I went to the Academy...This is TOTAL BS...If the OSI wants to put OSI Agents into the system to root out this kind of behavior--that's fine...To FORCE cadets into this Stasi-type environment because you have some dirt on them is terrible--If what they did is bad enough--kick them out, if not, set them to marching tours--But this Secret Police tactics which forces them to break the basic tenants of the Academy (Honor Code) is Effin ridiculous...

 

You know, there is something I find distasteful about this whole thing, but I can't exactly articulate what.

Having said that, the only people I know of who were hurt by this were rapists and drug dealers. And I have trouble working up much sense of outrage about what happened to them.

I don't know what you mean by "FORCE." The only participants I know of got caught doing x, and were offered a potentially lighter punishment if they informed on others doing the same or worse. They didn't have to accept the deal, and I'm sure many haven't. Others did. I've seen this at other bases. And, uh, it appears to a regular approach used by law enforcement world wide.

I think a more accurate--if less sensationalistic--headline would have "Academy has a police force, which apparently does it's job."

Still, like you, I find it a little uncomfortable. I knew similar things happened when I was a cadet, it just didn't end up on the front page of the [then] GT.

 

Except Cadet Thomas was not accused of any wrongdoing by the OSI (except maybe <gasp> underage drinking?), if the Gazette piece is accurate.

He was kicked out for misconduct which was actually part of his OSI effort.

Funny how USAFA waived his enlisted service commitment.

Air Force informant program

More info:

Gazette confirms former Air Force Academy cadet's account

 

Yes, this has gone over the top.

Discipline cadets who need it, root out the dope dealers and rapists, but don't play games like this.

The message is that the honor code applies at all times...unless you are furthering the agenda of the system, then it's OK and encouraged to lie.

This tears at the fundamental fabric of trust and unity we're supposed to be instilling in our officer corps from day one.

Let cops be cops and cadets be cadets.

 

Way screwed up!

 

I've seen nothing to suggest he was in legal trouble with OSI (drinking is handled under cadet system, not UCMJ). OSI asked if he wanted to participate and he said yes. He was kicked out for disciplinary problems, not legal.

In his eyes he was kicked out for what he did for OSI. That opinion is not shared by the Air Force. I have no official knowledge of the case, but I was able to discover some of his disciplinary violations. He wasn't too bright, and made a continuous series of bad choices. This leads me to side with the AF over the cadet on the subject of his removal. The only mystery is why the process dragged out so long.

Again, no inside info on the case, but I would hardly expect the Gazette's story to be unbiased--it was clearly written from the cadet's point of view. The sinister description of OSI organizational structure was hilarious though.

As far as having informants....there ain't nothing new under the sun. But it doesn't seem right somehow.

 

Shouldn't some of these issues showed up prior to going the academy, like in the interview and background process. Sorry its a horses__t operation to use the OSI in this manner.

 

Having escaped from that institution of higher learning in 93 when virtually everyone who wanted to attend pilot training was shown the door with explanation that needs of the A F come first many of my classmates decided and did leave the USAF as soon as was possible as the full picture of the unidirectional nature of loyalty became fully realized. I was fortunate to work my way back into flight school, but after 20 yrs of service I can't legitimately make a case for keeping the school open. I met and worked with hundreds of fine officers that didn't attend. Honestly I'd be a fan of closing the whole school and put the savings in to new airframes.

 

No screening process is perfect. But that's ONE of the reasons the academy environment is something of a pressure cooker...it provides bad apples another four years in which to deselect themselves. I don't view academy attrition for honor and misbehavior as a bad thing, it's mostly the system doing what it's supposed to do. I'd much rather it happen there than in the active-duty officer corps.

 

As I said above, I find the running of informants at the Academy distasteful, even if I can't articulate why. However, thus far I haven't found anyone--to include Thomas--that I can feel sorry for.

There is a longer thread about it on baseops where a few cadets have posted. One thing you'll notice is that no one says anything about how he got a raw deal.

I know a lot of cadets who were angry to discover there were informants among them. I have yet to meet one who knew him that thinks Thomas got kicked out for anything but what he deserved.