C4C AMA: Ask me anything!

[BlahuKahuna]

Minutes are still around, at least in my squadron.

 

[HueyNation]

@buffalo: The freshman in Valhalla are now calling minutes in the SAR instead of in the hallways.

 

[icarus]

Coming from prep, do you feel that you're better prepared for Doolie year?
Are prepsters treated differently than direct admits? (expected to know drill, room specs for SAMI etc.)
Do preppies have an advantage having been given an extra year or once A-day is over, every one is on equal footing?

 

[Invisibility]

from BCT to Acceptance to First Class Day.............and maybe new Roomies.
How did that go for the Cadets on the whole? Also, how far is Jacks Valley?

It’s impossible for us to say how things “as a whole” went. In my squad, I’d say they went OK. I guess we had a few no-shows, and one basic left around the end of 1st BCT for family reasons. Jack’s Valley is 6-7 miles the way we went, which was different than years past.

Did you all get Jack's Hack?

Were your first few days of classes what you expected? Harder? Easier?Yes, more or less everyone coughed for at least a few days.
After 2 days of classes—yes, about what I expected. I was thrilled to find out that Physics 110H is all mechanics! No magnetism to deal with! I’m nervous about Chemistry 110, since what I’ve consistently heard is that it’s a killer course.

Being the class with probably the lowest attrition rate during BCT 2,
1)What would you say to upperclassmen that think this year's BEAST was not as tough as before?
2)how do you feel about basics that just stood around and watched with their blue belts while some of you did the A-course repeatedly and spared beatings? Are they deserving of making it through Jacks even if they truly didn't?
1) Honestly, probably “yes, sir!” and try to get away. There’s really no point in arguing over it. All the upperclassmen of course say “back when it was hard,” whereas the official line is that we rock. Maybe it’s a combination. I don’t know. I assure you—USAFA is still no cake walk.
2) I had my face in the dirt, so I don’t remember any basics just standing around and watching. I do know that a girl in my basic squad with crutches reportedly passed it, but I have no idea whether she went through any of the obstacles or just stood on the sidelines. I DO know that my roomie, who was sick for the entirety of Jack’s, went through it TWICE with bronchitis and is one of the toughest people I know. Also that one of the girls in my tent went through with a blue belt and says she thinks she was singled out.
I’m sure that some people were being “F-18 pilots”, but some I’m sure were also really sick. Not my place to judge—just hoping that those who aren’t supposed to be here will find it out some other way.

What exactly is Jack's Hack?
A mixture of dirt in the lungs, low-grade infection, and the fact that when you’re coughing you can also covertly scratch your ear/head/neck/whatever.

What were your ACT or SAT scores and subsection scores?
ACT: 34. Don’t remember subsection, but all 30 or above.
SAT: 800/730/700

How thorough were the security clearances? Were there people that lied on their application?
You can look up the actual form. Security Form 86. Did people lie? I don’t know… if they did, they won’t be getting clearances and won’t be staying at the Academy. They specifically said that they don’t care so much what you did as how honest you are about it.

Are minutes really no longer called?!??
According to the Rules of Engagement, I think we’re supposed to call lunch minutes or something. In our squad, we haven’t had minutes. We’ll probably have them if there are required breakfasts in the October-ish range. It’s one of the traditions that the upperclassmen also dislike, so I don’t think ours are in a hurry to figure out how to make it work.

Coming from prep, do you feel that you're better prepared for Doolie year?
Are prepsters treated differently than direct admits? (expected to know drill, room specs for SAMI etc.)
Do preppies have an advantage having been given an extra year or once A-day is over, everyone is on equal footing?
From a direct’s standpoint…
Prepsters are treated somewhat differently. Not better, necessarily. They are expected to know their stuff and be able to help others along. They might have a slight advantage, but honestly, most of that is just knowing how the game is played. If you realize that it is a game and are mentally prepared, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a preppie or not.
Time will tell whether preppies are better prepared for the Academic year.

