French Focus#2

08/17/2013 C1C Arnaud Duchesne, CS-13 “Bulldawgs”, French Air Force Academy, 2014 Une promotion à l’Ecole de l’Air: Whereas the organization of the USAFA is based on Squadrons, the Ecole de l’Air’s one is focused on Promotions – Entries. A Promotion from... More

08/17/2013 C1C Arnaud Duchesne, CS-13 “Bulldawgs”, French Air Force Academy, 2014 Une promotion à l’Ecole de l’Air: Whereas the organization of the USAFA is based on Squadrons, the Ecole de l’Air’s one is focused on Promotions – Entries. A Promotion from the French Air Force Academy is composed of 70 cadets coming from all over France. Contrary to the American cadets, the French cadets enter the Academy knowing their specialty: Air Crew, Engineering or Ground Officer only. The French equivalent of your Squadrons is called Brigades. There is a summary of these four Brigades, with their name; nick name; mottos; and traditional song (click on the song to display lyrics and song): Despite loyal competitions between the Brigades, there is a real cohesion between French cadets owning to the same Promotion. This cohesion is embodied in the Parrain –Patron of the class – that cadets choose at the end of the freshmen year, and the Escadron de chasse – Fighter Squadron – that sponsors them. Less