'23 Class President - AMA !

[Tactical Turtle]

Hey ya'll,

My name is Usama Bamieh, I'm the President for the Class of '23 (the current 4*'s) and I'm trying to pay it forward! I remember crawling through these forums when I had just received my appointment and I had about 14 trillion questions about USAFA. I am a Prior-Preppie (1W0X1 for 4-Years w/ a deployment) so I can talk about what that transition was like on the Operational Side.

If you guys have any questions, post them below and I'll try to answer everything I can !

 

[FØB Zero]

What was the biggest challenge when being deployed? Can you briefly describe your experience on leading others at this time?
Thank you in advance!

 

[Raptor_Hopefull_2025]

I have a question couple regarding the clubs in the Academy, what does the powered flight team do and how would I get onto the team if I'm fortunate enough to attend USFAFA?

Also what is the Glider team like? Also the Parachute team?

Does having a Private Pilots License (i'm looking at getting mine this summer hopefully!) increase ones chances of being on the powered flight team? And on a separate note, does it help my admissions profile?

Also I know that USAFA has one of the best, if not the best, Aerospace Engineering & Astronautical Engineering programs in the world. Could you shed some light on what you do/kind of explain what they do for curriculum for these majors if you have experience with any?

Thanks!

 

[Tactical Turtle]

What was the biggest challenge when being deployed? Can you briefly describe your experience on leading others at this time?
Thank you in advance!

What was the biggest challenge when being deployed?
-The biggest challenge was literally going and coming back. It was about 4-days of being ferried from one location to other. A lot of hurry up and wait on my own which was fairly stressful at the time. Thankfully, Big AF has made changes on the way people deploy which should help to alleviate these issues. Article on Deployment Changes

Can you briefly describe your experience on leading others at this time?
-Incredibly humbling. I'm frequently reminded how talented and gifted the Class of '23 is and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve them.

 

[Tactical Turtle]

I have a question couple regarding the clubs in the Academy, what does the powered flight team do and how would I get onto the team if I'm fortunate enough to attend USFAFA?

Also what is the Glider team like? Also the Parachute team?

Does having a Private Pilots License (i'm looking at getting mine this summer hopefully!) increase ones chances of being on the powered flight team? And on a separate note, does it help my admissions profile?

Also I know that USAFA has one of the best, if not the best, Aerospace Engineering & Astronautical Engineering programs in the world. Could you shed some light on what you do/kind of explain what they do for curriculum for these majors if you have experience with any?

Thanks!

I have a question couple regarding the clubs in the Academy, what does the powered flight team do and how would I get onto the team if I'm fortunate enough to attend USAFA?
-It's awesome that your interested in the team! I can say they are highly competitive as they the best in the nation. To get on, you really have to know your stuff when it comes to navigation, cross-country calculations etc. Also, you need to be able to have your PPL prior to the end of your Freshman year.

Also what is the Glider team like? Also the Parachute team?
-The Instructor Pilots main goal is to support the Soaring Program within USAFA. Within the program, they have the Advanced Teams which are divided into Acrobatic & Cross Country. Those advanced teams have the ability to demo and compete across the country. soaring info
-The Wings of Blue are the Parachute Team here at USAFA. They are extremely competitive and THE BEST collegiate skydiving team in the country. They get to jump into NFL stadiums, perform across the world and they spend quite a bit of time on the road.

Does having a Private Pilots License (i'm looking at getting mine this summer hopefully!) increase ones chances of being on the powered flight team? And on a separate note, does it help my admissions profile?
-Yes and I think... You need a PPL to be accepted in the Powered Flight Team. I'm not entirely certain how admissions weigh a PPL.

Also I know that USAFA has one of the best, if not the best, Aerospace Engineering & Astronautical Engineering programs in the world. Could you shed some light on what you do/kind of explain what they do for curriculum for these majors if you have experience with any?
-I'm an Electrical Computer Engineering Major so I'm not too familiar with those programs. I do remember taking a tour of the Aero department and can say that their research is insane. They have Hyposonic AND Supersonic AND Hypersonic (Hyper as in > Mach 5) wind tunnels. They get to mess around with some really big jet engines and they get to do internships at basically any government agency they want.

 

[Raptor_Hopefull_2025]

I do remember taking a tour of the Aero department and can say that their research is insane. They have Hyposonic AND Supersonic AND Hypersonic (Hyper as in > Mach 5) wind tunnels. They get to mess around with some really big jet engines and they get to do internships at basically any government agency they want.

Ok that's INSANE

that seem like something to look forward to and also a bit of motivation

I do have another question, I saw on a video one time that its a tradition for the Doolies to try and steal the Cadet Wing Commanders Golden Sabre, is this true and has a doolie managed to get their hands on it?

 

[hambam]

I'm entering BCT to join the Class of '24 this June and was wondering what your experience was in your first year regarding time management and extracurriculars. I realized you have more training obligations your first year so what extracurriculars were you involved in, how much time did you have to spend how you wanted each week, and what does being involved in leadership positions such as class president mean (how do you get the position, what are your duties)

Thanks for the help!

 

[Tactical Turtle]

Ok that's INSANE

that seem like something to look forward to and also a bit of motivation

I do have another question, I saw on a video one time that its a tradition for the Doolies to try and steal the Cadet Wing Commanders Golden Sabre, is this true and has a doolie managed to get their hands on it?

It didn't happen that I know of this year... Not sure about the past.

 

[Tactical Turtle]

I'm entering BCT to join the Class of '24 this June and was wondering what your experience was in your first year regarding time management and extracurriculars. I realized you have more training obligations your first year so what extracurriculars were you involved in, how much time did you have to spend how you wanted each week, and what does being involved in leadership positions such as class president mean (how do you get the position, what are your duties)

Thanks for the help!

I'm entering BCT to join the Class of '24 this June and was wondering what your experience was in your first year regarding time management and extracurriculars.
Definitively the biggest challenge. Everyone will tell you the same thing but it's a pretty tight schedule. The biggest thing is you NEED a syllabus/calendar. I wish I had been a bit more disciplined at the beginning of the year using one. Google Calendar works for me but everyone has there own thing.

I realized you have more training obligations your first year so what extracurriculars were you involved in, how much time did you have to spend how you wanted each week,

I was a Cheerleader during the first year and that definitively took up a time for practice on most days. Although it was busy I was able to good amount of time throughout the week to do what I wanted but I'm not sure I could put an exact hour amount on it...

and what does being involved in leadership positions such as class president mean (how do you get the position, what are your duties)

There will be an election towards the beginning of your First Year. The duties haven't been too arduous but the crux of it is you represent your Class to leadership (whether that's Permanent Party or it's Cadet Wing Leadership) to help facilitate them. It mostly comes through various means of communication (meetings, conferences, emails etc.) Nothing crazy exciting, but it's extremely rewarding.

 

[AFrpaso]

Ok that's INSANE

that seem like something to look forward to and also a bit of motivation

I do have another question, I saw on a video one time that its a tradition for the Doolies to try and steal the Cadet Wing Commanders Golden Sabre, is this true and has a doolie managed to get their hands on it?

Yes, stealing the Wing King's saber is a thing and freshman have been successful in the past.