United States Air Force Academy Cadet Wing

The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Wing (AFCW) is the student body of the United States Air Force Academy. The students, called "cadets", are divided into four classes, based on their year in school, much like a civilian college. They are not called freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, however, but fourth-, third-, second- and first-class cadets, respectively. Fourth-class cadets (freshmen) are sometimes called "doolies,” which is a term that derives from the Greek word doulos, which means "slave" or "servant". ^[a] Members of the three lower classes are also called "4 degrees", "3 degrees" or "2 degrees" (or "4-degs", 3-degs", and "2-degs" respectively) based on their class.^[b] First-class cadets (seniors) are called "firsties". In the military structure of the Cadet Wing, first class cadets hold the positions of cadet officers, second class cadets act as the cadet non-commissioned officers and third-class cadets represent the cadet junior non-commissioned officers.^[1]

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