Prop and Wings

No, the Academy uses the honor system on this one. If a cadet says they are authorized to wear the gold ones, their word is accepted. DD only had to mention that DH and I were active duty for 20+ years.
 
Thanks for bringing this up, in all the rush to I-Day, this got put aside. My DH is a 20+ year AD pilot, and my grandfather was Army Air Corp.

Are the cadets issued a new prop and wings or should I have my Dad start looking for the prop and wings in Grandfather's old stuff. I know we're looking ahead a bit, but it might just take a while to sort through grandpa's stuff, and I'm not sure if Dad or one of my Uncles has the wings.

Got a cool old photo of a VERY young grandpa in his old Air Corp uniform, with the prop and wings on his lapels. Great that my DS (who carries his Grandpa's name as his middle name and DH's as his first) can pay respects in that way.
 
They will be given new prop & wings at Recognition, so no need to scramble to find them (plus recognition isn't til March 2013).

However, once you find them save them for after recognition in case he wants to wear those instead. Remember, they only wear them on their hats, so only one is needed.

Our DS proudly wears his grandfather's prop & wings now, but waited til the summer to switch them.
 
Thanks Greentrees, that's what I needed to know. It might just take until March, 2013 to dig through that stuff....:smile:
 
"Prop and Wings"

My DS's grandfather was in the Army Air Corp, we have a copy of his DD214. Will USAFA issue DS a silver and gold one or do we have to buy one?
 
They will be available to the cadets after recognition in the Spring. It is not something that you need to worry about. If they need more than one(?), they can buy them at the C-Store on campus.
 
I know this thread is 6 years old but I am confused on the props and wings. It was mentioned on the parents facebook page for the 2022 class. My DD grandfather was a colonel in the air force and a fighter pilot, he flew F100s. He was also a Thunderbird and won military awards (Earl T Ricks) etc. Will my DD get props and wings for a grandfather who served 20+ years in the Air Force? He did not go to the academy, but he was in the Korean war.
 
I know this thread is 6 years old but I am confused on the props and wings. It was mentioned on the parents facebook page for the 2022 class. My DD grandfather was a colonel in the air force and a fighter pilot, he flew F100s. He was also a Thunderbird and won military awards (Earl T Ricks) etc. Will my DD get props and wings for a grandfather who served 20+ years in the Air Force? He did not go to the academy, but he was in the Korean war.

sherrie,

All cadets will get (be allowed to wear) prop and wings once they are formally recognized their first year. The difference is whether the prop and wings are silver (the majority) or "Gold" (actually silver & gold now), which are reserved for Cadets who are direct descendants of members of the Army Air Corps, Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs), or a parent who is a USAFA Academy graduate who honorably served.
Here is the reference (see bottom of second page).
http://www.usafa.edu/app/uploads/Cadet_Rank.pdf
 
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I know this thread is 6 years old but I am confused on the props and wings. It was mentioned on the parents facebook page for the 2022 class. My DD grandfather was a colonel in the air force and a fighter pilot, he flew F100s. He was also a Thunderbird and won military awards (Earl T Ricks) etc. Will my DD get props and wings for a grandfather who served 20+ years in the Air Force? He did not go to the academy, but he was in the Korean war.

sherrie,

All cadets will get (be allowed to wear) prop and wings once they are formally recognized their first year. The difference is whether the prop and wings are silver (the majority) or "Gold" (actually silver & gold now), which are reserved for Cadets who are direct descendants of members of the Army Air Corps, Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs), or a parent who is a USAFA Academy graduate who honorably served.
Here is the reference (see bottom of second page).
http://www.usafa.edu/app/uploads/Cadet_Rank.pdf


Thank you so much for clarifying that for me! You explained in clearly.
 
Over seven years since my last reply on this thread! Happy to see the search function being utilized.
 
Interesting! My grandfather was in the Army Air Corps, then switched to Air Force when it was new. Would my DS be eligible for gold? He is a direct descendant, of course (great grandson), but how many generations can one "go back"?
 
Interesting! My grandfather was in the Army Air Corps, then switched to Air Force when it was new. Would my DS be eligible for gold? He is a direct descendant, of course (great grandson), but how many generations can one "go back"?

As many as you like, as long as they are a direct descendant of someone who actually served in the USAAC.
 
So the gold version is basically a "legacy" indicator. Not to sound unkind, but the criteria isn't merit-based. Perhaps more of an affiliation, like the Air Force version of the Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution.
 
So the gold version is basically a "legacy" indicator. Not to sound unkind, but the criteria isn't merit-based. Perhaps more of an affiliation, like the Air Force version of the Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution.

Welcome to the forums! Interesting first post for a new member.

Stealth_81
 
So the gold version is basically a "legacy" indicator. Not to sound unkind, but the criteria isn't merit-based. Perhaps more of an affiliation, like the Air Force version of the Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution.
Adding on with questions if your grandfather served in the army air corps but not flying how would that work? I'm going to be 4th generation air force so just wondering. Oh and welcome new member XD
 
I believe that as long as he was a member of the USAAF you should be eligible.

Are cadets with a parent who served 20+ years with a ROTC commission eligible, or is that only USAFA grads? I’ll be 3rd gen. Air Force so I am wondering as well
 
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