 

[icarus]

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and thoughts. Congratulations on beating BEAST and hope the academic year whiz by.

 

[BlahuKahuna]

Do preppies have an advantage having been given an extra year or once A-day is over, every one is on equal footing?

The USAFAPS folks come in a wide range. Most of the outstanding basics were preppies, but there was one in my flight who didn't know which way the blues belt was supposed to face...

 

[burnerafter16]

Now that acceptance day is over, what restrictions are still in place regarding cell phones, social media? Are there still items that are considered contraband? Are monitors and printers allowed in your rooms?

 

[burnerafter16]

The USAFAPS folks come in a wide range. Most of the outstanding basics were preppies, but there was one in my flight who didn't know which way the blues belt was supposed to face...

The outstanding preppie from DS's squad outprocessed before the end of 2nd semester last year. This isn't a sprint but a series of many. Having extra preparation doesn't mean squat if you can't endure the next 3.75 years.
You and your fellow class of 2017 are off to a great start. Keep up the good work and carry on.

 

[Buff-IP]

Are chins still in?

 

[LFry94]

Are minutes really no longer called?!??

False. We call minutes Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Some days we have both morning and noon minutes.

Coming from prep, do you feel that you're better prepared for Doolie year?
Are prepsters treated differently than direct admits? (expected to know drill, room specs for SAMI etc.)
Do preppies have an advantage having been given an extra year or once A-day is over, every one is on equal footing?

Yes, I feel way more prepared. Knowing how to manage my time, and getting that extra year of academics is really paying off.

Yes, they have higher expectations of preppies. We are expected to teach the directs everything from bed standards, to shoe shining, to email etiquette. It goes both ways though, because (at least for myself) I'm going to be relying on my classmates for extra help in academics later on in the year. The directs here are like geniuses.

If by advantage you mean special privileges, then no. We are all equal.

Now that acceptance day is over, what restrictions are still in place regarding cell phones, social media? Are there still items that are considered contraband? Are monitors and printers allowed in your rooms?

It's all squadron dependent, but the most common restrictions are: Cellphones only on weekends until parents weekend, Facebook is allowed, movies/Netflix/video games are off limits, monitors and printers are permitted.

Are chins still in?

If you're asking whether or not they make us stick our chins in while at attention, the answer is no.

 

[haleym]

Now that acceptance day is over, what restrictions are still in place regarding cell phones, social media? Are there still items that are considered contraband? Are monitors and printers allowed in your rooms?

Cell phones largely vary by squad and training officers. I would say a good amount of squads have allowed them at this point. Everyone should have working computers, so social media is allowed- but is without a doubt a big distractor. It's up to us now to manage our time wisely. Things like civvies and media (youtube, music, netflix, etc.) are still not allowed until recognition. Monitors and printers are permissible, however monitors can only be so large (24" diagonally I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong).

 

[LFry94]

Cell phones largely vary by squad and training officers. I would say a good amount of squads have allowed them at this point. Everyone should have working computers, so social media is allowed- but is without a doubt a big distractor. It's up to us now to manage our time wisely. Things like civvies and media (youtube, music, netflix, etc.) are still not allowed until recognition. Monitors and printers are permissible, however monitors can only be so large (24" diagonally I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong).

24" according to the CSP

 

[USAF463]

The 4-degrees in my squad still have Jack's Hack. They also infected all the upperclassmen.

I'll bet having them experience tear gas this early didn't help

 

[HeWantsTheBFE]

The 4-degrees in my squad still have Jack's Hack. They also infected all the upperclassmen.

You're welcome, ma'am!

Are minutes really no longer called?!??

Dependant on squad. Some do, some don't, some only call it every so often. I expect it will ramp up and be more regular as time goes on.

Now that acceptance day is over, what restrictions are still in place regarding cell phones, social media? Are there still items that are considered contraband? Are monitors and printers allowed in your rooms?

