Questions About Freshman Year?
- Thread starter Cayden Sparks
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BlahuKahuna
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With the exception of BCT, cadets have phones. If you hear someone saying in the last 2-3 year phones have been taken away during the academic year, they're wrong.
You can do a lot on the laptop, so you'll have to be more specific...I would say the biggest restrictions are trying to access blocked websites using a variety of methods or downloading illegal software. If you have a specific question I can probably help there.
Plenty of cadets play video games. There may be restrictions on 4* based on squadron ("media privileges" is a common term used), but I know a ton of cadets who love to game.
I've heard that the academy provides laptops. Is that correct? My son already has one, but I thought we'd upgrade as a graduation present. Don't know if I should yet.
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I've heard you cannot bring your own laptop and you must purchase the one provided to you at the Academy. So, I would save your money, unless YOU need the upgrade and can keep it for yourself.
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Yes, they will be issued laptops, and they will pay for them through their paychecks. I wouldn't spend any money on a separate one since they will have their issued laptop which comes with all of the required software loaded on it and is set up to connect to the Academy network.
You can bring your own laptop, but it cannot connect to the Academy network without getting it approved by their IT. You would still be issued the cadet laptop.
Stealth_81
-My son is a Freshman on the cycling team. He was allowed to have his bike(s) after basic training -- we shipped one down (to his sponsor family--who then delivered it to him) and brought another with us when we visited for parents weekend. That being said, there are a number of "team" bikes available for use: Cross, Mountain, Road and Track.
Best of luck to your son!
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I'm not Cayden but I am another 4-degree so I will throw in my answer!
The "normal schedule" for cadets is that you will get about three weeks of leave during the summer. Essentially the summer is broken up into three blocks, and during each block you have a different program. For example, after 4-degree year most people do one airmanship program (jump, soaring etc.), ESET (survival training) and leave. Some people will choose to give up their leave in order to take an academic class, but this is not anything that USAFA forces people to do. If you want leave, you will be able to have it, assuming you aren't in serious trouble or anything.
Blueblood1
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Good advice above -- emphasize a couple of things, for what it is worth:
1. Do not bring anything to I-Day that is not on the "list". It will be taken from you anyway, after you have to carry it(often above your head) all day. Other the Rx drugs, and the few things on the list -- if you need it, USAFA will issue it.
2. Don't send your DD/DS anything until Parents weekend. See above. I would recommend signing up for web guy and the email program. Although the do not get to their mail boxes every day, having letters during BCT is a huge motivator (at least it was for my DD).
3. Cell phones -- go ahead and take it. You will lose it on I-Day, but get it back for Doolie Day Out. Whether and the extent to which you will get it after that is completely up to individual squads. Also, AT&T seems to work the best for service, Verizon is on the "not so much" side.
4. Personal laptop (after BCT/PW) is needed. We got DD an AT&T card so she can have internet in her room and we can FaceTime/Skype that way.
5. Guitars, bikes or any big extras - wait to talk to your Cadet after PW. Time is the big factor. Anything you send has to be cared for and part of SAMI. Not a lot of room space, and I think my DD has still only slept in her bunk a couple of times so she does not have to take the time to make it.
1. Do not bring anything to I-Day that is not on the "list". It will be taken from you anyway, after you have to carry it(often above your head) all day. Other the Rx drugs, and the few things on the list -- if you need it, USAFA will issue it.
2. Don't send your DD/DS anything until Parents weekend. See above. I would recommend signing up for web guy and the email program. Although the do not get to their mail boxes every day, having letters during BCT is a huge motivator (at least it was for my DD).
3. Cell phones -- go ahead and take it. You will lose it on I-Day, but get it back for Doolie Day Out. Whether and the extent to which you will get it after that is completely up to individual squads. Also, AT&T seems to work the best for service, Verizon is on the "not so much" side.
4. Personal laptop (after BCT/PW) is needed. We got DD an AT&T card so she can have internet in her room and we can FaceTime/Skype that way.
5. Guitars, bikes or any big extras - wait to talk to your Cadet after PW. Time is the big factor. Anything you send has to be cared for and part of SAMI. Not a lot of room space, and I think my DD has still only slept in her bunk a couple of times so she does not have to take the time to make it.
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Sandboxx app (free). Write a letter on your device, with a small in-app purchase, generates actual paper letter which arrives in mailbox. Developed by Marine millennial vet for sending "real mail" to remote duty stations/combat zones where internet access is sporadic.
