FALCON FAMILY NEWS

AUGUST 2006

ACADEMY STANDS UP NEW CADET SQUADRONS

        U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy stood up four new cadet squadrons during an assumption of command ceremony on the evening of 6 August 2006.

         Major Fred Cunningham assumed command of Squadron 37, Major Ryan Plunkett assumed command of Squadron 38, Major Phillip Tucker assumed command of Squadron 39, and Major Gilberto Martinez assumed command of Squadron 40.

         Cadet Squadrons 37 through 40 were originally activated in 1969 after Congress set the authorized cadet wing strength at 4,417 cadets.  They were deactivated in 1999 to better manage a reduced authorization of 4,000 cadets, set by Congress in 1995. 

         The four squadrons were also formally recognized during the Acceptance Parade on 8 August 2006. 

         The Superintendent requested the activation of cadet squadrons 37-40 after his initial assessment of the Academy in April 2006.   The change will establish smaller squadrons, approximately 110 cadets each, and afford the cadets more leadership opportunities.

 ACCEPTANCE PARADE

         The Class of 2010 was accepted into the Wing on 8 August 2006 at the Acceptance Parade, held at Stillman Field.  The cadets looked sharp as the entire Wing took the oath to “…not lie, steal or cheat …” 

         A new procedure for the parents took place this year.  After the parade, the parents were allowed onto the parade field and observe at close range their cadets’ pinning on ceremonies.  Then, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, the cadets were released and permitted to spend personal time with their families.  Parents were encouraged to bring picnic lunches, and families could be seen all around the cadet area enjoying lunch with their cadets.

CLASS OF 2010 CADET COMPUTER INFORMATION

Specifications:

·        Gateway M280G Tablet Computer

·        Intel® Pentium® M Processor 750 1.86GHz

·        1GB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM

·        Fujitsu-MHT2040BH 40GB 5400 rpm

·        SimpleTech 160 GB External Hard Drive

·        14.0" WXGA TFT Active Matrix (1280 x 768 max. resolution)

·        ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X600 with 64MB VRAM

·        DVD+/-RW

·        Port replicator with 2^nd power charger

·        PCMCIA Smart Card Reader (Omnikey 4040)

·        Integrated10/100/1000 Ethernet

·        Intel 802.11a/b/g Mini PCI Express Card

·        External Mouse and Keyboard

·        4 years parts-only warranty

Cost:

·        $1,773.00        For all the above via GTSI contract with AAFES

·        $     87.00        Accessories (bag, memory stick, lock, cable, power strip)

·        $1,898.00        Approximate total with 2% AAFES fee (up $79 from last year)

Software Pre-Loaded:

·        Windows XP SP2

·        Office 2003

·        USAFA licensed software for classes (e.g. Norton, Autodesk, Raptor, etc.)

·        Additional cost of approximately $125 in Sep-Oct from each new cadet

Not Included:

• Personal printer (inkjet or laser with USB 2.0 cable) – $60 - $200

• 17” or 19” flat panel for their rooms (analog, not digital-DVI) - $300 - $500

• These items make good gifts for parents or grandparents to buy them over Parents’ Weekend.

• Email Address:  C10first.last@usafa.af.mil

            There are some exceptions for long names, e.g. Christopher shortened to Chris, etc.

 
Common Issues and Questions:

·        Why tablet computers? – The selection committee decided the pedagogical reasons for tablets out-weighed the increased cost and weight.  The tablet can be used for taking hand-written notes in class, including math formulas, drawings, diagrams, etc.  Special software packages are now available specifically for use on tablet computers, such as Math Journal.  Barring a major setback, next year we will only request proposals for tablet computers.

·        Other schools using Gateway tablet computers:

o       Dakota State University (1,100 Tablet PC’s)

o       Colorado Technical University (1,400 Tablet PC’s)

o       Winona State University (4,000 Tablet PC’s)

·        Who were the other competitors?  Lenovo (IBM), Dell, Ace, MPC, Acer, & HP

·        Access to off-base email accounts (e.g., Hotmail or Yahoo) is blocked for security reasons to prevent “back door” viruses or worms.

