R-Day Worth Attending?

Great info, I knew that you would all be able to clear the air for me.
I think we are first going to make sure he wants us to go, and second we are going to go early and enjoy the area a bit.
I also just passed a few emails with a LCDR USCGA grad and HH-65 pilot I have flown with. Asked him the same question and he said he was happy his parents were there and if either of his sons go to USCGA he will go as a parent. That says it all coming from an academy student and now a young parent, add that to all the positive responses here... guess we will probably go :)
Thanks everyone, see you there! (I am pretty sure our son will want us to go).
 
In my son's class there was a kid that did not want his parents to go so they did not. All parties regretted that decision and wished they had gone / been there.

We wouldn't have missed it for anything. As others have said it was an emotional and proud day.

With that said, you have to do what is best for your family.
 
I am so glad we went. We got to CT on Friday and spent some nice final quality time together as a family. None of us had been to the CGA and had only ever driven through CT, so we explored Mystic, checked out the submarine base, and took a self-tour of the campus. Had some lobster rolls! The team my DS is on also had a picnic on Saturday and we enjoyed meeting other parents and swabs. We went to the church service on Sunday and it was cool to hear them pray for the swabs AND the cadre, some of who were in attendance. I know my son could have done it all without us, but I think he was happy to have us with him until Monday morning. I always wonder how much sleep they get the night before R day :(

I was glad to meet another family from our home state. That mom and I texted a lot over the summer and it really helped me get though.

I've never felt as proud in my life as when I saw the class of 2019 taking their oath. I'd agree that my son was pretty shell shocked when he came over for the 10 minutes. He was very stoic. I saw some girls laughing and smiling and taking pictures and I just WISHED he would smile and tell me he was fine (even though I know he would have been lying). It was slightly uncomfortable seeing them line up and get yelled at. A few parents were outwardly having a hard time as they marched off. I also felt much more comfortable after sitting through the days' activities and hearing how important the health and well-being of our kids is to the CGA.

We didn't make it to Parent's weekend and though we had good intentions, we also didn't make it to any games.

Your family will be fine either way, but this is how we did it.

Driving away from the academy was heartbreaking, but that first letter... and that first phone call... priceless.
 
F15DOC said:
I don't know, if you watch this video it just looks goofy with all these family members standing around while the new cadets are being herded into their squads... I am not so sure I want to be part of that....
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I know you are speaking as a member of the military, so your perspective is a little different. However, you won't be seeing that during the day. Once your child goes through that door, you won't see them until swearing in. Whether you see them line up prior is up to how the cadre for the summer decide to do it. Every year is different. You will get 10 minutes after swearing in and class photo. Then the cadre get tough on them.

As someone else has written, it is hard on some of the parents. What can I say? It's one thing to listen to the National Anthem, either serving or as a civilian. It is quite another when your child is serving.

If the travel is possible, and your swab2B wants you, go.
 
It means more to the parent than cadet. As a cadet you're shell shocked and a little scared.

They say you'll have 5 minutes... But we ended up with 30 seconds.

I told my parents I thought it was going well!!! Hahaha, man oh man, I spoke too soon.

So I was dropped off, saw them 30 seconds (the whole time I was afraid I was going to get yelled at) and then they were gone.

I do think it gave my parents a chance to meet other parents and bond a bit through the process.
 
I will say as my DS's father, going to RDay means diddly squat to me.
Now before you go off thinking what a horrible dad, realize that I love, trust and respect my son.
I also have a profound amount of respect for the USCGA and its staff
So, I don't feel the need to make sure that everything "will be ok".
Rather, I am confident it will be ok, my son will prosper and the USCGA will finish the honorable man I have been building since he was a toddler.
I don't feel the need to immerse my self worth in my DS's successes or failures, so I don't need to be there to be a very proud father of a great young man, I already carry that (trust me, everyone in ear shot has had to listen to me brag).
I wouldn't say I am the opposite of a helicopter parent, but I do not dote or pry, rather I guide...
Please don't think that I am in any way saying that any of the other fine folks on here are otherwise.
I am just saying that going to RDay is not something I would do for myself.
I have good sources from the forum posters on here, contacts at the USCGA and even from USCGA grads I have the pleasure of flying with, I have all the information I need.
However...
His mother definitely wants to be there, and everyone agrees it is something we should do, and so we will.
And yes this tough old dad may even shed a tear, from me it would be a tear of pride in what he has accomplished.
And OF COURSE, it would be nice to meet some of you. :)
 
