Between Jacks Valley and A-Day

Q

Qdog

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Hey All-
My son is at BCT. I’m looking at the calendar that parents posted on FB that kind of shows the summer timeline. I’m just curious of the components of BCT-2 after Jacks Valley.

July 11 - March to Jacks Valley
July 22 - March back from Jacks Valley
July 29 - BCT Ends
Aug 5 - Acceptance Day

That’s almost a 2-week timeline between getting back from JV and acceptance day. He mentioned on our call during Doolie Day Out yesterday that he heard it was more relaxed after they get back from Jacks. I’m just curious if anyone had a sense of what happens between getting back from JV and Acceptance Day.
 
I've heard lots of evaluations. PFT and AFT again, stand-up evaluation in front of panel of officers asking questions they should know by that point, practicing for SAMIs, briefings preparing for academic year, etc.
 
They may meet with guidance counselors, firm up class schedules, buy books, move into their rooms, etc. Not to worry, USAFA keeps them super busy!
 
That’s helpful. I was kind of wondering if it was a return to the BCT - 1 kind of stuff.
 
It seems that they call it BCT, but it's a focus on getting ready for academics. So, maybe it's not as much marching, memorizing, standing at attention, etc. I also heard they meet with advisors. At some point, they move into another dorm. I was trying to figure it out, recently. My DS is a 2026.
 
It is a transition for them. It is still BCT but a transition to a academic stance for them. The BCT-2 cadre helps them transition and they prepare join the wing/squadron. On July 30th the entire wing is due back to USAFA and move into their dorms for the semester/year.

Very exciting times for the class of 2026.
 
The week between the march-back and the end of BCT is still BCT. Basic wake-ups, morning formations, eating with Basic Roses, etc. They'll probably get issued the rest of their blues and service dress, learn how to wear them, pick up their shoulder boards for A-Day, do a SAMI, take their end-of-course knowledge test, and all that jazz.

From the end of second beast to A-Day, it's a transition week for the whole wing. Introductory honor briefs, moving into the new squadron, they'll meet with their academic advisors and get their schedules, parade practice, etc. They're still Basic Cadets, but at this point they'll start transitioning to the general fourth-class ROEs.
 
The sound of "rolling thunder" will fill the air as the cadet wing moves their belongings across the T-Zo and into their dorms for the new semester. Big blue trunks on furniture movers across the marble slabs has a certain sound. DS would tell stories of cadets who tried to move everything at once - when those mover wheels catch a crack, a "yard sale" usually was the result.
 
mommahedg said:
The sound of "rolling thunder" will fill the air as the cadet wing moves their belongings across the T-Zo and into their dorms for the new semester. Big blue trunks on furniture movers across the marble slabs has a certain sound. DS would tell stories of cadets who tried to move everything at once - when those mover wheels catch a crack, a "yard sale" usually was the result.
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Will the rooms be much different for our BC's ?
 
somuchbetterthanme said:
Will the rooms be much different for our BC's ?
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No, they will be similar to the rooms they have had for BCT. One change they might have is if they have a 2-person room or a 3-person room. Otherwise, it's just adjusting the basic cadets to their squadron specific dorm.
 
How does life change for them after A day? Also is the rodeo day somewhat of a rest day?
 
Osprey123 said:
How does life change for them after A day? Also is the rodeo day somewhat of a rest day?
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Phones/computers/music come back, they have much more freedom when speaking (no more seven basic responses), they can go places alone (without a wingman), their schedules are a lot more free, they aren't under 24/7 supervision, and soon, they'll be able to leave base (among other privileges).

However, there are new things that come after A-Day. Minutes, K-Tests and K-Bowls, training sessions, etc.
 
crymsonwynters said:
Phones/computers/music come back, they have much more freedom when speaking (no more seven basic responses), they can go places alone (without a wingman), their schedules are a lot more free, they aren't under 24/7 supervision, and soon, they'll be able to leave base (among other privileges).

However, there are new things that come after A-Day. Minutes, K-Tests and K-Bowls, training sessions, etc.
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Can you explain what minutes and k tests/bowls are please?
 
somuchbetterthanme said:
Can you explain what minutes and k tests/bowls are please?
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Minutes are a morning formation for doolies where they call checkpoints, are given taskers, asked for news articles, etc. Checkpoints list the UOD, the days until important events for each class, and the meals for the day.
K-bowls are when two squadron's doolies will go head to head in a competition over that weeks required knowledge from Contrails. K-tests are over the same information, but a test that is graded.

Hope that helps, let me know if I can clarify any futher!
 
Peter2025 said:
Minutes are a morning formation for doolies where they call checkpoints, are given taskers, asked for news articles, etc. Checkpoints list the UOD, the days until important events for each class, and the meals for the day.
K-bowls are when two squadron's doolies will go head to head in a competition over that weeks required knowledge from Contrails. K-tests are over the same information, but a test that is graded.

Hope that helps, let me know if I can clarify any futher!
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Thanks for the info ! Overall, it sounds like life will get better for them after A Day .
 
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