Cayden Sparks
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2015
- Messages
- 24
I'm currently a freshman at USAFA and I would be happy to answer questions.
Hello thank you for your time. My daughter received a Letter of Appointment from the USAFA for the class of 2020. When you have a chance, some questions;
1) Besides the physical training, what other preparation do you recommend before Day 1 to help her prepare for Freshman year?
2) We are thinking of suspending her cell phone service during her Freshman year, since you are not allowed to have a cell phone, is this true?
3) How are the professors do they offer support after class if needed and also do you declare your major on your Sophomore year?
Thanks again.
Prayers for the 6 airmen and their families.
Cayden thank you for offering to answer questions. . .
Cayden thank you for offering to answer questions.
My son is a cycling enthusiast, road, mountain, and track. I have a few questions relating to cycling during ones first year at the Academy
1) Under intramural sports the USAFA lists mountain biking. Also in the list of clubs they list Cycling/Mountain Biking. We were of the impression that he would not be able to bring any of his bicycles his first year. If not, does the USAFA provide bicycles for those activities?
2) If bicycles are not allowed on campus, can you store them off campus?
3) The USAFA states that the Colorado Springs municipal bus service does not run to the Academy. How do freshman students get into Colorado Springs? Is there a convenient way that one could get to the Olympic training velodrome? The Velodrome seems to have public training sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Is it feasible that one could plan on training at the velodrome on most Saturdays and Sundays? Or are USAFA activities more likely to limit ones ability to regularly train on Saturday and Sunday mornings? He understands he needs a pass and may not have one every weekend. Actually, his current impression is that during his first year very few Saturdays and Sundays will actually be free for activities of his choosing. Is he correct in that regard? Is there casual hitchhiking/carpooling points for cadets looking for a ride into town?
4) Similar to cycling, there is a ski racing club, can one bring ones own equipment (primarily, clothes, helmet and boots) or store conveniently off campus?
My kid has a few questions. . .
Sorry to hijack your thread, Cayden.
Can a plebe bring a guitar? Is there room to keep it?
Yes. It would be kept in your cadet's dorm room. Do not bring the guitar on I-Day. Bring it over parents weekend or have it shipped if that's something you're comfortable with.
When do you get all the different uniforms? All the first day?
Airman Battle Uniforms (ABUs) are issued on the first day. The cadets go to the tailor to be fitted for Blues and Service Dress soon after and receive the tailored uniforms near the end of BCT. Flight Duty Uniforms are issued before the school year starts. Cadets are fitted for Mess Dress during their Junior year and active duty Service Dress during their senior year.
When do plebes decide what sports they will play if not on an NCAA team?
If you are not on an NCAA team then you must either participate in intramurals or as a LOS (Limited On Season) athlete for an Academy Club team. Intramural teams are determined the squadron athletic officer, a senior. How they choose the teams is completing up to them. Some might leave sign up sheets out for the members of the squadron, some might give first pick of sports to seniors first, then juniors, sophomores, and finally freshman. The intramural sports for any given semester fluctuate but usually there's ultimate frisbee, soccer, flag football, boxing and basketball (there's probably a few I'm forgetting). Intramurals take place every other day. There's a minimum of 8 days total of 'pool play' among squadrons and then tournament play for squadrons who had the best win-loss record. So intramurals really don't last that long.
LOS is a status given to some cadets in competitive clubs. Typically a club must be nationally competitive before it is given LOS slots by the Academy. The process which a club grants LOS to its members is up to the club captain. There are only so many LOS slots given to each club. LOS excuses a cadet from intramurals but also makes club practice a military duty whereas a regular club member is not necessarily required to show up to club practice every day.
How much free time is available on a typical weekend? What percentage is spent studying as compared to hanging with Friends? Could a group of plebes get a pickup basketball game together on a Sunday for example?
I couldn't give you a percentage. The amount of time spent in various activities changes from weekend to weekend. For me, I take Saturday off from any academic related things and handle other stuff on Sundays. The freshman should definitely have time to set up a pickup game of basketball.
Also, we don't use the word 'plebe' at USAFA. The USAFA equivalent would be 'doolie' but that isn't as popular as it used to be. Now it's usually '4 degs' or 'frosh'.
Thanks a lot! Very helpful.
I know you only have a perspective from USAFA, but by chance do you know how different, if at all, it would be at USNA or USMA? Is life much different at USAFA than it is at the other two? Would your answers have been different?
My son is seeking an appointment to all three, and he really likes the idea of serving in each service. So far he has at least one nomination for each Academy. He would like to fly fixed wing, and likes what he has read about service in the AF, but the other services have advantages too. Did you consider attending one of the other academies? Any thoughts on the distinctions between the academies or services?
Thanks a lot! Very helpful. . .