Class of 2018 Female, happy to answer questions

I tried sending you a message here.. but I guess you have to have X amount of posts before you can message anyone?? You can find me on FB.. Adrian Sutterfield.. PM me there and I can give you some additional info.
Thanks! - please check your "Other" folder on FB. Thanks!
 
Do you get kicked out for not being in shape? I am getting in shape, however I know that I am not as prepared as I should be. I pass the tape test, but I carry a few extra pounds. Will this be held against me? Is basic only about pt, or is there other stuff you can excel at? I am really nervous about basic!! Thanks for any feedback.
 
Do you get kicked out for not being in shape? I am getting in shape, however I know that I am not as prepared as I should be. I pass the tape test, but I carry a few extra pounds. Will this be held against me? Is basic only about pt, or is there other stuff you can excel at? I am really nervous about basic!! Thanks for any feedback.
I feel similar to you. I have been working out, but I know the physical aspect of BCT will be my weakness. I am hoping that there will be opportunities for us to excel at room inspections, memorizing knowledge (I think that's what it's called), and drill. I am hoping that if we try hard enough, we'll find something we're good at!
 
Do you get kicked out for not being in shape? I am getting in shape, however I know that I am not as prepared as I should be. I pass the tape test, but I carry a few extra pounds. Will this be held against me? Is basic only about pt, or is there other stuff you can excel at? I am really nervous about basic!! Thanks for any feedback.

Hey all, I too am a 2018 female Cadet. Don't worry about the 'few extra pound', you'll loose it within the first couple of weeks. And the physical aspect, they will get you in shape. No one goes into Basic being 'in shape' enough. Yeah some people can run or do a lot of push ups, but there is always something that the Cadre will find that you can't do.
BCT is a mixture of everything military. I'm sure you have heard already that 1st Beast is called "Hurry up and Wait" because they march or run you around places for you to go and wait a hour or to go to a 3 hour briefing.
2nd Beast is all physical and the hardest, but most fun part.
If i were you, start running in combat boots. Make your parents let you get a pair. That was my biggest regret after basic because my feet were destroyed by the second week and it was hard to transition from gym shoes to boots.
 
NLMom.. My daughter (now a C2C) was required to use the boots that were issued during inprocessing for BCT. It wasn't until after recognition that she was able to wear the Nike boots she ordered. Again, this was squad specific,meaning that your DS would have to check with his squadron leadership to see when he can wear them. There are a lot of great boots available (must be sage green in color). My daughter prefers the Nike and the last boot she ordered was:

http://m.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/special-field-boot/pid-438376/pgid-10349210

Hope this helps. If you haven't already, I would suggest joining some of the USAFA parents Facebook pages. A lot of additional great information and parents for support.
Thanks. I have joined a FB parents page which has helped. I didn't see anything on it about the ABU boots so I thought I would ask here.

Hi, I'm a 2018'er
I would suggest any type of air force sage green boot. Yes you can't wear them during Basic, but most squads allow you to use them during the school year.
Get him to run in them as soon as possible. My feet were destroyed by the second week because I wan not used to wearing combat boots for hours on end.
 
Are their hair dryers in the ladies rooms or do they have to bring their own? DD attending summer seminar. Thanks.
 
No hand driers anywhere on campus except select random bathrooms.
I never went to summer seminar, but I assume they wont have much free time, so I would suggest against sending her with one.
 
If its like Basic or other camps here, they may have about 5 minutes to 10 minutes in the morning.
 
Will I ever have time to just be myself?
I am genuinely excited for the discipline and challenges of life as a doolie, but I am just really scared that I will lose myself amongst everything. So is there any advice you can give for this, or any reassurance that there will be some type of free time that we can just cut loose for a while?
Thanks so much
 
Averyc, my biggest piece of advice is to find a group or club, or any other extracurricular that you feel comfortable being yourself in. I struggled immensely with not losing myself in all the doolie year pressures, but I joined the choir and that helped me greatly. I developed strong friendships that make the bad times more bearable. However busy you are, always take a moment to collect yourself and appreciate the little things you have. Hope this helps!
 
Averyc, my biggest piece of advice is to find a group or club, or any other extracurricular that you feel comfortable being yourself in. I struggled immensely with not losing myself in all the doolie year pressures, but I joined the choir and that helped me greatly. I developed strong friendships that make the bad times more bearable. However busy you are, always take a moment to collect yourself and appreciate the little things you have. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! At first I was hesitant about joining anything because of the large work load, but after reading this I definitely will.
 
Averyc, my biggest piece of advice is to find a group or club, or any other extracurricular that you feel comfortable being yourself in. I struggled immensely with not losing myself in all the doolie year pressures, but I joined the choir and that helped me greatly. I developed strong friendships that make the bad times more bearable. However busy you are, always take a moment to collect yourself and appreciate the little things you have. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! At first I was hesitant about joining anything because of the large work load, but after reading this I definitely will.

From what my DD, and DH have said and what 2018 parents have witnessed -- the best way to survive that first year is to get involved in something. A club, a sport, community service, etc. You NEED that downtime. You NEED to get out of your room. If you find yourself spending every weekend and free moment in your room, you are just setting yourself up for depression and failure. If nothing else, when you're allowed, go to Arnold Hall. Just get out of your room!
 
Averyc, my biggest piece of advice is to find a group or club, or any other extracurricular that you feel comfortable being yourself in. I struggled immensely with not losing myself in all the doolie year pressures, but I joined the choir and that helped me greatly. I developed strong friendships that make the bad times more bearable. However busy you are, always take a moment to collect yourself and appreciate the little things you have. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! At first I was hesitant about joining anything because of the large work load, but after reading this I definitely will.

From what my DD, and DH have said and what 2018 parents have witnessed -- the best way to survive that first year is to get involved in something. A club, a sport, community service, etc. You NEED that downtime. You NEED to get out of your room. If you find yourself spending every weekend and free moment in your room, you are just setting yourself up for depression and failure. If nothing else, when you're allowed, go to Arnold Hall. Just get out of your room!
When are freshman cadets allowed to go to Arnold Hall?
 
When are freshman cadets allowed to go to Arnold Hall?

That will be squadron dependent (i.e. if you or your squadron is restricted, etc.)
I believe my DD would go on the weekends.

I'll let a current cadet answer this one more specifically.
 
I wish to second USAFAGradWif's recommendation about getting out of your room. For her doolie year, our DD would felt compelled to study every free moment, foe several weekends in a row; my wife & I both felt that it was important t.o take "mental health" breaks every now & then.
 
When are freshman cadets allowed to go to Arnold Hall?
It is set by the wing training guidelines, one of the very few things that is not squadron dependent! First semester, we were only allowed after LMD on Friday to ACQ on Sunday. Second semester was every day. It'll probably be different for y'all though, it'll depend on what the wing training officer wants y'alls rules of engagement to be.
 
Averyc, my biggest piece of advice is to find a group or club, or any other extracurricular that you feel comfortable being yourself in. I struggled immensely with not losing myself in all the doolie year pressures, but I joined the choir and that helped me greatly. I developed strong friendships that make the bad times more bearable. However busy you are, always take a moment to collect yourself and appreciate the little things you have. Hope this helps!

I've always wanted to join a choir group but was never able to join a professional one other than my small church choir. How good do you have to be to join choir at USAFA? I have a basis of music from playing the piano and enjoy singing during my free time.
 
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