14 DAY TRIAL // Several cadets suffered concussions, cuts and even a bite during a brawl, at the Air Force Academy in Denver, Colorado. The incident happened during an initiation ritual marking the first snowfall this year.
According to the Huffington Post, what was meant to be a "teachable moment," as Academy officials put it, became violent, as 27 were injured on October 25. The altercation occurred on base, at the Academy location outside Colorado Springs.
Six cadets were hospitalized, and were released on Wednesday, while others received care in the cadet clinic, some requiring stitches, dean of faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born stated.
The ritual, dubbed "First Shirt/First Snow," happens every year, and involves freshmen attempting to throw cadet first sergeants into the snow, often resorting to violence. "First shirts" is how the cadet first sergeants are referred to at the Academy.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors rally around the first sergeant to cover his back, and often get into fights with inexperienced freshmen. First-year cadets fight back, and try to capture the first sergeant, even when it gets them in the hospital.
"What used to be (freshmen) throwing the first shirt into the snow has turned into a brawl between upperclassmen defending the first sergeant and the (freshmen) trying to capture the first sergeant," dean Born said.
The tradition at the Academy often leads to violence, yet officials are not putting a stop to the ritual.
"This ritual has devolved to become increasingly violent, with significant numbers of cadets requiring medical care over the past two years," dean Born wrote.
"Obviously, this has gotten out of hand and cannot be repeated," she added.
However, Brig. Gen. Gregory Lengyel, the commandant of cadets, although deeming the brawl unacceptable, proposed keeping on the "First Shirt/First Snow" event, as long as the future second lieutenants in the Air Force can keep it civil, and avoid violence.