A-day schedule

lga

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
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28
Can someone post 2010 A-day (8/4) detailed schedule? I may fly in on the day. How long is the parade/ceremony? When can we meet the cadets? If I have a car, is there enough time to take them for lunch? If we bring lunch in, where is a good place to get food early in the morning? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks in advance.
 
The parade begins at 9 - get there early and you can watch them line up and get ready. The parade lasts about 1 - 1 1/2 hours. At the end of the formal parade you can go on to the field and watch your cadet get his shoulder boards pinned on - this is pretty cool. You will have about 2 hours with your cadet. The cadets may not leave. There are lots of places to have a picnic in and around the field house, parade field etc. Bring lots of food, as you may end up feeding those whose families cannot attend. Also bring as many cell phones as you can find, as the cadets are permitted to call home etc. Your cadet may then escort you to his room etc - also they often have "things" they need to do - we spent time getting books, going to the bank etc etc. If you can make it, the trip is short, but very rewarding, and gives you some good insights into where the live and what their life is like.
 
So if you can be escorted to the rooms, you could actually take stuff that they may have asked you to send to them so they would get it after BCT? Like my daughter wanted her printer and some books. I could possibly take them?
 
Yes - we took lots of stuff - if I remember right his requests were underwear, printer (and paper, ink etc), some school supplies, a towel, snacks, watch, acne meds, a small picture album, and a few other things. With mom, dad and sis to help carry, we only had to make one trip up the stairs!
 
Thank you so much. I won't be able to carry that much, but I think I can get the hair dryer and printer and ink stuff. The books may have to wait, but I could probably take one or two to start. Just quickly, did you take the stuff with you when you went to view the parade, or leave it in the car or something? I don't want to leave it in the car if I won't have a chance to get back to it. And I don't want to carry it and hold on to it, if I can leave it in the car. This is great info. Thanks so much.
 
Great infor for us first timers.
What about food, where do we get it (most of the restaurants are not open that early)?
 
Great infor for us first timers.
What about food, where do we get it (most of the restaurants are not open that early)?

I went to the grocery store early and got deli sandwiches, fruit etc. Some that I know went to Panera. For us, the deli sandwiches worked great. I got two extra sandwiches and had them all cut in thirds so that there was a large variety for my D to select from and any friends could join us. A bag of chips, fruit and her favorite candy bar made finished it off.
 
First, I left everything in my car when I hiked (and I do mean hike although I think there is a shuttle also) over to the parade - the parade field is no closer to the dorms than the parking lot at the field house. If I remember right, we we able to drive up to the cadet area and get very close to the dorms to unload all the stuff after the parade. It seems to me there were lots of folks that did this. Only thing was we left one person in the car in case it had to be moved, and once unloaded went back to a legal parking spot before we went on our tour of the rooms etc.

As for food, we had a cooler and we went to the grocery store deli and bought ham, turkey, salami etc, various kinds of cheeses and lots of rolls and breads, and all the condiments - the kids made their own sandwiches exactly how they wanted them, and we were able to feed alot of kids. We also had chips and cookies, and surprisingly the most popular item was cut up fruit. We avoided potato salad and things that would spoil (or that would need utensils). We did paper plates, and had a roll of paper towels. Also, we brought lots of gatorade and water. Needless to say the picnic was near the car, so we did not have to carry stuff very far. It worked very well for us!
 
Thanks again. I know I'm looking forward to this and if I can have my hands free for that first hug, I'll be happy. Then we can hike it back to the car and eat and carry stuff. Whatever it takes. I will be sure to take extra for others.
 
Any tips for locating your kid?

Someone mentioned that the "new" cadets would be with their academic squadrons at A-Day. Is that true? Is there a way to determine where their squadron will be in the parade?

(These are probably stupid questions, but I'm not sure what to expect. :redface:)
 
yes they will be in their academic year squadron, squadron 1 will be on the eastern side of the field and squadron 40 will be on the western side of the field and everything in-between
 
The movement of the basics from their BCT Squadron to acceptance as cadets in their new academic squadron is what the Acceptance Day Parade is all about. The basics will march in by their BCT squadrons. The cadet wing will march in by academic squadrons (or called cadet squadrons). Then, as part of the Acceptance Day, the basics will be accepted as cadets (no longer known as basics) and they will march over and join their academic cadet squadrons on the parade field. Then the new C4Cs will get to have someone pin on their shoulder boards signifying that they are part of the USAFA cadet wing.
 