·        Wireless is working.  If cadets need help configuring it, they can go to either the Technical Assistance Center (3F19) or Multimedia Lab (Library 4^th floor).

·        Printers are not included in the computer purchase for several reasons:

o       It is a “personal preference” item – some want cheap black and white, while others want high-quality photo printers.

o       They are not necessary since we provide squadron printers.

o       They make good gifts for parents and grandparents.

 ·        We teach “computer ethics” in Comp Sci 110 to convince cadets that certain common practices done in high school (e.g., illegally copying music or movies) are no longer acceptable and are punishable.

Questions should be e-mailed to: larry.bryant@usafa.af.mil

CHANEY KING BIKE RIDE AND RUN (from the Falcon Foundation)

            Chaney King, an exceptional Falcon Scholar and Cadet Third Class, was killed in 2003 in a tragic car accident.  She attended Northwestern Preparatory School as a Falcon Foundation Scholar before coming to the Academy.  During her time at the Academy she was a member of Squadrons 13 and 14.

            Janet and Dennis King, Chaney’s parents, came to the Falcon Foundation three years ago and asked if they would support a fund-raising event in honor of Chaney’s participation in the scholarship program.  As a result, the Falcon Foundation is holding the Third Annual Chaney King Bike Ride Run scheduled on Saturday, September 9, 2006.

            Proceeds from the Chaney King Bike Ride and Run are used to support the scholarship program.  If you would like to know more about this event, please visit the Falcon Foundation’s  website at www.falconfoundation.org.

PARENTS’ CLUB SCHEDULES

        The Regional Director Office (branch of Admissions) has requested that we provide them the meeting schedules for the parents’ clubs.  This information will be placed on the ALO (Admissions Liaison Officer) Web Master calendar.  We hope this will result in a closer working relationship between the ALOs, AOG Chapters, and Parents’ Clubs.

        Please notify me of any/all Parents’ Club meetings to include dates, times, contacts.

*ATHLETICS*

IRVINE, Calif. – An Air Force Academy Senior Swimmer placed 31st in the 400 meter individual medley and 34th in the 400 freestyle in day one action at the 2006 ConocoPhillips National Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif.                

            The swimmer just narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic trials in the 400 free with a career-best time of 4:00.38.  The senior also had a lifetime-best swim in the 400 IM, clocking in at 4:38.10 and did qualify for the Summer Nationals and U.S. Open in both events.

2006 Air Force Football Schedule

Date          Time          Opponent                       Series

Sept. 2       --               Open                               --

Sept. 9       5 p.m.        at Tennessee                    UT 1-0

Sept. 16     --               Open                               --

Sept. 23     2:30 p.m.    at Wyoming* (TBD)        AF 21-19-3                         

Sept. 30     12 p.m.      New Mexico* (mtn.)       AF 14-9       

Oct. 7        12 p.m.      Navy (CSTV)                 AF 25-13

Oct. 12      6 p.m.        Colorado State* (mtn.)    AF 24-19-1

Oct. 21      6 p.m.        at San Diego State* (mtn.)        AF 16-8

Oct. 28      12 p.m.      BYU* (Versus)               BYU 20-6                

Nov. 3       6 p.m.        at Army (ESPN2)            AF 26-13-1

Nov. 11     2 p.m.        Notre Dame (CSTV)       ND 21-5

Nov. 18     5:30 p.m.    Utah* (mtn.)                    AF 13-9

Nov. 24     5 p.m.        at UNLV* (mtn.)             AF 8-3

Dec. 2        2:30 p.m.    at TCU* (CSTV)            TCU 3-1-1

* - MWC game; All times Mountain; mtn. – Mountain West Sports Network

CSTV – College Sports Television; Versus (formerly known as OLN)

 
Air Force Men’s Basketball

2006-07 Non-Conference Schedule

Home games in Bold

% Guardians Classic

$ Cable Car Classic

# Played at Colorado Springs World Arena