Christmas break is over. Safely back to the the academy

Christcorp

15-Year Member
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May 21, 2008
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Well, the last 3 weeks just seemed to fly by. It was a great vacation. Lot of family time, yet my son found plenty of time to go skiing and seeing his friends. But alas; he packed up the car and headed out around noon. He made it back safely to the academy. (advantage of only living 2 hours away). He's settled in his new room. (Back in the squadron. Was on group staff last semester). Got to keep his roommate, who also was on group staff. Checked his grades from the 1st semester and did extremely well. So, it looks like a good start to the 2nd semester. Although "Orgo Part Deux" doesn't have him thrilled (Orgo= Organic Chemistry).

Anyway; here's to all you cadets and your families. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmahannakwanza and made it back to the academy safely. Hopefully everyone is healthy and in good physical shape. Congrats to the falcons and winning their bowl game against Georgia Tech. Between that and the Commander in Chief Trophy, it should make for a great 2nd half of the year.

To all you 4 degrees; "R" day will be here soon enough. Just hang in there. To you "Firsties"; cherish your last 5 months. You're almost there. Congrats to you. To the R2D2's; Rings and Assignments coming up. And pretty soon, you'll be the firsties. To the C3P0"s; well..... You get to look forward to commitment. Hang in there.

Anyway; best to everyone. Have a great 2nd semester. Enjoy your friends and the snow. You're gaining 1 min 20 sec of additional daylight each day. Enjoy it. Best to all. Mike....
 
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Hard to believe, isn't it? Son also made it back, but a bit less thrilled! :wink: Happy to be in the same alcove with the same roommates. Also very happy with his grades. I was a bit annoyed to find BOTH pairs of his black gloves still in his room after getting his text this evening asking if I happened to see them. After asking SPECIFICALLY if he had his gloves this morning and being told (with a sigh!), "Yes mom, they're in my backpack!" :rolleyes:

Good luck to all on a great second semester!!
 
It seems like just yesterday that my son came home. It went so fast. Now because of spots he won't be home until some time during the summer. I guess we will have to go visit him some time during the next semester.

I hope everyone enjoyed theri visits.
 
Our son finally made it back to the Hill at 2300 hrs last night. The flight from Minneapolis to Denver was delayed for 6 hours by mechanical issues. The good news is that he got his grades for last semester. He was worried about them with having to squeeze Powered Flight into his schedule, but he found out he ended up with a 3.41, so he's happy.

I's hard to believe that the next time we'll see him will be graduation.

Stealth_81
 
Our son finally made it back to the Hill at 2300 hrs last night. The flight from Minneapolis to Denver was delayed for 6 hours by mechanical issues. The good news is that he got his grades for last semester. He was worried about them with having to squeeze Powered Flight into his schedule, but he found out he ended up with a 3.41, so he's happy.

I's hard to believe that the next time we'll see him will be graduation.

Stealth_81

So true how fast the time goes by. But that's because we're getting old and life itself seems to go by so fast. If you ask my son; like many others; time on the hill is dragging on.

Like most of you, I probably won't get to see much of my son until summer. He's already got spring break and the two long weekends prior, already booked with ski trips and possibly a trip to Mexico. Guess we'll have to just hang in there.
 
DD also made it back safely. We only had a week with her as she spent the first week of vacation on a training trip with her team. She has definitely become a different person after only 6 months at the Academy (although I don't think she's ready to hear that). The high school prom queen has been replaced by a more focused and determined future military officer. The grades were terrific, she loves her new roomates and the first text I received last night, " ...After Recognition, I'm going to the Bahamas for spring break with my Academy friends..."

So for today, all is well in the world :smile:.

Happy New Year to All,

Deb
 
Our son finally made it back to the Hill at 2300 hrs last night. The flight from Minneapolis to Denver was delayed for 6 hours by mechanical issues. The good news is that he got his grades for last semester. He was worried about them with having to squeeze Powered Flight into his schedule, but he found out he ended up with a 3.41, so he's happy.

I's hard to believe that the next time we'll see him will be graduation.

Stealth_81

Dang. Those are some seriously good grades at the academy. Is he planning on going to grad school after this?
 
CC- Orgo Part Deux is much better than part 1! Lab is more interesting and the lecture brings it all together. Good luck to him. It's a better semester in Chemistry!
 
CC- Orgo Part Deux is much better than part 1! Lab is more interesting and the lecture brings it all together. Good luck to him. It's a better semester in Chemistry!

Thanks hornet. Son did say that after Part 1, that it was actually pretty good. Wasn't as bad as he thought. Matter of fact, he got an "A" in the class. He likes the idea of dissecting a real cadaver instead of critters or whatever. With all the time he spent his first year playing football; and since then all the skiing, snowboarding, girlfriend, etc... that he's able to do so well. He must take after his mom. LOL!!!

He was caught between applying to med-school and becoming a pilot. After this last summer spending time in England with doctors; all the doctors told him to do pilot. They said he can always do medical school later. But if he goes medical school first, he can't become a pilot later. "He'd be too old". So, he's still taking all the classes like Orgo and whatever else is required. But I think he's going to hold off on taking MCAT, and instead apply for grad school out of the academy and take the pilot slot. As long as he has "Options" and is doing what makes him happy; that's all I can ask for.
 
Sorry he won't make it home at spring break.

