WHAT actions can we take to maximize on our cadets' overall development?

          Almost 10 years ago my stepson started the process of chasing his lifelong dream of flying in the Air Force, and his Mom and I were right there with him.  As a freshman in High School, we started the journey learning everything we could about the process, the dream, and the journey toward the long blue line.  We were with him when he started in 2016, and with my stepdaughter when she started as well in 2021.  How lucky and proud can one family be!!!!
​          Along the way, we have been very active in our Parents' Club as President and Golf Chairperson, growing the Club from 5 members to 50 and going from running in the red to raising substantial amounts of money for Cadet and Parent activities.  We find ourselves making decisions based on our opinion as parents of what the Cadets need the most, but we are making decisions based on limited input.  Having worked in healthcare for the last 15 years, I am blessed to have worked with so many caring people with one vision in mind, making a difference.  As Parents and Supporters, we are always asking ourselves what more we can do to make a difference, how can we give back more, what actions can we take to have our Cadets develop even more.  This is where the leadership initiative comes into play.
          USAFA does an incredible job taking our weary eyed children and developing them into our future leaders of America.  An additional lesson this initiative will help develop is the ability to identify the opportunity, work as a team to understand the issue, develop a strategy to address it, and work within a budget to make the best decision possible. What an incredible life skill most kids never have an opportunity to develop until life demands it. 
          This initiative will provide the resources for our Cadets to make these tough decisions, develop negotiation skills, and allow us as Supporters to have our donated funds be used most effectively, from the Cadets' perspective, not ours.  Combine the amazing education they will receive at USAFA with this incredible responsibility we are bestowing upon them, and we have truly done our part as Parents and Supporters to set our Cadets up for success.

​- Adam Ort
   Parent Ambassador

​“Giving is not just about making a donation, it
is about making a difference!”  
- Kathy Calvin, President and Chief Executive Officer
United Nations Foundation from 2013 to 2019

WHY this leadership initiative is so important, and HOW it is going to benefit the Cadet Wing

          Years ago, I took my first engineering job at Wright-Patterson AFB programming cockpit displays for experimental aircraft. I fell in love with the STOL-F15, other high-powered aircraft, and with my husband, an ’83 graduate of USAFA. Seventeen years later, we were in AZ and had a daughter at USAFA. This is when I volunteered to administer the 2018 Facebook Parent Page. I have always felt that if my husband and daughter can serve, then so can I. I became more involved by helping subsequent parent Facebook pages by answering questions, coordinating with the Parent Liaison and the AOG, and setting up Spirit Committees for new parents each year, and eventually becoming a USAFA Admission Liaison Officer in Arizona.
          Through all of this, one thing became very clear – some cadets feel that they have little control over their own lives. With COVID, this feeling became even more pronounced, and morale sank. I approached the AOG asking if there was a way to solve this dilemma knowing that parents, and friends wanted to help but did not know how. There are only so many cookies and snacks that can be sent. It has taken over a year, but the result is a leadership initiative to EMPOWER OUR CADETS and at the same time provide a focus for the energy of their SUPPORTERS!
          This leadership initiative will be a little different. The Cadet Wing Command Staff will take the responsibility to raise morale, confidence, and potential of their wingmen. In other words, this initiative will empower the cadets to determine their needs and follow through with meeting those needs – just like leaders are meant to do!
          This initiative has caused excitement at all levels. Please consider what you can contribute to support the USAFA mission and our cadets.

​- JoAnn Lemm
  USAFA Parent Ambassador

Providing a Platform to Develop Leadership Skills in Building Out a Program or Event to Boost Morale Within the Cadet Wing

          In January 2020 my son was notified that he was being given an appointment to the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School. As a family we were excited about the opportunity – as a mother, I was anxious as I knew I needed to trust that I had provided my son the tools he needed to be successful as he navigated this new phase in his life and academic career. As much as I knew in my heart what I needed to do to allow my son to be successful, I also wanted to know how I could help him navigate this period in his life, and how I could ‘stay connected’ in his experience at the USAFA Prep School while also ensuring that he was able to achieve all of the growth that he was expected to achieve during this extra year at the Academy.
          Interestingly enough, as I watched my son navigate this experience it became apparent to me what all of the Cadets needed – access to some level of ‘control’ of their experiences. When combining the desire of the parents to ‘contribute’ to their Cadets experiences with the need to allow the Cadets to own the process and begin to develop their leadership skills with their peers – the idea of the Cadet Wing Leadership initiative was established. The concept is simple – we as supporters (parents, friends, family, sponsors – SUPPORTERS) of the Cadets provide them a platform to develop leadership skills in building out a program or event to boost morale within their cadet wing/squadron. We allow the Cadets to determine what activities they want to fund or do, to build comradery amongst their colleagues, and encourage a unit that comes together as ONE. We do this through our generosity and support. We do this by allowing them to begin their journey, as leaders, to oversee a small budget and task of maintaining a positive morale within their units. We give them the gift of being able to choose and work with their colleagues on how to engage this fund for the benefit of all within their division. We build their confidence in management, thoughtful leadership and service.
          The Cadet Wing Leadership fund will be a valuable asset to our Cadet Wing Commanders. It will provide them a tool that will empower them to overcome challenges their units might be experiencing. It will provide them a unique avenue where they can control how they use the funds for the wellness of their division/team. It will provide them access to funds that can help elevate their colleagues during periods of hardship or when they feel they need some control over their experiences at USAFA. This is an exciting time in our Cadets lives, and this leadership opportunity will provide them more flexibility in how they engage one another and help boost the confidence and morale of the units they are building together.  And, professionally speaking, as a senior executive in the financial services and payments industry, I noticeably see the difference between young professionals that have had an opportunity to manage and lead opportunity funds, such as the Cadet Wing Leadership and Morale fund. I often see young professionals with this type of experience tend to demonstrate a stronger aptitude in taking on challenges they encounter in the corporate environment.​

​- Melissa Jankowski
  USAFA Parent Ambassador

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