Our USNA sponsor mids adopted it enthusiastically, especially since the whole idea of having to write with a pen, address an envelope (what corner does the return address go in?) and stick on a stamp seemed overwhelming to friends back home during Plebe Summer. Their HS friends and tech-savvy family members jumped right on it.
Our USNA sponsor mids adopted it enthusiastically, especially since the whole idea of having to write with a pen, address an envelope (what corner does the return address go in?) and stick on a stamp seemed overwhelming to friends back home during Plebe Summer. Their HS friends and tech-savvy family members jumped right on it.
BlahuKahuna
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To reiterate, 4* cadets should have full access to their cell phones after Acceptance Day. If you know of C4Cs who currently don't have access to their cell phones, please let me know and I will handle it. This would be considered a training violation and a safety concern.
I understand this may have been the norm in the past, but should absolutely not be happening now.
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Additionally, with regards to phone service, it is entirely dependent on where you live. I am in Vandy and don't get the best service with AT&T, but my roommate is fine with Verizon. I've heard that AT&T is better over in Sijan (do not know this for myself though). So don't switch carriers before coming in hopes of having better service.
Cayden/jwest,
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.
- Is the success rate of those with presidential nominations as high as the cadets who used a nomination from their representative? Curious as to how the different background factors into cadet life.
- What percentage of the aviation majors are being directed towards predators and UAV's vs. fighters?
Regards,
LH-USAFA
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.
- Is the success rate of those with presidential nominations as high as the cadets who used a nomination from their representative? Curious as to how the different background factors into cadet life.
- What percentage of the aviation majors are being directed towards predators and UAV's vs. fighters?
Regards,
LH-USAFA
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No worries!
1. If you're referring to success as a cadet, then the honest answer is that I cannot really tell you. Once you are here not many people really care what nomination you got or how you got to the Academy. I will say that having a military parent (one of the possible ways to get a Presidential nomination) can be a benefit as you know what to expect, but this does not mean one will be a good/bad cadet. The application has come up in conversation probably less than five times since I've been here, and really doesn't matter too much, what people care about is what you do once you're here. I apologize if this was not the most clear answer.
2. Not sure what you mean by "aviation majors" there is an aeronautical engineering major but except in a few very specific cases the major you do does not affect what job you will get (assuming your grades are good etc.). The Air Force is in need of RPA pilots, and this has been given as an option to people who were not happy with their non-rate AFSC offer. Let me know if you want more info on this and I can see what I can do.
Hope this helps...
I am trying to understand the daily schedule a little better for cadets, but particularly 4th degrees. The cadets have classes every school day, but the classes are varied so you don't necessarily have the same class every day, correct? My question is, for some cadets, do classes/academic instructions end earlier on some days than others or is there a typical time that all classes are over?
I will probably choose to be part of the intramural program. Are intramurals everyday or only on certain days? Or maybe the better question, are cadets required to play intramurals every day or just a certain number of days per week?
Around what time during the day is truly the cadet's free time? As in the time where they can do their own things, workout, study, do homework, etc.
I will probably choose to be part of the intramural program. Are intramurals everyday or only on certain days? Or maybe the better question, are cadets required to play intramurals every day or just a certain number of days per week?
Around what time during the day is truly the cadet's free time? As in the time where they can do their own things, workout, study, do homework, etc.
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Information like this is blocked out on what is called the "Schedule of Calls".
First, Morning Accountability Formation a 6:45. It is exactly what it sounds like. Optional breakfast immediately follows.
For academics there are two types of days: M days and T days each with seven 53 minute academic periods. Periods 1-4 occur from 7:30-11:23. Periods 5-7 occur from 12:30-3:23. The time in between is reserved for noon meal formation and mandatory lunch. The M and T days alternate, so one week might start with an M day meaning that Monday, Wednesday and Friday will all be M days with Tuesday and Thursday being T days. The next week will then start with a T day. It's pretty simple. A cadet will have on average 6 classes per semester. A class will usually occupy one period on either M or T days. Some classes, like chemistry, physics, biology, PE and a few others will often occupy two class periods on either M or T days. For an example, here is my schedule for this semester.
You'll notice that CompSci 212 and the PE classes are double periods on their respective day. You may also notice that I don't have M4, T4, M5, T5, or M7. The M5 period is reserved for any military oriented training but it not always utilized. Otherwise, during these periods I am free to do what I please. During this time I might try to get some homework done, pickup mail, buy supplies from the cadet store, take clothes to dry cleaning, take a short cat nap or accomplish any other tasks for the day. So yes, some cadets do get out of school earlier if they happen to have free periods in the afternoon. PE classes only last a quarter of the semester, that is why I have two PE classes scheduled for the same periods on T days. I have Combatives II during the first quarter of the semester and Soccer during the third quarter. Otherwise T6-7 are free periods.
