ABOUT THE USAFA PANCA
The US Air Force Academy Parents Association of the National Capital Area serves the cadets and families from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
This is the official web site of the United States Air Force Academy Parents’ Association of the National Capital Area. Any parent or guardian of a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, graduate, or cadet candidate residing in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia is eligible for membership in the Association.
An Appointment to become a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy is an extraordinary honor. For many, it is the culmination of a life-long dream. It also is the beginning–the beginning of a four-year, extremely challenging regimen of academic, physical, character, and military training. The environment is intense and rigorous. The first year, known as the “fourth class” year, involves the greatest adjustment–primarily for the cadets themselves, but also for their parents.
Being the parent of an Academy cadet is quite unlike being the parent of a student at a traditional college or university. At a conventional college, the student leaves home and largely becomes responsible for himself. That also is true of cadets at the Academy, but, in addition, they are responsible to each other and to the United States Air Force. They are required to live in accordance with a variety of rules, restrictions, and traditions whose collective goal is to strengthen and mature them, teach them leadership and life skills, and ready them to serve as leaders and officers. Parents recognize that their cadets are subjected to extraordinary challenges and pressures, yet have only very limited knowledge of the nature of their training. The unique environment at the Academy, together with limited knowledge of the experience, leads to uncertainty in many parents regarding how they can best support their cadet.
That is where our Parents’ Association comes in. Our purpose is to support the parents and their cadets. We provide information, camaraderie, and a greater feeling of connection to our cadets and their experience. In the end, we hope we enrich the experience of parents during their cadets’ years at the Academy and play a role, albeit secondary, in the success of their cadets.
Our Association sponsors a variety of other activities:
An Appointment to become a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy is an extraordinary honor. For many, it is the culmination of a life-long dream. It also is the beginning–the beginning of a four-year, extremely challenging regimen of academic, physical, character, and military training. The environment is intense and rigorous. The first year, known as the “fourth class” year, involves the greatest adjustment–primarily for the cadets themselves, but also for their parents.
Being the parent of an Academy cadet is quite unlike being the parent of a student at a traditional college or university. At a conventional college, the student leaves home and largely becomes responsible for himself. That also is true of cadets at the Academy, but, in addition, they are responsible to each other and to the United States Air Force. They are required to live in accordance with a variety of rules, restrictions, and traditions whose collective goal is to strengthen and mature them, teach them leadership and life skills, and ready them to serve as leaders and officers. Parents recognize that their cadets are subjected to extraordinary challenges and pressures, yet have only very limited knowledge of the nature of their training. The unique environment at the Academy, together with limited knowledge of the experience, leads to uncertainty in many parents regarding how they can best support their cadet.
That is where our Parents’ Association comes in. Our purpose is to support the parents and their cadets. We provide information, camaraderie, and a greater feeling of connection to our cadets and their experience. In the end, we hope we enrich the experience of parents during their cadets’ years at the Academy and play a role, albeit secondary, in the success of their cadets.
Our Association sponsors a variety of other activities:
- Appointee Luncheon
- State Night (Celebration of DMV with Cadets from DMV at USAFA)
- Joint Service Academy Ball
- Mentor/buddy parent assignments upon request to basic cadets parents
- Buddy parent support
- Summer Picnic
- Football game tickets for Parents Weekend
- Halloween treats/cupcakes for fourth degree only
- Cadet birthday gift cards
- Graduation planning gatherings
- USAFA football gatherings
- Meet and Greet with USAFA Leadership
- Alumni Parents gatherings
CHAPTER LEADERSHIP
President: Oliver Washington, '23
Vice-President: Will McLeod, '26
Secretary: Vacant
Treasurer: Ursula Ratcliff
Directors
Membership Marylin Glancy '24
Cadet Support Stephie Maurer
HAPS Chair Tim Rodriguez '23
State Night Chair Lynne Conroe '21
Alumni Relations Kathleen D'Amato '17
Alumni Cadet Support Jan Shipley '18
Activities (JSAB) John Pyzdrowski '22
Sporting Activities Dana & Barry Dyson '20
Webmaster Patty Washington '23
4th Class Rep Camilla Cheater '25
Our USAFA Parent Liaison is Rose Nikovits.
Vice-President: Will McLeod, '26
Secretary: Vacant
Treasurer: Ursula Ratcliff
Directors
Membership Marylin Glancy '24
Cadet Support Stephie Maurer
HAPS Chair Tim Rodriguez '23
State Night Chair Lynne Conroe '21
Alumni Relations Kathleen D'Amato '17
Alumni Cadet Support Jan Shipley '18
Activities (JSAB) John Pyzdrowski '22
Sporting Activities Dana & Barry Dyson '20
Webmaster Patty Washington '23
4th Class Rep Camilla Cheater '25
Our USAFA Parent Liaison is Rose Nikovits.