One week from abandoning my cadet...

Proud mom 2016

5-Year Member
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Mar 24, 2012
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85
Assuming our visas arrive, I am moving overseas next week. I'm living at my parents now so am already unsettled. DS has been handling all his own paperwork and already living with friends so he can complete his pilots license.

I have parents weekend plane tickets and hotel reservations
I've joined Webguy
I've given out his address to family members with instructions about white envelopes
I've arranged for him to be able to suspend his cell phone service for BCT
He's got transportation to I Day
I've got a US phone number so he can call me on July 15
We've got a buyer and paperwork taken care of for him to sell his car before he leaves

Is there anything I need to take care of this week that cant be taken care of via Internet in July which is about when I'm likely to have reliable Internet
 
How about a car rental for Parents Weekend? Certain sizes/classes of cars did get totally booked up last year--just depends on if you have a specific need. We flew in to Denver, so not sure how things would be at the COS airport.

Maybe write a few letters to your son for your parents to mail, since I'm guessing overseas mail service won't be particularly speedy! My son really enjoyed getting mail from us, even with boring details about everyday life.

On I Day, ask your son to check in at the AOG tent (outside Doolittle Hall where he'll get in line to check in) and get his squadron and lanyard color. Then hopefully he can find a friendly parent in line that will let him borrow a cell phone to call you (or your parents if you can't be reached--they can hopefully relay the info to you at some point). That will help you tremendously when you are scouring through literally thousands of webguy photos come mid-July when you have internet service. You will have tons to go through after a couple of weeks, and if you can narrow it down by squadron or know to look for a certain color lanyard, it will help!

Good luck on your move! What a busy time for your family!
 
Thanks. Our friends in Denver are loaning us their car and picking us up at the airport! :smile:

He will have his cell phone with him. We know he has to turn it in that day. Would he be able to use it before he turns it in?
 
Thanks. Our friends in Denver are loaning us their car and picking us up at the airport! :smile:

He will have his cell phone with him. We know he has to turn it in that day. Would he be able to use it before he turns it in?

I'm not sure. Last year, as we approached Doolittle Hall from the parking lot, I know the incoming basics were directed to a roped off area where they had to leave their bookbags/tote bags. I don't remember if they were instructed to put their cell phones in their bags or not. After that they rejoined their parents (if they came) and continued through the process. We were in line outside for a while so that would be when he could use his phone or borrow one. Actually at this stage, the AOG staff and other AFA staff that are there are very helpful, willing to answer questions etc. so hopefully he'll be able to find out his squadron and call. It made a big difference for webguy, being able to go to the pictures of just my son's squadron--as it is, there are still hundreds of pictures each day per squadron to go through, hoping to find your child's face! Its after the time in Doolittle Hall, once he gets on the bus with cadre, that becomes not so much fun! He definitely won't be calling anyone then!:shake:
 
There will be a desk where normally parents find out their DS or DD's squadron. Have him stop by there before he goes upstairs to begin the process. Then, he can call you and give you the information before he officially "starts".

Best of luck!!
 
I just double checked this in the "Instructions to Appointees". I wanted to make sure before I posted. On page one under "Arrival" there is a link that states "After June 13, appointees will be able to access their squadron assignments and their exact arrival time". The arrival time is "new" at least for me, for the class of 2014 I wasn't made aware of a specific arrival time that my DD was supposed to be there. It may have been something I missed. Just wanted to let you know, that even though you may be leaving soon, your soon to be BC should have access to the information and be able to relay it to you before he even comes close to loosing his phone privileges. :thumb:
 
I just double checked this in the "Instructions to Appointees". I wanted to make sure before I posted. On page one under "Arrival" there is a link that states "After June 13, appointees will be able to access their squadron assignments and their exact arrival time". The arrival time is "new" at least for me, for the class of 2014 I wasn't made aware of a specific arrival time that my DD was supposed to be there. It may have been something I missed. Just wanted to let you know, that even though you may be leaving soon, your soon to be BC should have access to the information and be able to relay it to you before he even comes close to loosing his phone privileges. :thumb:
Thanks!
 
For new parents, note this year there is a service being offered on Webguy's pages by an Academy grad -- you send an email to their email address and they turn it into a letter and mail it to your basic from COS. [Look for the mailbox graphic on the Webguy page.] This should be a huge help to parents who live at a distance from the Academy and want to send letters to their Basics without long delays. What a cool idea!!
 
CORRECTION TO THAT LAST EMAIL -- Webguy pages have changed. To use the email mail/mail service I mentioned above, look for the Write2Them graphic on the right hand side of Webguy's main page -- click on it and it will describe the new service that allows you to send an email and have it turned into a mailed letter. [sorry, last week it had a mail box graphic -- now it is just the words Write2Them]. Still a very cool idea for parents who live at some distance from the Academy!!
 
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