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From:
USAFA.GraduateLiaison@usafa.edu
To: Sent: 5/7/2020 2:48:47 PM Mountain Standard Time Subject: USAFA Update: A New Normal Good Afternoon Grads,
A New Normal
Currently USAFA remains vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks, social distancing and following other protocols prescribed by the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Defense. This is the new “normal.” The Superintendent has challenged the USAFA team to so start planning and adapting. As an Air Force, we should not expect a distributed vaccine or return to pre-COVID operations until possibly the summer of 2021, if not longer. Establishing consistent, sustainable practices in this new environment is crucial to our morale, health, and continued mission success. As a result, there will be no set date to return to old operational practices. While we hope to bring the Cadet Wing back in some form to the Colorado Springs area for class in August, the process to bring everyone back and what that looks like is still being developed. The most important point for now is that everyone needs to set realistic expectations about what USAFA will be like in the Fall because it will not be the USAFA we all knew when we dispersed around the country or to our homes for teleworking.
----------------------- Inprocessing Day for Class of 2024
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve experienced a lot of “firsts” including graduating and commissioning 967 new officers into our Air and Space Forces in a ceremony that looked different from any other in the history of military service academies.
We are currently navigating another “first” as we make plans to safely bring in the Class of 2024 on 25 June and lead them through basic training.
Details are still being finalized, but we assure you the Superintendent’s first priority is the health, safety, and welfare of our basic cadets and our entire Academy community. The numbers of COVID-19 cases on our campus have been extremely low, and we will continue to work closely with our exceptional medical team to keep this trend. Our upperclass cadets who will act as “cadre” or instructors for basic training will be arriving 1 June 2020. They will be tested for COVID-19 and enter a 14-day period of limited activities while we monitor their health. They will be tested again after the 14-day period. We will follow a similar process for the Class of 2024. Each basic cadet will be tested for COVID-19 and enter a 14-day period where they and their roommate will undergo online training, inprocessing and limited exposure to others while we monitor their health. At the end of the 14-day period they will be tested again before beginning more rigorous basic training activities within their 30-person flight.
Typically, we look forward to welcoming our appointee families with a robust family-focused program on Inprocessing Day. Unfortunately, we must postpone our welcome activities until a future date when it’s appropriate to travel or gather in large groups. Please monitor our social media channels and website for a virtual welcome from our United States Air Force Academy leadership team closer to 25 June. Meanwhile, we invite you to enjoy our Virtual Tour at https://www.usafa.edu/virtualtour/.
----------------------- March Back Cancelled
We are sad to announce that the 2020 Graduate March Back is officially cancelled due COVID-19 safety concerns. We look forward to seeing you in 2021! |