Memorial honors victims, heroes of Sept. 11

Cadets keep a large American flag aloft during a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony during halftime of the Air Force-BYU game at Falcon Stadium Sept. 11, 2010. The flag measured about 55 yards by 30 yards. NYPD detective Steve Hayden and FDNY firefighter Kenny Haskell, responders during the World Trade Center attack Sept. 11, 2001, were honorary team captains at the game. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dennis Rogers)

Newest Aces recognized at Heritage House

Cadet 1st Class Eric Prince, left, and Cadet 2nd Class Rachel Reeder, right, sit next to Lt. Gen. Mike Gould during a dinner for Aces List recipients at the Air Force Academy Sept. 9, 2010. The Aces List comprises cadets who maintained a 4.0 grade point average during the previous semester. General Gould is the Academy superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Dean, cadets talk about UAS airmanship program

Cadets 1st Class Daniel Gidasi, left, and Hal Schmidt talk before a presentation on the Air Force Academy's unmanned aerial systems airmanship program at the Unmanned Systems North America conference in Denver Aug. 27, 2010. Cadet Schmidt, a native of Cody, Wyo., presented information on the Academy's research programs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Air Force Week New York City Proclamation Ceremony

Jordi Gil and his sister Paula, pet U.S. Air Force Academy falcon mascot "Destiny," while she is held by Cadet Third Class Danielle Cortez, during the Air Force Week New York City proclamation ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Aug. 24, 2010, in New York. Jordi and Paula are visiting New York City from Barcelona, Spain. Throughout the week, Airmen will interact with the citizens of New York City to educate them about contributions the Air Force makes to national defense. Airmen will participate in a number of events including exhibits in Times Square, park clean-up projects in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and Air Force night at a New York Mets game. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Cadets settle into 2010-2011 academic year

Cadet 3rd Class Mark Stewart shops at the cadet bookstore Aug. 10, 2010, during the first week of the Air Force Academy's 2010-2011 school year. Cadet Stewart is assigned to Cadet Squadron 26. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cadets settle into 2010-2011 academic year

Cadet 3rd Class Monica Hottle works on a project during a Biology 210 class at the Air Force Academy Aug. 10, 2010. The course, "Paradigms in Biology with Laboratory," is required for biology majors and recommended for cadets pursuing careers in the medical, dental, nursing or Biomedical Service Corps career fields. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cadets settle into 2010-2011 academic year

Fourth-class cadets "run the strips" between classes at the Air Force Academy Aug. 10, 2010. Doolies must stay on the marble strips throughout most of the Terrazzo and must march while in their cadet squadron dormitory areas until Recognition in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadets settle into 2010-2011 academic year

Cadets 3rd Class Nathen Mitchener (foreground) and Michael Griffin (background) study for classes in their dormitory in Vandenberg Hall Aug. 10, 2010. Both cadets are assigned to Cadet Squadron 06. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadets settle into 2010-2011 academic year

Fourth-class cadets "run the strips" between classes at the Air Force Academy Aug. 10, 2010. Doolies must stay on the marble strips throughout most of the Terrazzo and must march while in their cadet squadron dormitory areas until Recognition in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadets settle into 2010-2011 academic year

Cadets 2nd Class Lindsey Heath and Brendan Maestas stop to talk between classes in Fairchild Hall Aug. 10, 2010, during the first full week of the 2010-2011 school year at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Cadet Heath is assigned to Cadet Squadron 01, and Cadet Maestas is assigned to CS 40. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadet Wing accepts Class of 2014

Cadets with the Air Force Academy Class of 2014 swear their oaths of office during the Academy's Acceptance Day ceremony Aug. 4, 2010. Acceptance marks the Class of 2014's transition out of Basic Cadet Training and into the Cadet Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadet Wing accepts Class of 2014

