What difference does age play into USAFA?

Yes, and that is why many pay for the deposit at their plan B school.
 
Christcorp said:
Forget travel days. "I-Day" is the 1st day. Just about ALWAYS the Last Thursday (Full Week of June). This year; June 27th. The 2nd day, Friday the 28th, is when the swearing in Ceremony happens..
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Actually, they take the oath on I-day in a room with others; the one on Day 2 is the public ceremony. So on I-day, they are sworn in.


We did not take DS to I-day; he wanted to go alone and we respected that. Did I want to be there -- YES! But I also know that would have been harder on him to see me tear up, etc. He called us before he left for Doolittle Hall to in-process; even that was hard for me. He participated in Bed & Breakfast and the people who hosted him became his sponsors. I wanted to go out to A-day too, but he told me in letters not to come - that we should save our money so everyone could come to PW, and that to see me for 2-3 hours would be harder on him. Again I respected his choice. He said he needed to focus on getting settled so he could do his best. DS calls us regularly (each week) so it's not that he doesn't want to see us/talk to us, just that he didn't want distractions. Another mom adopted him for A-day so he was fed and got to call us.
 
That definitely has been done. The thing about the academy is that every year/class seems to be slightly different. A few years ago, when my son attended the academy, there was quite a lapse in time between getting to the academy and taking the oath. Point is: Until you swear in, a lot can happen.

As for how to handle I-day, A-Day, Parent's Weekend, and the rest of the 4 years at the academy; each individual and their family are different. Our family is military. My son and daughter were raised in a military family. They lived in multiple countries/states/bases. My son's been to the academy a few times prior to I-Day. We also only live 2 hours from the academy. So, we drove him to I-Day, but we didn't stay for the swearing in the next day. We DID come back for "A-Day". Worked out good. Between my, my wife's, my daughter's, and my son's girlfriend's cell phones; we were able to let ALL of my son's BCT/Squadron friends all call their families who couldn't make it to A-Day. All this, while we brought sandwiches, fried chicken, drinks, etc.... We pulled up a patch of grass and had a picnic for a couple hours. Actually was pretty good for everyone.

Of course, parent's weekend was busy. But that's normal no matter if your cadet is a C4C or a C1C. But each person is different. Being a military family, we are EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSE. Most military families are. Not that non-military families aren't close; but when you move every 2-4 years, the family becomes each other's BEST FRIENDS. You have to be. You are the only continuity there is. My wife and kids are definitely my BEST FRIENDS. That's not even debatable. So of course we're going to drop him off to the academy. During his 4 years at the academy, my son and daughter still did all the facebook communicating like they have for years, even when SHE was in college and he was still in high school. Even after graduating the academy, both of them still keep in contact with each other a couple times a week. We still call or are called by him, or mega-texts; at least once a week. But again; we're each other's best friends. Each individual and family is different. For some, going to I-day alone is no big deal. For others, it has to be a family event.

greentrees said:
Actually, they take the oath on I-day in a room with others; the one on Day 2 is the public ceremony. So on I-day, they are sworn in.


We did not take DS to I-day; he wanted to go alone and we respected that. Did I want to be there -- YES! But I also know that would have been harder on him to see me tear up, etc. He called us before he left for Doolittle Hall to in-process; even that was hard for me. He participated in Bed & Breakfast and the people who hosted him became his sponsors. I wanted to go out to A-day too, but he told me in letters not to come - that we should save our money so everyone could come to PW, and that to see me for 2-3 hours would be harder on him. Again I respected his choice. He said he needed to focus on getting settled so he could do his best. DS calls us regularly (each week) so it's not that he doesn't want to see us/talk to us, just that he didn't want distractions. Another mom adopted him for A-day so he was fed and got to call us.
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greentrees said:
We did not take DS to I-day; he wanted to go alone and we respected that. Did I want to be there -- YES! But I also know that would have been harder on him to see me tear up, etc. He called us before he left for Doolittle Hall to in-process; even that was hard for me. He participated in Bed & Breakfast and the people who hosted him became his sponsors.
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This mirrors our experience with our DS. He was insistent that his journey would begin when we took him to the airport and he wanted the 24 hours before I-Day to get focused. One of us did fly out for A-Day and even though it was expensive and just a short visit....it was worth it to us.

Congrats and Good Luck!:thumb:
 
Wow, reading this makes me realize that I'm not so young anymore.... Among my enlisted peers I'm the youngest (having just turned 20) but if I'm accepted to the Academy then I'll be going in at age 21 & be considered old :( booo, meh whatever lol
 
Rosaroonie said:
Wow, reading this makes me realize that I'm not so young anymore.... Among my enlisted peers I'm the youngest (having just turned 20) but if I'm accepted to the Academy then I'll be going in at age 21 & be considered old :( booo, meh whatever lol
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It means you will have access to facilities many others won't... but that's not why people go to USAFA. :beer1:
 
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