Your first year, you can have family and friends visit for Parents Weekend in Oct, and can go home for Christmas and New Years after Fall semester final exams before returning very early in Jan for the Spring semester. Some years the academic and military training schedule are worked to allow a long weekend (maybe 5 days) over Thanksgiving for those who think its worth the expense. Other times you get like 4 days including travel so why bother. Next time you can go home is Spring Break. After that, you have to wait for your assigned 3-week summer leave period. Note that some cadets have extracurricular activities (athletics, competitive clubs) that might take up part of the Winter or Spring Break. If your parents and friends are free, they can come to YOU at USAFA, but you might not have very much time to see them--a few hours in the evening if you give up academic call to quarters (study time) or after training ends (if any) on a Saturday. Sundays are typically free until academic call to quarters that night. Finally, you can request a sponsor in the local area--typically a friend of USAFA who is willing to host a cadet in their house so they can get away from USAFA from time to time. If you really mesh well, then you will likely be invited to lots of family events and they will provide better support to you...like rides to the airport and hosting your parents during Parents Weekend visits. Upperclassmen get all of the above plus more "passes" to leave USAFA during the semester. A junior will be allowed to have a car, which opens up way more opportunities.
It is impossible for me to predict how miserable your experience will be. Different cadets will have different experiences (squadron environment, class schedule, assigned trainers/mentors, fast fourthclass friends), and every person is stressed by different things. USAFA is designed to be stressful, so plan accordingly so you learn, grow, and adapt quickly to reduce your stressors. For example, if you are more athlete than academic, then make it a priority to study as poor grades are the fastest way to be booted from USAFA. If you take things personally, then try to understand why you are being yelled at (trained) rather than assuming the trainer doesn't like you. It helps if you are the kind of person that can bounce back after taking a hit, and you are the kind of person that never ever gives up.
