Air Force Academy Probes Alleged Cheating by Cadets

Some Air Force cadets pointed in a different direction this week. They noted that the cheating took place on a weekly test that typically includes questions about the chain of command and military jargon. If a student fails one of those tests, he or she is required to stay in the dorm over the following weekend. A second failure can result in the grounding of the upper-class cadet who is the designated leader of a group of freshmen, putting intense pressure on students to pass, they said.

The cheating was reported by classmates, and the investigation is being led by cadets, a standard procedure under the academy's honor code. Academy officials said the punishment has not been determined, but Allard said "it wouldn't surprise me if a fair number got dismissed" from the academy.

Cadets said they have been ordered to go through their computer files this weekend and erase any improper data, including illegally acquired music and videos as well as pornography. They said they will also be required to attend a luncheon discussion and hear a speaker. The academy had originally planned to cancel regular activities on Monday, but that order was rescinded, cadets said.

"I called my parents last night to tell them they would hear some bad publicity on the academy, and my father said, 'You just keep your nose clean,' " one freshman said.

Another cadet said Regni's speech landed hard. "He said 99 percent of us are doing our job, but a few bad apples can ruin it for the rest of us," the cadet said on the condition of anonymity because he had not received clearance to speak to a reporter.

Regni, who has been superintendent since 2005, said in a brief interview that he was confident the number of students implicated in cheating would not rise above the 28 already under investigation.

He declined to discuss his speech, saying only: "We talk to the cadets, and we make sure the cadets understand that actions have consequences."

Special correspondent Judy Crosson in Colorado Springs contributed to this report.