Any questions for a freshman?

Are there any restrictions on the majors you choose? Obviously grades play a role. Are there restrictions on the number of cadets that can be certain majors every year? For example is electric engineering or management capped at 25, etc ( I just made up the numbers as an example ).

In terms of access to a major, I haven't heard of anyone being restricted from choosing what they wanted. The biggest 'restriction' that you will find is time. Time at USAFA is absolutely limited, and will usually be your main restriction on your choices. STEM majors will naturally take up more time than 'fuzzy' majors. Being a Soaring IP, an IC, a WOB, on the Flying Team, in a club, or on Sandhurst are all things that also take a serious time commitment as well.

It all comes down to what you value. Do you want to be a pilot more than anything or go to ENJJPT? The experience that you get as a Soaring IP might then be more valuable to you than getting an engineering degree. If you want to be a CRO, it'll probably be better to stay on Sandhurst, even if that means you won't be able to minor in a language or serve as a Squadron Commander. Try to think out your priorities, and write them down.

But as an answer to your question: No. You should be able to go for any Major that you want.
 
Do certain clubs count as your sport? I want to become a CRO and I was told on this forum to do SANDHURST. Do you know anything about how this club selects who gets on the team or how other clubs operate?

Yes, certain clubs can count as your sport. Each club is allocated a number of "limited on-season" (LOS) slots by the Athletic Department (AD). These basically replace the requirement to participate in intramural sports for cadets that are not intercollegiate athletes. The number of slots can change from year to year subject to various AD requirements.

The Sandhurst club has some number (I don't know how many) of these LOS slots. The AD lets the club leadership decide how slots are doled out to the club members. Most clubs have some sort of official process for how this works, but these processes are subject to change as club leadership graduates. I do not know how Sandhurst handles things. There will likely be a callout or "Blue Rush" event where you can express interest and the process can be fully explained.

The LOS slots are NOT a limitation on how many members a club can have, though clubs will have limits based on other factors. They are meant to limit how many club members can be excused from other athletic department activities. You can still participate in a club without an LOS slot, but you will be required to also participate in intramural sports whenever they are scheduled.

Hope this helped. I'm a few years removed from the Academy so please be aware than things could have changed. Anyone who has more updated information, please correct any mistakes.
 
Sorry if this is a weird question, but how vital is it that you bring in white underwear for BCT? I have black pairs of compression underwear I like a lot and I’d like to bring them but I don’t want to get in trouble. Should it be fine if I bring them?
 
In terms of access to a major, I haven't heard of anyone being restricted from choosing what they wanted. The biggest 'restriction' that you will find is time. Time at USAFA is absolutely limited, and will usually be your main restriction on your choices. STEM majors will naturally take up more time than 'fuzzy' majors. Being a Soaring IP, an IC, a WOB, on the Flying Team, in a club, or on Sandhurst are all things that also take a serious time commitment as well.

It all comes down to what you value. Do you want to be a pilot more than anything or go to ENJJPT? The experience that you get as a Soaring IP might then be more valuable to you than getting an engineering degree. If you want to be a CRO, it'll probably be better to stay on Sandhurst, even if that means you won't be able to minor in a language or serve as a Squadron Commander. Try to think out your priorities, and write them down.

But as an answer to your question: No. You should be able to go for any Major that you want.

Just got accepted and was wondering what all these club acronyms stand for?
 
IP- instructor pilot
IC- intercollegiate athlete
ENJJPT- Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training- a joint forces pilot training school where the top projected pilots go to. They typically get the airframe they request.
CRO- Combat Rescue Officer - the officer version of a pararescue or PJ a type of special forces medic and search and rescue.
 
Sorry if this is a weird question, but how vital is it that you bring in white underwear for BCT? I have black pairs of compression underwear I like a lot and I’d like to bring them but I don’t want to get in trouble. Should it be fine if I bring them?
It will be fine for you to take your black pairs. The only thing I remember being an issue is the length (which should be in the appointee kit info). DS took black and dark grey to BCT.
 
Sorry if this is a weird question, but how vital is it that you bring in white underwear for BCT? I have black pairs of compression underwear I like a lot and I’d like to bring them but I don’t want to get in trouble. Should it be fine if I bring them?
It will be fine for you to take your black pairs. The only thing I remember being an issue is the length (which should be in the appointee kit info). DS took black and dark grey to BCT.
DS says it specifically says white in the handbook.
 