Cadet 4th Class Ikenna Ariguzo salutes during the playing of the national anthem during the Air Force Academy's Acceptance Day ceremony Aug. 4, 2010. The ceremony marks the Class of 2014's transition from basic cadets into fourth-class cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Cadet Wing accepts Class of 2014

A U-2 Dragon Lady from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., flies above the Air Force Academy Cadet Wing during an Acceptance Day ceremony at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 4, 2010. Acceptance marks the transition for the Class of 2014 from basic cadets to fourth-class cadets, or "doolies." (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadet Wing accepts Class of 2014

Cadets 4th Class Nick Gibson and Zack Hoffman look at a letter prior to the start of the Class of 2014's Acceptance Day ceremony at the Academy Aug. 4, 2010. Cadet Gibson is a native of Louisville, Ky., and Cadet Hoffman is a native of Thousand Oaks, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets, Airmen get 'tattooed'

Members of the Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Demonstration Team meet with visitors to the Royal International Air Tattoo July 17, 2010, at Royal Air Force Fairford, England. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joseph Valente)

Cadets acquaint Board of Visitors with airmanship programs

Cadet 2nd Class Russell Ahrens of Cadet Squadron 06 gives Susan Schwab a prebrief before taking her on a glider flight at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 24, 2010. Cadet Ahrens is an instructor pilot with the soaring airmanship program. Ms. Schwab is a member of the Academy's Board of Visitors, a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland and a former U.S. trade representative. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadets acquaint Board of Visitors with airmanship programs

Cadet 1st Class Stephen Pike of Cadet Squadron 21 describes the Air Force Academy's unmanned aerial system airmanship program to Gina Salazar and BJ Barger during the Academy Board of Visitors' tour of the Academy Airfield July 24, 2010. Also pictured is Cadet 2nd Class Travis Potthoff of CS 39. Ms. Salazar, the deputy district director for Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), attended in the congressman's stead. Ms. Barger is the deputy assistant secretary for force management integration at the Pentagon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets acquaint Board of Visitors with airmanship programs

Cadet 1st Class Jonathan Broadbent and Cadet 2nd Class Tony Caliva talk with Gen. Carrol Chandler about the future of unmanned aircraft in the Air Force during a Board of Visitors tour of the Air Force Academy Airfield July 24, 2010. General Chandler, a 1974 Academy graduate, is the Air Force vice chief of staff. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Newest falcon stretches her wings

Air Force Academy Cadet 2nd Class Yagie Janisch describes falcons' eyesight during a cadet falconry presentation at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 22, 2010. Cadet Janisch is one of 13 volunteers in the Academy's falconry program. Perched on her arm is Cody, an 18-year-old prairie falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Class of 2014 rolls into Jacks Valley

Basic Cadet Joseph Bomar crawls through mud and smoke at the Air Force Academy's Assault Course in Jacks Valley July 16, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Class of 2014 rolls into Jacks Valley

Basic Cadet Christopher Keranen pulls himself into the next part of an obstacle on the Air Force Academy's Assault Course in Jacks Valley July 16, 2010, during the second phase of Basic Cadet Training at the Academy. (Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Class of 2014 rolls into Jacks Valley

Basic Cadet Adonis Reiler crawls through the mud of an obstacle on the Air Force Academy's Assault Course during Basic Cadet Training in Jacks Valley July 16, 2010. (Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Class of 2014 rolls into Jacks Valley

Basic Cadet Joseph Cheung focuses while going through rifle drills as sweat and dirt mix on his face during training on the Air Force Academy's Assault Course in Jacks Valley July 16, 2010. (Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Class of 2014 rolls into Jacks Valley

Basic Cadet Matthew Bettis gets a helping hand from a teammate as he makes his way through an obstacle at the Leadership Reaction Course in Jacks Valley training at the Air Force Academy July 16, 2010. The Leadership Reaction Course teaches basic cadets group and individual problem solving and effective leadership by having them work through 15 obstacles of varying difficulty. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)