Knowledge bowl
From USAFA Folklore
A knowledge bowl is a fourth class cadet competition in which two squadrons of fourth class cadets compete against each other in a quiz-bowl type setting, with questions coming from their Doolie knowledge. The knowledge bowl is usually made up of six or seven rounds of six or seven questions each, with four to six contestants per side--the specifics have changed over time. The questions are drawn from quotes, aircraft, Academy and Air Force history, and other information fourth class cadets are expected to know. The last question of each round is often an aircraft identification.
The knowledge bowl is administered by upperclassmen from the two competeing squadrons, and are usually members of the training staff. One upperclassman (usually the training officer of the "home" squadron) reads the questions, and a second upperclassman identifies the first smack to stick out a paw for each question. That smack is then given an opportunity to answer the question, sounding off in the format, "Sir, the answer is..." A correct answer earns the team 10 points; an incorrect answer deducts 5 points and gives the opposing team an opportunity to answer. A correct answer might require the answerer to sit out for the following question. Unsurprisingly, the specifics of scoring have changed over time, also. Professional decorum and military bearing were also important, and smacks who broke their military bearing may be penalized by their squadron losing points, similar to missing a question.
Because knowledge bowls counted for Outstanding Squadron points, they were one of the major ways fourth class cadets could contribute to the success of the squadron. As a result, the training staffs have usually taken them rather seriously, and have often developed strategies such as stacking each round to ensure overlapping areas of expertise, placing one of the more knowledgable smacks in the second-from-the-inside position where his "paw" might be better seen, or placing the best aircraft ID smack on the farthest inside position, where he'd get the best look at the silhouette. Good performance in knowledge bowls often results in extra privileges for the fourthclassmen; poor performance or a losing streak may result in remedial training or loss of privileges.
