Current doolie, ask any and all questions

Based on your mental build-up of what the 4* life would be like before you arrived at USAFA - how has the experience thus far lived up to the hype?
 
shiner said:
Based on your mental build-up of what the 4* life would be like before you arrived at USAFA - how has the experience thus far lived up to the hype?
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Honestly I did not give much thought to 4* year, I was so worried about basic. Basic really wasn’t too bad, less pt than I expected and it’s a lot better when you approach it with a sense of humor, just don’t express that to the cadre 😅 I knew I would be running the strips, but there are a lot more little things that I had no idea about going in to the academic year. Things like minutes, kbowls, ktests, etc. It all piles up really quickly and feels a lot like basic with some more freedom and hours of homework. A lot of people are getting discouraged, but it’s important to remember it is a marathon, not a sprint to recognition. Just gotta put my head down and push through and march will be here before I know it. As will the civies 🤩
 
tucson.bellingham said:
Honestly I did not give much thought to 4* year, I was so worried about basic. Basic really wasn’t too bad, less pt than I expected and it’s a lot better when you approach it with a sense of humor, just don’t express that to the cadre 😅 I knew I would be running the strips, but there are a lot more little things that I had no idea about going in to the academic year. Things like minutes, kbowls, ktests, etc. It all piles up really quickly and feels a lot like basic with some more freedom and hours of homework. A lot of people are getting discouraged, but it’s important to remember it is a marathon, not a sprint to recognition. Just gotta put my head down and push through and march will be here before I know it. As will the civies 🤩
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It's almost Halloween, then it'll be almost Thanksgiving break, then almost Christmas break, then Rec, then Spring break! It'll be here before we know it.
 
From your experience, do most cadets have an affiliation with the air force or the academy within their family?
 
Also, what made you chose the academy over ROTC where you also get the "college experience?" And, are you happy with that decision?
 
foofer04 said:
From your experience, do most cadets have an affiliation with the air force or the academy within their family?
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I am also a doolie and while I'm not the OP, I can tell you that most cadets do not have a prior affiliation w/ the USAF or the academy. I personally do not, and neither do most of my friends here. :)
 
BBF2003 said:
I am also a doolie and while I'm not the OP, I can tell you that most cadets do not have a prior affiliation w/ the USAF or the academy. I personally do not, and neither do most of my friends here. :)
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Same here, my dad enlisted in the USMC back in the day, but I had no AF connection. I also do not really mind the restrictiveness, but others seem to be more affected by it.
 
foofer04 said:
From your experience, do most cadets have an affiliation with the air force or the academy within their family?
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From what I’ve experienced, there’s a good spread. I have no affiliation with the military but some kids have both parents and siblings who have served. It doesn’t make much of a difference, you all start on the same page on I day.
 
foofer04 said:
Also, what made you chose the academy over ROTC where you also get the "college experience?" And, are you happy with that decision?
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That one is really personal preference. I knew that no matter what school I went to, I would be working hard and would limit myself from some college life to do well in academics. Granted, rotc has A LOT more freedom than the academy but I think it’s totally worth it.
 
What was your motivation to push through the rigorous application process? Also, how did you keep yourself busy while awaiting an admissions decision?
 
usafacellist2026 said:
What was your motivation to push through the rigorous application process? Also, how did you keep yourself busy while awaiting an admissions decision?
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Pushing through the application process is 1000 times easier than your life at USAFA. You need to find your motivation now because it will be something you fall back on multiple times as a doolie. For me, it has always been my goal to be a pilot. I literally cannot remember a time where I did not want to fly planes. So, whenever jets fly over the terrazzo (which happens all the time) I get a massive morale boost and remember why the grind is worth it. As for awaiting your admission decision, I really cannot help because I was lucky enough to find out very early. However, focusing on your senior year and spending time with family should provide good distractions. March will be here before you know it!
 
usafacellist2026 said:
What was your motivation to push through the rigorous application process? Also, how did you keep yourself busy while awaiting an admissions decision?
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Answers to second question:
Spend quality time with family and friends. If you get your wish, you have just about 8 months left at home as a regular resident. After that, you’re a visitor, at home less and less, at least for the next 9 years or more. Ask your family members if there is a project they need done or need a helper on. One of my best memories before I reported to OCS is my mother and I re-painting my childhood bedroom, boxing up and sorting through personal items, and choosing new items to turn it into a guest room. It would always be “my room,” but would now be suitable for other uses. It was good for both of us.

