Reply #12: This is not trivial. Unless USAFA has changed its Honor System significantly, the

[Springster]

only punishment for those guilty of cheating is dismissal from the Academy.

I am a graduate of the US Military Academy (USMA - West Point - the original - to be emulated by the rest!) and lost about 150 classmates in our school's largest cheating incident. In my company of about 120, 30 of us started our 2nd class year (Junior) year and only 10 of us graduated with our class.

While 24 out of about 4000 cadets may seem like a very small percentage, about one half of one percent, it is huge for those involved.

Cadets come from all over the US and have learned very different values up to the point they under the Academy. We tell them that over the next four years we will educate and train them in Military, Academics, Leadership and Physical disciplines - but from day one, the absolute minimum standard in Honor is perfection with no toleration for even minor infractions. It's unrealistic that taking the oath of office - USAFA cadets are on active duty in the Regular Air Force - they have had the training & time to internalize the Honor Code. The USAFA code is similar to USMA and I believe that it's: "We will not lie, cheat , or steal nor tolerate among us those who do." You get just as kicked out for NOT reporting a violation as committing one.

I wouldn't make light of this but would instead think about the cost in human terms - 24 careers, perhaps the AF's next Ace or MOH recipient - truncated barely out of the starting gate.