West Point Pillow Fight Leaves 30 Casualties

[Ridge]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/05/us/at-west-point-annual-pillow-fight-becomes-weaponized.html


For generations, freshmen cadets at the United States Military Academy have marked the end of a grueling summer of training with a huge nighttime pillow fight that is billed as a harmless way to blow off steam and build class spirit. But this year the fight on the West Point, N.Y., campus turned bloody as some cadets swung pillowcases packed with hard objects, thought to be helmets, that split lips, broke at least one bone, dislocated shoulders and knocked cadets unconscious. The brawl at the publicly funded academy, where many of the Army’s top leaders are trained, left 30 cadets injured, including 24 with concussions, according to West Point.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMFWc_FMhqs

[rondog]

WTF.....might as well just give 'em baseball bats!

[beast556]

Sounds like there not mature enough to be officer's yet.

[TheGrey]

What the hell? What is wrong with those cadets? I say this is one more weeding-out opportunity.

[cstone]

I would be disappointed if future military officers didn't inflict some casualties in their fun and games.

For those who received concussions, they are just getting an early introduction to Traumatic Brain Injury. Way to go cadets. Lead by example!



Does this mean the midshipmen will be nearly drowning each other in the plebe summer pool party? [Sarcasm2]

[sniper7]

Title is a little misleading I thought they had actual casualties

[Aloha_Shooter]

Title is a little misleading I thought they had actual casualties

FWIW, the term "casualties" includes wounded as well as dead.

[TFOGGER]

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye...

[theGinsue]

My guess is that this'll be the last year for this particular tradition.

kevlar helmets in the pillow cases? Really? What a bunch of idiots. Say hello to our Army's future leaders.

[StagLefty]

Pillows Matter !!!!

[HoneyBadger]

Don't forget that these are all a bunch of college age kids that have been caged up and mentally beaten down for the past year. Are the bad decisions and injuries regrettable? Yes. Is this a good learning opportunity for their future responsibilities and the rest of their lives? Yes. Will the soldiers they will soon be leading continually do much, MUCH stupider things? Yes. There are a lot of long-standing traditions at each of the academies that the public probably hates, but the less destructive ones (like the pillowfight has been for years) or other harmless shenanigans known as "spirit missions", sure build a lot of esprit de corps and makes the 4 years there under the pressure a lot more bearable. I have mixed feeling about posting this, and I'll probably get flamed for it, but I don't expect people who didn't spend 4 years of their lives there to understand it on any level. [Dunno]





Flame on.
[Flame]

[theGinsue]

Don't forget that these are all a bunch of college age kids that have been caged up and mentally beaten down for the past year. Are the bad decisions and injuries regrettable? Yes. Is this a good learning opportunity for their future responsibilities and the rest of their lives? Yes. Will the soldiers they will soon be leading continually do much, MUCH stupider things? Yes. There are a lot of long-standing traditions at each of the academies that the public probably hates, but the less destructive ones (like the pillowfight has been for years) or other harmless shenanigans known as "spirit missions", sure build a lot of esprit de corps and makes the 4 years there under the pressure a lot more bearable. I have mixed feeling about posting this, and I'll probably get flamed for it, but I don't expect people who didn't spend 4 years of their lives there to understand it on any level. [Dunno]





Flame on.
[Flame]


Don't be so hard on yourself. As one of our young, yet respected, Air Force leaders I value your opinion.

[HoneyBadger]

Well, you know there will be 24 claims for being 100% disabled in a couple years DECADES.


Have you seen the speed at which the VA handles claims? [LOL]


Don't be so hard on yourself. As one of our young, yet respected, Air Force leaders I value your opinion.
Thanks T. I take this one a little personally, and it is nearly impossible for those "on the outside" to understand some of the things that go on at the service academies. Do the Academies sometimes turn out crappy officers along with the great ones? Sure, but I see and deal with the same cross section from every commissioning source, daily.

[airborneranger]

My guess is that this'll be the last year for this particular tradition.

kevlar helmets in the pillow cases? Really? What a bunch of idiots. Say hello to our Army's future leaders.

Doubtful. It has been going on for years and I am sure it will continue to do so. Remember, these are kids and not yet military leaders so ya, they do dumb stuff. Some will continue to do dumb stuff even after graduation.

Before you ask, no I am not a ring knocker :)

[HoneyBadger]

Before you ask, no I am not a ring knocker :)
Sorry to hear that. You seemed like a decent guy, too... [Sarcasm2]



In all seriousness, I'm pretty far from any sterotypes about the school I graduated from. I think the last time I wore my ring was at the last reunion. I think the reality becomes fairly obvious after a few years, and that reality is that who you ARE and what you DO are far more important that what degree you have, what school you went to, what your upbrining was, etc. What's important is the decisions you make with what you have now. [Beer]

[cstone]

In all seriousness, I'm pretty far from any sterotypes about the school I graduated from. I think the last time I wore my ring was at the last reunion. I think the reality becomes fairly obvious after a few years, and that reality is that who you ARE and what you DO are far more important that what degree you have, what school you went to, what your upbrining was, etc. What's important is the decisions you make with what you have now. [Beer]


There should be a like button for this post [rockon]

[hollohas]

My first thought when I saw this story this weekend was "seriously?!?!? They have a PILLOW fight to let of steam?" Seemed pretty silly to me that our future military leaders have a PILLOW fight every year and I'm surprised it took this long for someone to man it up a bit.

(Actually, I suspect some have been making it rougher for years but only now did the public get to hear about it...just suspicions and conjecture on my part...)

I see no problem with them roughing each other up every now and then. I also suspect disciplinary action will be dealt out and that's fair too. I wouldn't be surprised if a whole bunch of the first year cadets are quietly laughing together about this right now as they face the consequences.

I'm certain that the vast majority of the cadets will see the injuries as a source of pride. In fact, I read that one cadet that got knocked unconscious immediately joined the fight again after waking up in an ambulance. A lot a mutual respect and comradery can be created after men beat the snot out of each other.

[izzy]

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye...

Then it's just FUN.

[HoneyBadger]

And the modern American wants to rape to death anything perceived to be "free".
^Sad truth.

[rbeau30]

Who needs enemies.