Cars for Cadets

I have a question regarding cars for cadets. I know that they can park a car on the campus during their junior and senior years. (C2C's and C1C's ) but can they have a car as a C3C which they keep at their sponsor's home???
Thanks for the information.

batmom said:

I have a question regarding cars for cadets. I know that they can park a car on the campus during their junior and senior years. (C2C's and C1C's ) but can they have a car as a C3C which they keep at their sponsor's home???
Thanks for the information.

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No, they cannot.

Stealth_81

This issue is considered so serious that it is addressed in an FAQ on the USAFA website about how parents can help cadets succeed at USAFA. The FAQ specifically cautions against helping a cadet break a rule that is quite specific and the consequences are very severe. Don't do it, rules are rules, cadets are not allowed to maintain an automobile within 150 miles of the campus (exceptions would be made for cadets who live in the area), and the sponsor families know this as well.

batmom said:

I have a question regarding cars for cadets. I know that they can park a car on the campus during their junior and senior years. (C2C's and C1C's ) but can they have a car as a C3C which they keep at their sponsor's home???
Thanks for the information.

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I know of a cadet who is no longer at the hill for keeping a car off hill in his 3 dig year. Parents even helped him, how is that for a jolt. The answer is "don't even think about it"

scraper,

SO many questions! Too many to post!

The three that come to mind that I would love answers to are:
1. How he justified this action regarding honor code. He had to know he broke it by breaking the rules.
2. How he thought other cadets would not get wind of it? That fear of being reported should be enough to stop anyone in their tracks. What made him think nobody over a course of a yr would not learn about it

