<p>Well, we can’t ignore it! Our 2010’s will be going through this starting tomorrow and ending Saturday at 1630 (?). We wish you the best of luck and look forward to hearing how it went. We “recognize” that you can’t reveal all since that would not be fair nor right - the 2011’s can’t know all. But whatever you can tell us; we will be curious. And we know that hornetguy, ramius, Guy4Christ and the rest will be spectacular!!</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Rumor is it will end Saturday about 1300. We'll see...</p>
<p>Until then, my friends, I shall return!</p>
<p>T-minus 70 hours!</p>
<p>It's probably a bit later than that...I think last year they got back from the run to the rock around 3:30 or so, and the prop and wings ceremony was around 4:30.</p>
<p>At any rate...time to earn our wings!!</p>
<p>all we know 100% is that they approved an SCA for me to leave Saturday night at 2030 to fly home. so we will be done by then. i'm sure afterwards the biggest thing i can tell you is have a good attitude. and in the words of General Desjardins:</p>
<p>"Bring... It... ON!" (she said that about several other things)</p>
<p>yay! pushups until I can't hold a fork in front of my chest</p>
<p>Wow, I'm sry. Cant wait till next year....haha</p>
<p>Haha, nice quote there eagle!</p>
<p>I'll add, "See you on the flip-side."</p>
<p>out of curiosity was that an intentional reference to boondock saints or am i just way to obssessed with that movie? at summer seminar someone said 'make like a tree...<em>got really quiet here</em> and get out of here', and i always wondered if boondock saints was a big cult film at the academy</p>
<p>Yes, it was a Boondock Saints reference (semi-intentional)...and no, I will not be shooting any mobsters today. It is a bit of a cult film here.</p>
<p>This press release came out today....</p>
<p>"RECOGNITION" TRADITION HELD AT AIR FORCE ACADEMY</p>
<p>U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - The U.S. Air Force Academy will hold Recognition 2007 events after classes complete Thursday, March 15-17. Last year marked the reinstatement of Recognition after a three-year hiatus. </p>
<p>Recognition marks the transition of the Fourth Classmen to upper class status. It is the ceremonial acknowledgement that the Fourth Class as a whole has successfully met the military training requirements expected of it and is prepared to continue its four-year journey through the rigors of Academy life. </p>
<p>In addition to challenging the Class of 2010, Recognition provides the three upper classes an opportunity to develop leadership skills by exercising their roles in relation to the Officer Development System and the PITO (personal, interpersonal, team, and organizational leadership) leadership model. </p>
<p>Recognition consists of wing- and squadron-run activities. Wing-level events include the Leadership Course, Assault Course, Chutes & Ladders, Academy Tour, as well as mandatory meal formations, a motivational speaker, and "The Run to the Rock." Squadron-level training events include three discretionary training time periods, theme rooms, and squadron "Prop and Wing" ceremonies. </p>
<p>Recognition concludes with individual squadron ceremonies and a wing-wide celebratory evening meal.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Last year marked the reinstatement of Recognition after a three-year hiatus.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No Recognition for three years? Why not?</p>
<p>It was actually for two years, for the class of 2007 and 2008. The main reason was the sexual assault scandal. There were a lot of changes made in 2003, and Recognition was replaced by the much lighter Operation Phoenix for 2007 and Pinnacle for 2008.</p>
<p>And here's an email from a cadet on the eve of recognition. He's not my son but he gave permission to post:</p>
<p>"259 Days ago, I along with roughly 1400 other people ranging in age from 17 – 23 started our journey at the Air Force Academy. June 29 was known as in processing day, the day that we were stripped of everything we had ever known and were thrown into 38 days of Basic Cadet Training (BCT) or Boot Camp as it is know to some.
Through those 38 days we experienced everything from 4:30am wakeup and hundreds of daily push ups, to constant mental games. We were known as nothing but “Basics,” or unranked Air Force trainees. Basics who ate at attention, marched at attention, could never go anywhere alone, could not think for ourselves. BCT was hard, but it was just the start.
On August 8th, the 1300 of us who made it through the summer were accepted into the Cadet Wing by the upper three classes. We were given our shoulder boards, and a few freedoms such as being able to travel alone, and the use of the internet. We weren’t Basics anymore, but we still weren’t part of the Cadet Wing. We became “Doolies,” or “that insignificant whose rank is measured in negative units; one whose potential for learning is unlimited; one whose days until graduation approaches infinity; a fourth class cadet.”
Everywhere we went on campus we had to be running with our backpacks carried in our hands. We were still at attention everywhere but the academic building. In the morning, we had to stand in the hall and yell the uniform and the meals for the day every five minutes leading up to breakfast. Every chore such as cleaning and trash we had to do at night. Our doors had to be open during the day. We had to greet every upperclassman by their name and rank. We had weekly training sessions consisting of a couple hours of high intensity workouts while being corrected and yelled at by upperclassmen. Our civilian clothes are at home along with our music and movies. We took weekly knowledge tests on basic Air Force trivia. Most importantly, we stuck together as a class.</p>
<p>Now there are 1200 of us left. We are about to start our final push to the finish. Tomorrow afternoon will signify the start of Recognition, the final (major) training event (that) we will go through (as 4 degrees). It will only be 48 hours, which pales in comparison to the 6,216 hours that we have already been here, but it will be the most challenging hours we will ever endure at this place. I don’t know for sure what is in store, other than 3000 upper classmen making us earn our spot in the Cadet Wing. It will be filled with mental challenges, physical challenges, and emotional challenges. But on Saturday night when we lose our “Doolie” status, we will have more pride than we’ve ever had.</p>
<h2>Tonight, on the eve of our final step, we look back on all that we have been through. We’ve all seen our ups and downs, our highs and lows; but as the old clich? goes, the best is yet to come."</h2>
<p>Very nicely put.</p>
<p>It's finally over...and I'm sure my fellow RTBs will agree...it was WELL worth it.</p>
<p>LUUUUUUUUUUKE!!!!</p>
<p>Welcome back. ;]</p>
<p>Hey, Congratulations! It's been so cool to see 2010 progress from bct, to ac year, and then finally to the completion of recognition. You guys have been such a great help, so once again, congratulations on your accomplishment!</p>
<p>All I can say is "wow" and "congratulations." Heard a bit and I know you can't say much. Son said it may have been the greatest moment in his life to date! That's pretty amazing. 2010 STRENGTH WITHIN!</p>
<p>Amazing day(s). A job well done to my fellow RTBs!</p>
<p>LUUUUUUUUKE!</p>