Green chair
From USAFA Folklore
Green chair is a practice that was banned sometime before 1966. A doolie was made to squat with his back against the wall, as if he were sitting in a chair. He then had to hold his M-1 in front of him, horizontally, with his arms fully extended and horizontal to the floor, until he couldn't hold it up any more. At that point, the upper class cadets would take something off of the M-1, like the strap, and the doolie would hold the rifle up again, as long as possible. Each time he could no longer hold it, the upper class cadets would continue to strip the rifle, until ultimately, the doolie was holding nothing but the spring.
[edit] Comments
- This survived through my doolie year (Class of 1984). I don't remember exactly when it happened, possibly during Hell Week, but upperclassmen (and personal friends!) came to visit my roommates and me during the middle of the night with this exercise. I don't remember the taking off of rifle parts, but I do remember at the end we were given pencils to hold up, but hadn't the strength for even that. - wchee1 (31 Jul 06)
- Also known as the "Green-Seat Chair" -- Not sure why except only really gross smacks encountered it when they drove around for individual "special inspections" (SI's). Maybe it was because they were in green fatigues (albeit with wheel-hats & white gloves under arms). I saw a few -- but escaped them myself. Never saw ANY weight removed. Arms cramped big time! How about "Sweating Pennies" to the wall? Heard of it, but never saw ('63-65). - (4 Dec 2002)
- Another variation was called "The Mother" as the doolie would squat against a wall or in the middle of the hall for an extended period of time as if giving birth. This practice was banned by the PTB in the late 90s. - (5 Feb 2008)
