Of the 1,011 senior cadets at the US Air Force Academy to receive their Air Force specialty codes last week, 495 cadets, or 45 percent, will become pilots. Other top career fields include acquisition manager (99 cadets), intelligence (52 cadets), contracting (45 cadets), and cyberspace operations (41 cadets), according to the Dec. 4 release. The vast majority of cadets, 63 percent, received their top choice, while 23 percent got their No. 2 career field, and nine percent received third choice, states the release. The USAFA class of 2014 is expected to graduate in May.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.