Commitment to Excellence
United States Air Force Academy

Congress authorized creation of the Air Force Academy in 1954. Harold E. Talbott, then Secretary of the Air Force, appointed a commission to assist him in selecting the permanent site. After traveling 21,000 miles and considering 580 proposed sites in 45 states, the commission recommended three locations. From those, Secretary Talbott selected the site near Colorado Springs, Colorado. On July 11, 1955, the same year construction began, the first class of 306 men were sworn in at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. Lt.Gen. Hubert R. Harmon, a key figure in the development of the Academy since 1949, was recalled from retirement to become the first superintendent.

Cadet Insignia of Rank Shoulder Boards
- Showing 2009 Changes -

- Fourth Class -		- Third Class -		- Second Class
No Insignia
Basic Cadet	Cadet Airman	Unranked Cadet Third Class	Cadet Staff Sergeant	Unranked Cadet Second Class	Cadet Technical Sergeant
Second Class -
Cadet Master Sergeant	First Sergeant Cadet Master Sergeant	Cadet Senior Master Sergeant	Squadron Superintendent Cadet Senior Master Sergeant	Group Superintendent Cadet Chief Master Sergeant	Wing Command Chief Cadet Chief Master Sergeant
- First Class -
Unranked Cadet First Class	Cadet Second Lieutenant	Cadet First Lieutenant	Cadet Captain	Flight Commander Cadet Captain	Cadet Major
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel	Squadron Commander Cadet Lieutenant Colonel	Cadet Colonel	Group Commander Cadet Colonel	Wing Honor Chair Cadet Colonel	Vice Wing Commander Cadet Colonel
		Wing Commander Cadet Colonel
- Team Captain Examples -		- Cadet Honor Committee -
Team Captain designated by lightning bolt over any insignia.		The insignia of the Wing Honor Chair and the Cadet Honor Committee uses the version of Polaris from the coat of arms of the USAFA.

Cadet Insignia of Rank for Collars of ABU's

- Showing 2009 Changes -