Approximately 28 freshmen Air Force Academy cadets who may have received answers to a military knowledge test via computer are under investigation for cheating.
Nineteen of the 28 cadets admitted they cheated on the “Knowledge” test, which quizzes students about famous quotes from generals, understanding of military aircraft and current events. The entire class of 2010, about 1,200 cadets, took the test, which was distributed on paper.
Johnny Whitaker, spokesman for the academy, said the answers to the test were given to cadets on a social- networking website. The academy is not releasing the name of the website because of the ongoing investigation.
“Somebody got ahold of the answers to the test, and there’s apparently an instant-messaging function to those sites, and whoever was doing this pushed the answers out to people on their buddy list,” Whitaker said.
Cadets are bound by an honor code, which says they will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate among them anyone who does. Academy officials said they received reports of suspected cheating from cadets Friday, three days after the test was given.
Those who admitted to cheating will meet a cadet sanctions recommendation panel. Generally, though each case is handled on an individual basis, those cadets will be placed on six months of honor probation and be forbidden from publicly representing the academy.
Those cadets who did not admit to cheating will go before an Honor Board and face possible discharge from the academy.
Whitaker said the honor code is the foundation of the academy: “Our mission is to produce leaders of character, but when they get in the operational Air Force, we cannot have officers out there that we can’t trust.”
In April 2004, cadets were given a “Knowledge” test over the computer in cadet dorms. An estimated 265 cadets were questioned for cheating then, when academy officials noticed it took only three minutes for cadets to take a 25-question test. Several cadets resigned during that investigation.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.