I - Day

Brdee09

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Messages
15
So my DS wants to fly out by himself for I - Day. He was pretty adamant about not wanting mom and dad to go with him. On one hand I'm glad he feels confident about traveling alone but on the other hand the whole idea is making me feel a little anxious. I've already made him a hotel reservation at the Hampton and I know a bus will be there to pick him up but the thought of him spending the night alone before I-Day make me feel bad. Does anyone know if there is anything going on that evening for those coming in alone? I guess I would just feel better if I knew he was with someone. Need some reassurance...:confused:
 
There are parents everywhere.

So my DS wants to fly out by himself for I - Day. He was pretty adamant about not wanting mom and dad to go with him. On one hand I'm glad he feels confident about traveling alone but on the other hand the whole idea is making me feel a little anxious. I've already made him a hotel reservation at the Hampton and I know a bus will be there to pick him up but the thought of him spending the night alone before I-Day make me feel bad. Does anyone know if there is anything going on that evening for those coming in alone? I guess I would just feel better if I knew he was with someone. Need some reassurance...:confused:

Last year I organized a dinner for incoming appointees at a local restaurant. What was supposed to be a dinner for about 20 appointees and their parents ballooned into about 40+ appointees and the parents had to eat in the main dinning room. One of the parents saw about 8 unattended appointees in the hotel and crammed them all into the van and drove them down. Believe me, people will be more than willing to embrace your son or daughter before I-Day. It might be a good thing to reach out to some of the parents on this forum. That is how many of us met.
 
There were at least 3 other incoming cadets without parents at the hotel we stayed at last year (Drury Inn, close to the AFA), so its not uncommon for cadets to come without parents and also not do the Bed and Breakfast program. I would think that as the appointment thread starts to fill up, you'll see other kids saying they are coming alone. I wouldn't be surprised to see other incoming cadets wanting to get to know each other, asking to Facebook each other, etc. and making those connections before I Day. They can even arrange to meet in Colorado Springs once they get in--hopefully if they are coming alone they will all be at the hotels closest to the AFA. Also check out the new Facebook USAFA Class of 2016 Parents page--last year a big group of 2015 FB parents (and their cadets) arranged to meet somewhere the night before inprocessing so people could meet, cadets would have a few familiar faces as they went through those first days, etc. Maybe this year's group will do something similar and your son could be part of the group. Every kid is different--my son wanted us to come (we spent a couple days ahead of time sight seeing), and there are plenty of parents that come, but there are also plenty of parents that don't. Whatever feels right for you and your cadet is fine!
 
I booked two nights at the Academy Hotel. It is about 2 miles south of the south gate. It used to be a Best Western, they changed the name last Oct or Nov. They are highly rated and they serve a complimentary cooked to order breakfast. Although we live 70 miles away, I thought it would be less stressful to spend the night before I-Day in place instead of getting up at 0' dark hundred and fighting traffic on I-Day. We are going to stay Thursday night as well so we can view the puplic swearing in ceremony Friday morning.
 
Hi Mom!

So my DS wants to fly out by himself for I - Day. He was pretty adamant about not wanting mom and dad to go with him. On one hand I'm glad he feels confident about traveling alone but on the other hand the whole idea is making me feel a little anxious. I've already made him a hotel reservation at the Hampton and I know a bus will be there to pick him up but the thought of him spending the night alone before I-Day make me feel bad. Does anyone know if there is anything going on that evening for those coming in alone? I guess I would just feel better if I knew he was with someone. Need some reassurance...:confused:

First, congrats on your son's appointment to USAFA. I will PM you regarding your Mom question.
:smile:
 
AFAYahoo, I remember a post about a 2016 Parents Facebook page, but didn't have the time to check it out then. Do you know how it's listed on a search? I am a Facebook newbie so I'm not sure how to find it.

Brdee09, my DH is planning on taking our DS to I-Day. He is an alumni from the class of '81 and will be flying into Denver a few days early. We thought about sending him on his own, but decided that because rental car companies won't rent to 18 yr olds, my DH would be his 'driver'. They are hoping to meet up with other appointees, so I doubt your DS would have a problem meeting up with future classmates.
 
Lone Traveler

Thank you falconfamily and AFAYahoo for your replies. I feel a bit better. I'm hoping too as more appointments roll out we'll start to hear from others traveling by themselves. I think I just need to take a deep breath and relax for a bit. If he was able to survive through the whole nomination process I think he can handle one night in a hotel. :rolleyes: So thankful for these forums. It people like you who keep me sane.
 
