A Few Questions from an Appointee

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etowahlax14

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Hey guys! I just signed up for this forum because I have a few questions I would like answered about some things. I am a USAFA class of 2014 appointee and I got a presidential nomination I'm really excited for everything so I'm doing as much research as possible. Here are my questions:

1. I have looked into getting a personal laptop (a Macbook Pro around X-mas 2010) and I was told that if you take the laptop to the tech department at the USAFA they could set it up so you can use the computer on their network (because is a DoD network). Is there any truth to this? anything I should know?

2. I want to also get an iPhone at Christmas (2010) is that an acceptable time to get one? or do I have to wait?

3. I have heard conflicting reports about this one. Is there a CLUB men's lacrosse team? I am aware of the D-1 team but I am unsure because if I played I'd have to walk on.

4. What should I do to prepare myself before BCT starts? I am in the middle of lacrosse season and my schedule is pretty tight now, but as soon as lacrosse ends I plan on hitting the gym more and running alot for conditioning for BCT.

5. Should I try and get a copy of Contrails early or should I just wait til BCT?

Thanks in Advance!
 
Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to tag onto your thread and add questions in along with trying to answer some in blue!

etowahlax14 said:
1. I have looked into getting a personal laptop (a Macbook Pro around X-mas 2010) and I was told that if you take the laptop to the tech department at the USAFA they could set it up so you can use the computer on their network (because is a DoD network). Is there any truth to this? anything I should know? My son would love to know the question to this as well!

2. I want to also get an iPhone at Christmas (2010) is that an acceptable time to get one? or do I have to wait? Son has had an iphone 3G since they came out and definitely will be bringing it. In either case, from what I understand - you won't get it during Beast (other than DDI), will get to use the phone at some point in the fall semester based on your squadron's policies, and won't be able to use media on it until after recognition.

3. I have heard conflicting reports about this one. Is there a CLUB men's lacrosse team? I am aware of the D-1 team but I am unsure because if I played I'd have to walk on. We have the same question about soccer - he was told there was a club team and even given a contact but we can't find anything about it online.

4. What should I do to prepare myself before BCT starts? I am in the middle of lacrosse season and my schedule is pretty tight now, but as soon as lacrosse ends I plan on hitting the gym more and running alot for conditioning for BCT. Running, running, and more running is the way to start! I'd also do as many pushups/flutter kicks/pushups as you can squeeze in, if for no other reason that so you're not completely sore after the first day of doing 100 of them! :wink:

5. Should I try and get a copy of Contrails early or should I just wait til BCT?You're definitely going to get different opinions on this. We got one for our son when he got his appointment in December. Not to get ahead of the game, but more to just read all about the academy and kind of help him get even more psyched up. He carried it around religiously for about a week and hasn't looked at it since. From what I understand, much of Beast is from another booklet, not Contrails, so it probably wouldn't help you too much there. I'm going to have my son look over some of the critical things (cadet and military rank at least!) before he goes (so he knows who's yelling at him and how important they are - and yes, I realize they're ALL important to him!). But I certainly wouldn't start memorizing the entire thing if you do get it!

Thanks in Advance!
Click to expand...
 
etowahlax14 said:
5. Should I try and get a copy of Contrails early or should I just wait til BCT?
Click to expand...
I am not an expert, but I'll just tell you what I've heard. I've heard it is better not to get a copy before hand firstly because it changes from year to year, and if you do memorize it, you may have to "unmemorize" and rememorize parts of it. Secondly, it has been said that you shouldn't memorize it early, because if you do have it down, and others don't, the cadre really hate it. It looks like you're "pimping"- looking good at another's expense.
 
I dont know if anybody can answer this or not. I have stuff thats previously been issued to me like my Boots, ABUs and PTUs should I bring any of that at all or just leave it all at home?
 
Thanks for the answers guys I really appreciate it! I really would like a straight answer to the first one I asked about the personal laptop being able to connect to their network.
 
From what I've heard you have to take the laptop they give you anyways so it's not really worth the money or the effort to bring your own.
 
etowahlax14 said:
about the personal laptop being able to connect to their network.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that a personal computer cannot be connected to the USAFA network. I remember prior threads on this subject as well so a search of the forum may be helpful.

