Reflecting on our past, looking toward our future

Today the United States Air Force celebrates its 71st birthday, an opportunity to reflect upon the past achievements of our force as we accelerate toward a future of even greater accomplishments.  Honoring and studying our history and heritage is an important part of the profession of arms, and at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) we recently had an uncommon opportunity to honor a pivotal moment in our piece of the Air Force story.

Last month marked the 60th anniversary of the USAFA’s move from Lowry Air Force Base in Denver to its present location in Colorado Springs. Marking this occasion, we gathered members of our first four graduating classes, the classes of 1959, 1960, 1961, and 1962, among other graduates, current USAFA staff and original Lowry staff, and took a ‘staff ride’ to the original site of our Academy. Historically more common in the Army, staff rides offer an immersive method of education by getting out of the office or classroom, travelling to battlefields and other historic sites, and learning how we can apply the lessons of history toward our actions in the future. Our staff ride last month allowed us time to reflect on where we came from and where we are going as an Academy, and as we celebrate the Air Force’s birthday today I am still moved by our own recent day of celebration and reflection.

The day started with a symbolic happenstance of events when Dr. John Terino, Chairman of the Department of Airpower at the United States Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), provided a lecture on the history of USAFA. As Dr. Terino was describing the inception and creation of USAFA, 1,200 prospective Class of 2023 applicants were attending our Admissions Forum outside the doors of his lecture. The past and future of the Long Blue Line were brilliantly juxtaposed, and I can think of no better way to have started our day of reflection and inspiration.

More than 150 USAFA members then proceeded to the original Academy site at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver for lunch, presentations by graduates from every decade, and tours of the Lowry site led by current USAFA cadets. The day concluded with a ceremony and unveiling of a commemorative plaque back at our current campus. This plaque can now be seen on display at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, located on the original Lowry site.

For me, the most moving part of the day was captured in reflections by Col (ret.) Edwin Montgomery (Class of 1959). He recalled the day when they left Lowry, were transported to the North Gate of the current Academy site, and marched on to their new campus. He described his classmates’ excitement and how visually stunning the new construction was. But the next day they all woke up and went about their day just like they did at Lowry. They put on their uniforms. They marched to breakfast. They went to classes. They did their military and physical training. Nothing changed.

This insight beautifully articulated that the Air Force Academy is not only about our amazing, world-renown architecture or our picturesque locale nestled against the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The Academy is all of us – military, civilian, officer, enlisted, cadet, faculty, staff – and the values that we cherish as a community. We are USAFA. Our ideals are USAFA. And these ideals and values transcend any battlespace – past, present and future.

Lieutenant General Bradley Hosmer (Class of 1959), the first Air Force Academy graduate to become our Superintendent, further expanded these sentiments in his closing ceremony comments when he said: “The individual is insignificant. Individuals don’t win wars, organizations do.” As a team, we are making this organization a critical force multiplier. Irrespective of our physical environment, our Academy is preparing Leaders of Airman to enhance the effectiveness and lethality of our force. Together, that is a history lesson we can all be proud of.

Happy birthday to the United States Air Force!