Now sports. There are generally three categories a cadet falls into: Intercollegiate athlete (IC), Limited on season (LOS) club athlete, intramural athlete. Intercollegiate athletes are the Division I athletes that compete in the NCAA . Limited on season club athletes have been granted a special status by the Academy Clubs program which allows them to miss certain other obligations (such as intramurals) in order to focus on their club sport. Typically a club has a limited (big surprise) number of LOS slots which are distributed among the best athletes on a given club team. Usually only the club teams that compete nationally are granted LOS slots. Intramural athletes are everyone else who are not IC or LOS. Intramurals have been largely streamlined in the last few years and now only last 2-3 weeks out of the semester. Each squadron organizes teams for the various intramural sports of the semester and then compete squadron vs squadron. During this 2-3 weeks cadets alternate which day they have intramurals.
So, IC athletes usually get out of school at noon, eat lunch and then go to practice for the afternoon. LOS athletes are mandated to attend their club practice but are not granted special academic schedules by the registrar. Club practices usually take place right after 7th period (so around 3:45-4:00) and extend to 6:00-7:00 depending on the club. A cadet can still participate in a club sport and not be LOS, but they would also be required to participate on a squadron intramural team. Intramurals typically start at 3:45 and go to about 5:30 (but remember it is only every other day for a few weeks out of the entire semester, so it's really not that much. Therefore a lot of cadets join clubs and do other extracurricular activities).
Dinner is optional and is served over a two hour period in the evenings. Military call to quarters officially runs from 7:15-7:50. During this time the permanent party of the Academy (officers and enlisted who run the school) can schedule any briefings or training if they feel it is necessary. Evening MCQ is not often used.
Finally comes Academic call to quarters (ACQ) which begins at 7:50 and ends at TAPS (11:00). During ACQ freshman are allowed to close their doors (they were required to be open at 6:45am). ACQ is not super structured nor is it monitored. This block is designated ACQ so no other mission elements of the Academy can try to take this time away from the cadets. Really it is just free time to do whatever you need (I'm typing this out during ACQ). TAPS officially plays at 11:00pm. Your class year determines where you're technically allowed to be after TAPS. Freshman may be required to stay in their rooms, sophomores the squadron area, juniors the cadet area, and finally no restrictions for seniors.
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I'll try and make this a clear answer, though it may not end up being that clear.
My typical daily schedule for this semester is:
Minutes (3 times a week)-0625
Morning Formation-0645
Breakfast until 0715 or so
Then I head to Fairchild where I have three or four classes (depending on if it is an M or T day, which alternates everyday)
Lunch/Noon meal formation-1135 or 1155 depending on if we have formation or not
Normally I head back to the squadron area at about 1430 or 1530.
Training Session (3 times a week)-1600 until 1700 or so
Dinner-Normally right after the training session or at about 1730 or so
ACQ-1950
Taps-2300
The days alternate between M and T, you will have different classes on either day. When you are done with classes just depends on your personal schedule. I have been done at 1430 or so at the earliest both semesters, some people have no classes after lunch.
Intramurals are essentially every other day for a few weeks during the semester. You are required to go to all of the times the sport you are playing is happening, but once it is done you are done with intramurals for the semester.
Your day is definitely free at ACQ, there are no military responsibilities during this time, you get to shut your door and work on homework, go to the gym etc, though it is possible you will have a briefing just before, or sometimes during for an academic purpose. Some days you may not have a training session and you are then done with your required events after class, it really just depends on your squadron and your training officer. Last semester we had training sessions about once a week, this semester it is three times a week so it changes.
Let me know if I missed anything or you have any other questions.
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You men
Thank you for some great info! Query: You mentioned going to the gym during ACQ. Will freshmen have time to get in a 40 min work-out such as weight-lifting and cardio? Will the gyms be too crowded? Will you even have the time or energy to exercise?
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Totally dependent on the individual. If you have a rough academic schedule and/or homework takes longer for you, you find your time being a little bit more constrained. I would guess that most people who make getting in a 40min workout a priority will not have a huge issue doing it. It is also possible to go during a free period or after classes if you don't have any military duties. The gym can have a large chunk of people at it sometimes, but I have never had an issue getting a workout in, even when it was "crowded". Having the time would be a larger issue than having the energy; as long as you get a decent amount of sleep it won't be an issue.
Feel free to ask any other questions!