Academy completes cheating investigation

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNEWS) --  Cadet honor representatives have finished their investigation of 40 fourth class cadets (freshmen) accused of cheating on a weekly knowledge test given to all members of the Class of 2010 on Jan. 31.

The test compromise was discovered on Feb. 2 when cadets reported the incident.

Of the 40 cases, 29 cadets admitted to cheating, five denied cheating and six cadets were found not to have cheated. The five who denied cheating met wing honor boards where two were found guilty of violating the Cadet Honor Code. A total of 31 cadets were found in violation of the Cadet Honor Code. One cadet who admitted cheating resigned.

The cases were forwarded to the commandant of cadets, Brig. Gen. Susan Y. Desjardins. She determined that 12 of the violators would be placed on six months' honor probation and if successfully completed, would again be cadets in good standing.  She recommended that 18 would be disenrolled from the Academy. Two cadets recommended for disenrollment resigned.

As is their right, nine of the remaining 16 cadets appealed their disenrollment recommendation to the Academy superintendent, Lt. Gen. John F. Regni. General Regni upheld the commandant's disenrollment recommendation in eight of the nine appeals.

At the end of the appeals process, of the 31 cadets found in violation of the Cadet Honor Code, 18 are disenrolled, 13 will be placed on probation.

The Cadet Honor Code was developed and adopted by the Air Force Academy's first class, the Class of 1959, as the minimum standard of conduct expected of cadets at all times. It was slightly modified in the early 1960s to its present form: "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." The Honor Code, led by the cadet wing, forms the foundation of the mission of the Academy: Developing leaders of character for service to the U.S. Air Force and America. 


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