Here is a comment from National:

 

A final consideration:  our cadet leadership training takes place in the context of a “leadership laboratory.”  For our cadets, leadership is not a dry academic subject studied from ancient textbooks, but a full-on participatory experience in which cadets are immersed upon taking the Cadet Oath.  Cadets are expected to lead and follow routinely; whether it is at the regular squadron meeting, a wing summer encampment, or at a National Cadet Special Activity.  A fully functional cadet chain of command at all cadet activities is a hallmark of our program.

 

But with every chance of leadership success comes a chance for leadership failure.  Just as every toddler falls occasionally while learning to walk, we expect the occasional stumble by cadets as they mature into leaders.  Within our leadership laboratory, our cadets can make mistakes and fail – yet more importantly, learn from their errors safely.

 

Inexperienced cadet leaders on occasion may try to set an inappropriate military intensity level for a given class or block of instruction.  They may allow a class to be too lax; or perhaps they will be overly strict.  Good mentors may allow the situation to continue for a while to allow the cadet leader to learn from the experience, then provide guidance on how to better set the intensity level next time.  This might mean that some cadets were required to stand at attention in formation for longer than was otherwise necessary; or the cadet leader may have been inappropriately harsh in his criticism.  That is part of the learning experience for the students, as well.  Not every mismatch between the training to be conducted and the proper military intensity level amounts to hazing.

 

Of course, senior member supervisors are always present at cadet activities, and stand ready to intervene if a cadet leader’s poor leadership begins to amount to prohibited hazing.