Class of 2021 Fact Sheet

Can anyone break down when enrolling for classes takes place? I'm trying to set a backup school in place in case I get injured. Do we officially become cadets after basic?
 
Don’t worry to much about injuries during basic. You made it there and the academy wants you to be successful. Just from what I remember my DS doing last year during basic. I think they met with their advisers during basic who enrolled them in classes. Her first semester they put her in like 15-16 hours but her second semester they had her in 21-22 hours. She did fine academically last year. For math this was based on the test she took before starting basic. During basic she tested to move up in her foreign language. There was a few injuries during basic to some cadets but very few received a “medical turn back”. There was some % of basic training you had to complete to be able to stay. There were a few that had to do a makeup session during basic to fully fulfill the requirements. They want you to be successful to complete basic and do everything to help you get through it even though you may think they are not. The assault course was one day and it seemed to be one of the hardest days at least for her.

One of her friends had a history of concussion and the symptoms came back during basic and he did get sent home. He now will be coming back with your class and is ready to go. I think he just enrolled in a JC school to keep his study skills up.
 
Conqueror99 said:
Can anyone break down when enrolling for classes takes place? I'm trying to set a backup school in place in case I get injured. Do we officially become cadets after basic?
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This is not like a traditional college. Your courses are selected for you (for the most part) and the vast majority of the first two years are dictated by the core curriculum all students complete. After you declare a major, you can expect to start entering into electives and things you chose as a junior.

You are considered a Basic Cadet from Indoc until the Acceptance Parade that follows 6 weeks of BCT. After that, you are considered a 4th class cadet. Like @Firstgo mentioned, there is a % of completion required for you to be retained following an injury that occurs during BCT. A friend of mine injured his ankle during the first 3 weeks of BCT and was sent home. I have seen others injured late in BCT and get to stay. Understand that injuries of this magnitude are rare and not something that should be worried over. There is an element of self preservation and you should be cautious during BCT.

Once the academic year begins, USAFA really works with students who get injured or have a serious illness. At that point, you are a full fledged member of the Air Force and gain access to all expense paid healthcare. I've seen a cadet (gymnast) break his neck and after he got out of the hospital, we wheeled him to class and just kept going - halo and all. Life goes on, people are understanding, and you get great care during any kind of injury.
 
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As Fistgo says, Once you make it to I-Day, the Academy wants you to succeed. If you are injured during basic they will try to let you continue if you are able. If you are not able to complete BCT but the injury is expected to heal, you become a turnback. As a turnback, you would return with the class of 2026 to either complete BCT or start the academic year depending on your unique situation. Each year there are a few that fall into this category. My DS's roommate as a Doolie was a turnback from the previous year due to an injury during BCT.
 
Okay y'all thank you so much for the responses. I was curious because my plan b asked that I give them a decision about where I would be going in the fall, but they also gave me option of deferral. I kinda assumed the whole back up plan still applied even to appointees, but it makes me feel better to know how low the chances are for something bad to happen once you make it to basic. 👍
 
Shiner is correct as usual, though I would add that if you validate classes, you will be validating mostly core classes so your timetable is accelerated for getting into non-core classes. You still won't be hitting electives your first year, but you may be hitting some classes for your major by Spring Semester of your 4th dig year. I won't rant more about scheduling since I have done so before, but realize you have to champion your own schedule to get the one you want.

As far as your plan B, we went as far as putting a deposit on his Civilian School of choice. It was $500. If he got turned back, or otherwise left BCT, he could still show up to Plan B since they didn't start classes til late August and BCT is over by early August so you will know if you need it or not before civilian school starts. I don't like blowing $500, but I thought of it as insurance and given COVID last year, felt like protecting that option more than I normally would probably. I rationalized the expense by telling myself that if he does not need Plan B, he has a full ride at USAFA, so I will have only paid $500 for his college which is not a bad deal.
 
@BuckeyeDad20 when the window is open between basic & the last day to decide if attending xx college, you should contact the school to see if they'll refund your deposit as your young adult has decided to attend a SA. Previous posters have received refunds. Not all of course , but it can't hurt to ask. Good luck!
 
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