Good idea to buy training mask?

Don't waste the money. We know you will be feeling the effects of elevation upon your arrival. Yes it will be slightly uncomfortable and you will have to breathe a little bit harder/faster. Everyone acclimates within a few weeks, just be sure you drink plenty of water.
 
Seems unnecessary to me. People on here often say that USAFA has their program of getting their basics acclimated to the elevation all fine tuned.

If you do get the mask, be ready. I've worn one for long distance training before and those things, or at least the one I wore, are no joke. Start slow.
 
I would suggest going to Colorado about 3 to 4 days before. Do a little hiking . When we go up to Colorado for tournaments during the summer we always try to get a few days in for the team. Definitely seen some kids get a little sick and some with no problems. We are in the south so the dryness, evening temp, and elevation can be a big change.
 
It will take your body @ 20-ish days to build up enough red blood cells to compensate for the lower atmospheric pressure (that's what the physicians told us during training). You can't do a thing to change that...it's biology. And the people that setup the BCT program know this, and while they'll push you, they will also make allowances for physiology.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
To go along with what Flieger said. I've had many candidates throughout the years bring up this concern. I tell them all the same exact thing.

"You are NOT the first person to attend the academy, NOT from the Rocky Mountain States". The academy has been recruiting classes for more than 55 years. The academy has figured out how to ensure cadets can acclimate and succeed. If you think you can find a way to get around the difficulties or think you know better than the academy's 55 years of experience; you are wasting your time.

As Flieger mentioned, the only way to beat the altitude issue, is "Biologically". That's not with breathing masks, or blood doping, or anything similar. Talk your family into taking a "Going Away" family vacation for 3 weeks. Travel through Wyoming to Yellowstone and the grand tetons; work your way through camping Roosevelt National Forest in Northern Colorado; and Work your way down to Pike's Peak to end your vacation. That's the only way you'll adapt to the elevation.

ANYTHING else you do; OTHER than extreme cardio training between now and "I-Day"; meaning lots of swimming and running (MANY MILES PER DAY), is a waste of your time and money. People from Florida, New Jersey, Texas, etc. get to the academy each year and do quite well. Between now and I-Day, run a few miles every morning; swim in the afternoon, and run a couple more miles after dinner. Do that every day (Skip swimming if you don't have a pool at school), and you'll be quite fine at the academy. Hang out with your friends, watch tv, and play X-box, and you'll probably feel it come I-day. Best of luck.
 
We are from basically sea level, our DS arrived the day before I Day, and he survived. Just arrive in very, very good shape as that will make it more bearable. The basic cadets that weren't if good physical shape struggled much more. They will adjust to the altitude.
 
Studies have shown that those masks don't work. In order to be effective, you would have to wear that thing 24 hours a day for months, and even then, there is no certainty of its effectiveness.
 
We are from Texas at about 700 ft elevation. We visited USAFA last week. DS wanted to try running there and see how it was. He is in excellent shape. The first run he went a little over 2 miles. He said he felt fine physically but it was kind of like he had already run a mile when he started. He got a minimal headache. Then he had a great nights sleep and ran again the next day. He did about 3.4 miles in about 30 minutes. Said he felt it just a bit but he did fine. Bottom line- be in good shape.
Side note- DS did not realize that the running trail that started near our hotel went to the edge of USAFA property. He was running along and right over his head come several planes pulling gliders up! It was a really cool thing for him to see. It put some spring in his step
 
Yep, what everyone above has already said. Candidates, you are young and you will adapt to the altitude in due time. For families coming out for short visits, drink lots of water while you are at elevation. You may still feel a constant dull headache that will not dissipate over just a weekend, but consuming lots of water often helps.
 
Not sure if anyone watched the superbowl. It was funny to see some Denver Broncos, who are use to the altitude, with oxygen masks on at the sidelines of the game. And that was definitely not at altitude. As others have said, be in shape and you'll be fine. Loaf for the next 3 months and you you'll feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest for the first few days.
 
