- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 9,295
If the Academy, or his family, eventually decide to release the details surrounding his death, then so be it. But honestly, the Academy really has nothing to gain by releasing details, and his family is grieving. I understand parent's are worried about their cadet's safety, so is my mom, but does knowing all the details affect our safety? Not at all. The Academy leadership will use the information they have to make appropriate and effective decisions that will keep the Wing safe. It's our job, and our families, to support the Academy's leadership and our fallen comrade's family during a difficult time. I completely understand feeling left out of the loop, and wanting to know what actually happened, but we are not entitled to that information. If we have a legitimate reason to know one day, then they will tell us. General Williams cares deeply about the Wing, and I have absolutely zero doubt that he is always making decisions with us in mind.
Well, yes and no. I get where this is coming from. During my 1/c year one of my classmates was going through the process of being Court Martialed (the first CGA cadet ever to be Court Martialed). It was a media circus. As a cadet we kept thinking "this is our lives… just let this happen on its own. We don't need the public eye." And maybe, on some level, we were right.
I think I had more perspective a few years later. First, the Air Force Academy, and Air Force in general, is a public institution, funded by the U.S. taxpayer and accountable to the same (oh and serving the same). In that frame, yes, the public does have a right to know, and the Air Force has a responsibility to disclose. That DOESN'T mean the public needs every detail. That doesn't mean the public needs photos and statements from 20 cadets and a play-by-play. But it DOES mean the Air Force has a responsibility to disclose the cause of the death.
There is a line between the invasiveness of it and the process of informing. Unfortunately cadets and midshipmen sometimes get stuck in that grey area.