps, becoming an F-16 or F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter pilot. He will graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy May 30. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

USAFA cadet, former 50th TFW pilot share two families

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet 1st Class Sean Andrews will graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy here May 30. His father, former 50th Tactical Fighter Wing pilot Col. Bill Andrews, will pin on his second lieutenant bars at midnight the evening before the ceremony. Cadet Andrews hopes to follow in his father's footsteps, flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon or its next-generation counterpart, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Parent pin

U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Randy Kinsey presents the Air Force Parent Pin to his parents, Cliff and Jill Kinsey of North Richland Hills, Texas. The pin was established by the Air Force to thank the parents of America's airmen for their support of their children's service. The lieutenant is one of 998 officers who were commissioned here May 28. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken Wright)