Visitors

offtoUSAFA15

5-Year Member
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Apr 4, 2011
Messages
16
Are cadets allowed to have people visit them during the first year? if so starting when usually. how does this work.
 
After basic, generally yes. Non-training weekends are the best times.
 
Freshmen Visitors

For a freshmen parent, regarding visitors:

If it is a silver weekend, training weekend, visiting is limited to after the training is done, which is usually around noon.

If it is a blue weekend, no training and no fall home football game, visitors are allowed after LMD on Friday (1645) as freshmen should be allowed to sign out. I emphasize the "should" part because signing out is a privelege for Fourth class cadets and up to squadron discretion. Parents can always visit at the visitor center or Arnold hall during these weekends as Freshmen may be restricted to base due to low knowledge test scores.

If it is a blue weekend with a fall home football game, visitors are allowed after the game as all cadets are required to attend the game. If the football team plays well and wins, the upperclassmen can ask the commandant for a discretionary pass that allows all cadets that are in good standing to sign out for the night.

An interesting idea that was never told to me was to send up a staff summary sheet asking to sign out for the weekend. A staff summary sheet is often used to ask permission from the squadron commander and the squadron AOC to leave for a period of time. I suggest doing this if a new cadet has the time and would like to get away for the weekend. Another good idea that utilizes a staff summary sheet would be to have lunch on a Friday with your cadet. I have done this sevral times with my father, and it has been a good experience. Sending up a staff summary sheet allowed meto meet him at the visitor center Subway after the noon meal formation.

Hope this helps. Any more questions, just ask.
 
Do 4th class cadets get to invite guests to dances. If so, when are they/it?
 
where would these visitors stay? i didnt know there were dances. any information about that would be very much appreciated.
 
Yes, there are dances/social event. As for guests, they're on their own. Usually, they stay at a motel in Colorado Springs. As mentioned, each cadet gets so many passes that they can use each semester to "Leave the Yard". If you do really well in academics and other areas, you can gain additional passes. So, if a date comes to visit for a dance, or relatives come to visit, you can take off and spend the weekend with them. "Assuming you clear the time off with a pass IN ADVANCE".

For what it's worth, thanksgiving break, christmas break, spring break, and summer break don't require passes. And it's just about impossible to use a pass on Friday into Saturday, IF there's a home football game. You can use the pass after the game and go into Sunday with it. Each physical DAY, NOT 24 hours, counts as a pass day. E.g. you leave the academy on Saturday after the football game; stay at a local hotel with family, and come back Sunday at 5pm, that counts as 2 passes.
 
How does a person who visits who isnt old enough to rent a car get around Colorado Springs then? Do you think your host families would be willing to host a guest of yours and drive them? Would that be allowed?

Any more information about the dance someone mentioned.
 
How does a person who visits who isnt old enough to rent a car get around Colorado Springs then? Do you think your host families would be willing to host a guest of yours and drive them? Would that be allowed?

Any more information about the dance someone mentioned.

You will answer these questions for yourself after A-day and doolie day out which in your case is August 13th if I remember correctly.
 
I'd worry about getting through BCT before worrying about when the dances are...
 
There's one in September for freshman (Birthday Ball), later in fall for three digs (Autumn Ball), one in May for juniors (Ring Dance), and then one in May/June for seniors (Grad Ball)
 
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