Acceptance Day 2016

It's generally the Tuesday after Basic ends before the start of school, so yes, 9 August would be the date to plan on for now.
 
What should we specifically expect at Acceptance Day?

Get there early. If you take a purse, empty most of the contents. EVERYTHING is checked before you get to the stadium. Wear layers. It is cooler in the am when you need to be there and warm when you are leaving. They have a big parade on the field and the Doolies march around and join their squads. At the end, you are released to find your cadet on the field. Hopefully get the opportunity to see them get their shoulder boards put on by upper classmen. Afterwards, you can catch a bite to eat with your cadet. Do not expect to go to Arnold Hall and eat quickly. Bring a picnic lunch if you want more one on one time with your cadet. He was able to take us up to his room as well. Class of 2019
 
Most cadets find 2 parades truly significant - When the class marches into the Wing on Acceptance Day and when the march out of the Wing at the Graduation Parade.

The 'Absent Sir' (for lack of a proper name) is also a very memorable formation.
 
Get there early. If you take a purse, empty most of the contents. EVERYTHING is checked before you get to the stadium. Wear layers. It is cooler in the am when you need to be there and warm when you are leaving. They have a big parade on the field and the Doolies march around and join their squads. At the end, you are released to find your cadet on the field. Hopefully get the opportunity to see them get their shoulder boards put on by upper classmen. Afterwards, you can catch a bite to eat with your cadet. Do not expect to go to Arnold Hall and eat quickly. Bring a picnic lunch if you want more one on one time with your cadet. He was able to take us up to his room as well. Class of 2019
How much time did you get with your cadet? That will determine when I book a flight out of Denver.

Thank you!
 
How much time did you get with your cadet? That will determine when I book a flight out of Denver.

Thank you!

I seem to recall that we had our DD back to the Dorm by 1:00 p.m. (2017'er). I think each Squadron had different times for their C4C's to return, but not by much. Should allow
yourself about 2 hours minimum to get back to DIA as the traffic can be pretty nasty once you get into Denver. On a side note, it was certainly worth the trip! We brought a few pre made
lunches and enjoyed a little picnic on the grass at the visitors center. Toured the Dorm and got to meet her room mates who at the time, we only knew through BCT pictures from Web Guy.
 
We made a mini vacation out of it and went a few days before acceptance day and were able to see the March back from Jacks Valley. We got a smile and a wave from our basic and it was worth it. We had perhaps 2 hours with him on A-Day and he was really happy to see us and couldn't stop talking about his whole experience. We brought extra subs which were shared with his squadron.
 
Okay I am confused. June 30th is I day, Aug 9 is acceptance day? Parent weekend is Labor day weekend? What is acceptance day? I am in Iowa, single mom and do not know if I can get to all of this financially or have enought PTO time. I really need to be at the most important ones, which I know they all are but can someone educate me please. Thanks
 
Parents Weekend is something not to be missed if you can afford it

Acceptance Day Parade is not worth the effort unless you live in C Springs

I Day is nice because it is the day they start, but it is really more about the time leading up to it

As a grad, this is how I would prioritize the dates
 
Okay I am confused. June 30th is I day, Aug 9 is acceptance day? Parent weekend is Labor day weekend? What is acceptance day? I am in Iowa, single mom and do not know if I can get to all of this financially or have enought PTO time. I really need to be at the most important ones, which I know they all are but can someone educate me please. Thanks

Your son or daughter will understand your position and hopefully appreciate what you have done and are doing to support them. Discuss it frankly and openly with them to see which one(s) is/are most important to them. Do not stretch yourself so thin financially or with PTO days that you have nothing left in case of an emergency or something later more important to them and you.

Many other parents are in the same "boat" as you.
 
Okay I am confused. June 30th is I day, Aug 9 is acceptance day? Parent weekend is Labor day weekend? What is acceptance day? I am in Iowa, single mom and do not know if I can get to all of this financially or have enought PTO time. I really need to be at the most important ones, which I know they all are but can someone educate me please. Thanks
We are also from Iowa and are planning on going for I-Day, A-Day and Parents' Weekend. We would be happy to have a foster cadet!
 
For Appointees whose parents/family members are not able to attend A-Day (and for parents who cannot attend A-Day), please do not worry. Parents who are attending will typically bring extra food (picnic type lunch) for after the Parade where newly Accepted Cadets can tag-along with their squad mates whose families are attending. From what we saw, all of the Cadets had someone to go with. They will be a part of the AFA family, so please do not worry about this. All will be fed/hugged/and will be able to laugh about some of the crazy/funny stories of the past 6+ weeks (while it is very challenging, the stories can be hilarious). If you are able to attend, it is a great time to see the first of many parades and see your Cadet as you have never seen them before. But if prioritizing, Parents Weekend is much higher on the list.........
 
For Appointees whose parents/family members are not able to attend A-Day (and for parents who cannot attend A-Day), please do not worry. Parents who are attending will typically bring extra food (picnic type lunch) for after the Parade where newly Accepted Cadets can tag-along with their squad mates whose families are attending. From what we saw, all of the Cadets had someone to go with. They will be a part of the AFA family, so please do not worry about this. All will be fed/hugged/and will be able to laugh about some of the crazy/funny stories of the past 6+ weeks (while it is very challenging, the stories can be hilarious). If you are able to attend, it is a great time to see the first of many parades and see your Cadet as you have never seen them before. But if prioritizing, Parents Weekend is much higher on the list.........

We adopted sailors when my oldest graduated from Boot camp, A school, Power School, and Prototype school. Many parents weren't able to attend each of these events. Since we were able to go to all 4, we adopted different sailors at each graduation. It's fun to hear all their stories and different perspectives.
 
I went to the appointee tour yesterday and they told us Acceptance Day is 6 August. I know this conflicts with the other information that the tentative date is 9 August, so thought I'd throw that out there.
 
August 9 is what we were told on the April 18 Appointee tour.
 
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