For most of the year, cadets from the Air Force Academy and midshipmen from the Naval Academy share a common bound—a rigorous and demanding schedule of college classes, physical training, military exercises, and leadership building at two of our nation’s service academies.  But during the week prior to the Air Force/Navy Football game, the rules change. 

It is during this week every year that the Air Force Academy cadets (nicknamed Zoomies by the Navy) and Navy Midshipmen (nicknamed Squids by the Air Force) become staunch rivals and try their hardest to not only win the football game, but also win the best “Spirit Mission” (i.e. prank) of the year! 

Two years ago, Navy Squids, on transfer to the Air Force Academy for Fall Semester, completed a prank that will go down in history as one of the best—somehow they managed to paint the Air Force Phantom fighter jet in the center of the Academy grounds to closely resemble a Navy “Blue Angel.”  This year, Air Force Zoomies “planted” a yellow and blue pleasure boat, stern first, in the middle of campus—the hull read “SINK NAVY.” (A spokesman from the Naval Academy stated that they have no clue where the Zoomies procured the Navy boat.) 

Air Force Cadet Chris Patton

Last week, South Forsyth High School graduate (Class of 2005), Cadet Chris Patton, found himself in enemy territory.  A junior at Air Force, Cadet Patton was chosen to participate in the exchange program to Navy.  His high school friend, Midshipman Sean Papso, is a senior at Navy.  The two have enjoyed being in the same company—that is until last week!  One day after classes, Patton returned to his dorm room (one he shares with two Squids), to find that his part of the room had been completely sabotaged. It was covered in shaving cream and blue and gold sprinkles, with the obligatory Navy slogan “Go Navy, Beat Air Force.”  (No one has admitted taking part in the Spirit Mission!)  After cleaning up, Patton stated that e mission was almost as good as the one in which he participated two years ago with a Squid on exchange to Air Force.  In that Spirit Mission, the Squid returned to his room to find the Air Force slogan written all over his room, in a very unique way—the Zoomies had pooled their money and bought a case of frozen squid.   The smell lasted for weeks!

Pranks continued even during the game, but after a hard-fought battle, Navy beat Air Force 31-20. Afterwards, the Zoomies and Squids quickly returned to their common goal of preparing to become officers in the United States Armed Services—that is until next year’s game!