April 24, 2020

Thanks to all of you, the Class of 2020 reached its target six weeks early, and the rest of the Cadet Wing is remotely working toward the end of its semester. We are inspired by the leadership and tenacity shown by the Class of 2020 through the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, your commitment and involvement in their success serve as inspiration for them.

Read the full joint message from the AOG and Air Force Academy Foundation.

Graduation Highlights
The shortened and socially distant Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2020 was nonetheless inspirational. Enjoy this brief highlight reel from the April 18 festivities!

Target Achieved
On Saturday, April 18, 967 members of the Class of 2020 (plus 13 international cadets) marched out to the Terrazzo and were sworn in as second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force. Read the full story.

• View Graduation photo gallery
• View Commissioning Ceremonies photo galleries
• For a full replay of the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony, click here. More than 300,000 have viewed the program so far on various platforms!




Graduation Greetings from Grads
Academy grads Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Brad Hosmer '59, "Sully" Sullenberger '73, Gen. (Ret.) Mark Welsh '76, Heather Wilson '82, Chad Hennings '88 and more sent greetings for the Class of 2020's graduation. View their messages!

Morale Booster Baskets
Thanks to generous donations from USAFA graduates, parents and friends of the Academy, Petals and Blooms assembled and distributed Morale Booster Baskets to the Class of 2020. The Air Force Academy Foundation and the Association of Graduates would like to thank all who made this project a huge success! Take a look at a brief video about the basket effort.

Help USAFA Family Businesses
Many Academy graduate and USAFA family-owned businesses are struggling right now due to the global pandemic. Here's how you can help. We've put together a growing list of businesses that could use a helping hand from the Academy family community.




AOG Service Spotlight: Answering the COVID-19 Call
This month we're highlighting some of the many members of the USAFA family who are stepping up to support their respective communities during these uncertain times. Learn more about the inspiring stories of grads feeding hospital staffs, coming out of retirement to treat the sick, and helping make hand sanitizer and masks. Please email us at alumnirelations@aogusafa.org if you have other service examples that should be shared with the USAFA community.

Service Before Self — Every Minute Matters
Currently, 216,000+ minutes have been donated to communities across the country! Thank you to those who have given their minutes toward serving their communities. In the last few weeks, our daily routines and lives have been greatly impacted by COVID-19. Now more than ever, we need to be a force for service and support our Air Force family and local communities. Most importantly, you need to take care of your own health so that you can help others. Please log your minutes and share ways others can help by visiting usafa.org/ServiceBeforeSelf.




Parents of the Class of 2020 — Buy 2, Get 1 FREE
Purchase a biennial membership for your USAFA graduate and they will have a membership to their alumni association for three full years — for just the price of a two-year membership! Connecting your son or daughter to their alumni association will truly benefit them in so many ways for so many years to come. In addition to connecting them with fellow grads at their first duty station, their Association of Graduates is hard at work in other areas that will benefit them as well — such as young alumni opportunities, online grad community and career center. Connect them with their Association of Graduates TODAY! *Offer valid from March 1 to May 1, 2020.

Welcome Class of 2024 Parents and Families — We Look Forward to Meeting You!
Congratulations on your son's or daughter's acceptance to the United States Air Force Academy! We're the Association of Graduates (AOG) and we are here to support you, your cadet, the Academy and our graduates. We will be with your son or daughter throughout their Academy experience, their Air Force career and beyond. Enroll in our Family Plan Membership from March 1 through May 31 and you will receive a FREE "Proud Parent" gift pack with your purchase. HURRY! This free gift is only available while supplies last! We look forward to serving you and yours for decades to come! (CLICK HERE for complete details and enrollment. Items included in promotional gift pack are not sold in our AOG Gift Shop. Not available for purchase. One gift per Family Plan membership purchased for a new Class of 2024 family.)

SAVE $$ on Your Reunion Registration!
Join your Association of Graduates and show your support for the Academy's mission for as little as $60 a year! Membership to your alumni association will provide: support for our USAFA graduates, parents and Academy friends; services and assistance to current cadets; connection to the Long Blue Line; a solid network to support you through all stages of your career; a subscription to our award-winning, quarterly magazine — Checkpoints; discounted event registration for you and your guest(s); 15% off merchandise at shop.usafa.org; and MORE! Become an annual member or life member today!




USC Viterbi School of Engineering — #1 Ranked Online Graduate Computer Science Program for Veterans (2020)
Interested in pursuing a graduate degree in engineering or computer science online? The University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering's online DEN@Viterbi delivery method enables active duty military personnel and veterans to complete a Master's degree completely online from any location in the world. USC Viterbi is ranked the #1 Online Graduate Computer Science Program for Veterans and a Top Ranked Online Graduate Engineering Program for Veterans (across 40+ programs offered) by the U.S. News & World Report (2020 edition). An unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon awards as well as scholarships and funding are available for eligible active duty military and veteran candidates. Learn more now!




Reading This Ad? So Are Your Customers!
Call Jeff MacLean today at 719-247-8767 or email him at jeff.maclean@aogusafa.org to find out how you can reach more than 55,000 people on every Air Force base worldwide, as often as every two weeks, for as little as $100 a month!

Museum Membership
Join the National Museum of World War II Aviation and become part of our community! By joining today, you can support the museum as it prepares to re-open in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. To ensure that you realize the full potential of your investment, the term of your membership will not begin until the day the museum reopens to the public. Membership includes unlimited admission to the museum, a subscription to our monthly newsletter, special events updates, and a 10% discount to the museum gift shop. Click here to join.

Military OneSource: Support for Airmen and Their Families
Military OneSource is free, 24/7 support for all things MilLife. This Department of Defense program can connect you and your dependents to info, answers and support like tax services, financial counseling, spouse job opportunities, relocation resources, confidential support and more. See all the ways we can help at MilitaryOneSource.mil. Our mission is you.

We Salute Your Service
Piedmont Airlines values your military service and pilot training. Enjoy the benefits you've earned by letting them help you make the transition to a rewarding civilian career. They'll help you complete the training that puts you in an airline flight deck and custom design your program — with no obligation — to put you on the fastest career path to American Airlines. Click here for more information or check in with a recruiter: Laura.A.Bailey@aa.com

The Bremont USAFA Graduate Watch
The Bremont USAFA Graduate Watch is exclusively for USAFA graduates. Each design features the Academy Crest, Prop and Wings, and "The Long Blue Line." To learn more about this watch, go to: https://www.bremont.com/military-orders/usafa-graduate

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-USAFA Grad, Class of 1970
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Contact Roger Hill at 303-956-5955 or Roger.Hill1970@gmail.com.

AFA Creations
Rick Broome is one of the most notable aviation and space artists in the world today. His work captures the spirit and wonder of flight from commercial to military aircraft, and from the dawn of aviation to the most advanced aircraft today.