# @af_academy on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CTSBXueLSsj
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/8951424-af-academy-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/878ada9b70d62ac79f606a610eaf89a01bb3146952df8b63a3a8d372bc38e5ee.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-09-01T14:00:16.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** U.S. Air Force Academy (@af_academy) — https://gondola.cc/af_academy

## Caption

The Herlik Family has provided a home-away-from-home to cadets from all over the world for more than 20 years. 

Ed Herlik (class of ’80) and his wife, Cindy Strong-Herlik, have been sponsoring cadets since 1998, and currently sponsor six cadets over three year groups. 

“We didn’t have sponsors when I was a cadet.  But, a family I met in the Chapel ‘adopted’ me, which was great! [As sponsor parents] we enjoy watching them mature and grow through the years, especially since we don’t have children,” said Herlik. “These ties also keep us a bit more connected to the Academy and the Air Force. 

Herlik served in Academy Admissions for many years, taught Political Science, and has been an ethics mentor since 1999. The cadets the Herliks have sponsored over the years have come from all over the world – roughly a third of them have been foreign exchange cadets. “When their moms spent time here on Parents’ Weekend or graduation, you can bet we happily turned the kitchen over to them for some magic!" 

"Our grads still send photos of their major milestones and bring their families by for a visit when they’re in town,” said Herlik. 

Cadet Sponsor Families are so vital to our cadet’s well-being while they are here, and to the USAFA mission at-large. They are our #USAFAfamily.

## Stats

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## Credits

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## Tags

usafafamily

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