Ask new C4Cs anything!

nolifepilot

USAFA Cadet
5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
148
Hey ya'll,

I remember back when I was applying and interested in the Academy that I would always see threads like this and they always motivated me, so I thought I would start this one! Feel free to ask anything about the application process, BCT, or anything else! The school year hasn't started yet, but once it does, please ask anything concerning academics. My classmates and I will do our best to answer any questions we can!
 
Well, first of all congrats for surviving BCT. What was your biggest surprise so far?
 
Congrats on surviving BCT. Have you heard any numbers as to how many dropped out or have been DQ'd so far?
 
Congrats on surviving BCT. Have you heard any numbers as to how many dropped out or have been DQ'd so far?

We were told it was somewhere around 70




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Well, first of all congrats for surviving BCT. What was your biggest surprise so far?
Honestly, my biggest surprise so far has been how I felt the first week or so. It's been my dream to go to USAFA since I was six, it's really been the only thing that I've ever really wanted in my life. But the first week or so, I absolutely hated this place. I wanted to go home, I wanted to quit, I couldn't believe that I had ever wanted to come here. I felt so stupid for turning down a full AFROTC scholarship to FSU. I had been told that this was exactly how I would feel, but I guess I more or less brushed it off or didn't think that it would happen. I was just surprised by the intensity of my feelings of dislike. But I slowly got used to the routine, and things started becoming much, much better. By the end of week 2, I had already fallen in love with USAFA all over again. Don't get me wrong, basic is bad, and there were still times I felt down, but I've had the best times and the best feelings of my life during BCT, and I've also had some of the worst times of my life during BCT. The phrase "BCT is the most fun you never want to have again" is definitely true. I'm happy that feeling of dislike and just general gloominess went away early, and allowed me to have fun at BCT. Now academics start in two days, so I'm sure if you ask me how I feel about this place in a week or so, I might say something totally different, but for now, I'm thrilled to be here and very excited for the school year!
 
How much time do they give you in the morning during basic before you're doing PT in the hall? Is it enough time to at least get dressed, brush your teeth, and use the restroom, or is it pretty much get up get dressed, in the hall for PT and then you take care of the rest of that stuff later? I remember at doolie for a day at summer seminar, we barely had time to get dressed before we were doing PT and I was wondering if it was the same during basic.
 
How much time do they give you in the morning during basic before you're doing PT in the hall? Is it enough time to at least get dressed, brush your teeth, and use the restroom, or is it pretty much get up get dressed, in the hall for PT and then you take care of the rest of that stuff later? I remember at doolie for a day at summer seminar, we barely had time to get dressed before we were doing PT and I was wondering if it was the same during basic.


Your technically supposed to get up, change, brush teeth, get your room perfect, all in a matter of a few short minutes, then you fall out, and the PT begins



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Your technically supposed to get up, change, brush teeth, get your room perfect, all in a matter of a few short minutes, then you fall out, and the PT begins



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So I'm guessing when you say that "technically" you are supposed to have this all done, that means you won't have time to cram it all in before you are getting beat? This is going to seem like a really weird question, but do you have time to use the bathroom before PT?
 
How much time do they give you in the morning during basic before you're doing PT in the hall? Is it enough time to at least get dressed, brush your teeth, and use the restroom, or is it pretty much get up get dressed, in the hall for PT and then you take care of the rest of that stuff later? I remember at doolie for a day at summer seminar, we barely had time to get dressed before we were doing PT and I was wondering if it was the same during basic.
It changes based on your cadre. For example, first BCT, they expected us to get up, brush teeth, shave, get dressed, all that stuff, and be out in the hallway ASAP. People would normally try to avoid going to the bathroom because as soon as my flight would fall out into the hallway, we would be on our faces chanting "Sir/Ma'am, we are waiting for our classmates," so the longer they took in the bathroom, the longer we were in the front leaning rest. And then as soon as everyone was there, the beating began. We started shaving at night before we went to bed, and most of us just went without brushing our teeth our washing up until we got back from breakfast in order to save time. During second BCT, when we changed cadre, all our cadre wanted us to do was to fall out immediately. As soon as everyone was out and lined up, they would give us plenty of time to go back to our rooms, put them in order, get washed up, and use the bathroom. In Jack's, it was pretty much the same. We would get woken up by the tent guards about 15 minutes before it was ready to go, and we would all get ready and sit on our cots by the tent flaps, completely ready to go with all our gear. Then whenever the cadre began to wake us up, we would immediately roll up the tent flaps and fall out. I think my flight completely fell out one morning in around 18 seconds (fight to win). The quicker you fell out, the quicker you got to go use the bathroom, because if you were the last to fall out, you were looking at a 10-15 minute wait of standing in line to use the bathroom. Overall, if you tell your cadre you need to go, they will let you go pretty much all the time. That was one thing I was nervous about going into BCT too haha. But our cadre was really good about letting us go, and we pretty much would go right before we went anywhere, when we got there, and when we were about to leave. I hope I answered your question, feel free to ask more!
 
So I'm guessing when you say that "technically" you are supposed to have this all done, that means you won't have time to cram it all in before you are getting beat? This is going to seem like a really weird question, but do you have time to use the bathroom before PT?