Sorry if this is a weird question, but how vital is it that you bring in white underwear for BCT? I have black pairs of compression underwear I like a lot and I’d like to bring them but I don’t want to get in trouble. Should it be fine if I bring them?
It will be fine for you to take your black pairs. The only thing I remember being an issue is the length (which should be in the appointee kit info). DS took black and dark grey to BCT.
DS says it specifically says white in the handbook.
DS is class of '21 and his handbook said white too. After many threads and conversations here and elsewhere, it was determined that the cadre are not going to check the color of your underwear (as posted by 999132 above) and if you brought black or dark grey, it was okay.
 
Sorry if this is a weird question, but how vital is it that you bring in white underwear for BCT? I have black pairs of compression underwear I like a lot and I’d like to bring them but I don’t want to get in trouble. Should it be fine if I bring them?
It will be fine for you to take your black pairs. The only thing I remember being an issue is the length (which should be in the appointee kit info). DS took black and dark grey to BCT.
DS says it specifically says white in the handbook.
DS is class of '21 and his handbook said white too. After many threads and conversations here and elsewhere, it was determined that the cadre are not going to check the color of your underwear (as posted by 999132 above) and if you brought black or dark grey, it was okay.

Thanks! Good to know!
 
DS is class of '21 and his handbook said white too. After many threads and conversations here and elsewhere, it was determined that the cadre are not going to check the color of your underwear (as posted by 999132 above) and if you brought black or dark grey, it was okay.

Can confirm, this is correct.
 
Do certain clubs count as your sport? I want to become a CRO and I was told on this forum to do SANDHURST. Do you know anything about how this club selects who gets on the team or how other clubs operate?
Sorry about the unresponsiveness; I've been busy and then on spring break for the last few days. I'll answer all the new questions on this post now.
I don't know a lot about the details of Sandhurst, as I have not participated, but I have a friend that is in the club. I do know that Sandhurst counts as a sport. There are a lot of clubs (club b-ball, boxing, Sandhurst, Bulldogs etc.) that give you "LOS" status, meaning that, like an IC (intercollegiate) athlete, training sessions are replaced by your club practice. Sandhurst cadets spend a lot of time together aside from practice, and get to go off base with upperclassmen, occasionally wear civvies as a doolie, and have friendships with upperclassmen. So, in short, yes Sandhurst counts as a sport, and well exempt you from lots of other military training, but that is about the extent of my knowledge on the subject.
 
Hello Everyone, Like most people in this forum my DS is still waiting to hear from his MOC. This is a very hard time for us the waiting is the hardest part so far. He has already received a AFROTC scholarship level 7 to go to the University of Hawaii but is still hopeful in getting a Direct Appointment. He has a single Nomination from his Congressman. His Sat was 600/math 640/verbal 1240 and his GPA is only a 3.72. He is the Captain of his Wrestling team of 65 kids and has earned 4 Varsity letters. So what do you think his chances are for Direct appointment or Prep school or do you know if any of your class mates that made it in with low scores like this?
It's completely impossible to say, honestly. So many factors come into play for admission that I can't look at a few statistics and tell you what will happen. Those grades/SAT scores aren't great, but appointments keep rolling out really late. I wish you the best, and hope your son gets accepted, but keep other options open. If he doesn't get accepted it isn't the end of the world. ROTC and Academy cadets both become 2nd Lts after four years.
 
Are there any restrictions on the majors you choose? Obviously grades play a role. Are there restrictions on the number of cadets that can be certain majors every year? For example is electric engineering or management capped at 25, etc ( I just made up the numbers as an example ).
From what I understand (I have not declared, but am looking at biochem and ops research) you can major in whatever you want. Some majors are much more difficult than others, so academic ability is the main factor, not major caps. I have not heard anything about limits on the number of cadets that can be in any major at a time.
 
How did the altitude of Colorado Springs affect you? I suspect this may be the first time a lot of cadets are going from sea level to appox. 7,000 feet. How long did it take you to adjust?
I came from almost 6,000ft, so the transition wasn't too bad for me. Many of my classmates complained for a while, though. I would say after 10-15 days you'll be fairly adjusted, depending on how much the cadre in your flight make you run. Be in as good of shape as possible - there are still a few months before I-day, so I would run 3-5 times a week, from sprints to 5 or 6 miles. Just don't get shin splints before coming to i-day. You don't want to make a tough experience worse.
 
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