Congrats ct appointee!
My ds is 2019 from connecticut and we got out day before i day last june and did fine - drink lots of water starting days before..we joked that we were on a mission to drink water, have water and find sources of water all over the springs for our day off together as a family before iday
It'll be one of those funny memories
Just dont run up stairs at your hotel first day
 
My sons redoubled their run distances and tried to do it in just 1-1/2 times their regular time. So, super pushed themselves for the 3 weeks before they went to CO. Worked like a charm for one guy, the other was still bothered by some nausea and dehydration. However, please note that twin 2: didn't bother to drink that darned water, like he was told... a million times.
 
I am lucky and work at a ski resort 4,000+ MSL at the base. Never noticed until I was jogging between buildings and got a little out of breath, so I looked up the stats... Altitude can bug some and not others. It just depends.
 
So what you're guys are saying is "You don't need it BUT it can take your training to the next level"?
I already do the 7km(3.5km morning, sometimes 3.km afternoon/night..2km plus for Warm-Up in sports + 7km walking weighted with ~120lb and will 30+ once I stop noticing the weight.

I say this cuz wanna take it to next level.
And also be the cadet with the mask on I-Day:D

Texted this from high elevation mountain on horizon view
 
Blue Baron.
I say this with kindness, but you keep pulling up very old threads where posters have already left the building. Sometimes it is best to start a new thread instead of retrieving ones that are 2, 6 and even 12 years old.
 
No need for sorry. Going off topic for a minute, but I feel for you and lurkers, this is a learning moment.

We all get your excitement, BUT you need to sit back for a second before posting.

1. THINGS CHANGE
~ What occurred 2 yrs ago may not be the same for your yr group.
~~ IE back in 07 they appointed 1650 +/- for USAFA. Since 09 it has been @1300 +/-
Pulling up a 12 yr old thread makes people think that nothing has changed over the course of the last decade, but it has. I bet my beloved dog that there will be some tweaking this yr compared to last yr. It might be minor, but with every minor tweak, eventually it becomes a major change over a decade.
2. POSTERS LEAVE
~ 50% of the people on the threads you are reviving left the building. Hit their name and you can see their latest posts. Regarding this thread some have not been here for yrs.
3. BREATHE
~ We get it. You want this bad. However, IMPO you are going in WAY TOO DEEP regarding USAFA. Enjoy your senior yr in HS. Apply for your plan B. C, D etc including ROTC scholarship.
~~ If you want to do the deep delve of threads, look at the TWE threads and click on those posters names. Many are ADAF now, because they had plan B, C, D, etc in place.
4. THIS IS AN ANOYMOUS FORUM
~ My pet peeve. Don't ask people to read your essay for USAFA or your MOC.
~~ Think about it from a reverse aspect. Some poster says something akin to your post...want to read my essay, pm me. You respond YEP. They send it to you via a PM. This is like the blind leading the blind. You are in HS, reading and critiquing another 17/18 yr old's essay. How is it that you, as a HS student wanting the exact same thing, can evaluate their essay? Last time I checked you don't have a college degree, all you are is a peer, an applicant or candidate at best.
~~~ I also am cynical. Since this is an anonymous forum, you don't know where they live. They could live in your state, and the next thing you know is they lifted parts of your essay for the MoC nom. Sen. A committee reads yours and theirs...wow, I see similarities, wonder which applicant wrote this, and which one plagiarized?
5. THIS IS A MARATHON
~ You are not even at step 5. Most appointees will not find out until March Mass Mailing, or iows 6 months from now...see above...BREATHE
~~ You are talking about in this and another post about breathing masks to prep for attending BCT. However, you have yet to secure a NOMINATION. Nor your ALO interview or your DoDMERB exam, both can trip you up. Talk about putting the cart before the horse! (Sorry)
~~~ See above regarding the TWE and plan B.C and D.

JMPO, but pull back a little. Use the search function. Read, read and digest what has been stated in the past.
 
The Blue Baron said:
7km walking weighted with ~120lb and will 30+ once I stop noticing the weight.

I say this cuz wanna take it to next level.
Click to expand...

You know, you can really take your SAT scores to a new level by doing practice tests with that 100 lb weight on your back. You know, start light then add 50 lbs. when you get your math score to 500.

Hell, my DS carried an armoire into the SAT and stomped it to the curb.
 
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