Acceptance Day

If you call Chick-fil-A ahead of time (day or two before) and tell them your event, it will be all ready at the pick up window. Usually they throw in tons of extras too, if you tell them what the occasion is.

My DD is a district manager for several Chick-fil-A restaurants and they do love to take care of our military personnel.
 
I want to add a emphatic second to Fencers comment about Chick-Fil-A.
The Company and the Springs location are fantastic supporters of USAFA!
They donated the entire dinner for "Georgia Night" for the 180+ GA Cadets + guests ~400+ Cadets!!
Kudos to them!
They support USAFA and we support them !!
 
fencersmother said:
If you call Chick-fil-A ahead of time (day or two before) and tell them your event, it will be all ready at the pick up window. Usually they throw in tons of extras too, if you tell them what the occasion is.

My DD is a district manager for several Chick-fil-A restaurants and they do love to take care of our military personnel.
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We took Chick-fil-A last year to A-day. We ordered ahead and had to pick it up early in the morning before we went to the Academy (Along with a LOT of other parents). They had free coffee and food for those picking up the orders and were VERY organized and great to deal with. We brought tin foil and wrapped all the food and put it in the window to keep warm. It actually was very good even after a couple hours.
 
That Chic-Fil-A does a lot of business with USAFA cadets, staff, family and friends. They are prepared for A-Day each year.
 
Blackbird said:
That Chic-Fil-A does a lot of business with USAFA cadets, staff, family and friends. They are prepared for A-Day each year.
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We never thought to order the night before A Day last year, we just showed up and ordered a bunch of stuff that morning. Blackbird is right on. They were still ready and on top of it at 7 am. Got us in and out in less than 15 minutes. I was impressed and became a big fan. It worked out well for us, but I would still suggest a call in the night before. I'm sure that would work out better for you and them.
 
I remember after the PW football game during my boys' firstie year, the folks from Chick-fil-A were in the parking lot (season ticket holders, they) passing out all kinds of "free stuff" coupons. Free whole meals, not just a sandwich or a drink or fries. "Free family dinner" for four - that was a good coupon as it included drinks and brownies (I think).

Other restaurants, both fast, and slow, have specials during PW and football weekends, and graduation. They are a great bunch of people there in COS.
 
I will leave nothing to chance! When I arrive at 3pm on Aug 3, I will go directly to Chik-fil-A and place my order. The closest one to us here in central PA is 40 min so we don't get it often, but obviously love it. This will be as much for myself as it is for them. Then I will got to the best grocery store around and buy snacks and the makins for sandwiches. DH says not too much sugar because they won't be used to it. But last I remember, Hershey's chocolate doesn't count as sugar. Welcome to any other suggestions! Anyone else out there coming to see a Cobra?
 
If anyone has the phone # for the Chic-fil-A in COS, please post so I can add it into my phone, Thx
 
I'm going too. Is there any other "Executioner" parents out there that are going? Is anyone planning on going to watch the march back from Jack's Valley?
 
Any Flying Tiger Echo parents going to A Day? We are driving up from ABQ. We will be bringing food (was
thinking we should bring enough for whole flight). Do the flights usually stay together for lunch/picnic or
does everyone go their own way? Can friends from other flights/squadrons join us? So excited to go!
 
Everyone pretty much goes their different ways on A Day after they get their shoulder boards. Usually your DS/DD will be around others from their squadron at that time so it's easy to take a friend (or a few) of theirs with you to eat and hang out. You can also take those from other squadrons with you. There will be plenty of hungry kids in blue !

There will be a lot of squadron specific activities (cookouts, etc) on parents weekend where the squadron will all be together (with their parents and families too). These get-togethers are a good time.
 
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Your child will have a way to get in touch with you before Acceptance Day, so if you want to try and arrange something for them and their friends/more of their flight, ask them at least the day before. That way they can communicate to their classmates and friends that they'll have extra food after the parade :)
 
NM19Mom said:
Any Flying Tiger Echo parents going to A Day? We are driving up from ABQ. We will be bringing food (was
thinking we should bring enough for whole flight). Do the flights usually stay together for lunch/picnic or
does everyone go their own way? Can friends from other flights/squadrons join us? So excited to go!
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We drove up from ABQ last year (DS is 2018). Have a ball! (And join the NM Parents' Club if you haven't yet.)
The cadets are free for the few hours following the parade, as long as they stay on base. They don't have to stay in squadron, but there were some "group" picnics - maybe organized by Facebook groups? It seemed to me that most of the kids whose parents were there left the groups. We picnicked in the grass right next to the parking lot where a LOT of the cadets' families were hanging out. It is unlikely he'll have made friends from other flights, unless he knew someone before I-Day.
For everyone who is thinking of bringing lots of food... last year we brought tons of food and a cooler full of soda. NO ONE else joined us! DS invited several different squad-mates whose parents weren't there, but most said they'd rather go back to their rooms and sleep if they were alone. One wanted to join someone else who had Chick-fil-A. :) I was awkwardly going around giving away drinks to people I didn't know.
For those worried about meeting up with their kidets: last year they got their phones back before the ceremony. But even if they hadn't, it was actually pretty easy to find him in the parade and keep my eyes on him the entire time, and be there to watch/take pictures when he got his boards.
 
As the Colorado parent of a grad -- where we were able to attend most events at Academy over 4 years -- I would recommend against the surprise and tell your (almost) cadet that you will be attending Acceptance Day. This news will give them something very exciting to look forward to at the end of Basic. It will allow them to plan that you will be in the stands watching them during the parade, that you will be there to see their shoulder boards pinned on and that you will be there to have lunch with them and tour (even if just a little) the cadet area. They can tell their friends that you are coming -- maybe invite a friend or friends (whose families canot attend) to have lunch with you and them. It will also save the stress of them trying to figure out whose family they are going to have lunch with that day. You can let them plan ahead to introducing you to their roommates and showing you their room. Our daughter -- who knew we were coming -- put us in touch with other parents who were coming and we arranged a picnic for many of the cadets in her squadron with a number of other parents. It added to her excitement about the day and let her know that she would have a definite place to go, a place to take her friends, a lunch to share, etc. It also let her know she would see her younger brother -- who (to her surpise) she missed badly by the end of Basic. I think it will also reduce your stress at worrying whether you will find your (new) Cadet at the end of the parade -- your cadet can tell the person pinning on their shoulder boards that you will be there and to wait for you so that you see the boards going on (of course, you do need to hustle out to the squadron so that the upperclassmen can go enjoy their time also). Others have seen surprise as a good thing -- I see it as a stress producer -- I think you make everyone's day better if they know you are coming and can plan the limited (but valuable) time that you will have so that the stress is lessened and the anticipation heightened.
 
As someone who was surprised by their parents, I disagree. It was far from stressful for me- I was just happy. I never expected my parents to take the time and money to come out, because I'm from a far away state, but the fact that they did meant a lot to me. There are many emotions I felt that day, but I would not list "stressed" as one of them.
 
Agree with haley...if you want to surprise your kid, cool, if not, that's cool too. They're going to enjoy seeing you no matter what.
 
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