Traveling with DS for I-Day

USAFA18DAD

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As we prepare for I-day, I was reviewing the Appointee travel recommendations and in bold letters they state that USAFA recommends that we not travel with our DS for I-Day...they recommend waiting til Parents Weekend? Thoughts?
 
As we prepare for I-day, I was reviewing the Appointee travel recommendations and in bold letters they state that USAFA recommends that we not travel with our DS for I-Day...they recommend waiting til Parents Weekend? Thoughts?

I'm going to ask DD what she'd like me to do. She probably won't know until that morning.
 
Many parents will arrive with their sons/daughters for I-day. It is really up to your appointee. The AOG has an excellent bed and breakfast program. When my DD was appointed, I went a long with her. Glad I didn't miss it. If you can only afford one trip then it should be PW! It is their first real chance to spend any time away from the Academy. They are tired and craving homemade/tastier food. So, there will be other times that you will have to consider beyond I-day. There is also Acceptance day, you will at most get to spend about 2-3 hours with your cadet after the parade. For those that can afford it, it is worth the trip, but by no means should you stretch your budget to attend. Make your reservations now for PW, they fill up quickly in the Springs.
 
As we prepare for I-day, I was reviewing the Appointee travel recommendations and in bold letters they state that USAFA recommends that we not travel with our DS for I-Day...they recommend waiting til Parents Weekend? Thoughts?

While most people will recommend that you do what your child wants and what will make his or her transition easier, Christcorp (who speaks volumes of wisdom in all things USAFA) has opined that us parents, who have been there with our kids every step of the way, should have some say in the matter as we too have emotional needs at this very important juncture in our kids', and in our own lives. I know that I needed to see my kid off to the bus, and I'm glad that she wanted me there too. So...while I agree that in part it is dependent on the nature of your kid and your relationship with him or her, listen to your heart and let your kid know what YOU want to do as well and have the discussion from there. I'm glad my husband and I went, my daughter was glad we were there up until the last moments, but I'm sure she would have been just fine without us as well. Take into account whether your finances can handle it and whether you have kids at home who need you...but listen to what your heart tells you as well. (moms...I'm tearing up as I write this because I remember that day so well...!)
 
We'll be there as well! I honestly wouldn't miss it for the world. And we'll be there for A-day and PW as well. Not sure how I'm going to handle the drive home but thankfully DD has younger siblings to keep us busy.

I'm tearing up already...I'm going to be a mess...
 
Unless your DS or DD really objects, I recommend going to I-day if possible. It gives you a glimpse into what they are experiencing, and if you have not visited the Academy, a chance to see where they will be. Also the Swearing In ceremony that takes place the next morning is one of my most vivid memories of the USAFA experience.... it is very moving.
 
No question

4 years ago when we were planning for I-Day, there was no question: We (the parents) were attending! We really never gave our DS an option and he never questioned why we were going. Of course I-Day is for the appointees to become basic cadets and begin the hardest thing most of them have ever done. But it is very important for many parents to see the Academy, to meet parents from every corner of the country, to see the swearing in ceremony, and appreciate the fact that you (the parent) are now part of a large family. The only excuse IMHO for not attending would be cost. However, if you can afford it, both parents and siblings should go. Make a vacation out of it. (And if you haven't done so already, make your hotel reservations for Parents Weekend too)
 
I believe that it should be up to the appointee. We left it up to our son and he asked to go it alone. He wanted time before to prep himself for it mentally and we allowed him his wish. I have never regretted not being there for I-Day.

Stealth_81
 
My son didn't care either way, so we made it a family vacation and flew out on the Sunday before I Day. It gave him time to acclimate to the altitude, we are from Rhode Island and he was able to meet up with some other appointees and go mini golfing, bowling, horseback riding and go cart riding with them before I Day. At least when he arrived on I Day, there were a few "Doolies" who looked familiar to each other. Of course, my son is a part of the 2016 class and that was the year of the Canyon Fires that changed I Day a little. Good Luck to all the new Appointees!!!
 
I believe that it should be up to the appointee. We left it up to our son and he asked to go it alone. He wanted time before to prep himself for it mentally and we allowed him his wish. I have never regretted not being there for I-Day.

Stealth_81

Thanks for posting this. My DS said he would like to go it alone. He isn't fond of the teary goodbyes and would rather do it at home. He doesn't want the emotional goodby just as he enters BCT. I actually am proud that he wants to do it this way.

We do plan to attend both A-day and Parents weekend.
 
