Editing United States Air Force Academy (section)

==Traditions==

===Nicknames===
Alumni of the academy are referred to as the Long Blue Line.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kktv.com/content/news/James-Mattis-tells-Air-Force-Academy-graduating-class-your-primary-weapons-system-now-is-your-attitude-483534221.html|title=James Mattis tells Air Force Academy graduating class 'your primary weapons system now is your attitude'|website=Kktv.com|date=24 May 2018|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214220/https://www.kktv.com/content/news/James-Mattis-tells-Air-Force-Academy-graduating-class-your-primary-weapons-system-now-is-your-attitude-483534221.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Cadets and alumni are also known as Zoomies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academyadmissions.com/contact/glossary/|title=Air Force Academy Glossary|website=academyadmissions.com|date=13 May 2023|access-date=13 May 2023|archive-date=13 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513141520/https://www.academyadmissions.com/contact/glossary/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Prop and Wings===
[[File:Prop and wings.svg|thumb|right|Traditional Prop and Wings insignia, currently used at the U.S. Air Force Academy]]

The [[Prop and Wings]] insignia of the [[United States Army Air Service|Air Service]] (1918–26), [[United States Army Air Corps|Air Corps]] (1926–41), and [[United States Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces]] (1941–47) became the insignia of upperclass cadets at the Air Force Academy beginning with the first class, 1959.  The insignia is given to fourth class (freshmen) cadets at the Recognition Ceremony near the end of their first year rite of passage.  The standard insignia uses the design of the Air Corps Prop and Wings, except that it is all silver instead of the gold wings and silver prop of the earlier design.  Cadets who have ancestors who served in the Air Service, Air Corps, or Army Air Forces, or those who are direct descendants of Air Force Academy graduates, are eligible to wear a different set of props and wings consisting of a silver prop and gold wings.

=== Acceptance Parade and Parents' Weekend ===
The Acceptance Parade celebrates the end of Basic Cadet Training (BCT) for incoming fourth-class cadets. At the Parade, fourth-class cadets are awarded their uniform shoulder boards in recognition of completing BCT and being accepted into the Cadet Wing. Fourth-class cadets formally take the USAFA Honor Code Oath. The Legacy class, the class that graduated 50 years prior to the incoming class' graduation, presents a copy of the Contrails book to the outstanding Basic Cadet from each of the ten BCT squadrons.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Traditions|url=https://www.usafa.edu/about/traditions/|website=United States Air Force Academy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529025443/https://www.usafa.edu/about/traditions/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Air Force Academy basic trainees to join Cadet Wing at Acceptance Parade|url=https://www.usafa.edu/news/air-force-academy-basic-trainees-to-join-cadet-wing-at-acceptance-parade/|date=2018-08-03|website=United States Air Force Academy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809223833/https://www.usafa.edu/news/air-force-academy-basic-trainees-to-join-cadet-wing-at-acceptance-parade/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A few weeks later, over the Labor Day weekend, the Cadet Wing participates in Parents' Weekend. This event marks the first time that fourth-class cadets are able to see their families since Inprocessing Day. After the Cadet Wing Parade, families are invited into the Cadet Wing to attend open houses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parents' Weekend|url=https://www.usafa.edu/about/traditions/parents-weekend/|website=United States Air Force Academy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

=== Class exemplar ===
During the fall semester of the third-class year, cadets choose a [[USAFA Class exemplar|class exemplar]] who becomes the class' namesake. The exemplar is typically a deceased member of the Air Force, [[United States Army Air Forces|Army Air Force]], or [[United States Army Air Service|Army Air Service]], with a few notable exceptions like the [[Wright brothers|Wright Brothers]] and [[Neil Armstrong]]. The tradition began with the Class of 2000. The selection of the class exemplar is celebrated with a formal class-wide dinner.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|title=USAFA Class Exemplars {{!}} US Air Force Academy AOG & Endowment|url=https://www2.usafa.org/Connect/ClassExemplars|website=2.usafa.org|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605210849/https://www2.usafa.org/Connect/ClassExemplars|archive-date=5 June 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Commitment Dinner ===
Commitment Dinner takes place prior to the first day of classes at the start of the second-class fall semester. By attending the dinner, second-class cadets are formally committing serving in the Air Force or Space Force upon graduation.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Legacy Events {{!}} US Air Force Academy AOG & Foundation|url=https://www.usafa.org/Events/Legacy|website=Usafa.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514055839/https://www.usafa.org/Events/Legacy|url-status=live}}</ref> Up until this point, fourth-class or third-class cadets may withdraw from the academy without incurring any financial or military obligations. After Commitment, cadets leaving the academy may incur financial penalties or be required to serve on active duty in the Air Force or Space Force.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commitment & Benefits|url=https://www.academyadmissions.com/apply/commitment/|website=U.S. Air Force Academy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=17 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517204509/https://www.academyadmissions.com/apply/commitment/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Class crest ===
Each class of cadets designs its own class crest; the only requirements being that each crest include all the elements on the Class of 1959's crest: the class number, the class year, the Polaris star, and the eagle.<ref name=":0" /> The final crest is unveiled during the Ring Dance when second-degree cadets receive their class rings. During the first-degree year, the crest is on prominent display on the Crest Wall on the Terrazzo.<ref>{{cite web|title=USAF Academy Class Crests|url=https://www.jamesnancesculpture.com/usaf-academy-class-crests/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815095201/https://www.jamesnancesculpture.com/usaf-academy-class-crests/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2020|website=James Nance Sculpture Studio|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