PT. If you have extra time, challenge yourself with a new style of workout. Try Navy SEAL body weight exercises (plyometrics), a challenging yoga class, enter some races for fun, improve swimming skills. Run, run, and run some more.

Dive into the DODReads website and do some professional reading.
 
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What is day-to-day life like at USAFA? Do you have any freedom at all or do you always have people telling you where to go and when to be there?
 
Pilot2022 said:
What is day-to-day life like at USAFA? Do you have any freedom at all or do you always have people telling you where to go and when to be there?
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It's somewhat squad dependent. After minutes and MAF (which ends at 0700), you can get breakfast before classes at 0730. Lunch/NMF is at 1135. After lunch there is military call to quarters, which is normally free (end of lunch to 12:38). On T days, class starts again at 1245. On M days, we can have military duties during this period, but it's oftentimes free. 7th period ends at 1538. If you have training, it normally starts at 1545 and goes until 1715ish. Dinner (optional) starts at 1700 and ends at 1950 (its a drop in thing). Most free time is spend studying for me.

About the people telling you where to be always- I was surprised about how much "freedom" we have. Freedom meaning during school hours you are pretty much your own person and have to manage your own time. 1950 is the start of ACQ (academic call to quarters), which is a time that you don't have commitments so you have time to study.
 
USAFA_86 said:
Pushing through the application process is 1000 times easier than your life at USAFA. You need to find your motivation now because it will be something you fall back on multiple times as a doolie. For me, it has always been my goal to be a pilot. I literally cannot remember a time where I did not want to fly planes. So, whenever jets fly over the terrazzo (which happens all the time) I get a massive morale boost and remember why the grind is worth it. As for awaiting your admission decision, I really cannot help because I was lucky enough to find out very early. However, focusing on your senior year and spending time with family should provide good distractions. March will be here before you know it!
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The wait to find out can be mentally draining. My advice, is to ‘put aside’ the application process. Be glad and satisfied that it’s complete. Move it all to a ‘done’ pile, both physically and mentally. BC the alternate is having it always ON your mind. YUCK.

At some point is the time to get excited about plan B. Bc plan B (or C or D…) may be your plan A. Pick out your dorm roommate. Buy a sweatshirt. Also really delve into and enjoy being a SENIOR. Your LAST semester is fast approaching! It’s an awesome culmination of 13 yrs of K-12 education. Don’t muddle that up obsessing over notification from your SA.

At this point, it’s out of your hands. My youngest was all in Plan B, and received his appointment middle of May. He barely had time to change his teleprompter bio for HS graduation. But putting the appointment/TWE notification on the back burner allows you to BE PRESENT in the now. Time to relax and enjoy (or finish up alternate plans and THEN relax and enjoy 😉).

Good luck, good vibes!!
 
usafacellist2026 said:
What was your motivation to push through the rigorous application process?
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I wanted to be a Naval Officer, it was as simple as that. I applied to USNA, NROTC and 3 or 4 other schools. I didn't think it was particularly difficult, just a lot of following directions which I did myself as my parents definitely did not do it or manage it in any way. The only thing they were involved with were the medical appointment and then a remedial (7 days of observations).

When one of my sons applied, he'd wanted to be a fighter pilot since 7th grade and felt USNA was his best prep for it. He applied to USNA, NROTC and 5 or so schools. He never talked about it being difficult, he just went and did it. My wife helped a tiny bit with a difficult guidance counselor but in general, he didn't want our help. For instance, my wife is a college english prof and he did not have her (or me) help him with his essay nor did he ask me (BGO) for interview prep.

usafacellist2026 said:
Also, how did you keep yourself busy while awaiting an admissions decision?
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For both of us, I'd say it was just continue being a relatively busy high school senior. In my case, I had wrestling season and in his case, track. We were also both in HS band and had numerous other activities to occupy ourselves.
FWIW, I was notified of acceptance in mid-Feb while my son was notified in early Dec.
 
25er here. I want to reiterate taking advantage of being HOME. I was so worried about the outcome of my application that I did not take advantage of that. The one thing on my mind right now is going home for Thanksgiving, and it will be like that for Christmas break and spring break as well. The Academy will never be home for me - living and working in the same place is extremely difficult - but at the same time I do not hate it here. Just take my word for it that after your application is submitted, it is out of your hands as to the outcome. Any time spent worrying is energy wasted on what could be an amazing last semester with the friends you grew up with.
 
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