Stories: Air Force: 2014

There's something every legacy of the Air Force Academy knows about the first day. Whatever you do, try not to stand out. Shane Simonson never got that advice.

Arriving for his first day at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. along with nearly 1,300 other cadets — or doolies — Simonson was going to be an easy target for the cadre. His shaggy hair, plaid shorts and sly smile almost guaranteed his his first day was not going to be an easy one.

Shane had dreamed of attending the Air Force Academy since visiting the campus as a child. To make that dream a reality, he racked up a grade point average over 4.0 at Fossil Ridge High School and spent his senior year taking college level math at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

As they stood in line his mom, Dode, wiped away tears while Shane smiled, putting his hand on her arm reassuringly. With two wars raging in the Middle East, he knew she would have much preferred he go to a “regular” university.

"I just know it's going to be hard for him," she said. "He's not really the military type."

Shane Simonson of Fort Collins, Colo. laughs as his mom, Dode, wipes away tears prior to the freshman intake process at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
  
"I wasn't looking forward to this part," said Shane as he gets his hair cut along with his fellow freshman.
  
Betty Sue Cummings sews Shane's name onto his airman battle uniform during the inake process.
     
  
Cadre Aaron White yells at Shane for not being able to correctly recite the seven basic responses doolies must memorize during the intake process.
   
Shane lines up with his fellow doolies at Jacks Valley, an area at the north end of the Academy grounds. There, for the next 13 days, doolies must endure a boot camp of sorts meant to teach them the fundamentals of military and Academy life under the leadership of a cadre of first and second class cadets.
   
Shane helps fill sandbags while using a pile of extras as an improvised stool. The weight of the sandbags keeps the doolies' temporary homes from blowing away.
     
  
Shane yells to his fellow classmates while running though a simulated battle situation on the assault course. The doolies are placed in small groups for many of the obstacles. If one fails, they all fail and must repeat the obstacle.
  
Wearing his dress blues Shane waits with his fellow cadets prior to the Acceptance Day ceremony on the grounds of the Air Force Academy. The ceremony marks the day basic cadets are accepted into the Cadet Wing and receives his or her shoulderboards as a Cadet Fourth Class.
   
"We just haven't gotten see him. It's been so nerve wracking," said Dode Simonson as she watched Shane put on his Airman Battle Uniform in his dorm room at the Academy. "He looks so different," she said.
     
  
Shane rubs his eyes while getting ready for his scholars chemistry class at the Academy. Only 45 students out of the 1200 are selected for scholars class based on their incoming academic test scores.
  
Shane watches as a fellow cadet performs an experiment in their scholars chemistry class. Cadets take an average of 18 credit hours every semester at the Academy.