Class crest
From USAFA Folklore
Each class designs a class crest, which will appear on one side of that class's class ring and a large version of which will be mounted on the Class Wall. Designs are normally submitted during the third class year by members of the class, and the winning design is voted on by members of the class.
[edit] Mandatory elements
There are a number of elements that must be in every class crest. These are:
- The class year - The class year is always depicted in Arabic numerals and can be either the full four-digit year or just the last two digits. The Class of 1965 through the Class of 1985 all used two-digit years on their crest, which is the longest trend of one style.
- The class graduating order - Since the Class of 1968, this has always been expressed in Roman numerals. Prior to that it was expressed either in Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, by some symbol, or not at all.
- An eagle
- The Polaris symbol
- A sabre
[edit] Optional elements
There are also many optional elements that have been included regularly in class crests. Some of these are:
- Aircraft - Starting with the Class of 1971 every class has put aircraft or spacecraft on their crest except for the Class of 1972 and the Class of 2001. Many classes have followed the aircraft numbering tradition in doing so.
- The Cadet Chapel
- The American Flag
- Mountains
- Class motto - This is usually in Latin, although English and Greek have also been used. This motto was usually voted on separately by the class. However, since 2002, most classes have used a Latin translation of their greeting (or something close) as a motto.
- Number motifs - Classes may also put other elements on their crests that reflect the class year or number. For instance, the Class of 2003 has a "3" motif: three stars from the flag, three points of the chapel, three aircraft, and three talons on each claw of the eagle.
[edit] Crests
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