You have time to do it all, the cadre will just make your classmates do some exercise while you do your stuff if you are slow. Bathroom, yes. You are allowed to, but everyone waited till after the mini-beating in my flight. Plus if you didn't brush your teeth or make your bed, the cadre would give 5 minutes and you'd go run back and do that


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Haha, thanks for answering my questions! I know it seems stupid to worry about that, but my brother who is enlisted in the army had some horror stories about that so I just thought I'd check :)
 
As a parent I am getting a good chuckle out of reading the 'beatings' these kids are getting. My D* and I don't was to disclose anything about them, grew up where if you were not on time, slow, you had some PT I would come up with. Pushups, running, sit-ups etc. And there was also some MT, mental training, nice writing assignments if you forgot something... like why it is important to keep your bathroom clean. I only a few times ever raised my voice to my children, they might disagree, but its true. I would also wake them up early during the summer and they would have assignments outside, inside everywhere. My D* came out of BCT saying it wasn't that hard and in fact it reminded them of home. The problem is I was a coach for decades and worked with kids all the time. I never dis-respected my children and they for the most part respected me. The reason I make this post is for those parents out there reading these posts. I am by far not a perfect parent, but, a little tough love going into USAFA would be helpful. Make your kids accountable for their actions, no excuses, if they don't follow directions or not respect you, give them some PT or MT. keep in mind its a battle, but don't do it out of anger. The Cadre don't hate the Basics, its their job. Well as parents you also have a job also.

Someone told me I must be very proud of my children and that I seemed to enjoy raising children. I responded, I am not raising children, I am raising adults. If in the end they act like children when they leave home, I have failed.

Another piece of advice for those parents again...... and future Cadets.... Getting into USAFA is easy. The 48 months your at USAFA is hard and the following years serving your country will be difficult and amazingly rewarding at the same time. But it is all worth it. The goal is not getting the acceptance letter, its graduation and a good assignment.

Oh, letters home during BCT...... almost 40 they created a nice report on activities everyday which we will give them back at graduation. Did they miss home, yes, but never once did they question why they are at USAFA.

Your at USAFA to serve your country the education is part of the job,.
 
As a parent I am getting a good chuckle out of reading the 'beatings' these kids are getting. My D* and I don't was to disclose anything about them, grew up where if you were not on time, slow, you had some PT I would come up with. Pushups, running, sit-ups etc. And there was also some MT, mental training, nice writing assignments if you forgot something... like why it is important to keep your bathroom clean. I only a few times ever raised my voice to my children, they might disagree, but its true. I would also wake them up early during the summer and they would have assignments outside, inside everywhere. My D* came out of BCT saying it wasn't that hard and in fact it reminded them of home. The problem is I was a coach for decades and worked with kids all the time. I never dis-respected my children and they for the most part respected me. The reason I make this post is for those parents out there reading these posts. I am by far not a perfect parent, but, a little tough love going into USAFA would be helpful. Make your kids accountable for their actions, no excuses, if they don't follow directions or not respect you, give them some PT or MT. keep in mind its a battle, but don't do it out of anger. The Cadre don't hate the Basics, its their job. Well as parents you also have a job also.

Someone told me I must be very proud of my children and that I seemed to enjoy raising children. I responded, I am not raising children, I am raising adults. If in the end they act like children when they leave home, I have failed.

Another piece of advice for those parents again...... and future Cadets.... Getting into USAFA is easy. The 48 months your at USAFA is hard and the following years serving your country will be difficult and amazingly rewarding at the same time. But it is all worth it. The goal is not getting the acceptance letter, its graduation and a good assignment.

Oh, letters home during BCT...... almost 40 they created a nice report on activities everyday which we will give them back at graduation. Did they miss home, yes, but never once did they question why they are at USAFA.

Your at USAFA to serve your country the education is part of the job,.

I kept waiting for a question to a C4C. Guess this was what the young folks call a 'speech'. I always like to hear/read/see youth interact with youth. I call that the good old days and something fond to remember from my halcyon days.
 
So I'm guessing when you say that "technically" you are supposed to have this all done, that means you won't have time to cram it all in before you are getting beat? This is going to seem like a really weird question, but do you have time to use the bathroom before PT?

Of course you do. It's called waking up with enough time to get your room in order, get your uniform on properly, and use the bathroom. No one wants you peeing your pants.
_____________________________

USAFACandidate95
USAFA Class of 2017
 
I remember this type of thread from 4 years ago! 2018, you have the aircraft. Keep up the RTB spirit for us! :thumb:
 
Here's a question.....with all of the resources available today that weren't available 10 or more years ago (such as this forum, other forums, YouTube, the 1st year video, etc) it seems as though an incoming Basic has a pretty good idea what was going to happen during BCT. My question is, what experience can you share that was truly a surprise to you? What episode, when it happened, gave you a "hey, I wasn't expecting that!!!" to go through your mind?

Keith
 
Here's a question.....with all of the resources available today that weren't available 10 or more years ago (such as this forum, other forums, YouTube, the 1st year video, etc) it seems as though an incoming Basic has a pretty good idea what was going to happen during BCT. My question is, what experience can you share that was truly a surprise to you? What episode, when it happened, gave you a "hey, I wasn't expecting that!!!" to go through your mind?

Keith

While this is a great question, you might want to consider the implications of giving away those moments to people who have not experienced it. Some things are meant to be kept a surprise and are earned by those who come through the institution.

However, even though I'm not an 18er, the one thing I can let you know is that you can never REALLY fully prepare. You may understand that someone will yell at you or push you to your limits. You may have seen what you will experience in a video or heard it from a friend, but the fact is that you won't really "get it" until it happens to you. And if you want to know what it REALLY feels like.... take the first step and apply. :thumb:
 
While this is a great question, you might want to consider the implications of giving away those moments to people who have not experienced it. Some things are meant to be kept a surprise and are earned by those who come through the institution.

Wow. Great reply. Great to hear from you again, Haleym!
 
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