The difference in lifestyles is referred to as the "Terrazzo Gap" and it is a real thing. Course load, military training requirements, fitness requirements and so forth are the same for all students --- however, as mentioned above there are path's to waive body fat percentage. However, athletes do have to eventually meet USAF regulations prior to graduation and it is hard work for a football lineman. College athletics is different from High School in many ways, but the distance between competition venues is probably one of the largest differences. Intercollegiate Athletes, or ICs, will miss a decent amount of school for sports travel. The football contingent is the largest for the school and they travel with academic tutors from most of the departments. It is not uncommon for there to be study groups on team charter flights or at the team hotel. Students will often take exams on the road. At times, the IC path can be a more difficult path in terms of time management.
Some clubs travel, but not with the frequency on an in-season intercollegiate sports team. Some clubs are granted limited on-season status and are allowed to meet daily after academic classes.
Each year, attempts are made to bridge the gap in lifestyle between Intercollegiate Athletes, or ICs, and those who are not on athletic teams. Each team has a nuance and it is difficult to boil down the differences in lifestyle to a simple list. I think one key difference between an IC and a cadet who is not would be the time spent in the squadron. Your day is carved into distinct periods of time that look like this IN GENERAL:
1) Morning before breakfast
2) Breakfast
3) Classes
4) Noon meal formation
5) Lunch
6) Classes
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MYSTERY TIME THAT ONE SIDE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE OTHER SIDE LIVES...
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Non-IC may go to intramurals every other day for a few weeks
May go to the gym, tutoring, or clubs or Upperclassman free time or 4th class cadet training time (get yelled at, learn stuff while getting yelled at, go for a power line run, in general do the things that build character and the 4th class year is famous for but many would regard as not fun)
when.....
Intercollegiate Athletes go to practice, lift, physical therapy, team tutoring, and some hang out in the locker room or team room
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7) Dinner
8) Academic call to quarters
9) Lights out
So.... it would be natural for a non-IC 4th class cadet to feel as if they were getting a different military experience than an IC cadet who did not participate in all of the same activities. It is natural for a non-IC cadet to be upset with what they perceive to be a different military experience when they are restricted from phone access (years ago), and an IC cadet could use a coach's phone at the gym to call home. It is natural to be upset when you feel that every upperclassman is yelling at you and an IC cadet is friendly (yet professional) with every upperclassman on their team who actually look out for them and help them cope in a stressful environment when you feel like you only have your classmates who are rooting for your success.
Do some non-IC kids hide in the library to avoid training activities? - YES
Do some IC kids hide in their team room playing xbox to avoid training activities? - YES
However, while they did not participate in all of the squadron military training activities, they were missing class and were trying to keep up with a crushing academic load. The USAFA minimum course load for cadets typically exceeds the maximum course load suggestion for most civilian schools.
The Commandant of Cadets, like others before her, is working to ensure a more consistent military training experience for all cadets. Time will tell if this is achieved.