RE: attending I-Day

I realize that everyone needs to make the decision that is best for them. My son wanted to go to I-Day alone and I (his mom) wanted him to go alone....
I felt that this was the first truly fully independent step of his life to travel to USAFA. I wanted him to experience it fully and we had the biggest blessing as a result of our decision NOT to attend. Our son (Class of 2016) was placed with the most amazing family for the "Bed and Breakfast" Program which is sponsored by the AOG. This program places our sons and daughters with graduates of USAFA who are current officers in the Air Force. (Or at least- his family is comprised of two Air Force officers- one of whom is currently active duty.) This family was absolutely AMAZING and the experience was so great for our son and this family, that they agreed to become my son's sponsor family. WELL, this "Bed and Breakfast" program has provided our son with the BEST sponsor family in the world. I am not exaggerating....They adore my son and he adores them... They have a 13 year old son and a 10 year old daughter who have become younger "siblings" to my son. He is so comfortable with this family that words are not adequate to express my gratitude. Now...I know that not everyone has this amazingly happy ending, but I know that if I had gone to "I-Day this family would never have met my son, and they would not be his sponsor family. I will be "forever grateful" for the immense gift that they have been both to him and to us. I am so thankful for all of the contributions that USAFA (and the AOG) have made for our talented sons and daughters.:smile:
 
I believe that it should be up to the appointee. We left it up to our son and he asked to go it alone. He wanted time before to prep himself for it mentally and we allowed him his wish. I have never regretted not being there for I-Day.

Stealth_81

^^^^^^^ Best advice EVER regarding I-Day. It is a radical change and it is a HUGE choice that they now OWN. We went with to I-Day, but DS looked me square in the eye at Doolittle Hall and said, "Dad, I got this. College is all on me." Put my wife and I at total ease. Going was a good idea for him. Plus DS made it easy on us. No "eye sweating" until well after DS got on the bus.
 
Wow! Great story! My DS met his sponsor family in the CSO airport...he received his appointment call from our congressman on our way back from visiting the academy and a sponsor family was sitting next to us and the rest is history...truly amazing.
 
Thanks for the insight...we are definitely attending I-day!

Attending I-day as a parent is much different that traveling with them to I-day (why it was in bold). I say no to traveling with them (on the same plane) and yes to the last hug goodbye on the grounds and especially watching the entire day from a far.

Furthermore, you will be missing out big-time is you don't go. We are soooooooo glad that we went. Oh. I-Day is all about SE (Scope Envy). Borrow the biggest baddest hunting scope you can and stabilize it on the wall. The parents around you will have a severe case of "SE" as they try to guess which shaved head son is theirs.:wink:
 
Attending I-day as a parent is much different that traveling with them to I-day (why it was in bold). I say no to traveling with them (on the same plane) and yes to the last hug goodbye on the grounds and especially watching the entire day from a far.

Furthermore, you will be missing out big-time is you don't go. We are soooooooo glad that we went. Oh. I-Day is all about SE (Scope Envy). Borrow the biggest baddest hunting scope you can and stabilize it on the wall. The parents around you will have a severe case of "SE" as they try to guess which shaved head son is theirs.:wink:

We are going to drive to Colorado from Texas and make it a vacation TRAVELING with our DS. We just want to enjoy him before he "transitions".
 
We are going to drive to Colorado from Texas and make it a vacation TRAVELING with our DS. We just want to enjoy him before he "transitions".

We did the same thing with our DS in 2012 except we drove from Kentucky to Colorado. Now he will be a BCT cadre this year. Wow, where has the time gone?

Our DS was fine either way: us driving him to I-Day or him flying to it on his own. He let us choose. 2012 was the year that Colorado was burning down during the week of I-Day which made for a very interesting vacation. But we did connect up with a number of DS friends and their families from NWP (Northwestern Prep) where DS attended the previous year. It was truly an adventure. We were blessed that our Colorado Springs hotel was east of I-25 since most everything west of I-25 was evacuated. The whole week made for lots of great memories including seeing him go onto the bus and taking the oath the next day.

If you do take your Appointee out, be prepared for them to become quiet and contemplative as the Day draws closer. The mental shift that even the most confident Appointees go through is one reason some Appointees want to go out by themselves. The other reason is that some Appointees are concerned one or both parents will emotionally lose it and become a distraction to the Appointee. I did meet one Appointee dad who refused to drive out because he didn't want to have to drive all the way home with Mom crying the entire way. Each family is different and needs to decide for themselves. DS, who is normally very out going, and the other NWP appointees were definitely on the quieter side and some were downright serious the day before. We got that, respected it, and enjoyed the time anyway.
 
We'll be driving from Texas too. I know I'll cry, but I also know DD would be upset if I didn't...lol. And she wants us there.
 
We made a vacation out of it, went to Breckenridge first, got used to the altitude. I am a crier and my son was OK with that but I didn't share a tear when he went off on his own (field house not Doolittle hall due to fires). When I did dry was the next day. Unbelievably moving swearing in ceremony we watched from the wall. This is a MUST SEE for those who are there. Even my husband was teary eyed after the national anthem, Air Force song and the entire 2016 class swearing to protect and defend our great constitution.
 
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