Secondary Adjustments and Playing it Cool: Balancing Commitment to Self and Service at USAFA

• In Event: 049 - Section on Peace, War and Social Conflict Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Peace, War and Social Conflict Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Military Organization and Personnel

Abstract

This project is submitted to the Peace, War, and Social Conflict roundtable session for the discussion, exploration, and review of various research lines at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA). We hope to develop this research for publication and inclusion in a dissertation, combining themes of competition, keeping a low profile, suffering as a means to an end, selective rebellion, playing it cool, and how cadets talk about their experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy through the construction of unique meanings and narratives. We will also briefly discuss a variety of qualitative methodological considerations for restricted sites such as USAFA. This paper will specifically address how selective rebellion and playing it cool allow cadets to maintain a sense of self while working to be a part of a cohesive social unit.

Authors

• James Do, University of Colorado

• Monica Herrera, United States Air Force Academy