In the past the squads have lined up left to right, east to west from 1 - 40, and they are two deep (two behind one, four behind three etc) If I remember right, there are markings on the field but generally 1 -20 were to the left as you enter the field, and 21 -40 were to the right. But as always, things can change to ask when you arrive!

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How long will an upper classman wait on the field for the basic cadet's parents to arrive for the awarding of shoulder boards? It may take some time for parents to find their basic cadet even though they're arranged on the field by squadron, no?

Plus, I imagine there will likely be an emotional greeting first between the parents and their basic cadet. I assume all this is accounted for in the ceremony?
 
On a different, but related topic, can someone who who has been to A-Day previously help me to understand how the post-parade picnic works...

I know several parents are planning picnics for their cadets and bringing extra food. I feel a little embarrassed to ask this question, but how do the "haves" hook up with the "have nots"? That is, if you brought a picnic with extra for cadets you didn't know, did your cadet bring a few of his/her friends over to eat with your family? Did you arrange to "adopt" cadets in advance with other parents? (If you did, how did you find each other?)

If your cadet would not have others at A-Day, did you just trust he/she'd find a group on his/her own?

I know I should probably just "chill" and trust everything will work out, but I'm a Mom, and I worry... :redface:
 
not sure about everyone else, but what we did two years ago was this.

When my S went to his academic squadron and emailed me who his roommates were, I realized one of the roommates mother was on the yahoo group for the class of 2011. Turns out she was going to A day and we were not. She offered to take care of my S and the third roommate as well.

So, I simply told me son that if he wanted, he was welcome to go with his roommate and to let the third know as well. So they just stuck together and all had a great meal and a great time.

I know it is new, but what you will find is that everyone is like family when you are there and they kind of look out for everyone, well mostly anyway.

I know whenever I go out there, if I am taking my S out to dinner, or for any meal, I always ask if there are any friends of his that "need" to come with us. What I mean by "need" is are there any that could use some company of caring parents. There are always a couple and we have the best time. You learn more about what goes on by just sitting back and listening to a couple cadets talk then you probably every will playing 20 questions with your own.
 
not sure about everyone else, but what we did two years ago was this.

When my S went to his academic squadron and emailed me who his roommates were, I realized one of the roommates mother was on the yahoo group for the class of 2011. Turns out she was going to A day and we were not. She offered to take care of my S and the third roommate as well.

So, I simply told me son that if he wanted, he was welcome to go with his roommate and to let the third know as well. So they just stuck together and all had a great meal and a great time.

I know it is new, but what you will find is that everyone is like family when you are there and they kind of look out for everyone, well mostly anyway.

I know whenever I go out there, if I am taking my S out to dinner, or for any meal, I always ask if there are any friends of his that "need" to come with us. What I mean by "need" is are there any that could use some company of caring parents. There are always a couple and we have the best time. You learn more about what goes on by just sitting back and listening to a couple cadets talk then you probably every will playing 20 questions with your own.


I am new to this, but I am impressed with how everyone welcomes you with open arms. My wife and I have been out there and have attended one of our local Parent's Group meetings. The reception we received as new members was second to none.
 
I am new to this, but I am impressed with how everyone welcomes you with open arms. My wife and I have been out there and have attended one of our local Parent's Group meetings. The reception we received as new members was second to none.

Ditto for us!:thumb:
 
I brought the items my son requested (underwear, watch, school supplies, protein powder, sunglasses, etc.) in a big rolling suitcase and we simply rolled it to his room from the field house parking lot after we ate.

I pre-ordered chicken wraps, fresh fruit, and brownies from Chik-fil-a (they serve breakfast so I picked it up at 7). It was delicious. I had them put everything in stacking aluminum pans and put it in a cooler. I got enough for 10 and told my son to invite anyone who didn't have family present. He then took the left overs to his room and kids stopped by and snacked.

Bundy-My son's squad did not wait for the parents to get there for the shoulder board pinning. It was just happening. I got there in time to see it but not to take pictures. It is just a mad dash to find your cadet. Start training now haha!:shake:
 
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