The Air Force Academy accepted some 1,150 basic cadets into its class of 2017 during a ceremony at its Colorado Springs campus, according to a school release. Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould conducted the traditional pass in review, while Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Greg Lengyel led the cadets in reciting the Airman’s Creed during the Aug. 6 event, states the release. Retired Brig. Gen. Richard Carleton, who served 29 years in the Air Force, offered the new cadets four principles during his address: keep a sense of humor; challenge yourself; look out for one another, both on and off base; and embrace the Honor Code. “The code does not . . . end or cease when you leave,” said Carleton, a 1967 academy graduate. “In fact, it is far more important in our Air Force, where an officer’s word is his or her bond with superiors and subordinates alike,” he said. (Colorado Springs report by Don Branum)
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.