Hello from Texas - my son just received an appointment to the CGA!

momto3

5-Year Member
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Apr 13, 2010
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Hello to everyone. I live in Texas and just joined the message boards after finding this site a few weeks ago and viewing all the great information and posts. My son has been busy filling out all the applications and paperwork over the last year for the AFA, CGA and the AFROTC and NROTC scholarships. He attended the AFA summer seminar last June and the CGA AIM program last July. He always said he wanted to attend the AFA and then fell in love with the CGA after the AIM program. The first thing he said after the AIM program was over was that the CGA was now his first choice.

On March 12 he found out he received a type 2 AFROTC scholarship and was thrilled. He had applied and was accepted at Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, The Citadel, Norwich and VMI. But, he was so impressed with the Corps of Cadets at A&M that he knew no other school would compare. He did receive a nomination to the AFA, but then he got the news on April 1 that he did not receive an appointment. He kind of expected that since it was so late in the year and he's not a varsity athlete. He has great grades, very high SAT/ACT scores, lots of community service, leadership experience and extracurricular activities (Eagle Scout, Billy Mitchell award in CAP, very active in CAP and speech/debate champ, etc.), and is in good shape, but his weakness is in the athletic/sports area.

He had reconciled the fact that he had not heard any other news from the academys, so he had decided he'd use the AFROTC and join the Corps of Cadets at A&M and was excited about that option. Well, he just found out yesterday that he received an appointment to the CGA. He was thrilled, but had been so prepared for going to college closer to home at a great university and then joining the AF, so this is now a big change to his plans. I know he'll nowl go to the CGA, but it's still sinking in with him.

Anyway, this is such a change to his plans and now we have to think about his moving to Connecticut in two months and all the other things that go with an appointment to an Academy. Since we are finding this out so late in the process, any feedback, suggestions or helpful hints from anyone would be greatly appreciated. How many other CGA appointees are from the Texas area (we are in the north Dallas area)? Thanks and I look forward to meeting other CGA parents in the near future! :smile:
 
Congratulations to you and your son and welcome to this forum. It has been a wealth of good advice and support for us!

We are from Texas also (outside Houston)...seems like they did all the Texas appointments at that same time!!!

We are still trying to decide how we're doing R-day. I know we'll fly in (son flew into Providence for AIM last summer), but I'm not sure if we'll take the whole family yet. Lots of decisions to make quickly!

Good luck and hope to meet you one day!

fairwinds
 
getting to cga

try southwest to islip on long island then take the ferry to new london
 
try southwest to islip on long island then take the ferry to new london

:confused:

I would NOT recommend going that way unless you live on LI.

If you can get on a SouthWest flight, do not fly into Islip, take it right to Providence. It's an easy 1 hour drive to the front gate, right down I-95.

Flying into Islip and taking the ferry would be a major hassle compared with Providence.

MacArthur Airport to Orient Point Ferry Dock = 1.5 hour drive
Ferry only runs every hour to New London (could have to wait for it)
Ferry crossing takes 1.5 hours and costs $50 + $14 for every passenger.
 
Hello!

Welcome, and congrats to your son! This forum is invaluable, as is the CGA Parents Association website: http://www.uscgaparents.org/

DS actually didn't get notified of his appointment until May last year, and he did fine (I was a basket case)!
 
:confused:

I would NOT recommend going that way unless you live on LI.

If you can get on a SouthWest flight, do not fly into Islip, take it right to Providence. It's an easy 1 hour drive to the front gate, right down I-95.

Flying into Islip and taking the ferry would be a major hassle compared with Providence.

MacArthur Airport to Orient Point Ferry Dock = 1.5 hour drive
Ferry only runs every hour to New London (could have to wait for it)
Ferry crossing takes 1.5 hours and costs $50 + $14 for every passenger.
Luigi is dead on there- the ferry ought to be held in reserve for a trip when you have time and money to burn- it's interesting because it's a part of LI that if you happen to be from the City or Nassau County is like a different world- but it sure isn't a rapid or economical transportation option for getting into New London. Providence is an easy 1 hour drive down I95 and is a very convenient airport that hosts SWA and Continental s well as a bunch of other airlines. Boston Logan since you are gonna rent a car is another 1-1/2 north of Providence is also an option you could consider before the Long Island Ferry would enter the conversation-Logan has a number of direct Continental flights from Houston which is pretty convenient- I fly thru Houston every month- much more pleasant to do that than change in Newark or Cleveland which you have to do for the Continental flights into Pvd
 
Fly into PVD

I will third the recommendation to fly into PVD. It is a great airport, and an easy drive to New London, although I think it takes more like 45 min.
If you can use Southwest, they are absolutely the BEST at prices, change policies and they have a great Rewards Programs.
There are no change fees like other airlines, you only pay the difference in price, if the fare goes lower, you can make the change and get a voucher for the difference you have 1 year to use it. We are Rewards members, I have earned 2 free (round trip) flight vouchers, our 3/c cadet son has 1, and my husband just earned his first. Our trip for Parents weekend this year is on our vouchers. They have partners with rental car companies and hotels so you can earn points easy that way too. We also signed up for their VISA to earn points for our charges, when you use it to purchase SW flights you earn faster.
Good Luck! R-Day will be here before you know it!
 
I would agree with not flying into Islip. I grew up on the South Shore of Long Island in Bayport and my boyfriend high school went to the CGA. I never bothered with the ferry and would drive around every time.
 
Appointment received

You must be very proud of him. I wish him all the luck. I have co-worker whose son goes there and just loves it. Your son will be just fine, give him lots of encouragement. I am very impressed the young people of our country who want to do things like this. Tell him thanks for defending freedom it is a very noble cause.

God Bless God Speed
Thanks for serving our country,

RGK
 
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