AFA at WildWestCon: Propelling Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings Cadets

Arnold Air Society (AAS) and Silver Wings (SW) held a successful national gathering in April 2026 in Dallas, Texas, bringing together cadets and students from across the country for leadership development, professional education, and engagement with senior leaders. The event, WildWestCon, continued the mission of previous national conferences, while highlighting the regional character of its Texas location.

Arnold Air Society (AAS) is a professional, honorary service organization composed of cadets enrolled in U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force officer-training programs. The organization promotes understanding of and support for airpower and spacepower through service, leadership, and professional development. Silver Wings (SW) is a national, co-ed, professional organization dedicated to creating proactive, knowledgeable, and effective civic leaders through community service and education about national defense. AAS and SW operate as sister organizations on university campuses nationwide; members of both are also members of the Air & Space Forces Association.

The annual national gathering provides AAS and SW members an opportunity to meet peers from across the nation and to engage directly with top military and civilian leaders. WildWestCon 2026 delivered that experience through briefings and discussions with an exceptional group of speakers, including the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, astronaut Mike Finke, and the grandson of Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, along with several other distinguished presenters. These engagements provided firsthand insight into leadership, service, and the future direction of the Air Force and Space Force.

AFA’s Mile High chapter participated in a unified, all-Colorado AFA chapter effort to support student participation. Through their combined efforts, the Colorado chapters funded registration and airfare for two AAS and two Silver Wings units to attend WildWestCon at no personal cost. This support ensured that financial barriers did not prevent students from benefiting from the professional, educational, and networking opportunities provided by the conference.

The Mile High Chapter has also made sustained efforts to strengthen its relationships with local AAS and SW units at Colorado State University Detachment 90 and University of Colorado-Boulder Detachment 105. Mile High chapter members regularly invite cadets to monthly meetings, attend detachment meetings and awards ceremonies, and work to connect students with service project opportunities.

Mile High Chapter also provides support to AAS and SW units during important milestones. The chapter purchases U.S. flags annually for graduating cadets from both Det 90 and Det 105 and regularly sends members to speak to commissioning cadets. These opportunities allow chapter members to share insights into the benefits of an Air Force career and the value of an AFA membership.

Unit members of AAS will also serve as volunteers for the Mile High’s Charity Golf Tournament on June 22. AFA Mile High Chapter thanks AAS volunteers for their critical contributions and encourages tournament participants to thank these volunteers, who represent the future of Air Force and Space Force leadership.