Stairway to Heaven

From USAFA Folklore

Stairway to Heaven is a type of training session that takes place in one of the Sijan Hall or Vandenberg Hall stairwells. During the training session, fourth class cadets progress from the ground floor to the sixth floor by accomplishing a task on each level, usually consisting of some combination of physical training and answering Doolie knowledge questions. Failure to complete the task results in being sent down a level, while accomplishment of the task means being sent up a level. Consistent failure may mean being sent down the stairwell from the ground floor toward the tunnels (referred to as "Hell" in the session), where particularly intense training would take place before the smack would be sent back up to the ground level to start again. As smacks reached the sixth floor, they could return to previous levels and help their classmates complete the various tasks.