USAFA LoA

mumsyto3

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Jul 31, 2009
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255
We are doing the happy dance at our house today. Son received USAFA LoA in the mail today, letter dated 10/13/09.
 
Congrats! It's important for a Basic to remember that feeling when he/she gets on the footprints and beyond.

This time will fly between October and June. Make the most of it.
Congrats again! :thumb:
 
Pima, you hit the nail on the head!

After my kids got their LOA's, Twin A managed to suffer a concussion in April before I-Day. Besides our concern over the injury (and just wait till you hear how he did it), we were terribly concerned that he would not be cleared for the vigors of Basic. I wish I had had him in bubble wrap, and maybe crated to boot!

How did he get a concussion you ask? Well, instead of cleaning their room as instructed, twins decided to do some (not permitted) fencing in their bedroom. Twin B slammed bedroom door on Twin A's head, which was NOT protected by fencing mask (really big no-no). When Twin A leaned back to avoid the door, he slammed his head so hard into the next room's door jamb, he sustained a mild concussion.

I was so mad, I could have whacked 'em both! GRRRR.

Enough rant.
 
Thanks for the congrats, I will pass them along to my son.

PIMA, no kidding about the bubble wrap, heading to Costco to see if they sell it in bulk.:biggrin:

Fencersmom, maybe I should consider padding the doorways as well!!! :shake:

Thanks for everyone's advice on the forum.
Congratulations to everyone else!
 
Actually now is the fun part, because everytime they do something teenagerish you will sit there with one eye squinted close, saying I can't watch this! Can't tell you how many times even now we scream at DS when he does something without thinking, like playing trampoline football! It does not end now, nor will that fear disappear until you stand there pinning on their butter bars.

Ask hornet and Bullet how at the AF v Navy game I kept cringing as they threw the girls up in the air, and just kept saying to myself one bad fall and it is all over!
 
I understand the thought of trying to bubble wrap your kids, but I would caution parents not to go overboard. After my son got his LOA (way back in 2006), he continued to play football, he competed in powerlifting for the winter season, and did track in the spring. He also played on his travelling club soccer team and snowboarded whenever he could. Let the kids continue in the activities that got them to USAFA in the first place.
You certainly want them to maintain their physical fitness before arriving for BCT, and their emotional drive as well.
There's my two cents for the week.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth is so correct. Bubble Wrap type attitude is not the right answer. However; common sense is. Remember, the academy accepted your son/daughter based on the "Whole Person" concept. That whole person included physical activities, clubs, and all academic classes. So, the last thing you want some student thinking in their head is: "This Isn't Me". In other words; if your child has been playing on the basketball team since the beginning of time, and they want to play basketball this year, then they SHOULD BE PLAYING BASKETBALL. Same with football, soccer, and any other physical activity. If they love a sport and have been playing it for the decade, then NOT playing it their senior year because you're trying to be cautious, will do more harm with their moral. Even to the point of possibly 2nd guessing if they still want the academy. Especially if they feel that they are having to "Change" who they are.

Obviously, common sense sense you don't just "START" taking up skiing for the first time your senior year after getting an LOA/Appointment. Same with Rugby or any other heavily risky and physical activity. But if it's an activity that they have years of experience with, have at it. Enjoy your life. The students need to choose for themselves. Basically; I say; whatever you did BEFORE APPLYING to the academy, you should continue doing. If you NEVER did it prior to applying, then maybe not. This includes academics. I've seen a lot of kids skate the entire 2nd semester of their senior year because they had their LOA and thought it was all a given. Then they screwed up and didn't get the nomination or other problems. If you were taking AP classes or in the IB program; continue with that, and continue getting good scores.

So, it all boils down to common sense. You as an applicant and INDIVIDUAL, doesn't want the academy or your parents "Making you do and act differently" than who you are; do you? Well, the academy also wants you to be the SAME person they gave an appointment to. That means, keep working hard in school. Continue with what you normally do. And just DON'T BE STUPID. This is not the time to TAKE UP BUNGEE CORD JUMPING. But it's also NOT the time to STOP playing soccer if that's what you've always done.

Congrats to all the LOAs and hang in their all others. VERY FEW get an LOA. Just because you see/hear a lot on the forums doesn't mean anything. Just that by nature, all of you on the forums are usually better students and more dedicated than those who aren't. Therefor there will be more LOAs. But those without an LOA are STILL CALLED CADET once you get the appointment and make it through BCT. So hang in there. Best of luck. Mike...
 
Okay boys, that is a MOM JOKE! Of course you are correct to use common sense, but also as Moms, we are the worriers... why did you think I used my 2 examples, DS still plays trampoline football and I still cringe, and there are cheerleaders known as FLYERS which make me cringe when they are coming back down! Don't read too much into the bubble wrap comments! It is just meant for levity, it is absolutely, positively not, meant to say become a couch potato, quit working out, don't play any sports, etc., anyone who actually believes that it was does not deserve to be at an SA, because they will be goners if they live in fear!

Now for the appointees don't take it as a pass to jump out of perfectly good airplanes for your 18th birthday. AS Stealth and CC stated...COMMON SENSE IS KEY!
 
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