Acceptance Day

If you know what squadron/flight they're in, you'll know what squadron they're in for the academic year. Right after the parade, all the squadrons do a short ceremony to pin on shoulder boards, so you should be able to find them at that point.

So say your child is in Aggressors Alpha, you'll know they're going to end up with Cadet Squadron 1. So immediately following the parade, follow CS-01 to wherever they're doing shoulder boards and you should find them.
 
At the parade they gave a diagram showing where each squadron would be lined up across from the bleachers. Plus, each squadron has a flag with their sqadron number on it. When they are dismissed you can go straight to your son/daughter's squadron flag. They should be right there getting their shoulder boards pinned on. It seems like it would be crazy with all people and cadets but it's really not that hard to find them once you get there.
 
For A day and other parades the odd number squadrons are in front and even in the back. Far left is 1 in front and 2 behind them and so forth.

It's a mad scramble after the parade but you should be able to find them. They will stay on the field to get their shoulder boards put on.
 
Thank you all for the info. I think I'm going to go for it and make the trip!
 
I am flying in from NJ and wanted it to be a surprise but was afraid if he didnt know I was coming, he may drift off somewhere else with other friends and my 2hours with him would be wasted.
 
Then tell him you are coming once he gets his laptop which should be a day or two before A-Day. He will be in a haze anyway. Also ask him what kind of food he wants for lunch
 
Think ahead on food too, a lot of favorite lunch places won't be open by the time you have to be on base for the parade.
 
BlahuKahuna said:
Think ahead on food too, a lot of favorite lunch places won't be open by the time you have to be on base for the parade.
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We stayed at the Academy Hotel for A-day and we contacted the kitchen the night before. Even though they were serving breakfast at that early hour, they went out of their way to make up some great boxed lunches with sandwiches for us and had them ready when we left in the morning. Hopefully the staff is still that accommodating if anyone is staying there. Bring a cooler or pick up a cheap one at Walmart right across Academy Blvd. from the hotel.

Stealth_81
 
I'm sorry but I'm just learning some of the military terms. I thought the squadron had a name (ie: Cobra), but they have a number too?

Flight, hotel and car=Booked, now I just need a plan for food! Can't wait!
 
ebotterb3 said:
I'm sorry but I'm just learning some of the military terms. I thought the squadron had a name (ie: Cobra), but they have a number too?
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There are 8 BCT squadrons that fill 40 academic year squadrons. Basics in Cobras go into Squadrons 11-15 during the school year (Alpha is 11, Bravo is 12, and so on.) Acceptance day is the first time each flight of basic cadets joins the rest of their academic year squadron.
 
ebotterb3 said:
I'm sorry but I'm just learning some of the military terms. I thought the squadron had a name (ie: Cobra), but they have a number too?

Flight, hotel and car=Booked, now I just need a plan for food! Can't wait!
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Like BlahuKahuna said, since your DS is a Cobra, he will be in one of the academic year squadrons 11-15. To determine which one he is in all you need to know is what flight he is in for basic. He is in either Cobra Alpha, Cobra Bravo, etc. There are 5 flights in Cobra (A,B,C,D or E). Each one will become a part of an academic year CS (cadet squadron). A is 11, B is 12, C is 13, D is 14 and E is 15. Being military, they don't call them just A, B, etc. They are referred to as Alpha (A), Bravo (B), etc. So for example, if your DS is in Cobra Bravo he will be in CS-12.

For food, last year we went to Wal Mart deli the night before and bought cold cuts and bread, chips etc. We also went to Chic-Fil-A the morning of A-Day and bought hot chicken sandwiches. They were open and serving really early. The crowd wasn't too bad either. We made sure to take plenty of food for others in his squadron. Great memories ! I'm excited for all of you headed out this year !
 
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ebotterb3 said:
So I'll need to find out the number before hand?
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Here is a chart of BCT and Academic Squadrons (also at the AOG website under Class of 2019 tab). You will need to know what Flight your son or daughter is in.
 

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I'll catch on to all this eventually, seems complicated at the moment. But I can put out an intel request to his sponsor family, who are friends of a friend, for his Flight. This will be right my alley after all those years of organizing food for football and wrestling and is going to be so much fun! He'll never guess that I'll be there that day!
 
Tips for seeing the shoulder boarding....

After the parade, the academic squadrons go off to different areas in order to have their own "shoulder boarding ceremony". Some squadrons stay nearby while others go a bit further off the field. Also, some squadrons want the shoulder boarding to be private, so you may not be able to see your son or daughter get them, but you will have time with them after the academic squadron boarding ceremonies are complete. If you wish to be there to witness it, before the acceptance ceremony is complete, get a good look at your cadet's academic squadron flag and don't take your eyes off of it. When they break up, the academic flag goes with the academic squadron, so if you follow the flag, you will find your cadet and his/her squadron. They scatter quite quickly, so keep your eye on the flag!
 
So if you bring food, do you bring it with you to the ceremony or leave it in the car, or ??? I know this is getting into the weeds but just curious. Thanks in advance.
 
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