Thanks All! I will definitely keep an eye on the forums and make sure to follow up with a thread for the lone traveling cadets. Feeling much better now.:biggrin:
 
Bed & Breakfast program through AOG

I highly recommend doing the Bed & Breakfast program through the AOG. Sign up was online through the AOG. Think it cost $10-15 in 2009. But AOG will pair your son up with someone who volunteers to take them in for the night, feed them, and get them to AOG building (Doolittle Hall) for in-processing. Usually the people who volunteer take more than one person coming alone.
Most are USAFA grads, some are professors. Person might meet them at the airport, but often pick them up at Doolittle Hall.
Our DS did it 3 years ago (wow - will he really be a firstie this summer???); they had 2 other appointees and took pictures of them when they got to Doolittle Hall and emailed us. They also took him to WalMart after he arrived to get full size toiletries -- only had carry on for the plane and couldn't bring full size shampoo, toothpaste, etc. They later became his sponsor parents, though not all B&B people do that.

And KAFA (USAFA's radio station) will broadcast live all day so you will get to hear some of the stuff going on.
 
ParkMom, mom2015hopeful's link will work great, but the search on Facebook would be USAFA 2016 Parents. I was a Facebook newbie last year, just joined so I could instant message with my son after Basic (his squadron is pretty strict--no cell phones until late fall, not allowed to Skype or Oovoo with a webcam) so it was a great way to communicate. But the parents pages are great sources of support and info. I have a son who never seemed to know any details of things, but I could always find out things on the parents page (and usually from the parent of a female cadet--for some reason they seem to share more than the males! :rolleyes:) .

Brdee09, definitely take a big deep breath and relax! I'm sure your son will do great in the hotel. He's passed one big hurdle--getting in the AFA!--and will be fine as he faces each new challenge. Its been an adjustment for me to let go and see my son maturing and growing and (gasp!) making decisions and doing things on his own, but its been fun too. Good luck to you and your son!
 
Nervous

Anybody feeling nervous yet? My DD is getting a tad bit fidgety now that we are under 100 days. I think the tone of this forum is going to change from anticipation to joy/disappointment to confused/curious to nervousness then outright fear. Big, big change from the comforts of home, the loving embrace of family and high school senior status to an absolutely spartan, system shocking, world of yelling and humiliation all in the matter of minutes. Talk about a partition in life.
 
Anybody feeling nervous yet? My DD is getting a tad bit fidgety now that we are under 100 days. I think the tone of this forum is going to change from anticipation to joy/disappointment to confused/curious to nervousness then outright fear. Big, big change from the comforts of home, the loving embrace of family and high school senior status to an absolutely spartan, system shocking, world of yelling and humiliation all in the matter of minutes. Talk about a partition in life.

Ha, I was scolded earlier when I posted that they were under another topic. My son is excited, but still enjoying his last days of high school. He has senioritis to a degree, but still maintaining his grades. He is just ready to start the next stage of his life. He knows what he is in for, as his sister is going to be cadre this year for 1st BCT. She is in the class of 2014.
 
I will be flying in without my parents (I opted that the Academy send me my itinerary). I plan on doing the AOG Bed and Breakfast program.
 
I would second Greentrees recommendation that anyone who is travelling alone to I-Day take advantage of the Bed and Breakfast program.

Our son's B & B parents picked him up at the airport and fed him dinner, talked to him all evening and calmed his nervousness. They fed him breakfast and took him to Doolittle in the morning and made sure he had everything that he needed. They were also his family for Doolie Day out and then evenually became his sponsor parents. The dad is a retired Colonel and a USAFA grad. They were great to him for all 4 years, and our son was honored to have him admister his commissioning oath at graduation. They still keep in touch with our son and us. This particular family's refrigerator is covered with graduation photos of all of the kids that they have sponsored as well as any new pictures of their grad's kids, spouses, planes, etc.

It is a really great program that is run by the AOG, who are folks who have a great amount of experience taking care of new cadet candidates.

Stealth_81
 
I HIGHLY recommend the Bed and Breakfast program.

I wanted to separate my goodbyes from inprocessing. It was the right call for me, but everyone is different.
The B&B program worked out great, because I stayed with an old 1960-something grad who was able to give me some good advice (as well as a really good steak dinner).
 
I was completely prepared for my son to fly out to AFA by himself but after he found out he got his appointment he suprised us by asking if we would drive him out. His one request was that we leave his sibblings at home. So we booked a nice hotel for June 26th-29th. My husband and I will have a nice little vacation with no kids after we say goodbye to our son.
 
Anybody feeling nervous yet? My DD is getting a tad bit fidgety now that we are under 100 days. I think the tone of this forum is going to change from anticipation to joy/disappointment to confused/curious to nervousness then outright fear. Big, big change from the comforts of home, the loving embrace of family and high school senior status to an absolutely spartan, system shocking, world of yelling and humiliation all in the matter of minutes. Talk about a partition in life.

BBB, my daughter just heard less than an hour ago and I've experienced all of those emotions within the last 45 minutes! It's going to be quite an emotional ride, to be sure!
 
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