USAFA - Adopt a Cadet Program/Off Campus Church Services

Mark Nielsen

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
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Question #1 - Does anyone have any information they can share regarding the adopt a cadet program for out-state cadets? Success stories?

Question #2 - Is there a shuttle service available for out-state cadets to attend off-campus church services?

Any comments are appreciated!

Future USAFA Parents
 
Any Sunday there are not mandatory training events, you can leave to go to church.
Sometimes cadets may need to send up paperwork, but it is almost always approved.

Every cadet has a sponsor family. Sometimes it works great. Sometimes not. I never really got involved with the program, but my roommate spends most weekends with his sponsor family.
 
Thanks so much for the reply and your honesty in sharing. I realize for some this question may put people on the spot and this certainly was not my intention.

I met my wife of 21 years through a family at church. I am just curious on how many cadets take advantage of this program and why they may pass.

I know if I lived in the area it would be a "no brainier" to be involved.

Many thanks,

Future AFA Dad.
 
The sponsor family program at USAFA is a great thing and I think is successful most of the time. There are some reasons why it might not work out, though. Remember, the Academy is pairing 1300 new cadets with families in the COS area, based on questionaires filled out by both parties. Like any relationship, both halves have a part in making the match successful. Sometimes a cadet just might not 'click' with the sponsor family, and in that case there is a chance for the cadet to request a new family. Other times the family may be trying hard, but the cadet is not involved in the relationship for whatever reason, and contact becomes less and less until it just stops. I think a majority of the time it works out, but we have seen friends of our son in the situations above.

You asked about success stories, so I will share our son's experience:

Our son's sponsor family is probably one of the best experiences that he has had at the Academy. His sponsor dad is a retired Colonel and USAFA grad. The sponsor mom and dad keep in touch with our son a lot, and our son visits them occassionally. Now that he is a 2 degree and has a vehicle he doesn't rely on them for rides to the airport anymore, but he still has dinner on Sunday with them about once a month. Sometimes it is at their house, and sometimes our son takes them out for brunch. The family sponsors another 2011 cadet who spends a lot of time at their house studying and doing laundry. They also sponsor a prep school cadet. The sponsor family has had a cookout every year at their house after the football game on Parents Weekend. All the families of the cadets that they sponsor are invited, and it is very easy to see how much they care for each of their sponsorees. Their refrigerator is filled with photos of each of the past cadets who they sponsored, as well as pictures of the graduate's kids, and pictures of them at duty stations around the world. These people obviously care about the cadets and continue to keep in touch with them long after they leave USAFA.

Stealth_81
 
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Stealth,

Thanks so much for the reply. It looks like our son will be attending in June. He received an LOA and is waiting on his nomination. We should hear by mid January. USCGA is also an option. He is the oldest of our four children and will be the 1st out of the nest. My wife and I just wanted him to be able to break away once in awhile. Sounds like a great program.

Thanks for the info!

Sincerely, Mark and Pam....
 
If you know a specific family in the COS area, can you request for them to be your sponsor? Or is it a more random system than that? I have a friend that is a worship pastor at a church close to the academy, so could they be my sponsor family and the family that takes me to church on sunday?
 
If you know a specific family in the COS area, can you request for them to be your sponsor? Or is it a more random system than that? I have a friend that is a worship pastor at a church close to the academy, so could they be my sponsor family and the family that takes me to church on sunday?

Yes - but I believe that family has to apply. There used to be a link on the USAFA web page about sponsors but I have not seen it in awhile. I know they have to apply and after they I believe that sometime during BCT you are given a document to fill out wherein you note your preference of them by name. At least, that's how it was done in the past.

I have family in the area but for whatever reason my D did not end up with them as sponsors. However, it has actually worked out much better because she has the benefit of the family and also has a sponsor family. This has given he lots of options when she has needed rides or time away. She tells me if she had it to do again, she'd do exactly the same thing - have a sponsor (random) and have the family "on the side". She's getting the best of both worlds.
 
Academania,

Sounds like a great contact. I wish my son had the same situation. My wife and I trust that the Lord will provide. Our son is quite involved at church and has lead worship with his guitar and keyboard. I could see him reaching out to kids is his spare time wherever the Lord leads him. When he has time that is...:smile:
 
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