Why should anyone obey their orders? Clearly they are insubordinate themselves.
Respect is earned.
I’m actually very curious as to how this will play out. I assume that these cadets are still in their leadership positions...while the ‘investigation’ continues. But, I wonder what the end game is. Will they be punished as cadets - time is running out for that. Will they be punished as officers - not usually.
The normal course of action would be to punish them as cadets, and delay graduation - make them what is called a ‘December Grad’.
I am a graduate of West Point, and one night close to graduation, I had to do a bed check. A guy named Jeff was not there...not signed out on leave...not accounted for. Well, I had to make a report that night - to somebody in a leadership position just like a few of these cadets. And, I reluctantly reported that Jeff was not accounted for. Turns out he had taken leave but forgotten to sign out. That small infraction earned him status as a December Grad...and he has never spoken a word to me since.
Anyway, I just wanted to relate that story to show how easily one can end up delaying graduation, with a last minute screw up. Now these women have not just violated cadet code, they’ve also violated UCMJ. There is no question they should be punished. But, I have a feeling that punishing all of them will leave graduation day looking too white and too male - so I’d guess that those cadets in leadership positions might take the hit, and the others get off with a slap on the wrist.