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Welcome to cadet news
Class Rings
What to Expect…start saving now!
In the 2degree year, the class ring is designed by Jostens with the
assistance of cadets in the class and is based on the class crest.
The ring design is voted on by the class. The Class of 2010 will
soon begin their ring ordering process. On the 4th of November the
cadets received their initial briefing from Jostens and given their
ring catalog. On the 9th and 10th of December, Jostens will display
genuine stones in the cadet library so the cadets can view them, in
case they wish to purchase a genuine stone for their ring. On
January 13th, 14th, and 15th, cadets may order their rings in the
Cadet Library. Most rings end up costing in the range of $750 to
$1,500.00.
What to Expect…start saving now!
In the 2degree year, the class ring is designed by Jostens with the
assistance of cadets in the class and is based on the class crest.
The ring design is voted on by the class. The Class of 2010 will
soon begin their ring ordering process. On the 4th of November the
cadets received their initial briefing from Jostens and given their
ring catalog. On the 9th and 10th of December, Jostens will display
genuine stones in the cadet library so the cadets can view them, in
case they wish to purchase a genuine stone for their ring. On
January 13th, 14th, and 15th, cadets may order their rings in the
Cadet Library. Most rings end up costing in the range of $750 to
$1,500.00.
| CADET PORTRAITS All of the cadet wing yearbook portraits are being taken during this Fall semester session: Class of 2009, 20-27 Oct; Class of 2012, 28-31 Oct; Class of 2010, 3-6 Nov, Class of 2011, 7-14 Nov 08. There will be a retake opportunity in January 2009. |
A Big Central Florida Congratulations !!!!
C2C Zane Taylor, son of Rich & Andy Taylor, has been selected for
publication in The Airman Scholar, A Journal of Contemporary Military
Thought. His paper “Bombs Over Bagdad” was chosen by Academy
staff to be included in a group of exemplary cadet writings.
C2C Zane Taylor, son of Rich & Andy Taylor, has been selected for
publication in The Airman Scholar, A Journal of Contemporary Military
Thought. His paper “Bombs Over Bagdad” was chosen by Academy
staff to be included in a group of exemplary cadet writings.
Foreign Language At USAFA
We teach 8 languages at USAFA: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese Russian
(Strategic Languages) and French, German, Spanish and Portuguese (Non-
Strategic). All of these languages, with the exception of German, are
considered "critical, investment languages" by the Department of
Defense and by the AF. These labels will become important as I
discuss the placement process.
During Basic Cadet Training (BCT) we administer the Defense Language
Aptitude Battery (DLAB), which is a test designed to predict success in
learning a foreign language. We also give the cadets placement
exams in the language they studied in High School or in the language
they have considerable knowledge/experience (i.e. learned it at home,
lived in the country, etc.) At this time, we also ask the cadets to
give us three choices. At least one of these choices must be a
Strategic Language or a non-strategic language. In other words, the
three choices can't all be from the same category.
We then use the cadet's choice, DLAB score, Academic Composite, and
placement exam to place her/him in a language. Because we know that
our strategic languages (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian) can
be more difficult to learn, we only place cadets into these languages
if it was their first or second choice, and only if they have high
scores on the DLAB and the Academic Composite.
Cadets are placed into the other non-strategic languages (French,
German, Spanish and Portuguese) based on choice, placement exam
scores and space availability. In most cases, we'll place cadets into
their first choice, unless they asked for a strategic language and
did not qualify, or if we run out of room in a particular language.
Incoming cadets who have not studied a language we teach here and who
do not qualify for a Strategic Language are placed into French,
Spanish or Portuguese.
Since German is not considered an "investment" language by the DoD
and the AF, we have a limited number of slots available in that
language. These limited slots are usually filled by cadets who have
already studied German in High School.
We teach 8 languages at USAFA: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese Russian
(Strategic Languages) and French, German, Spanish and Portuguese (Non-
Strategic). All of these languages, with the exception of German, are
considered "critical, investment languages" by the Department of
Defense and by the AF. These labels will become important as I
discuss the placement process.
During Basic Cadet Training (BCT) we administer the Defense Language
Aptitude Battery (DLAB), which is a test designed to predict success in
learning a foreign language. We also give the cadets placement
exams in the language they studied in High School or in the language
they have considerable knowledge/experience (i.e. learned it at home,
lived in the country, etc.) At this time, we also ask the cadets to
give us three choices. At least one of these choices must be a
Strategic Language or a non-strategic language. In other words, the
three choices can't all be from the same category.
We then use the cadet's choice, DLAB score, Academic Composite, and
placement exam to place her/him in a language. Because we know that
our strategic languages (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian) can
be more difficult to learn, we only place cadets into these languages
if it was their first or second choice, and only if they have high
scores on the DLAB and the Academic Composite.
Cadets are placed into the other non-strategic languages (French,
German, Spanish and Portuguese) based on choice, placement exam
scores and space availability. In most cases, we'll place cadets into
their first choice, unless they asked for a strategic language and
did not qualify, or if we run out of room in a particular language.
Incoming cadets who have not studied a language we teach here and who
do not qualify for a Strategic Language are placed into French,
Spanish or Portuguese.
Since German is not considered an "investment" language by the DoD
and the AF, we have a limited number of slots available in that
language. These limited slots are usually filled by cadets who have
already studied German in High School.