Acceptance Day Question

808DAD

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
56
My wife and mother-in-law will be flying in from Hawaii for A-Day without the men.:smile: I would like to get some information regarding the A-Day to limit the lost, frantic calls I would get that day. I won't be able to be there to limit the surprise level for my wife and mother-in-law so any information regarding A-Day will be helpful. They don't travel by themselves and this would be there first trip to Colorado Springs without any male figure around to take them around.:smile:

1. What gate can they enter from and what time is the best time to arrive to get good seats? I usually enter through the North Gate but I was just wondering if they could go through the South Gate if that is easier.

2. Where will the ceremony be located and where would they park if they are too early for the parking attendants to be there.

3. Where is a good place to get food for the cadets for after the ceremony? Are a lot tables and benches available or should they bring something to site on?

4. Will there be a designated area to eat with your cadet or could they go anywhere on campus to eat? Where on campus would be a good place for them to eat or do the squadrons usually eat in the same location together?

5. Any suggestions on where to get lunch from around the area?

Thanks for the responses
 
Unless you have a DOD ID you must use north gate. Parade is at the parade field just east of cadet area. Usually around 9, plenty of seats in the stands so you don't need to get there too early. No specific area to eat, many bring something and just picnic on a bench or the ground. Some tailgate. Many restaurants around, you may ask your basic what food they miss, Mitch's gets old by then. You will be able to walk around with your then Cadet for a few hours. Usually they have a briefing early afternoon. It's a long way to travel for 3 hours but worth the hug!


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usafamom is spot on. I recommend getting info from your cadet (they will have laptops and phones) regarding eats. Consider the many cadets w/o parents coming and bring extra food for them, too.
 
Pickup food before you go on base. You don't want to waste the entire time trying to buy food at USAFA. As said get extra food as there will be many squad mates without family present. Email your cadet if they want anything specific brought out. DW brought snacks and school supplies in her suitcase. She loved A-Day even though it is short. I do not think the new Doolies will have heir phones. Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, and water are a must.
 
PLEASE REMEMBER THOSE CADETS WHOSE PARENTS/FAMILY CAN'T COME!!

Food, drink, and phones appreciated.
 
Grandma is thinking of making the trip out to CO on A-day. How far is parking to where one can meet with their Cadet after the Ceremony? At 87 her walking distance is limited. Thanks.
 
For all of you planning to travel many hundreds of miles for A Day:

You are I assume all aware that your visit with your new cadet will be limited to just a couple hours. If you have to decide between Parents Weekend and A-Day, choose PW every single time.
 
Pointguard,

I believe it is similar to how PW is handled, but perhaps someone can confirm...

There are several parking lots down low then a fair walk (at altitude!) to the bleachers at the parade ground. For PW there are busses that will shuttle folks up that don't want to make that walk. Additionally, I believe it may also be possible to drop someone off in your car right there at the bleachers. In either case, that top parking lot is literally against the back of the bleachers (15 steps maybe?)
 
No access to email likely by A-day

I wouldn't counting on being able to contact your doolie via phone or email to find out what they want to eat. I just looked on the calendar provided in the parent's newsletter, and it indicates that laptops are issued on Aug 4, and email likely up on Aug 5. I assume that by "freshmen" they mean the doolies. I'm going to use the snail mail route.:thumb:
 
My wife and mother-in-law will be flying in from Hawaii for A-Day without the men.:smile: I would like to get some information regarding the A-Day to limit the lost, frantic calls I would get that day. I won't be able to be there to limit the surprise level for my wife and mother-in-law so any information regarding A-Day will be helpful. They don't travel by themselves and this would be there first trip to Colorado Springs without any male figure around to take them around.:smile:

1. What gate can they enter from and what time is the best time to arrive to get good seats? I usually enter through the North Gate but I was just wondering if they could go through the South Gate if that is easier.

2. Where will the ceremony be located and where would they park if they are too early for the parking attendants to be there.

3. Where is a good place to get food for the cadets for after the ceremony? Are a lot tables and benches available or should they bring something to site on?

4. Will there be a designated area to eat with your cadet or could they go anywhere on campus to eat? Where on campus would be a good place for them to eat or do the squadrons usually eat in the same location together?

