ABC apparently has a new reality show that involves teaching celebrity contestants how to dive into a pool:
The contestants are trained by diving legend Greg Louganis in regulation platform and springboard diving, and will compete to have the best dive in front of a poolside audience.
It seems prior to the competition, the contestants were dared to jump off the highest platform — at 10 meters above the pool: Read more
We already knew Disney animators relied on Air Force aircraft for inspiration. It seems they liked the USAFA Cadet Chapel, as well.
Though it was in theaters some months ago, Wreck-It Ralph recently came out on DVD, causing some Academy grads to notice (and the official USAFA Facebook page to highlight) that a “backstory scene” looks awfully familiar:
The USAFA Cadet Chapel:
A scene from Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph:
It seems the beauty of the nearly 60-year-old USAFA Cadet Chapel continues to be recognized — even in “modern” art.
The “backstory” scene can be seen here; the ending, with the “happy” wedding scene at the end, here.
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President Obama is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis this year.
In a statement Monday, Academy officials said that the 1,000-plus midshipmen graduating this year will get the chance to “look to the president for his leadership and wisdom as they get ready for their first assignments.” The event is scheduled for May 23.
The President and other senior leaders traditionally rotate among the service academy graduations each year.
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MajGen Michelle Johnson has been nominated for a third star and for the position of Superintendent, US Air Force Academy. As every press release so far has noted, when she is confirmed by the Senate she will be the first female to occupy that position.
Johnson is a 1981 distinguished graduate from the Academy where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations research. She was the first female cadet wing commander and the first female Rhodes Scholar from the Academy.
The USAFA Class of 1981 was the second to include women, after President Ford’s 1976 integration order.
Like LtGen Mike Gould, whom she will replace, MajGen Johnson is a career cargo/transport pilot.
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The Air Force Academy announced that Cadet 4th Class James Walsh died Saturday night in the cadet area.
Academy personnel found Walsh, contacted emergency services and attempted to revive him using life-saving measures without success.
“The Academy is deeply saddened by the tragic loss we suffered Saturday,” said Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, the Academy superintendent. “As we grieve the passing of James, we ask that everyone keep his family and friends in their thoughts and prayers.”
Cadet Walsh was a former enlisted Airmen. His death is under investigation.
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BrigGen Dana Born, Dean of the US Air Force Academy, has announced her intention to retire in the summer of 2013.
Ordinarily, such a move wouldn’t be newsworthy. However, Gen Born has been under constant attack by Michael Weinstein — aided by his veritable PR arm, Pam Zubeck of the Colorado Springs Independent — for several years. Zubeck, who has long had sources on the USAFA faculty eager to undermine their own institution, “scooped” even the official US military announcement of Born’s retirement, and she did so without attempting to hide her bias:
Brig. Gen. Dana Born, one of the most controversial figures Read more
A variety of websites are now reporting on the injuries US Air Force Academy cadets received during attempts by Four Degrees (freshmen) to drag their Cadet First Sergeants through the first snow of the season. The decades-old tradition is one of many that generally stay out of the public eye, though YouTube videos and the like have revealed them for years.
While there is apparent shock that “nearly 30 cadets” were injured in some form (including — gasp — bruises) during the devolution to a “brawl,” that injury count probably doesn’t crack the records set during Read more
The Stars and Stripes provided a quick but unfiltered summary of the second phase of basic training at the US Air Force Academy, including the measurable impact of its difficulty for would-be cadets:
Academy officials counted 1,035 recruits when basic cadet training began on June 28. When the flight marched into Jacks Valley nearly two weeks ago, 997 remained.
The assault course occasionally weeds out a few more. The academy counted 992 “basics” remaining when Charlie Flight readied for their turn through the course…