C4C AMA: Ask me anything!

HeWantsTheBFE

USAFA Class of 2017
5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
260
Before I explain, I have to add this little disclaimer: Anything we say reflects our own personal views and not the views of the Academy, the USAF, etc.

So: Me and a couple of my classmates (all 4-degrees, 2017 Respect all, Fear none!) wanted to do something a little fun. We are starting an "ask-me-anything" style thread for any questions people may have about doolie life, BCT, our admissions experience, etc.

Among the many C4C's who I'm sure will pitch in are: Thorgold, Blahukahuna, LFry, HaleyM, and others.

So, what questions do you have for us?
 
Pretty quick turnaround

from BCT to Acceptance to First Class Day.............and maybe new Roomies.
How did that go for the Cadets on the whole? Also, how far is Jacks Valley?

Thanks, and good luck. Hope my DS is at BCT next June. Anyone know Ryan Andreiux (sp?) from PA? My DS and he went to HS together........
 
Did you all get Jack's Hack?

Were your first few days of classes what you expected? Harder? Easier?
 
Did you all get Jack's Hack?

Were your first few days of classes what you expected? Harder? Easier?

I had some congestion until the tear gas, but most of the class is just now getting over the Hack. It's made briefings really horrible to listen to...

I can't really tell yet how my classes will be. I'm probably most nervous about Chem 110. Combatives will be a good time.
 
Being the class with probably the lowest attrition rate during BCT 2,
1)What would you say to upperclassmen that think this year's BEAST was not as tough as before?
2)how do you feel about basics that just stood around and watched with their blue belts while some of you did the A-course repeatedly and spared beatings? Are they deserving of making it through Jacks even if they truly didn't?
 
2)how do you feel about basics that just stood around and watched with their blue belts while some of you did the A-course repeatedly and spared beatings? Are they deserving of making it through Jacks even if they truly didn't?


1.Just because someone was on the A-Course doesn't mean they were really trying. In some cases, the Form 18'rs were stracter basics and better team players than the ones who were actually playing the game.

Don't get me wrong, there were some basics who really milked their Form 18s and bedrest. There were also plenty of basics who got hurt during hardcore stuff (pugil sticks, for instance) and still made every effort to be with us. It really just depends on the person.
 
I've had Jack's Hack since BEFORE Jack's. :rant2: I finally went to the clinic and got some antibiotics and am starting to feel better!

One thing I'd like to state is that you hear so much before you about how you're going to get yelled at and criticized. I thought "okay, I know this is coming... so it'll be no big deal." you really have no idea what it's like until you have someone less than three inches from your face just screaming at you. I promise, there is no mental preperation for that! Just roll with the punches! :thumb:

...as you can imagine from that statement, I had a pretty interesting I-Day!
 
Last edited:
Pointgaurd, beating = physical training session of the not so fun type
 
How thorough were the security clearances? Were there people that lied on their application?
 
from BCT to Acceptance to First Class Day.............and maybe new Roomies.
How did that go for the Cadets on the whole? Also, how far is Jacks Valley?

Thanks, and good luck. Hope my DS is at BCT next June. Anyone know Ryan Andreiux (sp?) from PA? My DS and he went to HS together........
From BCT to Acceptance Day, there were still physical training sessions and the like. Privileges were still restricted and we couldn't go anywhere alone. It was a lot of transition stuff and moving rooms. After acceptance day we got the freedom of walking places alone, and that was a big deal. As for Jack's Valley, it was roughly a 4-6 miles march. I was never given an exact number.

Being the class with probably the lowest attrition rate during BCT 2,
1)What would you say to upperclassmen that think this year's BEAST was not as tough as before?
2)how do you feel about basics that just stood around and watched with their blue belts while some of you did the A-course repeatedly and spared beatings? Are they deserving of making it through Jacks even if they truly didn't?
1. I don't have experience in a previous year's Jack's Valley, but we were told that we were actually outperforming previous classes. In addition, I had an upperclassman tell me that our Jack's Valley experience was more difficult than their's. Whether or not that's true, I have no way of knowing. I do know that my squad was supposed to start at 30 basic cadets and we had two no shows and one drop out during basic.

2. Like what was previously mentioned, not all people on a form-18 milked it. There were those who did use it every chance they had to "stand around" while their classmates were physically trained. That was not the case for everyone though. I was on a form-18 for our second run through the assault course (they thought I had a stress fracture in my right foot) and they wouldn't let me run it. So instead I grabbed my rifle, stood at the end of the course and did flutter kicks, squats, pushups, presses, etc. until every single classmate of mine made it through the assault course. It was probably the best arm workout I got in my life. :thumb:

What exactly is Jack's Hack?
There is so much dust in Jack's Valley that, after inhaling it for two straight weeks, gives you a terrible cough. I'd say about half of my classmates got it really bad, but the other half of us didn't seem to catch it.

Did you all get Jack's Hack?
There were some who practically coughed out their lungs, but I didn't get it at all really. I had a minor cough from a cold, but that was it.

Were your first few days of classes what you expected? Harder? Easier?
So far, classes have been fairly easy. However, I expect things to get much tougher. The hard part isn't really the class itself, but more the homework that you have to make time to complete.

What were your ACT or SAT scores and subsection scores?
I didn't take the SAT but my ACT scores are:
26 Science
26 Math
27 English
28 Reading
27 Composite

High School GPA: 3.61

Note: I was sent to the Prep School for a year first.

How thorough were the security clearances? Were there people that lied on their application?
There's really no way of knowing, at least not for us.
 
Last edited:
Thanks LFry.
Keep up the good work and congrats on shedding basic, now a C4C.:thumb:
 
LFry isn't a recruited athlete, but if you have any specific IC questions, let me know and I'll find someone to ask. I know people from pretty much every sport.
 
were you a Recruited Athlete?

As BlahuKahuna said, I was not a recruited athlete. I have recruited track, cross country runners, football players, and swimmers in my squad if you want me to pass along any IC related questions.

And thanks Icarus. :smile:
 
Back
Top