Graduate Spirit Mission

Class of 2022 cadets briefly reveal the red side of their masks

By Nicole Cox, USAFA Graduate Liaison

United States Air Force Academy red classes conducted a COVID-19 themed spirit mission this week. Led by the Class of 1998, RTBs from the Classes of 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 2010 (among others) raised a monumental $12,198 to buy reversible face masks for the red Class of 2022. The average donation to the effort was $98. The masks were purchased through the same company that makes the Academy’s issued black masks and are black on one side and red on the other. While cadets are only authorized to wear black masks in uniform, the reversible masks keep the rebel red class spirit close and remind the cadets that the Long Blue Line is with them, supporting them.

The Class of 1998 reached out to the Academy to coordinate this effort and worked with the manufacturer who makes the issued masks to ensure that they were standardized and within regulations. All Graduate classes that hope to conduct similar spirit missions that involve cadets should always reach out to the Academy Graduate Liaison before proceeding at USAFA.GraduateLiaison@usafa.edu. The Academy Graduate Liaison will help coordinate any gift or spirit mission ideas with the Cadet Wing to ensure they meet current cadet needs and policies.