So....why did you ask?
You don't need to justify going. As I and other said, it is more for us than them. If they're going to make it through all this, they will with or without us as parents. Millions of other military went off to boot camp with no fanfare.
 
My son had been living on his own for the year prior to R-day, so I only saw him a few times during that year because he was on the west coast. He had come home for the two weeks prior, and I wasn't planning on going with him, but I change my mind, mainly because of logistics, he would have had to get from the airport, to a hotel, to the Academy at least two days prior. You only can bring what you're supposed to report with, nothing extra. He'd probably have to uber around all weekend, or rely on some other cadet's parent. There were meet and greets Saturday and Sunday, then Monday is the big day. Standing there in the Gymnasium waiting for you turn to go up to the table is stressful. And the number one reason, Traveling alone really does suck.

Would I do it again? Absolutely, seeing that kid smile after the swearing in and class picture was priceless. There are other parent weekends, but only one R-day.
 
That's a great story, I Think you all have thoroughly convinced me that going to R Day is definitely the right thing to do. We will go up early and let him have a few days to try to adjust to that 3 hour time change.
What airport is the best one to fly in to? Do you fly into a major like JFK and then transfer via a smaller commuter?
 
And another question, should we plan on flying home Monday or Tuesday....
What time are the academy events all finished up on Monday?
 
F15DOC said:
That's a great story, I Think you all have thoroughly convinced me that going to R Day is definitely the right thing to do. We will go up early and let him have a few days to try to adjust to that 3 hour time change.
What airport is the best one to fly in to? Do you fly into a major like JFK and then transfer via a smaller commuter?
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Check out T.F. Green Airport in Providence Rhode Island..that would put you about an hour away from New London..
 
PVD is the closest but since you are coming from the West Coast you may consider Boston and driving 2 hours to the Academy. For us it's always more convenient to fly to BOS. No plane changes.

If you leave on Monday schedule your flight well after 8p if you are leaving from BOS. Things are usually over by 5p
 
Thanks, yep I am an Alaskan airlines MVP flyer, and they non stop to Boston, that will probably be what we do..
 
Sounds like a drive back to Boston for dinner and hotel near the airport, flight out Tuesday AM
 
Next question, do we book my DS's flight at the same time or do we need to wait for USCGA to arrange it?
 
Once he gets his appointment documents, he can call SATO and book his flight. Just to let you know they may or may not book him on Alaska Air. They book the cheapest.

For us, it was more important for him to be on our flight so I just used my miles to book his ticket. It was more convenient than him flying on a different airline.
 
Next Generation said:
IF my DD gets an appointment, she says she wants to go it alone. Our goodbye would be when we drop her off at the airport.
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Nothing wrong with that, and don't let any post make you feel guilty for not going. Many appointees prefer to get the emotional goodbye(s) out of the way to home or the airport.

Dropping off a college bound student is much different than dropping them off at a military academy. Once they hit the door you won't see them again until the end of the day, where another emotional scene MAY take place, which could be unsettling for both you and your new cadet.
 
I didn't go to USNA's I-Day because of finances. We saved my flight $$ so that Mid's older sib could come for PPW. It was the right decision for us. I have a wonderful photo of Mid being sworn in by her BGO. Priceless!
 
Each family is different, of course, (and speaking from experience, some can't attend due to overseas duty stations, etc.), but when in doubt, be at R or I-Day. Even just 30 seconds with a quick hug and/or smile can matter, IMHO!
 
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