Deep Rock

From USAFA Folklore

Deep Rock is the brand of drinking water served at meals during Second BCT. The water comes in gallon jugs that are placed on each table. Like many other food items, basic cadets requesting the water jug must ask for it in a specific way, based off the labelling of the jugs. Basics must ask for the water by saying, "Please pass the Deep Rock, natural artesian drinking water since 1896 to the basic cadets at the table. Please pass the Deep Rock, natural artesian drinking water to Basic Cadet (Last Name)." Also the word "deep" had to be said in the deepest tone of voice the basic could muster. This undoubtedly started in order to amuse the cadre.

All empty jugs, like juice and milk cartoons, have to be grounded when they are empty. Like a flying aircraft without fuel, the containers are sent to crash and burn. The basic that used the last of the water would crush the jug and say, "Sir the Deep Rock, natural artesian drinking water since 1896 has crashed and burned." Someone at one point started a new tradition by placing the bottle cap back onto the bottle and crushing the bottle onto their forehead sending the cap flying. If the flying cap struck another basic, or any human being, the basic scored a kill. A tally of kills would be kept until the bill of the basic's class colored baseball caps. After five kills, the basic would become an ace. The flying bottle caps were a good test of bearing since basics are forbidden to move out of the way, since they are at attention, and they surely should not be laughing no matter how funny the impact may be. Doing this around officers, enlisted, or toolish cadets was usually a bad idea as many deemed this either unprofessional or potentionally dangerous to someone's PQ.

In the early years of USAFA (1955-1961), there was no such thing as "bottled water." We got fresh tap water and that was good enough for us. When we went on FASE (Forward Air Strip Encampment, which was the early version of Jack's Valley) we got water from any water source and put water purification tablets in our canteens. When did the Cadet Wing start being so picky? Tap water continues to be good enough for me! (Hector Negroni, Class of 1961