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This week’s rivalry game between the undefeated Army Black Knights and Air Force Falcons in West Point just took another step up in intensity thanks to some sneaky cadets.
Air Force fans all know that the top deck of Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs spells out “Air Force” in the seats. But not this week.
A handful of Army cadets found their way into the stadium and added some letters to instead read “Chair Force.”
A few Cadets infiltrated Falcon Stadium and added their own embellishments ahead of this week’s Army-Air Force game. Visible from I-25. 😅🪑🫡 pic.twitter.com/yYaEdX3ShE
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 29, 2024
What exactly does “Chair Force” mean? We’re glad you asked.
The term is a jab that Army cadets often throw at Air Force members due to the nature of their work.
We’ll let Air & Space Forces Magazine help to explain.
“Army, Navy, and Marine Corps recruits used to call the Air Force the ‘chair force.’ That’s because airmen did just six-and-a-half weeks of basic training, compared to eight in the Navy, nine in the Army, and 13 in the Marine Corps.”
But that’s not all.
In general, Army cadets and Navy midshipmen tend to look down on the physicality and difficulty of the work that members of the Air Force do.
Matt Maier, an Air Force member, explained it this way.
“I think the simplest reason is that the various services all joke on each other. It’s team building 101. Insiders are most easily defined by outsiders, so you have to clarify who’s an outsider. They’re going to look for characteristics to turn into punchlines.
“The Air Force, aside from having fewer physically demanding jobs, has a higher quality of life. Air Force leadership puts a lot more money into amenities and support than the other services. If the Marines ever bought chairs they’d pour mud on them before they sat down. Different priorities.
“So the differences become jokes. They’re usually good-natured, though.”
Things haven’t been as fun for the Black Knights on the field, however. Air Force leads the all-time season series 38-19-1. However, Army has won five of the last seven meetings and goes into Saturday’s showdown as a 22.5-point favorite over the Falcons.