Biggest one:
3. Did they hand him a bill for his education?
~~~ If I am correct as a C3C he went pass GO (freebie try it out yr, no harm/no foul), and since he was dis-enrolled, due to his own stupidity, did they go after him for the cost? At least that is what it is for AFROTC scholarship...1st yr is freebie. They rarely go after sophs, (C3Cs), but again, scholarships only pay tuition, 900 for books (a yr), and 350 a month stipend. They do go after POCs

Not trying to make my last question into a water fight. AFA vs AFROTC. I do not want to divert the thread that way. However, it may stop posters and lurkers in their tracks to know, not only are they cut loose, but they could be handed a big time bill.

No offense, it is one thing to pick up the pieces after being kicked out. They can transfer the credits and start anew at another college. Lick their wounds and learn from their mistake.

It is another thing entiely to be handed a bill for tens of thousands of dollars, and STILL have to find a way to pay for the last 2 yrs of college.

Violating the "No car within 150mi rule" is not an honor code violation in and of itself. Now, if a cadet lied about it, then yeah, honor violation.

Second, 3digs aren't committed yet. Commitment is academic day 1 of 2dig year. So, if he got the boot as a 3dig, it's just the boot, not boot and bill.

The real question she asked was jus whether a C3C could keep a car at a sponsors home. We all know if they lie about it, it's an honor code violation. She was just looking for a quick yes/no answer. I personally appreciate the extra information as I live fairly close to the academy. The answer is just no, they cannot keep a car at a sponsors house. Only C2C and C1C can actually have a car, on or off campus.

CONative said:

The real question she asked was jus whether a C3C could keep a car at a sponsors home. We all know if they lie about it, it's an honor code violation. She was just looking for a quick yes/no answer. I personally appreciate the extra information as I live fairly close to the academy. The answer is just no, they cannot keep a car at a sponsors house. Only C2C and C1C can actually have a car, on or off campus.

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That is correct. But I'm sure you and she already knows; (But I'm adding this for those who may not know). This rule doesn't mean you, a C4C or C3C, CAN'T DRIVE. Simply means you can't OWN and KEEP your car at/near the academy or designated area until you are a C2C. You can RENT a car. You can BORROW a car. You just can't OWN a car that you are keeping there. There are a LOT of C3C who are designated drivers for upper classmen. And in return, many allow the C3C to borrow the car on occasion if they want to go down town for something, a ski trip, etc...

Thanks for the information

Actually, I am so thankful that all of you answered this question. I knew that the cadets could NOT park a car on campus until their junior and senior years, but I could not remember the rules about a car that was parked off campus. We were thinking about SURPRISING our cadet with a car for his birthday in December, but now I GUESS NOT!!!
I could not remember the rules and so I posted this question, because all of you are always so helpful!!!
As an extra post--- my son LOVES being a cadet!!! I cannot tell you how wonderful it is every single time that we speak with him...he is HAPPY and so THANKFUL to be a cadet. He says "this was my DREAM and it is happening!!!"
It makes us so unbelievably THANKFUL as his parents. THANK YOU USAFA for selecting my son. He is exactly where he is "meant to be".

In preparation for being allowed to have a car during C2C year, what would you advise a C2C do regarding car registration? Is it OK to just keep driving an out of state registered car or is it better to just have it registered in Colorado? The reason I ask is that the state where we're from requires biennual emmission testing and the year it would need it falls between C2C and C1C year. Thanks for any helpful input.

Check with your state. Normally, there are a lot of concessions for military. Many don't even require renewal of driver license. But check to see if you're military and you are stationed outside of the state, if you need inspections. Remember; your son/daughter IS in the military. They AREN'T at college. The academy isn't some special place. If there was a global war tomorrow, your cadet's education could be put on hold and they could be going overseas.

Not trying to scare you. Simply trying to get you to ask the "RIGHT" question to your DMV. Don't be complicated. The question is real simple. My son/daughter is in the military. The car registration and his/her driver license is from this state. I know they are allowed to keep it registered in our state. Just wondering if they are exempt from the inspections being they are stationed in Colorado? Can they continue to renew the registration each year without a problem? DON'T MENTION the academy. DON'T MENTION the word "SCHOOL".

Christcorp said:

Check with your state. Normally, there are a lot of concessions for military. Many don't even require renewal of driver license. But check to see if you're military and you are stationed outside of the state, if you need inspections. Remember; your son/daughter IS in the military. They AREN'T at college. The academy isn't some special place. If there was a global war tomorrow, your cadet's education could be put on hold and they could be going overseas.

Not trying to scare you. Simply trying to get you to ask the "RIGHT" question to your DMV. Don't be complicated. The question is real simple. My son/daughter is in the military. The car registration and his/her driver license is from this state. I know they are allowed to keep it registered in our state. Just wondering if they are exempt from the inspections being they are stationed in Colorado? Can they continue to renew the registration each year without a problem? DON'T MENTION the academy. DON'T MENTION the word "SCHOOL".

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I have inquired at our DMV and they maintain that there are no exceptions to the emission testing even if you're active military. If the registration is to be renewed, it has to be done. It's at least over a day's worth of driving to just bring the car back home to renew that is why I thought of just registering the car in Colorado under my DS's name. I just wondered if there are posters here that have experience sending cars with upperclassmen in the past and if they just kept their cars registered from their home state or not. Thanks for the prompt reply.

icarus said:

I have inquired at our DMV and they maintain that there are no exceptions to the emission testing even if you're active military. If the registration is to be renewed, it has to be done. It's at least over a day's worth of driving to just bring the car back home to renew that is why I thought of just registering the car in Colorado under my DS's name. I just wondered if there are posters here that have experience sending cars with upperclassmen in the past and if they just kept their cars registered from their home state or not. Thanks for the prompt reply.

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Perhaps you need to change the car's location on the registration so you can be exempt from emissions. That's how it is in Virginia. He let VA DMV know his car was physically in CO, (may have given the Pak Mail address as the address I'm not sure) and VA DMV let him renew his registration without the emissions testing.

I think I'd talk to someone else at your DMV

icarus said:

I have inquired at our DMV and they maintain that there are no exceptions to the emission testing even if you're active military. If the registration is to be renewed, it has to be done. It's at least over a day's worth of driving to just bring the car back home to renew that is why I thought of just registering the car in Colorado under my DS's name. I just wondered if there are posters here that have experience sending cars with upperclassmen in the past and if they just kept their cars registered from their home state or not. Thanks for the prompt reply.

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When my car was brought out from Ohio, I kept the registration there. No need to change it. But in your case, that sounds like a reasonable reason to get it registered in Colorado.

buffalo said:

When my car was brought out from Ohio, I kept the registration there. No need to change it. But in your case, that sounds like a reasonable reason to get it registered in Colorado.

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My DS son bought a SUV in Utah during his break this summer...transferred title AND registered the car in HI...Hawaii requires a SAFETY Check which was waived...I did have to ask two different DMV personnel because the 1st personnel flat out said it can't be done and I asked to speak to the supervisor because I've always had my own cars registered in HI when I was active duty in the mainland. Needless to say title and registration was done after the supervisor "educated" the personnel regarding military exception/exemption..

Not sure what state you are from Icarus. We transferred ownership of one of our older, well maintained vehicles to our DD last year. During the transfer or ownership, I had the car "smog checked" before the paperwork portion of the transfer was completed. DMV said I was crazy, that I spent money needlessly. I like to think maybe "crazy like a fox", no smog check was required this year (we could have just as equally been down right lucky), and DD will bring the car home after graduation and complete the biannual check on time. Then it will be DD responsibility to register it in her new state. Maybe she will just wait until she arrives to register the vehicle as the there is no chance she will be stationed in California.

Son kept his truck registered in Wisconsin for the whole time he had it at the Academy. The Wisconsin DMV never questioned his Colorado address. He did change his registration to Texas after graduation since he changed his state residency there.

Stealth_81

Appreciate sharing your car registration experiences. DS is definitely looking forward to having his own vehicle same time next year. We'll look more into the puzzle of out of state registration not just with our local DMV but also with CO.
Thanks again for all the input.