===Class ring===
The American college tradition of the [[United States Military Academy class ring|class ring]] began with the class of 1835 at the [[U.S. Military Academy]]. From there, it spread to the U.S. Naval Academy in the class of 1869.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?rss=whatsnew_arch&pid=5270 |title=Commissioning Week Traditions |publisher=Usna.com |access-date=2011-12-10}}</ref>  The Air Force Academy continued the tradition, beginning with the first class, 1959, and so is the only service academy to have had class rings for every class since its founding.  The Air Force ring is distinctive for being white gold instead of the yellow gold used at the other academies. One side of the ring bears the academy crest, while the other side bears the class crest; the center bezel  bears the words United States Air Force Academy. Cadets choose their own stones for the center of the ring. The rings are received during their second-degree (junior) year at the Ring Dance, at the beginning of Graduation Week festivities for the class ahead.  The rings traditionally are placed in glasses of champagne and are caught in the teeth following a toast.  During the cadet's first-degree (senior) year, the ring is worn with the class crest facing the wearer; following graduation, the ring is turned so that the class crest faces out.  The rings of all the academies were originally designed to be worn on the left hand, so that the wearer reads the name of the academy on the bezel while a cadet or midshipman and others can read it after graduation, the rings are now worn on either hand.  The academy's Association of Graduates (AOG) accepts rings of deceased graduates which are melted down to form an ingot of white gold from which a portion of all future rings are made.<ref>{{cite web|title=Class Ring Heritage|publisher=Association of Graduates, United States Air Force Academy |url=http://www.usafa.org/Heritage/ClassRingHeritage.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726105329/http://www.usafa.org/Heritage/ClassRingHeritage.aspx|archive-date=26 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Both the academy's Association of Graduates and the academy library maintain displays of class rings.

=== 100’s Night ===
100's Night takes place 100 nights before first-class cadets ("firsties") are set to graduate. It is a formal dinner in celebration of all they have accomplished up to this point in their cadet career and their impending commission as Second Lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force. After the dinner, Firsties are given leave for the weekend to celebrate. While the Firsties are gone, fourth-class cadets decorate their rooms to celebrate.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|title=100s Night 2011: File under "All in good fun" > United States Air Force Academy > Features|url=https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Features/Article/429571/100s-night-2011-file-under-all-in-good-fun/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021050223/https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Features/Article/429571/100s-night-2011-file-under-all-in-good-fun/|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2020|website=Usafa.af.mil|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

===Music===
[[File:The U.S. Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps performs prior to the start of the Air Force Falcons opening football game against the Idaho State Bengals at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept 120901-F-ZJ145-438.jpg|thumb|The [[United States Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps]] performing prior to the start of a USAFA football game against [[Idaho State University]] at [[Falcon Stadium]]]]

The [[United States Air Force Academy Band]] provides all ceremonial and musical support for the cadet wing of the academy. It is an active duty band that is composed of full-time musicians, not USAFA cadets. Established in 1948 in [[Washington, D.C.]], the [[United States Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps]] on the other hand is staffed by cadets of the academy and provides support for all academy events such as football and basketball games. It served the entire Air Force from the capital until its reassignment to the academy in 1963 and the cadet wing in 1972.

The two bands wear different uniforms when performing, with the academy band performing in a specialized [[full dress uniform]] while the drum and bugle corps march in standard cadet uniforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/428295/drum-and-bugle-corps/ |title=Drum and Bugle Corps |date=13 April 2009 |website=United States Air Force Academy |access-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524141426/https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/428295/drum-and-bugle-corps/ |archive-date=24 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>