COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Wheatland High School graduate of 2023, John Paul Anderson, recently earned his Wings of Green credentials at the United States Air Force Academy. JP, as locals know him, is in his second year at the academy.
According to the academy’s website, “The Wings of Green (WoG) is a one-year program which serves to train Air Force Academy cadets to become official members of the Wings of Blue. Out of more than 400 cadets who take AM-490, basic freefall, and earn their jump wings in the summer after their freshman year, a couple hundred usually try out for the Wings of Green. After an all-day tryout in the beginning of August, only 25 of these cadets are selected for the team.”
Training begins early for the new Wings of Green members. Immediately following selection, the cadets learn how to pack their own parachutes and begin vertical wind tunnel training. The goal of the first semester is for all WOGs to finish AFF (Accelerated Freefall), at which time they earn the right to wear the Wings of Green patch. Post-AFF certification, the WOGs continue to improve their flying abilities with formations of up to four people at a time.”