USAFA Mascot Injured in Prank

Really expect nothing less from West Pointers when it comes to these games.

Always seem to take these things to far.
 
Stealth_81 said:
https://gazette.com/sports/air-forc...cle_3e982b60-dfab-11e8-a066-9b1d737f0c1a.html
Click to expand...

This makes me furious. I know there used to be an MOU/MOA (memorandum of understanding/agreement) amongst SA Supes that YOU DO NOT MESS WITH THE ANIMALS, you don’t do lasting damage to anything, you avoid actions which discredit the services.

Of course, I have no facts in hand to review, but I’d be asking my JAG for the UCMJ charges.

The best and the brightest...the boneheaded.
 
This is shameful!

These cadets show a horrible lack of judgment and should face serious consequences.
 
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The Cadets involved will probably have their lives altered.
Unfortunately, things got a little out of control with this game. There is a snap shot of an Air Force player flipping off a West Point coach during the post game scuffle.
 
One of the things we learned from our USMC Company Officer -- pranks are fine so long as they are in good fun. That means they do not destroy another person's body or property. He was adamant about that. For example, it was fine to dump everyone's gear into the hallway and let us sort it out (we were supposed to have identifying alpha codes on every item). Cutting, burning, stealing or otherwise defacing that clothing would be severely punished.

The key with pranks is to find something that is incredibly funny, but not destructive. Once destruction (or damage) occurs, it's no longer funny or in good fun. And when that damage happens to a living creature, it's unfathomable.

All of the mascots (goats, mules, falcons) are animals -- they don't understand the rivalry. And all require appropriate care to live and thrive. The average mid/cadet has no idea what theses animals need or how easily damage can be done. It's not fair to make them "fair game." In our day, we were threatened if we even thought of touching the mule or falcon. The fear of God was put into us.

If the story is true, I hope these cadets pay dearly for what they did.
 
:bang::blowup: I just can't believe this. How incredibly sad. Absolutely no respect for a living animal.
 
Sadly...this isn't the first time. When I was a cadet the mascot of Colorado State University, a "Ram" (think mountain goat with really awesome horns) was kidnapped and kept at USAFA, to be returned to CSU at the football game.

Sadly, nobody knew the ram was diabetic...it was fed, kept in a nice location, etc., and yet it died.

This was before the era of court martial's for cadets...but things did NOT go well for all involved.

This...well...I have to be careful here as I'm a USAFA grad...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
That's beyond imagination. So sad. That's not a sportsmanship. I'm losing my words ... you cannot injure someone who can not even speak. So inhuman.
 
As would be expected, there is a flood of press reports in every outlet, so this Sunday morning, USMA is stewing in a PR mess, instead of enjoying the football victory and retention of the CINC trophy. Add to that the optics of the post-game mini-melee on national television, and the Service Academy critics’ chorus is going to wind up anew.

As always, the actions of a few negate the daily sound choices of thousands of good cadets on both sides.

I am holding a few thoughts of pity for the parents who got a call from their cadet telling them, “uh, Mom, Dad, I was one of the cadets involved in the Air Force falcon theft and injury. I didn’t mean to...”

Heads will roll.


UCMJ Article 121: Larceny and Wrongful Appropriation.

UCMJ Article 129, 130: Breaking and entering

UCMJ Article 133: Conduct Unbecoming

UCMJ Article 134: Bringing Discredit to the Service

There is a difference between truly harmless pranks and conduct that veers over a line. I hope USMA finds the right balance of holding people accountable for their actions and applying the appropriate consequences, whatever the facts merit.

I find myself praying Auorora doesn’t have to be euthanized.
 
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I’ve been told this morning that Aurora’s injuries are not nearly as severe as was first thought. Hopefully she can make a full recovery. Also, I didn’t post this to cause any animosity between the Academies. I thought it was a good teaching point for future candidates.

Stealth_81
 
I'm in agreement with Stealth; this isn't to "spank/poke" another service, far from it. Pranks..."spirit missions" are great for esprit de corps and team building but they require some careful thought. That's what you learn at the SA: critical thinking, speedy decision making, situational awareness.

I'm hoping Aurora's injuries aren't that serious...my dad said the news this morning from friends of his (he lives literally in the southern property line of USAFA, up on a ridge) is similar to what Stealth said: "might not be as bad, still waiting for the official word..."

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
All of this is indeed a good object lesson in thinking things through.

Keeping fingers crossed for Aurora.
 
I wouldn't even want to be at the receiving end of the (minimal) tongue lashing that will occur. I certainly hope it's more than that.
 
Two Firsties took two Falcons from a Colonels home. They put sweaters over them and placed them both in dog crates. The two cadets returned them Saturday morning. Aurora's wig was damaged probably from being in the crate. Rumors had been circulating that a beak was torn off-not the case. Another, both wings were broken-not the case. Another, Aurora had to be euthanized-not the case. Its been a tradition to take each others mascots for years but this one went wrong. Im sure trying to take Navy mascot will be forbidden.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
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Stealing mascots hasn't been allowed for years because of situations like this.

Those firsties are in for a world of hurt.
 
Doesn't matter if it has been tradition in the past, it's not allowed now.
 
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