Just got back from our appointee visit

flying8764

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Oct 24, 2015
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We have been to USNA for when my son went to Summer Seminar and Cadet visit and now the USAFA appointee tour and can I say USAFA is a class act! WOW! BLOWN away by the campus and we got into the AF airport area via a retired flight instructor I was connected with to see the gliders, powered airplanes and met the flight team. Really the campus is gorgeous and the faculty incredible. Best tour yet, and my son shadowed with an outstanding cadet he was assigned to who had an open block and really showed him around. They did an excellent job!
 
Wife and our son are flying out for the April 18 tour. I hope his goes as well.
 
Could I trouble someone to clarify how they signed up for these tours. In prior posts some have indicated that they received an email invite. The USAFA website has a tour registration which seems to be oriented for the public at this link: http://www.academyadmissions.com/visit-the-academy/escorted-tours/

That doesn't mention an individual being able to shadow a cadet and a separate briefing for parents which some have mentioned. I know that the tour registration form asks if one is an appointee or not. Does being an appointee trigger a different tour via the Admissions tour registration or are these tours only offered to some subset of the appointees?
 
Got the invite via email shortly after appointment. I don't know if all appointees received this email - I'm inclined to believe all did, but that's a guess. The appointee tour is different from the regular one and is only available to appointees.
 
We never got the email! We aren't planning on attending one due to scheduling conflicts, so no big deal. But it is kind of strange that some did and some (at least one) didn't!
 
I would suggest calling admissions and seeing if you can still attend if you would like to. I believe the difference is that an appointee can shadow a cadet to class etc.
 
We have been to USNA for when my son went to Summer Seminar and Cadet visit and now the USAFA appointee tour and can I say USAFA is a class act! WOW! BLOWN away by the campus and we got into the AF airport area via a retired flight instructor I was connected with to see the gliders, powered airplanes and met the flight team. Really the campus is gorgeous and the faculty incredible. Best tour yet, and my son shadowed with an outstanding cadet he was assigned to who had an open block and really showed him around. They did an excellent job!

Not sure what day you were there, but my DS called me Friday (8 April) in the morning and told me he was going to give an appointee tour that day. Who knows, maybe that was my DS your son shadowed ! I'll send you a PM.
 
I will be doing one on the 18th, and am allowed to request a particular appointee to escort. If any of y'all are interested, feel free to send me a PM. :)
 
Could you please tell us about the dorms? We also heard the doolies are not allowed to have their doors closed. Is that all the time or just certain times? We weren't able to make the trip for the appointee visit and was hoping to get some information on what it was like. Thank you
 
The dorms were surprisingly nice! I was so glad to see it wasn't military 24/7. It was relaxing and large. Huge rooms and we saw lazy boy chairs, big screen TVs and they had 6 drawers each for civilian clothes which were drawers under their beds, beds were like a captains bed. There was a desk for each and a big book case they both shared. Very different than I imagined and also from the USNA. I was told they can close their doors, get their clothes in March and sleep in their beds rather than on their beds in sleeping bags come March. They can have fridges their sophomore year. The dorms were better than what we saw at any colleges and the USNA.
 
The dorms were surprisingly nice! I was so glad to see it wasn't military 24/7. It was relaxing and large. Huge rooms and we saw lazy boy chairs, big screen TVs and they had 6 drawers each for civilian clothes which were drawers under their beds, beds were like a captains bed. There was a desk for each and a big book case they both shared. Very different than I imagined and also from the USNA. I was told they can close their doors, get their clothes in March and sleep in their beds rather than on their beds in sleeping bags come March. They can have fridges their sophomore year. The dorms were better than what we saw at any colleges and the USNA.

Wait wait wait! Yes, you saw all of that, but please remember that as a doolie, you won't have a big screen tv, lazy boy chairs, use of your bookcase, etc. Those privileges belonged to the upperclassmen and you haven't earned those yet.
As for fridges in their sophomore year - squadron dependent and usually with good reason (ie: IC that misses dinner due to practices, etc.)

Much of what you're allowed has to be earned AND the squadron has to allow it. Go in assuming that you haven't earned anything yet & you won't be disappointed!
 
Four Degrees must have their doors open from 0625 until 1950 until they are recognized. Before recognition, they must also wear the uniform of the day from 0625 until 2300 (except when participating in training or other physical activity). Same as the other two, your bed must be in SAMI configuration every day from i-day through recognition. Fridges as a three-degree is AOC dependent, but is become a rarity and requires very special circumstances from what I have seen the last couple years. Also yes, TV Room use-age is usually a privilege restricted from the doolies of that squadron..
 
The dorms were surprisingly nice! I was so glad to see it wasn't military 24/7. It was relaxing and large. Huge rooms and we saw lazy boy chairs, big screen TVs and they had 6 drawers each for civilian clothes which were drawers under their beds, beds were like a captains bed. There was a desk for each and a big book case they both shared. Very different than I imagined and also from the USNA. I was told they can close their doors, get their clothes in March and sleep in their beds rather than on their beds in sleeping bags come March. They can have fridges their sophomore year. The dorms were better than what we saw at any colleges and the USNA.
I strongly recommend that appointees take what they learned from the tour with a grain of salt in regards to cadet life. USAFA is great place, especially right now, but understand this is not what your life will be like for the majority of four degree year (or even the next 3!). You need to be motivated to work hard, because that's going to be what is required. Honestly, though, I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
 
Wait wait wait! Yes, you saw all of that, but please remember that as a doolie, you won't have a big screen tv, lazy boy chairs, use of your bookcase, etc. Those privileges belonged to the upperclassmen and you haven't earned those yet.
As for fridges in their sophomore year - squadron dependent and usually with good reason (ie: IC that misses dinner due to practices, etc.)

Much of what you're allowed has to be earned AND the squadron has to allow it. Go in assuming that you haven't earned anything yet & you won't be disappointed!


Yes they told us all that.
 
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