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.