Twelve year old wants to go to the USAFA

[ruralakay]

I decided I wanted to go to USAFA around the same age. I'll be heading for BCT in three weeks. One easy thing she can do (if she's in middle school) is join future Falcons. Just google it. It requires no ongoing efforts on your part, it just lets the Academy know she's interested and signs her up to occasionally receive promotional mail like calendars or when to take the next step.

My DS did that too, at age 12. It's a good way to get your kid on the AFA's radar. That and CAP was about all we could do at that age (aside from participating in our MOC's Academy Forum that he puts on each year...that is also a MUST, if your MOC offers it!), but it got the ball rolling.

I don't think we've used another calendar to mark all our family events than the ones AFA has sent every year in the past 5 yrs! We looked forward to receiving a new one every year, through the future Falcon program! (we have one hung up in the kitchen right now, in fact!)

 

[ruralakay]

Hoodlum15, I don't want to stray too far from topic, but what kinds of questions do you recall your ALO asking in the interview? Obviously, your answers were more than adequate, as you are about to enter the Academy, but I'm just curious what kinds of things were asked, since that is looming in our very near future. I am grateful that we have a really good relationship with our DS's ALO (he's programmed into our contact lists and NEVER minds the odd call or question...he's been beyond fantastic), but we would like to prepare as much as it is reasonably possible to do so.

 

[ruralakay]

BTW, Hoodlum15, best of luck at I-Day and BCT!!!

 

[Hoodlum15]

BTW, Hoodlum15, best of luck at I-Day and BCT!!!

Thank you! I'm nervous but really excited. I did a practice interview with an ALO I knew personally and then my real one. In my real one the questions were very much "Tell me about a time when..." oriented. He asked for a time when I showed leadership, showed poor leadership, had my integrity tested, etc. Both interviews asked me if I had witnessed cheating and what I had done. That was a toughy because I think everyone has seen someone in high school cheat and done nothing about it. Both of them also asked if I knew the honor code, how it functioned at USAFA, and if I thought it was important. In th practice one he asked my definition of integrity, leadership, what I expected from USAFA, a role model I had...those are the ones I can remember.

I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions! My biggest tip is to make sure you have some personal examples in mind, especially about leadership and integrity.

 

[ruralakay]

Thank you! I'm nervous but really excited. I did a practice interview with an ALO I knew personally and then my real one. In my real one the questions were very much "Tell me about a time when..." oriented. He asked for a time when I showed leadership, showed poor leadership, had my integrity tested, etc. Both interviews asked me if I had witnessed cheating and what I had done. That was a toughy because I think everyone has seen someone in high school cheat and done nothing about it. Both of them also asked if I knew the honor code, how it functioned at USAFA, and if I thought it was important. In th practice one he asked my definition of integrity, leadership, what I expected from USAFA, a role model I had...those are the ones I can remember.

I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions! My biggest tip is to make sure you have some personal examples in mind, especially about leadership and integrity.

I am quite certain we will have tons of questions through this process, but, right now, I want you to have the opportunity to relax before you have to show up for I-day, so I will try to restrain, but I do appreciate your willingness to help, and, if I do have questions, I'll definitely think of you to ask!! Thanks again! Hopefully, our DS will have the opportunity to serve as one of your underclassmen classmates in a year!! Be gentle! Haha!

 

[USMCGrunt]

OP: Great advice on prep for your DS thus far. I wanted to offer an additional thought. Expose your DS to the military by visiting museums, memorials, Veterans Day events, watching the national events in DC on holidays, visiting VA hospitals, attending concerts by traveling military units, etc. As she matures, there are some good, realistic movies that address the realities of life in the military. She needs to understand (on some level) the realities of military service beyond an AFA graduation ceremony.

 

[Hoodlum15]

I am quite certain we will have tons of questions through this process, but, right now, I want you to have the opportunity to relax before you have to show up for I-day, so I will try to restrain, but I do appreciate your willingness to help, and, if I do have questions, I'll definitely think of you to ask!! Thanks again! Hopefully, our DS will have the opportunity to serve as one of your underclassmen classmates in a year!! Be gentle! Haha!

Next year is a looong way from my thoughts, but I'll keep it in mind, haha. I hope to see him. Obviously I'll be tied up starting the end of this month, but until then I'd be more than happy to try and help someone else make it up to USAFA! Feel free to PM me!

 

[ruralakay]

Thanks again, hoodlum! I hope I-day is manageable for you and that every moment after that gets sweeter and sweeter.