AOG / WEBGUY

I am on the side of definitely worth it. I'm retired Navy and didn't think it would be too tough for me, but I was wrong. I've spent way too much time on Web Guy, have found for 200 pictures my son has been in and would pay twice what I do for them. The whole family believes it is keeping us connected in a way we wouldn't be without the pictures.
 
As a USAFA AOG member with a DD at West Point CBT, I would value the opportunity to at least know what my New Cadet and her company are doing. In fact I log in to Web Guy now to keep up with the Basic for my area. So I would vote well worth it and wish WP had it.
 
Absolutely worth it - to me anyway. I have about 80 pictures of my son so far - great to see what my DS is doing in BCT. The pictures are organized by BCT-1 and BCT-2, by Squadron, and by events like the Rodeo, Field Day, Doolie Day Out, etc. When they are not sorted, sure - it takes time to look through, but you get to see the progression of the activities and their brothers and sisters. When I write to my son I ask about the pics, the friends he is with, the cadre, etc - very cool. On Doolie Day Out I was able to text him some pics and ask questions - he was glad to see some of his smiles were caught by the camera people :)
 
My wife ended up making two scrap books of our older son's journey through USAFA, one for him and one for us. Those pictures from Webguy are the backbone of the BCT section of the scrap books. Priceless if you ask me. I never regretted paying for Webguy access.

Stealth_81
 
Worth it many times over. I'd pay $36 for 1 picture of my kid during BCT. Not being there is bad, not knowing or seeing them is worse.
 
Just seeing DS daily (and without an orange armband) allowed DW to sleep better at night. That, alone, makes it worth the cost.
 
80 pictures

Emphasis mine. I downloaded three pix, and saw each of my twin sons maybe ten times. You got 80 and say not worth it? Wow.
Yes, well, keep in mind that each photo op is a burst of 6 or so pictures showing the exact same scene, just a fraction of a second between each frame. Much like yourself, maybe 12-15 unique photo ops. So yeah, wow. And sure, if it was $36 per month for the less than two months of basic cadet training, I would totally think it's worth it. But Webguy requires a 12 month commitment to join. I don't believe I will be seeing nearly as many photos in months 3-12. The posts above state that photos drop way off after BCT.
 
Last edited:
But Webguy requires a 12 month commitment to join. I don't believe I will be seeing nearly as many photos in months 3-12. The posts above state that photos drop way off after BCT.

True, you will not see as many photos of your DD/DS during the normal academic year, depending on what clubs or activities they may be in. However, you will still have many opportunities throughout the year to still play "Where's Waldo".

For example:
- A-Day parade and picnics
- Parents' Weekend parade, football game, and events
- Freshman Ball/Dance in the fall
- Concerts hosted by the Academy
- Recognition (a lot of photos during this)
- Soaring program in the fall and spring
- Different Parents' club events hosted throughout the year
- Majors night
- Summer programs such as jump, soaring and ESET

So, at least for my DH and I, it is still worth the cost.
 
Imagine not signing up for Webguy account while your child is at an academy and then years later wishing you did. No regrets and so worth the minimal fee charged.
 
As a non-military family we've found it invaluable so far. Even if we can't find our DD on a given day it gives us a much better flavor of what she's going through during basic training. The free access sites on Flickr are good but not as comprehensive and there seems to be cycles with respect to posting. I wonder about the academic year but will make that call closer to the anniversary.
 
Can anyone give me some insight about whether or not it is worth the price of $36 a month to join the AOG and gain access to webguy photos. Do they just post scores of random shots and you have to fish through them to find your cadet? Do they filter the shots of your cadet for you and archive an album of photos for you? How does it work and is it worth the monthly membership dues?
I had wondered that same thing as I really did not want to pay that monthly fee but as a 2021 mother is is SOOOOO worth it. I have been fortunate and have a awesome collection of photos of my DS since in-processing which I plan on putting together in a BCT photo album. And yes most of the time the photos are separated into squadrons - some days you may not see any of your cadet but other days you might get to see a half dozen or more - to me well worth it!
 
Also, recall, if you were paying $65,000 A YEAR in tuition, you'd not even notice $36 - in fact, that would barely cover the beer on No-Homework-Thursday Night. If you can't afford it, ask Lil Johnny to spring for it.
 
80 pictures

Emphasis mine. I downloaded three pix, and saw each of my twin sons maybe ten times. You got 80 and say not worth it? Wow.
I felt it was worth it too. But you missed a key part of his/her response. Earnslaw said, they looked at multiple pictures of the same event (a step at a time picture). So a total of 20(ish) pictures for $36x12 months==$432. I can certainly see where $432/20 moments or $21 each isn't worth it for someone. So in order to define worth, it really depends on what was captured.
 
I enjoy having it. I can think of many things I could cut out to compensate for the monthly expense. But that is not the point. I enjoy seeing the pictures of what the cadets are going through. They all have their own stories. You witness them bonding, recovering from injuries, etc. My DS was on crutches for a while. When he was finally cleared to resume full activities, WebGuy was there at the right time. In all my years taking pictures of my DS, I never captured a true smile like the one the WebGuy did. To me, that's worth it.

I also like seeing the pictures because it easily sparks conversation. I graduated BMTS many years ago, so I can relate to it. We talked on DDO about the similarities.

In addition, it opens the eyes to others who may be considering applying. My DD had no intention of applying. But now, after hearing the stories and viewing the pictures of her DB, she has been asking questions and inquiring about opportunities for her. Sure, she can Google for pictures, but it means a lot more when it's family.

We look forward to the evenings. We joke around, "is it WebGuy time yet?". With as busy as we are with CAP, practices, work, etc., this gives us time together.

To me WebGuy is more than just pictures.
 
Back
Top