Africa-Press – Gambia. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — After four years of rigorous training, 957 men and women on Wednesday became lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force, switching over from cadet to officer.
Eight of them were from Kansas, with one from Topeka and one from Leavenworth.
Although 1,182 cadets were inducted into the Academy during the fall of 2018, 973 graduated, including international students. The average ACT score for students accepted into the Academy is 30, with an average high school grade point average of 3.78.
In addition to academic ability, each cadet must exemplify physical prowess. They are tested on their physical competency, jumping from high heights, climbing walls, marching for hours and participating in survival training.
Cole Resnik, of Topeka, and Leah Wiegers, of Leavenworth, were among the graduates.
Topekan Cole Resnik graduates from U.S. Air Force AcademyResnik, who graduated with academic and military distinction, is an alumnus of Washburn Rural High School. It was there he served in the Junior ROTC.
Resnik, who is also an Academy Scholar, has roots in the military.
“My grandfather, on my mom’s side was a security force’s airman in the Air Force,” he said. “My grandfather on my father’s side was a Navy F-14 and F-18 pilot for 20-plus years. I’m kind of very glad and proud to restore that heritage of service.”Stories his grandfather William Kirkpatrick told Resnik about flying propelled him to join the Air Force and want to be a pilot.
“He encouraged me to pursue that career,” Resnik said, “although he gives me a hard time that I’m choosing to do it at the Air Force.”
Resnik’s father grew up in Whitewater and remembered when Kirkpatrick, his father, would fly over Main Street.”This kind of resonated with me throughout my entire entire life and really motivated me to get into the cockpit,” Cole Resnick said.
Although former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts appointed Resnik, it was U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran who called him to tell him the news.
Resnik said he is thrilled to have had many options at the Academy.I think the opportunities here are unmatched compared to any other four-year institution or any career path,” Resnik said. “The fact that I’m a student here pursuing a four-year degree and in my free time I go down to the airfield is terrific.”
Along with being squadron leader for a semester, Resnik taught other cadets about the fundamentals of flying. He majored in foreign area studies and concentrated in the Middle East and Arabic.
Later this summer, Resnik will head to Sheppard Air Force Base, which is in Wichita Falls, Texas, and become a pilot.
Fellow Topekans, Jack Arnold and Styles Remington, are expected to graduate in 2025.
Leavenworth woman follows in her family’s footstepsLeah Wiegers was one of 260 women who graduated from the Academy on March 25.
Wiegers, who has lived in Leavenworth since grade school, will go to Arizona this summer to become a civil engineer with the U.S. Air Force.
In addition to having both parents in the Army, Wiegers grew up near a base.They (parents) went through ROTC, and they were a big inspiration for me to join the military,” Wiegers said. “I don’t know if I would have had the resources and information.”
But Wiegers decided to join the Air Force instead of the Army.
“It was between Navy and Coast Guard and Air Force for me,” Wiegers said. “I went on a sailboat when I was on vacation in Hawaii, and I decided I can’t do boats or the ocean.”
Weigers enjoyed her opportunities in the military, jumping out of a plane five times and earning her jumping wings. She also relished survival training — including skinning a rabbit.
“I’d say the coolest thing about this place is that you have all these opportunities to meet different people,” Wiegers said. “My favorite opportunity that I got here was I got to build a bridge in the Vail National Forest with 10 of my classmates in my civil engineering major, and that was just the most fun.”
Weigers was appointed by Moran.
Other Kansas graduates include Charles Bermel, of Lawrence; Joseph Harms, of Lawrence; Cole Dudley, of Manhattan; Camden McFarland, of Girard; Luke Socolofsky, of Marion; and Jacob Taylor, of Shawnee.
More:Lawsuit says Kansas must tackle nearly yearlong wait times at Larned State Hospital
U.S. secretary of Defense addresses Air Force Academy graduatesAlong with U.S. students, the Academy graduated 16 international students who will go back to their homelands, including Romania, Thailand, South Korea, Gambia and Madagascar.
Academy graduates entering active duty will have a five-year service commitment. The commitment for pilots is longer.
Lloyd Austin III, the U.S. secretary of Defense, was the keynote speaker. Austin, who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, holds degrees from Auburn and Webster universities. He is also a graduate of the Army War College.During his 41-year career in the U.S. Army, Austin was awarded the Silver Star and later assumed the duties of commanding general of the U.S. forces in Iraq.
“Graduating from this Academy is a huge achievement,” he said. “We’ve got conference champions here and swimming and soccer and water polo gymnastics (champions) and more.”
Austin went on to speak about the pandemic and how the cadets had the strength to persevere. He also said they aren’t members of any air force, but the United States Air Force.
“We’re here to save American security and win America’s wars,” he said. “But we’re also here to safeguard America’s values. It means that you will never lie, cheat or steal. It means that you treat everyone with dignity and respect. And it means a lifelong passion for our core values of democracy, liberty and the rule of law.”
He spoke of changing times and reminded them of current threats from Russia.The world has been inspired by the bravery of the Ukrainian people,” Austin said. “And I know that you have been as well. We’re standing strong with Ukraine; it is a defense of democracy and sovereignty. I hope that their fight reminds us all that we should never take our freedoms for granted. So the late, great Congressman John Lewis used to say:
‘Democracy is not a state. It’s an act.'”
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, superintendent of the USAF, who graduated from the Academy in 1986, also addressed the crowd.We make leaders at the Air Force Academy, specifically leaders of character, and this class is proof of our product,” he said. “Over the past four years, they embody the qualities of dedication and preparation that their exemplar demonstrated throughout his career.”
Clark told each cadet they are never alone, even if they go to Mars with the U.S. Space Force.
“You are now members of the long blue line,” he said. “Our numbers continue to grow, and our future is undeniably bright.”
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
