Appointee Visit

J

jojohn246

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Joined
Aug 23, 2015
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Good morning! My family and I are going for a vacation in Colorado sometime in April and are hoping to add a visit to Air Force somewhere in there. I've been looking at possible ways to visit the academy and I really only see guided and unguided tours on their website. Are there any specific tours or visits for appointees? I read somewhere online that they do, or at least did at one point, special visits for appointees. However, I also saw somewhere (I think it was on ServiceAcademyForums) that they aren't doing them anymore due to budget cuts. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? Thanks!
 
I know they did Appointee Tours last year and the notification of the dates came without a lot of time in between notification and the actual tours. I believe there was one around Easter and several later in April. It was a very brief visit/tour. I have not heard either way about this year.
 
Back in the dark ages (2008) they had Appointee Orientation and we used those few days as part of a family vaca to CO. It was really great and worth every penny we spent. I do hope they bring that back.
 
I'm currently here at USAFA and from what I have heard, appointee visits are still a go for this year. However, they don't give that much notice and I'm not sure when they start. My senior year I didn't go because I knew I was coming here anyways and felt that it wouldn't make much of a difference.. plus I could save my parents money. However, I had also came out here once before (sophomore year of HS) and toured with a cadet.
 
I went on the "Tourist" tour of the USAFA a few years back, it was great for what it was, but access was very limited. You went into the chapel and you could look down onto the grounds, and of course you saw a movie and went to the gift shop. It was nothing like a typical college tour. It was geared towards sightseeing, not the perspective student. If you are already in the area go on the tour if that is all they have to offer. Call admissions and see what they have anything more gear towards perspective students.
 
In our opinion, the Appointee Tour was as much for us as parents as it was for our DS. We (parents) had not had the opportunity to visit USAFA while our DS has been there before. While everything you can see online in one form or another, it was a great experience for Mom/Dad to see where our DS wanted to attend. It is truly an incredible place with endless opportunities. Also, it re-confirmed DS's desire to go there. If it is in the budget or your Appointee is having reservations, it was a very good experience. If/when the tour dates are sent out, sign up early as some dates did fill up.
 
Appointee Orientation was indeed as much for parents as for appointees. I remember the parents lined up with (especially) tax and scholarship questions (" Can't my son come on July 1st to I-Day so I can still claim him on my taxes? " "Bobby got a $351 scholarship from our local civic group. What do we do with the money? How about those pesky taxes?" "But I paid for Susie to be on my health insurance for the full year. Can I get my money back?" "Will you (USAFA) be paying for all their flights to and from here? It's expensive, ya know!")

Well, that was the parents, but the kids really enjoyed it too, and we met several folks who still occasionally post to this forum! (Hornet, you were a wonderful host and I still remember meeting you!)
 
fencersmother said:
Appointee Orientation was indeed as much for parents as for appointees. I remember the parents lined up with (especially) tax and scholarship questions (" Can't my son come on July 1st to I-Day so I can still claim him on my taxes? " "Bobby got a $351 scholarship from our local civic group. What do we do with the money? How about those pesky taxes?" "But I paid for Susie to be on my health insurance for the full year. Can I get my money back?" "Will you (USAFA) be paying for all their flights to and from here? It's expensive, ya know!")
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They should just direct the parents to this forum first. All of those questions have already been asked and answered here, probably more than once. :)
 
DS and I are going in early March. When you register online for the guided tour, it asks if the student is an appointee. I don't know if by checking that we will get a more detailed tour or not.
 
I was appointed on Friday and I received an email from USAFA giving me details and instructions on how to register for the appointee visit! I will be going down April 8th and the tour itself seems pretty cool!
 
My DS was also appointed on Friday. He received an email today with appointee tour dates of April, 8, 11 or 18. I'm sure all appointees either will or have received this email. Good luck.
 
DS was appointed in Jan. We had scheduled a tour for next week and bought the plane tickets before the appointee tour offers came along. Guess we will just have to settle on the tour we can get. Still it may be very interesting being there right before recognition. He goes to Annapolis tomorrow, comes home Saturday and heads to Colorado Springs on Sunday...then he's gonna have to pick.
 
Brawny77 said:
DS was appointed in Jan. We had scheduled a tour for next week and bought the plane tickets before the appointee tour offers came along. Guess we will just have to settle on the tour we can get. Still it may be very interesting being there right before recognition. He goes to Annapolis tomorrow, comes home Saturday and heads to Colorado Springs on Sunday...then he's gonna have to pick.
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Great problem to have. Congrats!
 
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