The Air Force Academy has disciplined a coach and some cadets on the men's gymnastics team for underage drinking and "unprofessional behavior."
In a release issued Thursday, the academy said that a series of "incidents over the past year have revealed a pattern of unprofessional behavior and underage drinking by the men's gymnastics team."
A source familiar with the investigation said the unprofessional behavior was not as bad as hazing. He would not specifically say what kind of behavior the cadets were punished for, aside from characterizing it as "tomfoolery."
The source confirmed that a coach on the team was also punished. He said the coach did not provide alcohol to the cadets.
No cadets are being expelled over the incidents, he said. But the punishments range from letters of counseling or admonishment, to verbal counseling, to probation.
The Air Force Academy's official athletics site lists 19 cadets on the men's gymnastics team. The source did not know how many team members were punished, but described it as a "handful."
The release said that sexual assault and illicit drug use were not involved in the incidents. "However, they are not in line with the academy's institutional values," the release said.
The official release withheld information on the disciplinary actions due to Privacy Act requirements.
