Class ring

From USAFA Folklore

The class ring is the symbol of a graduate's link to the Academy, and serves as a common bond among all graduates. Cadets get their class rings at the end of their second class year during the Ring Dance festivities.

[edit] About the ring design

• On one side of the ring is the Academy crest, and on the other, that class's class crest. The tradition is that the ring is worn with the class crest closer to the body prior to graduation, signifying loyalty to the class, then after Graduation, turned around so the Academy crest is closest to the body, signifying loyalty to the institution.
• Around the stone is a chain with 59 links, signifying a link to the Class of 1959, the first class to graduate from the Academy. Except for the Class of 1984, which has a chain of beer can pull-tabs.
• Cadets are allowed to choose any stone of any color to put in their rings, but the "classic" stone is the blue star sapphire. Fire blue spinel is also popular, and a few grads have also been known to get a piece of Terrazzo marble ground down to fit into their rings.

[edit] Other ring information

• The Association of Graduates has collected rings from every class to melt down and include in an ingot, part of which will be added to the ingot used in creating each new class's rings.
• Sometimes cadet/graduates who flaunt their status as such are referred to as "Ring Knockers"