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Signs of Navy Football Weekend - Labor Day 2021
- Thread starter Capt MJ
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HopefulDad2026
USNA 2026 Dad
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So I just read that they did get the correct goats the next week?
www.nytimes.com
Put Fagot in charge of protection detail or something.
After a Bungled Theft of Navy’s Mascot Draws Fire, Goatnappers Strike Again (Published 2021)
Leaders of the nation’s military academies say swiping one another’s mascot animals is strictly forbidden, but that hasn’t seemed to deter glory-seeking raiders.
Put Fagot in charge of protection detail or something.
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There shouldn't be a need for a protection detail of any kind, as after the falcon-napping which ended in aPut Fagot in charge of protection detail or something.
fatal injury, there was a formal agreement between the institutions that the live mascots were untouchable.
Anyone who has followed my posts on SAF for a while knows that I'm all for spirit missions and rubbing our
opposing SA's noses with some mud but this area was put off limits, no ifs ands or buts.
After the bugled attempt to get the goat, I saw that the Supe of West Point reiterated that this was NOT
an option but I have heard nothing about prosecution of the guilty so I'm just assuming that cadets are
allowed to just disobey orders from a three star general at this point.
HopefulDad2026
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They had a formal agreement back in 92 i thought and hasn't seemed to stop it, but hopefully this one will work. To your point about prosecution, punishment severity will/would be the best prevention measure.
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The formal MOU/MOA (memorandum of understanding of agreement) for animal mascots being off-limits has been around for decades now. It was one of the first things briefed to me when I went to USNA for duty.
It is routinely ignored, and with internet instant coverage of everything, I fear a permanent stain could land on an SA if some horrible image of a really bad outcome got out there. There would be an outcry for UCMJ level punishment involving cruelty to an animal. Heads would roll, not just midshipmen or cadets, but those accountable for making clear this is unacceptable behavior.
In the interests of fairness, Aurora at USAFA was not fatally injured, but no animal deserved the treatment she received, though likely done out of ignorance of falconry.
Aurora passed away about a year later.
Air Force's 23-year-old falcon mascot Aurora dies
The Air Force Academy's falcon mascot, Aurora, died Wednesday, the school announced. The bird, which made national news last year when she was abducted in a prank, was 23 years old.
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I stand corrected but my larger point remains. There is an agreement and in 2021, despite the agreement there was a violation by USMA cadets. The USMA superintendent said what seemed to be the right words but somehow, shortly afterward USMA cadets again violated the agreement.The formal MOU/MOA (memorandum of understanding of agreement) for animal mascots being off-limits has been around for decades now. It was one of the first things briefed to me when I went to USNA for duty.
It is routinely ignored, and with internet instant coverage of everything, I fear a permanent stain could land on an SA if some horrible image of a really bad outcome got out there. There would be an outcry for UCMJ level punishment involving cruelty to an animal. Heads would roll, not just midshipmen or cadets, but those accountable for making clear this is unacceptable behavior.
In the interests of fairness, Aurora at USAFA was not fatally injured, but no animal deserved the treatment she received, though likely done out of ignorance of falconry.
Aurora passed away about a year later.
Air Force's 23-year-old falcon mascot Aurora dies
The Air Force Academy's falcon mascot, Aurora, died Wednesday, the school announced. The bird, which made national news last year when she was abducted in a prank, was 23 years old.www.espn.com
In my opinion, this is a pretty flagrant case of disobeying a direct order as the prior instance was well publicized and the cadets had been warned.
This seems to be well into UCMJ territory, where are the guilty verdicts?
Old Navy BGO
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I get your point, and don't disagree,..but two thoughts -
1) You have to identify the perps first. Sometimes things like this are kept hush hush until well after graduation. (I'm still learning about some of my classmates antics). On the other hand, USMA has resources (I am sure Army has an equivalent of NIS ) to investigate if they wanted to find the perp.
2) Despite the Agreement in place, and direct order -- we both know that a lot of sins are foregiven during BEAT ARMY week.
Fortunately, Goats and Mules are pretty hardy animals, but I am sure if anyone or anything was harmed during the escapade, it would have been dealt with harshly.