Cell phones largely vary by squad and training officers. I would say a good amount of squads have allowed them at this point. Everyone should have working computers, so social media is allowed- but is without a doubt a big distractor. It's up to us now to manage our time wisely. Things like civvies and media (youtube, music, netflix, etc.) are still not allowed until recognition. Monitors and printers are permissible, however monitors can only be so large (24" diagonally I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong).

We really only had our cell phones because most of us didn't have our proxy cards yet. Now that we do, it's a wing training directive that we not have our phones until parents weekend. So if people have phones now, they probably will be taken away. As far as contraband goes, there isn't much. We got our contraband from Basic back, we can keep food in our rooms, etc. Other than that, it's all in the cadet sight picture (which I still have to read through... ugh). Personally, me and my roomie already have a printer, and I ordered a nice new 24" monitor with HDMI input for about $140 online. It made me happy!

I'll bet having them experience tear gas this early didn't help

If anything, it cleared us all out and gave us a respite from the beatings. Still wouldn't recommend the stuff though, it's nasty.

 

[haleym]

My tear gas experience:
Cadre- Are you ready? Me- No, sir Cadre- (laughs) take off your mask, what's your favorite animal? Me- COUGH COUGH BLEH COUGH
Fun times!

 

[AFrpaso]

Checking in. . .

 

[PresidentFetz]

I have one major thing to say to all the parents on the forum. With all due respect, your DS/DD should be here wayyyy more than you should. If you find it the other way around, something is wrong. Let them do the application process and check up with them. They have to do it though. If it's too much work to do all the applications for all the nominations, the academy, prelim, etc., then maybe the Academy isn't the place for them. And there is nothing wrong with that.

BCT sucks, but it's also a lot of fun. Many memories are made. I wouldn't say it was any easier this year. Maybe there was less yelling. But if you want to leave for getting yelled at, then geez. I think it was also quite the process to leave this year. The goal of Cadre is to teach us, not to make us want to quit. Albeit by harsh means.

School will be tough, but nothing unmanageable. Doolie year will be tough, but it'll end eventually. 3 1/2 years here are a blast. You have to really want this to stick it out the whole time.

To all 2018ers, good luck!

 

[Viking2017]

I have one major thing to say to all the parents on the forum. With all due respect, your DS/DD should be here wayyyy more than you should. If you find it the other way around, something is wrong. Let them do the application process and check up with them. They have to do it though.

Can't back this up enough. The application process is, in a way, your first test - if it's not important enough or "too difficult" to do yourself, that should be a big red flag. If you're not invested enough in going to a service academy (or any college, for that matter!) to finish your own essays and admissions process, odds are you won't be invested enough to do the work required once you actually get in.

 

[CadCandMateus]

I have one major thing to say to all the parents on the forum. With all due respect, your DS/DD should be here wayyyy more than you should. If you find it the other way around, something is wrong. Let them do the application process and check up with them. They have to do it though. If it's too much work to do all the applications for all the nominations, the academy, prelim, etc., then maybe the Academy isn't the place for them. And there is nothing wrong with that.

BCT sucks, but it's also a lot of fun. Many memories are made. I wouldn't say it was any easier this year. Maybe there was less yelling. But if you want to leave for getting yelled at, then geez. I think it was also quite the process to leave this year. The goal of Cadre is to teach us, not to make us want to quit. Albeit by harsh means.

School will be tough, but nothing unmanageable. Doolie year will be tough, but it'll end eventually. 3 1/2 years here are a blast. You have to really want this to stick it out the whole time.

To all 2018ers, good luck!

I really respect this attitude and hope you keep it throughout your academy career! It's people like you who helped me stay motivated to stick out the Academy and helped make time just fly by. Here I am a little over a year since graduation. I challenge you to not give in to the contagious negative attitude but be that positive influence people will be looking for.

Good luck!

 

[John41057]

Missing Items

Hi
Any thing gone missing in your squad? My DS reported his wallet went missing from his room with his cash and driver license as well as debit and credit cards. He is not a happy cadet today. Although I did warn him to keep it locked up when not with him.
Regards
John