How Air Force policy is formed...

Five monkeys were placed in a cage. Inside the cage, a banana was hung on a string and a set of stairs placed under it. Predictably, one of the monkeys tried to climb up the stairs and reach for the fruit. The minute it set foot on the stairs, all the other monkeys were sprayed with cold water, shocking them senseless. The set-up was later recreated and, shortly thereafter, another monkey made the same attempt. As in the first time, all the other apes were sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, the animals got the picture - and they felt they had to prevent their collective punishment from happening again.

At this stage, the water hose was removed, one of the five creatures was replaced with a new monkey, and the same experiment was repeated. Upon seeing the banana and trying to reach for it, the fresh monkey was surprised with a ferocious gang-beating. After another attempt and another attack, the new monkey came to understand that his actions would result in harsh punishment.

Next, another one of the original five was removed and replaced with yet another monkey. Again, the moment the newcomer reached the stairs, it was attacked ferociously. The other monkey who arrived right before him enthusiastically joined in the beating, though the first never experienced the collective punishment suffered by his caged fellows. Again, the third monkey of the original five was removed and replaced with a new one ... Later the fourth and fifth monkeys were replaced with new beasts. Each time, the same severe reaction was the outcome. To the monkeys, this was the way things had always been.

And that, my friends is how Air Force policy is formed!