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- Apr 16, 2010
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Background - A spirit mission is an activity that a group of people plan and execute while trying to remain anonymous (somewhat) and generally shows school, squadron, or class pride. The participants are often members of the same class year. The best ones become legendary and are discussed for years as part of Academy lore.
As we near the end of this admissions cycle, members of the Class of 25 are eagerly thinking about what awaits them behind the gates. Spirit Missions are one of the fun elements of Service Academy life, so I wanted to document some of your favorites to spread cheer amongst alum and to inspire those who will enter after us.
What is the best one you participated in? What is the best one you remember?
The class of 1999 painted the strips yellow - with oil based paint. That was bad because the marble is porous. Clean up was a full class affair.
The class of 2000 had to top that so they spray painted the F-16 on the Terrazo RED. That was expensive because the Air Force had to repaint that back to it's normal livery.
The favorite one I participated in occured during a triple threat weekend for cadets in the Fall/Winter of 1995. A triple threat consists of a Saturday Morning Inspection (SAMI), Parade, and Football game. Cadets do not enjoy this as much as the administration does. We knew that something needed to be done, and if executed to perfection, we could have a massive impact on the 4000 members of the cadet wing. At the time, the CTEF building (science wing) was under construction. The Parade Field has a singular point of weakness - the Battle Ramp. If you can seal off access to the only point of entry for the Wing, you can not have a parade. So, we planned and our strategy was to leverage the construction equipment to shuttle water to the top of the ramp. It was getting cold, and we thought there was a good chance we could ice the ramp and create a safety issue for the wing. If we succeeded, we would be legends. If we failed, we got to stay up all night freezing and then sit through a SAMI tired and then participate in the cold parade. There was a lot at stake here.....
So, 5 of us set out on the mission. Our classmates stayed behind and were focused on cleaning the squadron and our rooms -- they covered for us and ensured our rooms and uniforms were ready for inspection because we were determined to stay out as long as possible to get max effect. There are real risks because there was the risk of an upperclassman noticing we were not there and the Security Forces patrol cars cruise all night and you have to be on the lookout.
We secured water hoses to the building and began spraying. The spotter would signal when a car was approaching or there was foot traffic approaching the area. We worked in silence at our two-pronged attack - spraying from the CTEF building side at essentially the base of the ramp and then we also filled wheel barrels and dumped at the top and let gravity do the rest. This went on for the entire night. As dawn broke, it had worked and one could slide from the top to the bottom -- about 100 yards long and 15 yards wide. We knew that soon enough it would soon be first call for the SAMI and we would need to be in full service dress standing for the inspection - we needed to hurry.
As we scuttled back to Sijan Hall down the Ho Chi Min trail, our shoe laces were frozen and we were in sweat suits and parkas. We entered the squadron and were laser focused on getting to our rooms. We were a little behind schedule and doors were already open and, upper classman were milling around in service dress uniform. We looked like a wreck and were clearly not ready for the inspection that was starting in minutes. A few upperclassman began asking questions about where we had been but we just kept moving and knew we were up against the clock to get changed into our service dress uniforms for the inspection.
Just was we reached our room - the call rang out. "Attention in the Area... Attention in the Area, the parade for today has been cancelled due to ice on the ramp. I say again, the parade for today has been cancelled."
The wing went wild! Cheers erupted through out the building ----- mission accomplished. The upperclassman who had witnessed our return then put two and two together and realized what had just happened. We were told to close our doors, not to worry about the inspection, and get some sleep.
Great memories to this day! Cadet life is tough, but there are highlights and amazing things like this that traditional college students will never understand, know about, or have the privilege to experience. As grads, we appreciate your applicant struggle and the perseverance needed to graduate. Ultimately we are cheering you on to pave your own way! I can't wait to hear about the stories some of you have already written and those that have yet to be written!
As we near the end of this admissions cycle, members of the Class of 25 are eagerly thinking about what awaits them behind the gates. Spirit Missions are one of the fun elements of Service Academy life, so I wanted to document some of your favorites to spread cheer amongst alum and to inspire those who will enter after us.
What is the best one you participated in? What is the best one you remember?
The class of 1999 painted the strips yellow - with oil based paint. That was bad because the marble is porous. Clean up was a full class affair.
The class of 2000 had to top that so they spray painted the F-16 on the Terrazo RED. That was expensive because the Air Force had to repaint that back to it's normal livery.
The favorite one I participated in occured during a triple threat weekend for cadets in the Fall/Winter of 1995. A triple threat consists of a Saturday Morning Inspection (SAMI), Parade, and Football game. Cadets do not enjoy this as much as the administration does. We knew that something needed to be done, and if executed to perfection, we could have a massive impact on the 4000 members of the cadet wing. At the time, the CTEF building (science wing) was under construction. The Parade Field has a singular point of weakness - the Battle Ramp. If you can seal off access to the only point of entry for the Wing, you can not have a parade. So, we planned and our strategy was to leverage the construction equipment to shuttle water to the top of the ramp. It was getting cold, and we thought there was a good chance we could ice the ramp and create a safety issue for the wing. If we succeeded, we would be legends. If we failed, we got to stay up all night freezing and then sit through a SAMI tired and then participate in the cold parade. There was a lot at stake here.....
So, 5 of us set out on the mission. Our classmates stayed behind and were focused on cleaning the squadron and our rooms -- they covered for us and ensured our rooms and uniforms were ready for inspection because we were determined to stay out as long as possible to get max effect. There are real risks because there was the risk of an upperclassman noticing we were not there and the Security Forces patrol cars cruise all night and you have to be on the lookout.
We secured water hoses to the building and began spraying. The spotter would signal when a car was approaching or there was foot traffic approaching the area. We worked in silence at our two-pronged attack - spraying from the CTEF building side at essentially the base of the ramp and then we also filled wheel barrels and dumped at the top and let gravity do the rest. This went on for the entire night. As dawn broke, it had worked and one could slide from the top to the bottom -- about 100 yards long and 15 yards wide. We knew that soon enough it would soon be first call for the SAMI and we would need to be in full service dress standing for the inspection - we needed to hurry.
As we scuttled back to Sijan Hall down the Ho Chi Min trail, our shoe laces were frozen and we were in sweat suits and parkas. We entered the squadron and were laser focused on getting to our rooms. We were a little behind schedule and doors were already open and, upper classman were milling around in service dress uniform. We looked like a wreck and were clearly not ready for the inspection that was starting in minutes. A few upperclassman began asking questions about where we had been but we just kept moving and knew we were up against the clock to get changed into our service dress uniforms for the inspection.
Just was we reached our room - the call rang out. "Attention in the Area... Attention in the Area, the parade for today has been cancelled due to ice on the ramp. I say again, the parade for today has been cancelled."
The wing went wild! Cheers erupted through out the building ----- mission accomplished. The upperclassman who had witnessed our return then put two and two together and realized what had just happened. We were told to close our doors, not to worry about the inspection, and get some sleep.
Great memories to this day! Cadet life is tough, but there are highlights and amazing things like this that traditional college students will never understand, know about, or have the privilege to experience. As grads, we appreciate your applicant struggle and the perseverance needed to graduate. Ultimately we are cheering you on to pave your own way! I can't wait to hear about the stories some of you have already written and those that have yet to be written!
