Activities at USAFA

[AlphaBravo]

Does wings of blue count as your sport or can you to play a sport and patricipate in wings of blue? Also, can you participate in powered flight and wings of blue or just one or the other?

 

[Wooda]

What is wings of blue?

 

[FutureAcademyDad?]

Google for the win!

Wings of Blue

Known for its demonstration and competition teams, Wings of Blue also runs the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Basic Freefall Parachuting course.

www.usafa.edu

 

[AFrpaso]

Does wings of blue count as your sport or can you to play a sport and patricipate in wings of blue? Also, can you participate in powered flight and wings of blue or just one or the other?

Its not clear what you mean when you say "play a sport." Do you mean be an intercollegiate athlete, be on club team, or simply participate in intramural sports?

I cannot recall any IC athletes who were also on Wings of Blue.
I can think of a few cadets who did both club sports (boxing) and were on the Wings of Blue demonstration team, but not the competition team.

If you're on Wings of Blue, then I'm fairly certain you would granted "limited on-season" status which would exempt you from the requirement to participate in intramural sports. That said, I'd imagine people would be happy to let you play intramural sports for your squad if you were able to find the time. While I was a cadet intramural sports were mostly seen as a nuisance that few truly cared about. If that's still the case, then they may not be enough scratch your competitive itch.

Powered Flight is a course. Wings of Blue is a team. Doing one would not preclude you from doing the other. You might be confusing Wings of Blue with "Jump" (Airmanship 490) which is a course sometimes taken in the summer between freshman and sophomore year or as a senior during the academic year. It should be possible to complete both Jump and Powered Flight while you are at the Academy. It really just boils down to scheduling.

At any rate, you will have plenty of time to learn about these opportunities before you need to make any decision that will "close some doors."

FYI, the Wings of Blue team is selective and has rather involved try-outs.

 

[snarfly]

If you're on Wings of Blue, then I'm fairly certain you would granted "limited on-season" status which would exempt you from the requirement to participate in intramural sports. That said, I'd imagine people would be happy to let you play intramural sports for your squad if you were able to find the time. While I was a cadet intramural sports were mostly seen as a nuisance that few truly cared about. If that's still the case, then they may not be enough scratch your competitive itch.

Powered Flight is a course. Wings of Blue is a team. Doing one would not preclude you from doing the other. You might be confusing Wings of Blue with "Jump" (Airmanship 490) which is a course sometimes taken in the summer between freshman and sophomore year or as a senior during the academic year. It should be possible to complete both Jump and Powered Flight while you are at the Academy. It really just boils down to scheduling.

At any rate, you will have plenty of time to learn about these opportunities before you need to make any decision that will "close some doors."

FYI, the Wings of Blue team is selective and has rather involved try-outs.

Are there guidance counselors who monitor cadets' academic progress to ensure they're meeting requirements, and on a good path for graduation like at high school and traditional colleges?

 

[AFrpaso]

Are there guidance counselors who monitor cadets' academic progress to ensure they're meeting requirements, and on a good path for graduation like at high school and traditional colleges?

Yes, absolutely. There are two types. The first is the Associate Air Officer Commanding for Academics (AAOCA) which are officers on the academic faculty that are assigned to squadrons for the express purpose you describe. You will meet regularly with your AAOCA until you declare a major with a specific academic department. At that point the academic department's Advisor-in-Charge (AIC) and their assistants (advisors) take over most of the responsibilities of the AAOCA.

Check out section 2-1.2 Academic Counseling and Advising in the 23-24 USAFA Course of Instruction Handbook for more info.

 

[snarfly]

Yes, absolutely. There are two types. The first is the Associate Air Officer Commanding for Academics (AAOCA) which are officers on the academic faculty that are assigned to squadrons for the express purpose you describe. You will meet regularly with your AAOCA until you declare a major with a specific academic department. At that point the academic department's Advisor-in-Charge (AIC) and their assistants (advisors) take over most of the responsibilities of the AAOCA.

Check out section 2-1.2 Academic Counseling and Advising in the 23-24 USAFA Course of Instruction Handbook for more info.

Perfect! So if a cadet ends up doing an activity (or several) that may not count as a sport, then a counselor would catch it and be like, "um, hey, you need to sign up for something - here's a list of things you can sign up for" right?

 

[Firstgo]

I may be missing the scope of this discussion but if you are selected to be part of The Wings of Green team your Sophomore year and Wings of Blue your Junior/Senior year that pretty much takes up your spare time. It is very competitive team to get selected for but wonderful if you do get selected. There are many clubs such as cycling, Triathlon, various music teams /clubs you can join also. and so on.

 

[99Gold]

Perfect! So if a cadet ends up doing an activity (or several) that may not count as a sport, then a counselor would catch it and be like, "um, hey, you need to sign up for something - here's a list of things you can sign up for" right?

It's the opposite. You will be expected to do intramurals and other types of mandatory after-school/weekend training unless you have "limited on-season" status.

 

[T-37IP]

Let me put my annual plug for Drum and Bugle Corps. If you're a musician you can play. Both of my boys are woodwind players by nature but easily picked up brass. It is a time commitment but, especially for doolies, it is a break from "military life" and, if you like music, can be a daily happy place. They play at all of the home football games, some of the away games, Mardi Gras parades, an occasional airshow, etc. They also play basketball, hockey, and some volleyball games, but not as a whole band. D and B is not a drama-filled high school marching band, it is a college level band without music majors.

There is also an orchestra, although it's really more of a concert band, and a newly formed jazz band called Songbirds.

Keep an eye out after BCT for information.

 

[TLINAU2230]

There are basically four options to occupy your afternoons (with a few random exceptions not worth mentioning):

• IC - in which case you're practicing every afternoon
• LOS Sport - some club sports have what is called "LOS" which means they exempt you from intramurals. These clubs usually have a limited number of LOS slots, so you try out and if you get "LOS" on that team, you're practicing every afternoon. T-37IP mentioned D&B - they all have LOS status.
• Airmanship - if you get picked up for one of the three advanced airmanship options (Flying Team, Soaring IP, WOB), then you are also exempt from intramurals. This is due to the extremely high time commitment of these programs.

If you aren't in any of those categories, then the default will be:

• Intramurals - you'll meet a few times a week and play IMs with your squad

 

[AFrpaso]

Perfect! So if a cadet ends up doing an activity (or several) that may not count as a sport, then a counselor would catch it and be like, "um, hey, you need to sign up for something - here's a list of things you can sign up for" right?

From a mostly academics standpoint, yes. Ultimately this does not remove responsibility from the cadet to be on top of their requirements, responsibilities, and costs of seizing an opportunity. Your appointee is (or very soon will be) an adult charged their making their own decisions. . . and mistakes. . . as well as dealing with their consequences.

 

[AFrpaso]

Your appointee is (or very soon will be) an adult charged their with making their own decisions. . . and mistakes. . . as well as dealing with their consequences.