CQ desk

From USAFA Folklore

The Cadet in Charge of Quarters sits at the CQ desk when on duty. There is one CQ desk located centrally in each squadron. The CQ desk is usually the center of squadron communication and freqently serves as a place for groups (such as intramural teams) to meet before they go somewhere.

In olden days, the telephone at the CQ desk was the only no-toll telephone in the squadron. It was to be used only for official purposes -- officially. The phone had a very long cord between the receiver and the handset, allowing cadets to take their private calls out the door adjacent to the CQ desk and into the stairwell. This also made telephone calls while fourth class cadets were calling minutes in front of the CQ desk a challenge.