Class of 2026 Ring Dance celebration

Cadets pose outside Mitchell Hall during the Class of 2026 Ring Dance May 23, 2025. The dining-out is a longstanding tradition for second-degree cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)

By Randy Roughton
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Cadets celebrated one of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s oldest traditions at the Class of 2026 Ring Dance May 23. During the event, the class received their rings, unveiled their class crest and transitioned into their final year of training. The class shared the night with family, friends and members from their Class of 1975 legacy class.

The class ring represents cadets’ commitment, perseverance and progress toward their commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. The ring ties the wearer to a legacy of honor, service and sacrifice.

“Receiving the rings that we will wear on our fingers forever is the symbol of our further commitment to the United States Air Force and United States Space Force,” said Cadet 2nd Class Kobe Achu, Class of 2026 president. “We wanted to make our Ring Dance a special event for our class. Since it is a dining-out ceremony, we can bring in civilian guests to share this milestone night with us.”

Cadet 2nd Class Kobe Achu, Class of 2026 president, at the lectern during the Class of 2026 Ring Dance, in Mitchell Hall May 23, 2025. The dining-out is a longstanding tradition for second-degree cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)

Ring Dance tradition dates to first cadet class

Ring Dance, also known as Ring Dining-Out, began at the Academy with the Class of 1959 and can be traced back to the U.S. Military Academy West Point Class of 1835. At the event, cadets reflect on their training progression. They also look forward to their upcoming Cadet Wing responsibilities as they continue their development as warfighters and leaders of character and quality.

“Ring Dance dates back to the very foundation of our institution,” Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks said. “However, it is not merely a rite of passage. The event and the rings themselves serve as declarations of the Class of 2026’s readiness to assume their leadership roles as firsties in our wing.”

At the Class of 2026 Ring Dance at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the class crest was unveiled on May 23, 2025. The crest incorporates symbols that reflect Academy values, class identity and military service traditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)

Designing the Class of 2026 crest

One side of the ring contains the class crest, and the other side has the Academy crest. Both sides are united by the words United States Air Force Academy that circle the stone at the top.

Each class designs the ring’s class crest and features, incorporating symbols that reflect Academy values, class identity and military service traditions. The design team began working on the class crest more than a year ago. The crest design honors the past, present and future of each Academy graduating class.

Each class crest retains four traditional design elements. The sequence of the graduating class number in Roman numerals. LXVIII represents that the Class of 2026 will be the 68th graduation class. The 2026 along the bottom of the crest is the year the class will graduate. The Polaris Star serves as a universal guide to point the class in the direction of integrity and service. The fourth element is an eagle, a symbol of the United States and the freedoms the class will serve to protect as military officers.

The present is represented by features unique to the class experiences. The design team selected symbols to represent their exemplar, Master Sgt. John Chapman. Since he was the first Airman to receive the Medal of Honor, they replaced the 0 in 2026 with the Medal of Honor symbol. In addition to the MH-47 Chinook, they included the B-21 Raider, the stealth bomber that was unveiled during their four-degree year, as the replacement for the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit.

“We saw the B-21 as the future of the Air Force, so we wanted it represented on our class ring,” Achu said. “We knew we needed something that represented our class exemplar as well. We are very excited that his mother and brother came to our Ring Dance. We surprised them with a Class of 2026 ring for Master Sgt. Chapman, as an honorary member of our class.”

Chapman’s mother, Ms. Terry Chapman, and his brother, Mr. Kevin Chapman, attended the Class of 2026 Ring Dance and were presented with a class ring.

Each class crest retains four traditional design elements. The sequence of the graduating class number in Roman numerals. LXVIII represents that the Class of 2026 will be the 68th graduation class. The 2026 along the bottom of the crest is the year the class will graduate. The Polaris Star serves as a universal guide to point the class in the direction of integrity and service. The fourth element is an eagle, a symbol of the United States and the freedoms the class will serve to protect as military officers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)

Turning the ring: a rite of passage

The wearing of the ring ties the cadets to a legacy of honor, service and sacrifice. Until their graduation next year, Class of 2026 cadets wear the ring with the class crest facing inward, closest to their heart. After graduation, the ring is turned outward. This action symbolizes that the cadet is prepared to protect and defend the nation using the training they received at the Academy.

“When you first get your ring, the crest faces toward you,” Achu said. “After you graduate, the crest faces away. This symbolizes that our class is leaving something behind us, yet we are still connected in that long blue line of all the classes before us.”

See more photos of the Class of 2026 Ring Dance.