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underpants

(193,548 posts)
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 10:45 AM Saturday

Air Force Academy alumni board withdraws motions to honor Charlie Kirk


A board of U.S. Air Force Academy graduates that was expected to vote Friday on whether to extend an honorary degree and honorary membership into the academy’s alumni association to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk withdrew both of the motions.
In a statement late Friday, the Association of Graduates, which serves as the academy’s nonprofit alumni group, said its board of directors dropped the motions after hearing the past two days from “several hundred” Air Force Academy graduates, parents and other family members about the idea to recognize Kirk.

Some academy graduates spoke out publicly against the notion to honor Kirk with a posthumous degree and alumni membership. Retired Brig. Gen. Marty France, a former board member with the alumni group and the former head of the academy’s Department of Astronautics, told Military Times that people previously inducted as honorary members “each served USAFA for decades.”

“Whatever service [Kirk] provided to USAFA does not rise anywhere near what we should require as a minimum before even considering him for such mention,” France added.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/10/17/air-force-academy-alumni-board-withdraws-motions-to-honor-charlie-kirk/



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Champp

(2,350 posts)
2. Never forget, the maga republican was assassinated by a maga Republican
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 10:52 AM
Saturday

The in-the-bag, and on-their knees media skips over that all the time, to parrot THE PARTY LINE

fuggin sellouts

GoCubsGo

(34,472 posts)
3. Good to see some sanity returning regarding that asshole.
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 10:54 AM
Saturday

Hopefully, there's more of it to come.

Vogon_Glory

(10,115 posts)
4. Good! There's still some integrity in the US Air Force.
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 11:02 AM
Saturday

As for the deceased Charlie Kirk himself, he NEVER served in any branch of the US military.

You know, there used to be a term for fellows like that not so long ago. They were called Chickenhawks. I suspect that calling life-long civilians who NEVER served in the military Chickenhawks is taboo in Trump-world and the rest of the Republican Party.

GiqueCee

(2,932 posts)
15. Please don't lump those who COULDN'T serve...
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 01:11 PM
Saturday

... in with Republicans and other "chickenhawks" that dodged the draft. Dick Cheney said that he "had other priorities". Real physical infirmities prevented many from serving even if they wanted to. Hell, just having flat feet got you a 4-F! I got a 1-Y back in '66 because I was too light for my height. When they went to the lottery system, I got a high number and never got called up.

twodogsbarking

(16,277 posts)
11. I see new ways of protecting our citizens from a gun murder. They will go to any length to not do what is needed.
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 12:53 PM
Saturday

All the while pretending that the next security effort will cure it all. Everyone has tickets to the circus but Americans get the front row.

ColoringFool

(4 posts)
12. Never Should Have Been a Consideration
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 12:59 PM
Saturday

But then, doesn't the Air Force Academy have a Right-Wing (no pun intended) reputation?

So the CK rescinding is a yuge decision.

underpants

(193,548 posts)
14. Yes. I remember 20 years ago there being an investigation and semi purge of leadership there
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 01:08 PM
Saturday

RW Christian types.

JHB

(37,844 posts)
13. Someone saw Alumni Association dollars going bye-bye and thought "let's rethink this"
Sat Oct 18, 2025, 01:03 PM
Saturday

The federal government funds the basics, but there's a substantial chunk of change involved from alumni donors.

https://www.usafa.org/why-and-how-to-give

The U.S. Air Force Academy has been developing leaders of character for the Air Force and now Space Force since 1955, providing them with the skills and resilience required to defend freedom and, if called upon, fight and win our nation's wars. While government funding supports core programs at the Academy, it takes private philanthropy to offer cadets the best experiences, top programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Because of generous giving, the Academy can seize new opportunities, modernize facilities and enhance academic, athletic and military training.

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At the end of 2024, the Association & Foundation completed the seven-year Defining Our Future campaign in support of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Nearly 20,000 donors contributed more than $330 million to support the Academy, its programs and its cadets.

The Association & Foundation is committed to sustaining transformative support for the Academy, including increasing unrestricted funds for immediate priorities like cadet programs and operational needs.

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