5. Any suggestions on where to get lunch from around the area?

Thanks for the responses

Hey there 808Dad! As an "808" mom, I would like to do whatever I can to help make the tripe easier for your wife and mom-in-law. I too insisted that I go to A-Day whether my husband wanted to or not...and he ended up going with me. It was the best thing that I did that summer, hands down. You can also ask the 2 808 moms from the class of 2017 who went last year! Some tips:
1. if you can have them fly into CO Springs, that's easier. However, Denver is really fine and the rental car locations are easy to get out of.
2. Come the day before to make a trip to Walmart for school supplies, blanket, plastic tub for snacks and toiletries that need stocking up. Your cadet will have email by then and will be able to email a list of stuff he/she needs.
3. Order food the day before. We went to Panera at Briargate and ordered sandwiches. Went to Walmart and got chips/salsa, brought homemade cookies from home. Chick Fil A is also open early so could order food there.
4. Bring a softsided cooler tote or 2 for ice/drinks and to keep the food cold during the parade. Or you can buy them at Walmart when you get there.
5. Scope out the location of the ice machine at the hotel and plan your raid with a secondary ice source! There were a couple of us families in the same hotel and we pretty much cleaned out the ice machines early!
6. Bring a blanket to throw on the ground for the cadets to sit on.
7. What do the 808 cadets love for you to bring them from home? 2 words: HAWAIIAN SUN! We brought a case for 3 cadets, and each drank like 2 in about 1 minute.
8. In the morning, fill your tote with ice, put in your drinks, pick up food, head to North Gate. Park as close as you can to Stillman field (you may end up parking near the field house but there are signs) and leave food in the car. Don't take stuff with you as I believe they don't allow big bags.
9. I had a map beforehand that showed where the cadets would be for the ceremony and sat in the section in front of their squadron. Look at the USAFA BCT page...I'll try to find it and post. It was fun to meet all the squadron parents and chat. While it might seem like a stretch for us to come from Hawaii, some parents drove for 10 hours to get there! It was fun to get to know everyone.
10. They may not have their phones, so tell your cadet that your party will go to him...and stay with his squadron. Your wife will want to get photos of the shoulder boards anyway.
11. You will then go back to the car, grab the food and stuff and find a shady spot to throw your blanket. Don't waste too much time finding that perfect spot; the kids don't care. Just stay adjacent to the parking lot area.
12. Pack up in plenty of time to take the coolers back to the car, pick up the school supplies and help carry them back to the dorm. You can do this; we were able to go with our cadet, but then she had to escort us back out. So leave plenty of time for this. if they have to report in at 1:00 pm for example, start cleaning up and heading back at 12:15. The times may be different for you so make sure you know for sure.
13. Out of order, but we stayed at the north gate end to be close to food pickup and North Gate. Hilton Garden Inn. We grabbed our food quickly and coffee at Starbucks and were on the road very easily.

I know it is a big expense for 2-3 hours, but it was so worth it for us to see our cadet coming out of BCT. I'm glad your wife and mom-in-law are going! Send me a private message if you want to discuss any further! Congratulations and Aloha!
 
Our DS wanted mom's Spam Musubi....:shake:, which she made....and made, all wrapped and ready in the wee hours of the morning for consumption that day ...enough for any Basics that wanted one. :thumb:
 
Our DS wanted mom's Spam Musubi....:shake:, which she made....and made, all wrapped and ready in the wee hours of the morning for consumption that day ...enough for any Basics that wanted one. :thumb:

My husband drew the line at bringing the rice cooker!!! :)
 
Thanks

Thanks all for the suggestions. We all will be there for PW but my wife wanted to see DS get his boards. I would go too but I need to save my vacay days for PW.
 
I wouldn't counting on being able to contact your doolie via phone or email to find out what they want to eat. I just looked on the calendar provided in the parent's newsletter, and it indicates that laptops are issued on Aug 4, and email likely up on Aug 5. I assume that by "freshmen" they mean the doolies. I'm going to use the snail mail route.:thumb:

Historically, Doolies have temporarily received their phones and computers prior to A-Day. Texting makes it easier to plan quantity of food, where to get it from, and where to meet. Of course, things change every year.

I have limited mobility so I was unable to join the crushing crowd of parents on Stillman Parade grounds. We had to set a meeting point near the car (with the cooler full of Subway, chips, snacks and drinks. DS was able to keep some of the goodies left over for his room. We got lost heading to the C-store for books since it was his first time in Sijan unescorted. Saw his room, met his squadmates, and it was time to go. Worth the expense to us. Mom stayed at home, but felt good about the guys having time together.
 
I have limited mobility so I was unable to join the crushing crowd of parents on Stillman Parade grounds.
I would have thought that the Academy would be able to accommodate. Now I'm unsure what to do with my elderly mother that wants to attend.
 
Your mother CAN watch the A-Day Parade from the stands. However, if her mobility is limited she probably won't be able to run out on the grassy field afterwards. Not sure why you thought the Academy would be able to accommodate that type of action. Perhaps your elderly mother could wait in the stands for a couple of minutes until your cadet came to her?
 
Perhaps your elderly mother could wait in the stands for a couple of minutes until your cadet came to her?

That is what I did. My cadet came to me. On PW, the Academy had carts to take you from Sijan to Fairchild to base ramp, etc.
 
I realize that she can watch from the stands, her track & field days are over so no rushing out onto the field :eek: ....Is there a specific area set aside for the disabled and are we able to park near the stand using a handicap placard?
 
I realize that she can watch from the stands, her track & field days are over so no rushing out onto the field :eek: ....Is there a specific area set aside for the disabled and are we able to park near the stand using a handicap placard?

In the past (so it may no longer be true), you were directed to park in the Field House parking lot and you had the option to walk to Stillman Field or to take a shuttle bus there. It is a short distance for a physically fit individual, but you must traverse a significant vertical differential. The Academy does a nice job of accomodating people with disabilities.
 
Thank you for the response..I will discuss this info with my mother over the 4th of July.

:thumb:Happy 4th everybody
 
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