Tonight's the Night

As many of you know and probably as many don’t, tonight is the USAFA Class of 2020 Commitment Dinner. The class members must choose tonight to either commit to the AF – remaining two years at the Academy plus their five or more years of service as officers – or depart the Academy. After tonight, with few exceptions, if a 2020 cadet leaves, they will have either a service commitment (enlisted) or a fairly hefty bill for their education and training up to that point.

At least for our “local” parents’ club, we will be participating in a “virtual” toast (okay, real toast for some of us) to our sons and daughters at 7pm MST. Other 2020 parents, or others on this forum, are invited to do the same.

It is a major milestone and decision point for them as well as an exciting evening.

So, I want to wish the entire 2020 class the best!

Cheers!

A very exciting milestone event! We will raise our glasses with you!

Cheers to the class of 2020!

Congratulations and glass lifting all round. If a cadet chooses not to commit, can't imagine that is too frequent, what happens? Is that done at the dinner too, or in advance? I assume that they would be disenrolled shortly afterwards?

Per the USAFA website: https://www.academyadmissions.com/commitment/

"Second-Class cadets who are disenrolled or resign on or after the first day of academics in the fall semester of the Second-Class year will incur a two-year commitment for active-duty service."

So, the choice to not commit must be made no later than today, since tomorrow is the first day of academics. I would venture to say that most, if not all, that do not intend to commit have already dis-enrolled or are in the process of doing so.

I know personally of two cadets from the class of 2020 that the final decision was made in the last couple of weeks. In one case, it was not completely the cadet's choice since that person could not fulfill a requirement necessary before the end of the summer, so they were being dis-enrolled. In the other case, the same requirement had not been fulfilled, but the person chose not to try to do so, and elected to dis-enroll instead.

Yes, a very exciting evening for the class of 2020!!! We are very proud of our DS and the entire class of 2020! We will raise a glass to toast!! “Target in sight”

Momof4 said:

Yes, a very exciting evening for the class of 2020!!! We are very proud of our DS and the entire class of 2020! We will raise a glass to toast!! “Target in sight”

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Not to detract from a serious time...but, this evening, our oldest DD started a group conversation via texts with DH, youngest DD, and I concerning our granddaughter, who is 11 months old, about walking, very preliminary "potty training", etc. with some specifics.

Youngest DD finally sent a text stating, "I am trying to commit to the AF out here and you're blowing my phone up with poop!"

I was laughing so hard I was crying.

To all of the C2Cs that just committed (and to their parents) - you have my thanks - not only for watching over the other cadets at USAFA, but for your long-term commitment to the USAF and the nation.

It's a huge commitment, but after 2 years of blood, sweat and tears, I can't think too many turn back at that point.