U.S. Air Force Academy cadets participate in the largest gilder operation in the world, the Soaring Program, Sept. 19, 2024, at Davis Airfield in Colorado Springs, Colo. The program's mission is to form the foundation of cadet exposure to military aviation, build character and help motivate cadets toward a career in the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin R. Pacheco)