Watch

I have heard that freshman year at the academy you are not aloud to have a lot. Do you think that an apple watch would be a good graduation gift? Would we be able to use it?

Watches are typically returned after BCT.
However, phones are very squadron dependent.... some get them as soon as A-day, others aren't until Christmas, a rare few are even later.
Finally, remember that getting non-USAFA issued devices onto the computer network is generally not allowed. So you may not want to count on having WiFi.

FYI, at least the two years that I've been here, squadrons have been specifically forbidden by wing training from keeping phones from 4-degrees. But definitely don't plan on getting civilian wifi here except for a few select spots on campus.

From what I heard even after BCT things tend to break a lot during 4 degree year so maybe no to the Apple watch in particular, but I'm obliviously no expert

Don't buy your son/daughter an apple watch. They are way too expensive and the 'training' that will be done during freshmen year is very strenuous, and could damage the watch.

No civilian wifi is also kind of a deal breaker, at least for me.

Please, don't get the Apple watch. If you want to tell time, get a WATCH.

I don't know if it is still true, but for the longest time, cadets were not permitted "thumb" drives (Zip sticks... known by many names).

It's not that we aren't allowed to use them, it's that we can't on a government computer, if I recall from our training.

fencersmother said:

Please, don't get the Apple watch. If you want to tell time, get a WATCH.

I don't know if it is still true, but for the longest time, cadets were not permitted "thumb" drives (Zip sticks... known by many names).

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Lol... it was DoD wide... not a "Cadet" thing.

Yes Cad, I knew that, but some ppl don't connect USAFA with DoD.

Is it still in effect? I don't think so but I'm out of that loop

It isn't a good idea for a number of reasons. There are guidelines on the look/style of a watch for the USAFA, and I am unsure if it meets the requirements. There is no cvivilian wifi at the USAFA that the watch could use which renders much of the watch functions useless. There are strict rules and protocols regarding access to the USAFA internet. Their phone's can't access the USAFA internet either. Also, the Doolie year is rough, and it has a much higher chance of getting broken or lost. If you are looking into something "tech like" for his birthday, I would suggest a better data plan for his cell phone. There are many things the cadets can not access through the USAFA internet. Many use their smart phones to access these things, thus driving up the data use.

MombaBomba said:

It isn't a good idea for a number of reasons. There are guidelines on the look/style of a watch for the USAFA, and I am unsure if it meets the requirements. There is no cvivilian wifi at the USAFA that the watch could use which renders much of the watch functions useless. There are strict rules and protocols regarding access to the USAFA internet. Their phone's can't access the USAFA internet either. Also, the Doolie year is rough, and it has a much higher chance of getting broken or lost. If you are looking into something "tech like" for his birthday, I would suggest a better data plan for his cell phone. There are many things the cadets can not access through the USAFA internet. Many use their smart phones to access these things, thus driving up the data use.

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Agree on the data plan!

DD tethers her phone to her computer (personal) to surf the internet, watch movies, etc. There was a big sweep of "unauthorized software" recently on the Academy issued computers which resulted in several cadets needing to have their computers reformatted.

But none of this matters until after BCT & for some squadrons until after Recognition.

If you want an apple watch, get an apple watch. To add on what blahukahuna said, every freshmen was able to use their phone this year. Obviously not during class, or training, or anything like that. But the training staff was forbidden from restricting access to your cell phone. We got ours back a few hours after we officially finished basic, and it has not been taken away from us since then (excluding recognition). As for training, you can just take it off before any training occurs. I have a decently nice watch that I use for day to day wear, and a sports watch that can take some punishment. Before any training sessions, I would swap watches out. You will 99.99% be able to do the same if you want to. Civilian wifi is pretty hard to find on campus, but places do have it. A-Hall and the Barber Shop has it, and while you may be restricted from A-Hall as a freshmen, you'll always be able to go to the barber shop and use their wifi. You also won't be allowed to hook up the watch to a usafa computer, but you're allowed your own computer, and you'll be able to utilize the WiFi in various places around campus. As long as it's not gaudy, it should fit in regs. One of my O-5 teachers waited in line all night for one, and he proudly wears it in his flight suit every day, so it should be in regs. If you are still iffy about the watch, and even excluding the watch completely, I definitely agree with what Mombabomba and USAFA83GradWife said. A more robust data plan would be a really great gift as well!

nolifepilot said:

. . .so it should be in regs!

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For anyone who is browsing and is unfamiliar:

The "in regs" in this context refers to "conforming to military regulations", in this case the rules which govern dress and personal appearance. If anyone is interested in what the AF standards are then look up AFI 36-2903.

The other issue I'd see with an Apple Watch is….. in the future, if he or she is working in a secure space, I'm pretty sure that watch will have to come off.

I think Apple watches look cool, but if I had a job dealing with things in classified spaces, I wouldn't wear my Apple watch when I worked out (because I wouldn't want to break it) and I wouldn't wear it in while dealing with classified crap….. so when could I wear it? Would I really want to take it one and off at work? Probably not. So I'd stop wearing it at work too.

My parents got me a GPS watch for my high school graduation. It was HUGE. I wanted to wear it but I couldn't, for a number of reasons. I never really wore it. I still have it, and of course, technology has far surpassed the capabilities of the GPS watch.

He has a phone to do phone things. Let the watch be some classy thing he can wear anywhere and tell time with. I have a nice Omega I wear all of the time. When I'm working out or somewhere that could get rough, I through on a Timex watch. But don't get me wrong, I think the Apple watch is really cool.