To the class of 2017

Dad

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
1,132
I-Day is almost here. You've packed your bags and said your good-byes to many of your friends and family. Your future begins NOW.

1. Do not take the yelling personally. Cadre really want you to succeed.

2. Just try to focus on getting through to the next meal during BCT. Thousands have stood on those same footprints and have survived and thrived.

3. When receiving extra attention (for whatever) do as many flutterkicks as you can and then stay down. Cadre can't make you do more than you can.

4. Maintain your sense of humor. Choose wisely when to share it, however.

5. Seek out a prior and/or a preppie. They know the little tricks to make life a little easier.

6. ALWAYS help your squadmates. Encourage one another and work together. Leave no one behind.

7. If you are not at USAFA because it is what YOU want, stay on the bus. Motives become exposed under duress.

8. It gets better after the 1st 3 weeks, better after Jacks Valley, better after A-day, better after Thanksgiving, better after Christmas, and MUCH better after Recognition. You CAN do it and it is WORTH it.

9. Most will feel like quitting during BCT. Stick it out as long as you can. Talk with squadmates. Talk with chaplains. Talk with your sponsor family.

10. You will be able to do more than you ever thought you could. Be amazed at what you will accomplish.

Best wishes. :thumb:
 
I-Day is almost here. You've packed your bags and said your good-byes to many of your friends and family. Your future begins NOW.

1. Do not take the yelling personally. Cadre really want you to succeed.

2. Just try to focus on getting through to the next meal during BCT. Thousands have stood on those same footprints and have survived and thrived.

3. When receiving extra attention (for whatever) do as many flutterkicks as you can and then stay down. Cadre can't make you do more than you can.

4. Maintain your sense of humor. Choose wisely when to share it, however.

5. Seek out a prior and/or a preppie. They know the little tricks to make life a little easier.

6. ALWAYS help your squadmates. Encourage one another and work together. Leave no one behind.

7. If you are not at USAFA because it is what YOU want, stay on the bus. Motives become exposed under duress.

8. It gets better after the 1st 3 weeks, better after Jacks Valley, better after A-day, better after Thanksgiving, better after Christmas, and MUCH better after Recognition. You CAN do it and it is WORTH it.

9. Most will feel like quitting during BCT. Stick it out as long as you can. Talk with squadmates. Talk with chaplains. Talk with your sponsor family.

10. You will be able to do more than you ever thought you could. Be amazed at what you will accomplish.

Best wishes. :thumb:

Thanks :smile: I know that I and all the '17 lurkers really appreciate the encouragement.
 
Dad: your list is pretty complete!:thumb:

After hearing my sons stories, I would add:

1. Don't be afraid to make mistakes at the dining hall with all of the procedures that you will be forced to immediately memorize. Getting yelled at because you mess up the procedures and having a full stomach trumps avoiding making errors and going hungry. Those early errors quickly turn into becoming an expert. Life in Basic is much harder when you are hungry.

2. Smile / seem happy when you see the Webguy photographers. Deep down you can be miserable but your parents will appreciate that you look happy.

3. Bend your knees when standing at attention! For whatever reason, some people assume that they don't have to. If you don't, you will be dropping. It happens every year because people assume it won't be them. It doesn't matter how strong you are. There are the laws of blood flow that are alive and well in all of us. Notice how they upperclassman holdout strong(er) while the Basics drop like flies?:scratch:

4. Expect to have 2nd thoughts during Basic. For that matter, expect to have 2nd thoughts about attending USAFA occasionally throughout your 1st year. When you do, you are normal.

5. During your 1st year, give your parents a 20 second call just to say "all is well". Highlight the good and keep positive because you are what you focus on. When you get your phones back, once is week is a good quota. In case you can only talk to one parent because you are swamped, give mom a call and skip over dad. :wink: I heard a lot of parents feel empty because their DS or DD didn't talk much to them. A 20 second call followed by "I got to run" is enough fuel to keep up ticking for another week. Parents: pick up phone calls with strange area codes. It could be your son or daughter.

Good luck to the class of 2017!:thumb:
 
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Class of 2017

Best to you all!!!!!!! Basics remember time is on your side. I remember my DS I-day like it was yesterday. Parents you will fall in love with Webguy, Webgirl, Webdad, Webmule (Westpointer), and all the rest.
 
Appointees,

If you have any last minute questions, let me know. Aggressors, see you bright and early!
 
Question

When we drop the appointee off at AOG do they hand carry their paperwork in their hand at that time or leave in their backpack for later?
Regards
John
 
When we drop the appointee off at AOG do they hand carry their paperwork in their hand at that time or leave in their backpack for later?
Regards
John

My daughter pulled hers out of her backpack and hand carried it through the processing and then slipped it into the plastic bag with other papers each are given before retrieving their backpacks and getting on the bus. Last year we could watch inprocessing from above in the Field House, and I don't recall whether she actually needed anything from that bag, but better to have than not.
Good luck!
 
...And remember completing BCT 1, BCT 2 are milestones not the end game. Be prepared for a long road, Recognition, Commitment, Ring Dance and Graduation - It takes a lot of hard work and persistence. Then you emerge and continue on a new road in which you get to work hard and apply what you have learned at the academy, but it is worth it!

So focus on the short term goals, but keep the big picture in mind.

Good Luck to all.
 
Class of 17
Thiss is your time, your BCT, your own experience. All the Do's and Dont's list don't matter now. Have fun and be strong!
 
Good luck to all 2017 appointees! Remember family and friends to write them letters. It can and will help them get through BCT.
 
God bless you all, Class of 2017!

I so enjoyed see pictures of the big day from a cadet-dad. I will be praying for your class.
 
Best of luck to the entire class of 2017, those will be attending the service academies. And those in ROTC. You all have chosen a path to serve the greatest country in the world. The United States of America. To defend it freedom. The next 4 years of your lives will at times be extremely difficult and rewarding. You are the future leaders of this nation. For that I am very proud and grateful. Thank you to the parents of these brave Americans for allowing to do what they are about to do.


God Bless to all and God Speed,

RGK
 
What is the motto of the class of 2017?

Does anyone know if they have released the official class statistics?
How many were offered appointments and how many actually inprocessed?
 
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