Prop and Wings

From USAFA Folklore

The Prop and Wings insignia appears on many of the Academy's class crests and is part of the of the logo of the Academy's Association of Graduates. The Prop and Wings insignia is traditionally awarded to Academy cadets at the end of the fourth class year, signifying that they have been recognized as upper class cadets. Cadets wear the insignia on their flight caps.

The standard insignia is chrome. However, beginning in 19__, if the cadet was a direct descendant of a member of the Army Air Corps, the cadet was authorized to wear gold Prop and Wings. In ____ the criteria for the gold insignia was changed. In addition to cadets who have relatives in the Army Air Corps, gold Prop and Wings are also currently authorized for cadets who have a relative that was a Women's Airforce Service Pilot (WASP), a parent with at least 20 years of military service, a parent who participated in combat as a member of any U.S. military service, or a parent who died in the line of duty.

More recently, the wear of the Prop and Wings has been extended to ROTC cadets.