Ask a Doolie Anything!

How's the cell phone service up there? I currently have T-Mobile and I was wondering if I should change providers
 
MuricanFalcon said:
How's the cell phone service up there? I currently have T-Mobile and I was wondering if I should change providers
Click to expand...

It really depends on what dorm you're in and where your squad is located. I'm in the westernmost end of sijan with at&t and I normally have 5 bars of 4g lte. I know my friends who have verizon barely get a signal over here. I've also heard that verizon works pretty well over in vandy but at&t doesn't work well over there. Apparently t mobile is pretty decent all around.
 
Does the Academy let you use your own laptop? I am considering getting a laptop now, but then I thought it might be a stupid investment if I get accepted to USAFA and can't bring it there after BCT.
 
baileydb said:
Does the Academy let you use your own laptop? I am considering getting a laptop now, but then I thought it might be a stupid investment if I get accepted to USAFA and can't bring it there after BCT.
Click to expand...

I would wait. Put aside that you will receive a laptop form that Academy that will be allowed on the military network it doesn't make sense to make major purchase (Think XBOX, TV, Stereo, etc) until you know what restrictions you have. Also your personal computers (if I remember right) will not be allowed on the network so you will have to use your cell phone as a hotspot and get out the interwebs that way :D Just bad all around to get a laptop that will be outdated before you can even uses it at The Hill.
 
Boozebin said:
I would wait. Put aside that you will receive a laptop form that Academy that will be allowed on the military network it doesn't make sense to make major purchase (Think XBOX, TV, Stereo, etc) until you know what restrictions you have. Also your personal computers (if I remember right) will not be allowed on the network so you will have to use your cell phone as a hotspot and get out the interwebs that way :D Just bad all around to get a laptop that will be outdated before you can even uses it at The Hill.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice! I've been putting aside quite a few purchase decisions lately until I can see where I'm going to be next year, because it doesn't make sense to buy a lot right now if it's all going to get taken away in a few months :)
 
baileydb said:
Thanks for the advice! I've been putting aside quite a few purchase decisions lately until I can see where I'm going to be next year, because it doesn't make sense to buy a lot right now if it's all going to get taken away in a few months :)
Click to expand...

They do let you use your own laptop. However, you can't connect it the internet unless you get the image on the disc wiped and allow the IT guys here to install some special software on it. I don't know anybody that is not allowed to not have a laptop, however, things always change.
 
I am going to get my son a book on basic aeronautical engineering for his 18th bday. Do you have one that you recommend?
 
Is there a place for cadets to store items, such as: ski equipment and bicycles? For example, triathletes may have a road bike and a Tribike for competition. Thanks!
 
Kirkmanj said:
Is there a place for cadets to store items, such as: ski equipment and bicycles? For example, triathletes may have a road bike and a Tribike for competition. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Kirkmanj,

As a freshman, ski equipment will most likely need to be kept in the cadet's room. In most squadrons, freshman are allowed to have a ski jacket and pants as the exception to the "no civilian clothes" rule. As an upperclassman, ski gear can be kept in storage rooms if desired.

The USAFA Triathlon Club also has a dedicated storage room for bicycles and anyone is welcome to join! If you're not part of the club then there are tons of bike racks below the dorms.
 
The USAFA Cycling Team also has a dedicated room for storage and working on your bikes if you are on the team which is open to anyone
 
Thanks for the reply, AFrpaso and Blackbird. Can you tell me how intramural sport options typically fit in a schedule? For example, do cadets select a couple and alternate training days, are they seasonal like high school sports, and does a year round sport like triathlon take up too much time to join other sports of interest? Ideally, my son would like to do triathlon and another sport or two.

I would love to heard rom a cadet on the best way to participate fully. Thanks!
 
Okay, so there are three ways to participate in sports at USAFA.

1) Intercollegiate athletics (ICs)
2) Club sports teams
3) Intramurals

ICs are pretty cut and dry, you either are one or you aren't. IC sports take up a huge amount of time so it would be very difficult to be an IC for one sport and still plays others (I'm not an IC, but I would bet that they actually aren't allowed to play other sports). ICs do not do intramural sports.

Club teams are free game, open to anyone. Each club team is designated a certain number of Limited On Season (LOS) slots. As an LOS athlete, you are required to attend club team practices, unless you have arrangements with the team captains (For instance, sometimes a LOS Tri Club member might practice with the Cycling Club or vice versa). If you are LOS for a club, expected to be committed to the sport. Non-LOS members of a club sport have no official obligations to the team. LOS is a status that clubs usually determine each semester based on ability and commitment. If on LOS, you don't have to do intramurals (but you can as long as you've cleared it with the team captain.) As non-LOS, you are required to do intramurals.

Finally, intramurals are mandatory if you are not an IC or LOS athlete. These are held each semester and usually consist of about five different sports. Each cadet squadron puts together a team for each sport and competes in a bracket within their cadet groups. The finalists of these brackets face off against each other. There is usually one practice day and then ten or so games on alternating days. Some people are competitive, some aren't. The whole bracket usually lasts about 3-4 weeks and then you're done for that semester.

Which other sports is your son interested in? The Tri team has a pretty good relationship with the Cycling and Marathon team for obvious reasons. If you're LOS for a team, expect to be committed, but that doesn't mean you can't leave mid semester if such a commitment is too much.
 
DS had expressed interest in cycling, parachuting, and even boxing, and is good at skiing and ultimate frisbee. It would be nice for him to continue triathlon while mixing in a few others, as time permits. From your post, it looks like this may be possible. But, I guess he can figure that out after he receives an appointment. :) thanks again!
 
MWM2016 said:
Does it look bad if you got a B in say chemistry, but it was honors? and the same applying to one year of English ( so a B in honors English) whilst you got straight A's in algebra 2 and geometry? I'm not sure if it looks bad that I didnt take honors math? Also, is a B considering bad for the academy???
Sorry for the many questions!
Click to expand...

So if you mean these grades as in your high school career, all though you should strive for A's, I made at least one B every year and got a C in Pre Ap Precalculus. I also took all honors and AP classes. Keeping your GPA high is ideal but the academies understand that taking all honors classes can be challenging. Even with my hiccups in grades and only having a 3.6 GPA, I was still appointed to the 2019 school year at USAFA
 
What do you do if you wear contacts during BCT? Do you have to wear glasses instead or are you allowed to wear contacts?
 
During BCT do we have to do parachuting or anything, IE jumping out of a plane or copter?
 
mroberts5102 said:
RogersCO'19 said:
During BCT do we have to do parachuting or anything, IE jumping out of a plane or copter?
Click to expand...
I'm not a cadet, but from what I've seen, not at all. That's an activity offered to upper class cadets during the summer.
Click to expand...
Ohh okay, that one has been on my mind a bit haha, I intend on studying behavorial science. I'd like to work in the mental health field to help soliders with mental illnesses such as PTSD so I don't particularly want to jump out of stuff but I will if required and maybe once just to say I did!
 
nukepharm said:
What do you do if you wear contacts during BCT? Do you have to wear glasses instead or are you allowed to wear contacts?
Click to expand...
You will be required to wear glasse, but fear not as they will issue you a beautiful new pair of BCG's for your viewing pleasure....
 
Don't worry about the glasses, usually the fact that you go to USAFA is a strong enough deterrent itself.



Sorry I had to (Go Navy). But from what I've heard BCGs are usually only strictly worn during summer and more casually after that
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top