Leading and Learning

I've been back at the Academy for a few weeks now. I have to admit, I prefer being an upperclassman over a plebe. I think the main reason is that I have the chance to exercise leadership. I am a petty officer in my company. The seniors have officer positions; they are in charge of carrying out certain duties in the regiment. To assist them are petty officers. These are usually people that are interested in assuming that position when they are seniors. In each company there is a CTO, company training officer. He is in charge of training and supervising the freshman class of plebe candidates. I am one of three CTO petty officers. Periodically, the CTO is unable to attend nightly training sessions with the plebes. That is where we come in. Last night for example, I was the acting CTO in the company. I ran the evening meeting, known as tattoo. There are 60 freshman and I was in charge of them. If they have a question, they come to me. I have to have an answer, if not, then I find one. If they screw up then I am the one with the authority in the company to punish them. I am responsible for them when they screw up. I must be able to think and, even more importantly, speak on my feet, at a moment's notice. I have learned so much.
This evening was perhaps the highlight. The CTO was upset at the plebes' performance. They were showing little respect for upperclassmen and the standards by which they are required to follow. So, CTO called one of the freshman out tonight, in a meeting we had with all of them. He took off his class ring. (Now, this weekend was ring dance. The weekend where the seniors get their rings. Each ring is dipped in a bowel holding the water from the seven seas. They can finally wear their ring.) He gave his ring to this freshman and said that he (the freshman) should PT (physical training) him (CTO); CTO was going to get PTed rather than the freshmen for their mistakes. The freshman was a little hesitant, but reluctantly told CTO to get on his face and start doing push-ups, then flutter kicks, then crunches. CTO finally got up and said that he would not wear his ring (while his classmates wear theirs proudly) until they begin to perform. Afterwards one freshman was still standing out in the hall, we asked him what he wanted and he said he needed to be PTed for breaking a few rules this weekend. I told him no, CTO got PTed instead of you. Everyone was required to watch CTO being PTed. It was sobering b/c several turned away; we told them to keep watching. It wasn't bad at all, but it was the whole act of taking their spot for their mistakes. (Ring any bells?) A few minutes later, I walked by one of the freshman's room to see him doing push-ups. I asked him what he was doing as he quickly moved onto his back to do crunches. He said he was PTing himself. The remainder of the evening has been extremely quiet. I am still trying to understand what happened. I know what happened, but I am still in awe. I just haven't quite gotten my mind around it.