AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.—Toilet paper is a problem; introductory flying lessons are grounded. The library is closed, but the football game is on. Washington’s budget battle is affecting the 4,000 cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in unforeseen ways. Here are five things to know about it:
BATHROOM SCRAMBLE: The civilian worker charged with ordering supplies such as toilet paper is furloughed, so military officials scrambled to ensure steady supplies. Military personnel are making up for laundry, grounds maintenance and other services. “In complex organizations, we’re not always aware at a really high level of who has the contract for the toilet paper. But we found out pretty fast and we fixed it,” said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson.
CLASSES CUT: Sixty of 300 courses are suspended because of civilian furloughs. An extended shutdown could affect some cadets’ ability to graduate on time, and even the school’s accreditations.
THE (ONLY) GAME IS ON: The Air Force Falcons football team will play at Navy as scheduled this Saturday—but all other intercollegiate sports are postponed until further notice. The Defense Department determined the Air Force-Navy game is paid for by non-congressional funds; a private insurer is paying the Falcons’ airfare, lodging and food.
BUT THE FLIGHTS ARE GROUNDED: Cadets’ introductory flight training is suspended. “We hope the extra edge we get from training would not be lost,” said Johnson, an academy graduate and command pilot with more than 3,600 hours flying cargo planes and refueling tankers.
AND THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED: Cadet study centers, the cadet library, a media lab and the base fitness center are closed. Other services may be curtailed, and more than 1,000 civilian instructors and staff are furloughed. Nearly 450 civilians are on the job for safety and security.