A current cadet will be better able to answer - but they are on spring break and all the cadets that I know are not likely to be on the computers again until next week. I know of several cadets that are nowhere near their computers this week - and don't miss them one bit! I suspect the only thing my D is using her computer for this week is a means to store photo's from the camera so as not to run out of memory card! :shake:
 
Some personal computers can be configured for the USAFA network (mostly as a result of the class of 2010 gateways failing at an incredible rate and lack of replacements :thumbdown:)

Yes, you can get an iPhone. Between parents weekend and Recognition, you will not be allowed to use it for music/movies/games, etc.

Running, push-ups, and flutter kicks mostly.
Throw in some pull-ups too, if you have time.

Q: Get Contrails early?
A: NO!
 
etowahlax14 said:
Hey guys! I just signed up for this forum because I have a few questions I would like answered about some things. I am a USAFA class of 2014 appointee and I got a presidential nomination I'm really excited for everything so I'm doing as much research as possible. Here are my questions:

1. I have looked into getting a personal laptop (a Macbook Pro around X-mas 2010) and I was told that if you take the laptop to the tech department at the USAFA they could set it up so you can use the computer on their network (because is a DoD network). Is there any truth to this? anything I should know?
I've heard that they can do this. I think they basically install a bunch of programs that slow down your computer. If you want to you can, but I've heard that it kinda sucks.

2. I want to also get an iPhone at Christmas (2010) is that an acceptable time to get one? or do I have to wait?
Most squadrons get their phones back for good in the middle of October, so Christmas is fine.

3. I have heard conflicting reports about this one. Is there a CLUB men's lacrosse team? I am aware of the D-1 team but I am unsure because if I played I'd have to walk on.
Since all but 1 of the freshman lacrosse players got kicked out of the Academy, it may not be as hard to walk on as you think. I'm not sure about a club team, though. You could always start one if there wasn't already a team.

4. What should I do to prepare myself before BCT starts? I am in the middle of lacrosse season and my schedule is pretty tight now, but as soon as lacrosse ends I plan on hitting the gym more and running alot for conditioning for BCT. Run, do pushups, flutter kicks, pull-ups. It's important to be physically ready for BCT, but if you have been in a sport I'm assuming that you are in decent shape. Just stay on top of it and don't get really out of shape.

5. Should I try and get a copy of Contrails early or should I just wait til BCT?
No.

Thanks in Advance!
Click to expand...

Hope this helps.
-Matt, 2013
 
shortbread945 said:
From what I've heard you have to take the laptop they give you anyways so it's not really worth the money or the effort to bring your own.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to do stuff that requires a higher-end computer, the issued ones won't cut it (video editing, high-end PC gaming... after recognition, etc.)

Some of that stuff doesn't require internet, though. So you can bring your own personal computer and just not hook it up to the internet.
 
Packermatt7 - Can you share detail on what happened with the freshman lacrosse players? Were lax players from other classes involved as well? Thanks
 
some sporting teams have notorious reputations for alcohol hits. lacrosse is at the front of that. and as for computers, a few people i know or have talked to use their issued one for email and official USAFA related stuff and then use their personal computer for their own personal stuff. but unless you're doing really high end stuff, you don't need one. these computers aren't too bad with things. i know people who play pc games on them and they work fine. and don't get contrails. unless you can somehow get a copy to the rest of the people in your basic flight at the same time. which isn't going to happen. just learn it with everyone else. as long as you put some effort into it, you'll be fine. they're not too hard
 
Thats too bad about the lacrosse team. I am now considering walking on, one of my lacrosse coaches knows one of the assistant coaches at USAFA so I may try to get in touch. I am mostly worried about to the commitment to play lacrosse versus having so much schoolwork and military commitments. I want to be a cadet first and a lacrosse player if possible, but not both if I would struggle with grades and be miserable.
 
try to walk on, if u dont like it then quit and just be a cadet =]
 
It was an alcohol related incident. As for other classes, I don't think they were involved in the incident.

I'm not 100% on the details, though. Don't quote me.




Which brings an important lesson to the appointees:

Don't mess with alcohol when you are here. It is very easy to lose everything you've worked for once you get here. Don't mess with alcohol or honor, or you'll be on your way out before you know it.
 
lol if any of you do get involved and are in my squad, it will be the longest training session ever :)
 
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