Ode to O9

As I sit here trying to do some last minute cramming for my Chemistry GR, all I can think about is how the Academy will change at 1630 this afternoon.

There's about 3 inches of snow covering the Academy. The Doolies are allowed to walk the strips on the Friday before our three day week. All of us can't wait to be let loose to trash the seniors rooms that will act as a farewell gift. At 1630 we are put at rest for the first time. We are allowed to travel in and out of other squadrons at our own will. We don't have to greet upperclassmen and all 40 days ROEs go out the window...until TAPS.

USAFA, like any military academy is rich in tradition. On the Friday before the 100 days left until graduation the freshmen decorate the senior rooms. To show you disrespect a person their room is put in SAMI condition. Some alcoves are covered with plywood, others turned into janitors closets, and there's always at least one that is so creative everyone is amazed. The themes tend to do with the person who resides in the room or a specific memory the freshmen have of the senior. We have a couple of some such rooms within our squadron.

Two of our seniors, firsties, are getting married after graduation. Have of the room is a bachelor pad, complete with Jacuzzi and junk food. The other half of the room is after the marriage, well kept and children's toys laying around.

Our basic flight commander is turning into a Basic Training memory room. Pictures of his four favorite basics that couldn't go 12 minutes without being yelled at, and broken binders galore.

We decided as a squadron of freshmen that it is rude to SAMI a person's room. So instead we're turning his room into a real barn. We're not allowed to bring in live animals, but horse manure was approved.

No matter how bad the times are here at USAFA, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Though it's tough it's broken up with weekends, 100's night, NCLS, and random days when the upperclassmen admit they're dragging just as bad as we are.