The pilots the entire time they were getting yelled at:

I've drawn these with ships numerous times. It was my usual test-pattern when calibrating magnetic compasses and testing the autopilot.

And it's not entirely without logic either; The calibration and testing usually goes like this:

• A few circles to calibrate the compas, teaching it how the full 360 azimuth looks from a magnetic perspective, taking its own magnetic environment into account.
• Straight line, checking that the heading matches the course
• Turn 180 degrees and repeat to verify that it also holds true in the opposite direction
• At this point, you might as well draw the other testicle too

I guess that's what happens when you have conscription and no war

What else would pilots of the world happiest country do?

They should have learned from the last time this happened, and the firm response by their CO, CDR Brenden "Tess" Stickles

Can't help but think of the enivromental devastation of all these "training exercises".

Reprimanded by people stifling giggles

Dem boys are gunna be alright.

The cadets from the middle picture should be given promotions. That's some slick flying right there.

Did they at least get to... finnish?

The horror.

Sticking to a flight plan like that means you are successfully trained in that airframe, I see this as a positive check flight