The Class of 2023 was officially accepted into the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Wing during the annual Acceptance Day Parade Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Stillman Field.

Representatives from the Class of 1973, the 50-year Legacy Class for 2023, were on hand to welcome the basic cadets to the Long Blue Line and present copies of Contrails to the top performing basic cadets.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Regni ’73, the 17th superintendent of USAFA, offered a few words of wisdom as the new cadets prepared for the start of academic classes Aug. 8.

He noted that in 1,393 days, “plus a wake-up,” the Doolies will march into Falcon Stadium for their graduation ceremony.

Regni suggested there are five key takeaways that each cadet should grasp over the next four years of his or her Academy experience.

1. Take full advantage of the Academy and all it has to offer. “Soak it all up, be engaged, be all in,” Regni said. “Get every penny’s worth of taxpayer dollars we just invested in your education and leadership development.”
2. The cadet experience is akin to drinking from a fire hose. “Absorb it one day at a time,” he said. “You’ll have great days and an occasional bad days. Let those last ones roll off your back and learn from them.”
3. Set your goals sky-high. Regni listed a number of graduates from the Class of 1973 who achieved much during their careers and are individuals to be emulated, including Gen. Norty Schwartz, the 19th chief of staff of the Air Force. “For among you may very well be the chief of staff of the Air Force and chief of the Space Force in 2056,” he said.
4. Become leaders of character. He noted that the cadets would soon recite the honor oath pledging to become just that. “Those are not just words, but a way of life,” Regni said.
5. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. “You are part of the most diverse team of men and women, of different races and ethnicities, of different cultures and habits, of different faiths and beliefs, of different military rank and responsibilities,” he said. “Make respect for human dignity a foundational plank of who you are and who you become.”

The Doolies then proudly joined their academic year squadrons, and celebrated the pinning on of their fourth-class shoulder boards.

The new cadets then were able to spend some time with family and friends who were in attendance.