Education: Tradition in 90 Days

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Had the 306 new cadets now beginning their training at the U.S. Air Force Academy gone to West Point, they would have found themselves confronted by a bewildering type of catechism. In the Hell on the Hudson, the new plebes would have had to answer questions such as: "How is the cow?" (Answer: "Sir, she walks, she talks, she's full of chalk; the lacteal fluid extracted from the female of the bovine species is highly prolific to the nth degree.") And if they were asked: "What do plebes rank?", they would of course have replied: "Sir, the Superintendent's dog, the Commandant's cat, the waiters in the mess hall, the Hell Cats, and all the Admirals in the whole blamed Navy." These goings on are called traditions—something no self-respecting military school can do without.

Hangar & Ramp. Last week the Air Force Academy was doing its best to rustle up some traditions of its own. The heraldic division of the U.S. Air Force was working on an emblem, and the academy's Athletic Association had temporarily adopted the eagle as a mascot. So far, no one had thought up a cheer, no one had composed a song. But some progress had been made with the lingo.

Among the new school items: a table in the mess hall is a ramp; the kitchen is the hangar. Each ramp has its ramp commander, an assistant ramp commander, a navigator in charge of flights between hangar and ramp, a hot pilot to supervise hot drinks, a cold pilot for cold drinks ("Sir, fuel injection is on the ramp"), and a crew chief to stack the dishes. When a cadet is ready to leave, he says: "New Cadet Blank reports in No. i take-off position. Am I clear?" The ramp commander, using control-tower jargon, can either "hold" him or demand: "What are you, Mister?" (to which the cadet must say: "Sir, I am an F-94C"), or he can let him go: "You are clear to roll."

Reach for the Sky. As at both Annapolis and West Point, the Air Force Academy already has its stock exchanges for the moment when a cadet is braced by an upperclassman. On returning to barracks, the cadet says: "New Cadet Blank returning to base, three-green"—a reference to the three green lights on the instrument panel showing that the landing gear is down and locked. If an air training officer wants a cadet to do something on the double, he says: "One hundred percent with afterburner." For no reason at all, he may command a cadet: "Report your position and give your next checkpoint." Or he may order a cadet: "Stand tall, reach for the sky and look proud; you're an air cadet, Mister." But the competitive spirit of the new academy is probably best portrayed by the answer to "What is your altitude, Mister?" To this the cadet must say: "Five thousand, two hundred and eighty feet, sir, and far, far above that of West Point or Annapolis."