It's OK. I'm sure he'll enjoy spending the time with your family instead. :biggrin:


Dang. Those are some seriously good grades at the academy. Is he planning on going to grad school after this?

Thanks, Ramius. He hasn't pursued grad school right after the Academy. He will look at options after 100's night when he knows where and when UPT begins. If he has some time between graduation and UPT, he will begin his masters.

Stealth_81
 
My two DID NOT want to go back, which was a first for them. And of course, they couldn't get the right flights so they had to return New Years Day.

But, have one on Sup's list, one on athletic and military but missed the academic with a 2.992; it was his lowest USAFA GPA, academically. :( Still, I'm super-proud of them both!

Saw some chatter on the yahoo site about airlines charging for luggage. Did any of you or your kids experience that? Mine were not charged (American AL), but I did talk to a mom whose son was charged $20/bag by United, despite the "active military" ID.
 
Saw some chatter on the yahoo site about airlines charging for luggage. Did any of you or your kids experience that? Mine were not charged (American AL), but I did talk to a mom whose son was charged $20/bag by United, despite the "active military" ID.

This can happen from time to time if the cadets don't carry their printed orders with them. Southwest loves to ask for the orders if a checked back is overweight. No orders and they charge for overweight.

In four years, my DS has only been asked for orders three times that I know of.
 
My two DID NOT want to go back, which was a first for them. And of course, they couldn't get the right flights so they had to return New Years Day.

But, have one on Sup's list, one on athletic and military but missed the academic with a 2.992; it was his lowest USAFA GPA, academically. :( Still, I'm super-proud of them both!

Saw some chatter on the yahoo site about airlines charging for luggage. Did any of you or your kids experience that? Mine were not charged (American AL), but I did talk to a mom whose son was charged $20/bag by United, despite the "active military" ID.

Yes; many airlines charge extra for baggage. Some; like southwest; don't. Many however do.

Congrats on the kids doing well. Them not wanting to go back is normal. Especially now that they are in their 3rd year. There's a lot of excitement the 1st year; busy the 2nd year; 3rd year is a little less interesting; 4th year, you are king of the hill. They are acting normal.

I forgot all about the "LISTS". Can't even remember the 4 lists??? Dean's (academic); Athletic Director?? Commandant's (Military studies???), and Superintendent's (All 3 of the others combined). I think that's them. I know my son is on the dean's and the commandant's, but not the athletic director. Seems once he stopped playing football, he wasn't on the athletic director's anymore. Anyway; sounds like your boys are doing good. Hope I'm going to get to see you again next september for parent's weekend again. Catch you later.... mike.....
 
Don't know what caused the "I don't want to go back" syndrome to be so strong this year. Maybe they can see the light at the end of the tunnel but it's still far away? Maybe the heavy academic loads each is carrying?

CC: Now that I know where to find you, I plan on spending the ENTIRE DAY at Thudgate (read: forget that boring football game. If ain't the STEELERS, it ain't football!)!
 
Yes; many airlines charge extra for baggage. Some; like southwest; don't. Many however do.

While many airlines charge extra for baggage, policy is that they waive it for military. Both the baggage fee and the overweight fee. Sometimes they will waive it simply by showing military id and other times they will request to see a copy of the orders.
 
United Airlines' policy is to have the baggage fee waived only if the military servicemember is flying to his or her new PCS. Otherwise I've had some be nice to me and waive the fee while others do what they were told and charge like they're supposed to. Other airlines have much more favorable policies to military (and customer service) compared to United.
 
Glad to hear all the cadets are back safe and sound and doing quite well at USAFA to boot.

As an aside, United should waive the fees per their site:

[FONT=arial,geneva][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]U.S. military personnel (or a dependent) who is either active or traveling on leave in conjunction with a permanent change of station (military ID required)[/FONT][/FONT]
 
Thanks hornet. Son did say that after Part 1, that it was actually pretty good. Wasn't as bad as he thought. Matter of fact, he got an "A" in the class. He likes the idea of dissecting a real cadaver instead of critters or whatever. With all the time he spent his first year playing football; and since then all the skiing, snowboarding, girlfriend, etc... that he's able to do so well. He must take after his mom. LOL!!!

He was caught between applying to med-school and becoming a pilot. After this last summer spending time in England with doctors; all the doctors told him to do pilot. They said he can always do medical school later. But if he goes medical school first, he can't become a pilot later. "He'd be too old". So, he's still taking all the classes like Orgo and whatever else is required. But I think he's going to hold off on taking MCAT, and instead apply for grad school out of the academy and take the pilot slot. As long as he has "Options" and is doing what makes him happy; that's all I can ask for.

This sounds strangely familiar. lol. I was given the same advice and pursued that exact course! Follow those dreams now while still able!
 
Thanks hornet. Son did say that after Part 1, that it was actually pretty good. Wasn't as bad as he thought. Matter of fact, he got an "A" in the class. He likes the idea of dissecting a real cadaver instead of critters or whatever. With all the time he spent his first year playing football; and since then all the skiing, snowboarding, girlfriend, etc... that he's able to do so well. He must take after his mom. LOL!!!

Is he in Anatomy yet? The teachers are pretty awesome. One emailed me in December randomly after looking at my RAND profile. Congrats to him on the A, that's quite an achievement in orgo.

Also understand the decision between med school and flying. Good to keep those options open!
 
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