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Pulse of the Wing

Hazing

Hazing has been a contentious topic at the academy for decades now. It's especially interesting since everyone in the Long Blue Line has gone through an at least 6-month initiation (with older classes claiming far more difficult initiation than younger classes). Recently, the training staff has pushed down guidance informing the upper 3 classes that they would be put up for presumptive disenrollment if they trained their Doolies in the following ways:

• Racetracks (cannot cross the hallway but must rather follow the perimeter of the squadron to reach their room)

• Rapid Re-deployments (directing Doolies to take all of their belongings into a different room within a certain time period and be reassigned to that room)

• no rucks, rifles, or CamelBaks taken to class (carrying extra items to class)

• many other restrictions.

OPINION - This initiation acts as the ultimate unifying experience, and without it, grads would feel far less tied to the USAFA community. But, when there are restrictions placed on this initiation, it can be perceived that the value of the USAFA community is diminishing. I remember bringing my CamelBak to class and feeling so frustrated that I had another menial task to manage. In hindsight, that seemingly arbitrary task helps me to this day remember to bring important things with me when I go to classes, meetings, etc.

But USAFA hasn’t always gotten everything right either. Although the tradition is valuable for the community, we must not lose sight of what this institution was built for, preparing leaders for the fight, and as that fight changes, so must the training. I can look back and confidently say that I gained very little from getting my nameplate switched during minutes, and having to move all of my belongings to a new room before my first class at 0730.

To be frank I’m not sure where the intersection lies between training for the fight and upholding tradition. Let me know what you think at the email address below!