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Are the 40 Squadrons really all equal (mixed with all majors, interests, and more or less randomly assigned) or are they specialized somehow? For example, is there an engineering or soccer heavy squadron?

Also, is it true that you will be assigned a Squadron before Inprocessing Day?

How do you find out which one you got?

Will you have classes with students from any Squadron?

I was looking through the Squadron patches in the AOG store and some Squadrons have multiple patch designs, while others don't have any. How is a Squadron patch designed or design changed? Does each Squadron make a new design every year? Why might the store not have certain ones at all (particularly higher number Squadrons).

Do Squadron cadets live in the quarters near each other? Or can they be spread out throughout the dormitories?
 
The squadrons are integrated as far as interests/majors/sports. When I Day approaches, orders to report will be distributed through the portal. In those orders, DS/DD's time to report as well as their BCT squadron will be assigned. These are:

A - Aggressors, Flights A-E
B - Barbarians, Flights A-E
C - Cobras, Flights A-E
D - Demons, Flights A-E
E - Executioners, Flights A-E
F - Flying Tigers, Flights A-E
G - Guts, Flights A-E
H - Hellcats, Flights, A-E

These BCT squadrons/flights will then correspond to the 40 squadrons in the cadet wing. Aggressors would be the first 5 squadrons, depending on flight, and Hellcats being the last 5, depending on flight. So, if you're assigned to be a Barbarian in C flight, you will be in squadron 8. If you are a Flying Tiger in E flight, you will transition to squadron 30.

Squadrons live together.
 
I believe squadrons are random and if not seem at the last, very scrambled.

Each squadron has an assigned area with dorm rooms and common area. Prior to recognition, Doolies cannot visit other squadrons. Classes are based on the academic schedules and are mixed across squadrons and even mixed across years at times. This year was a little different because of Q&I - my son's squad had a 39er in it since 39 was displaced by Q&I and distributed into the wing, but this is obviously a very rare case. You could study with someone from another squadron - you just couldn't be in the squadron areas. Teams, clubs, etc are all mixed so its not like you ONLY see your squadron, but your life does revolve around the squadron to a degree.
 
Are the 40 Squadrons really all equal (mixed with all majors, interests, and more or less randomly assigned) or are they specialized somehow? For example, is there an engineering or soccer heavy squadron?
Yes, they are more or less randomly assigned. I'd wager that USAFA tries for each squadron to have roughly the same proportion of men and women.

Also, is it true that you will be assigned a Squadron before Inprocessing Day?
Yes.

How do you find out which one you got?
The BCT flight maps to the academic squadrons. See hopefulmom182's post.

Will you have classes with students from any Squadron?
Yes.

I was looking through the Squadron patches in the AOG store and some Squadrons have multiple patch designs, while others don't have any. How is a Squadron patch designed or design changed? Does each Squadron make a new design every year? Why might the store not have certain ones at all (particularly higher number Squadrons).
It looks like the variation in design is mostly with the pins. In recent years the patch designs very rarely change. Two notable examples I can think of are for squadrons 39 and 40. Rumor was that 39's "Jedi" patch was copyright infringement so they opted for a new design. I'm sure someone will chime in for the real story, though. I can't answer why the store my not have certain ones.

Do Squadron cadets live in the quarters near each other? Or can they be spread out throughout the dormitories?
Yes. The entire squadron will occupy several adjacent hallways on a single floor of the dorms. The hallways along the length of the dorms are LONG and one can walk through several squadrons on their way to class. As BuckeyeDad20 said, freshman are not allowed to enter the other squadrons. They must exit the dorm building at the stairwell nearest their squadron and transit on the Terrazzo.
 
AFrpaso...

Rumor was that 39's "Jedi" patch was copyright infringement so they opted for a new design. I'm sure someone will chime in for the real story, though.

As an original "Jedi Knight" member...I will tell you that rumor is false. The patch of the "electrons" was the original patch and the term "campus radicals" came from that era. Then in 1981...Jedi 39 was born. The AOC, Major Rogers K. Greenawalt had on his office wall, the letter from (I'm gonna get this wrong) Steven Spielberg and Lucas Arts, giving us the design and permission to have that as our squadron patch. I moved from CS-34 (where we had to change our patch from the Loose Hawg to the Thunderbolt design, done by my classmate Tracy Murakami) and originally had the "old" CS-39 patch. Then during BCT, the new ones came in and I switched.

My first patch:

1617945495237.pngand then...1617941678090.png I never wore the second one.

And then to CS-39...
1617941746078.png Campus Radicals...which became this: 1617941809608.png This was the original Jedi patch; wider than current.

I wore the new one from 2nd BCT (Cadre) in 1981 until I graduated. It's still on my A-Jacket.

Steve
 

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Are you a member of the USAFA class of 2025 Parent Group? At the top of the page under Files, there is one called Squadron Breakdown and gives some insight on the squadrons. There’s a lot of good information on those tabs! Hope this helps.
 
And don't forget at the end of the second year, you switch squadrons. My son is going from 18 to 26. His only complaint was the move from Vandy to Sijan. He was able to move with his roommate, so that's always a plus.
 
Excellent posts everyone! And a great question by our OP!
@<<USAFAMom❤️2025>> , and Class of 2025 - it's entirely ok if you are secretly still perplexed by the BCT squadron to academic year squadron, even after @hopefulmom182 's excellent post. It sounds really simple how they are integrated, but when I was in your shoes, I gave up on trying to understand and just focused on the BCT squadron and which distinctive characters were around my DD so I could find her on Webguy. Hopefully 2025er will get Doolie Day OUT (not IN!), A-Day, and an a real PW! Congrats again.

@TLR2025 is right - the admins will post lots of good files. Be on the lookout for the 2 multiple choice letters for BCT.

@dah19 sorry for your DS's loss of Vandy to Sijan. But sounds like he got a nice draw with his roommate also assigned same new squadron.
 
@buckeye10 and @NinoBaldacci - no hate. Just poking fun at it with "sorry for your loss" to @dah19 .

Preference only. My DD prefers Vandy as it is closest to areas she most values, not sure what those are, but is prepared at the 2 year mark for wherever she is assigned. She is currently in a 3 man unbunked room, so very tight on space, but greatly preferred over the C4C pair in a double, as her room is right next to the bathroom so she doesn't have to greet, but the 2 man room is very far away!
 
@HCopter - no damage done - just having fun. My son BCT'd in Vandy and was not thrilled with Sijan though he has never mentioned rats that others in the past have noted so maybe he should be thankful.
 
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