Doolie Day In/Acceptance Day

Viking82

5-Year Member
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May 13, 2010
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16
DDI:
Is there a rough time that Doolies will be released to make calls home on 10 July for DDI? I understand packages (that may include a phone) can be dropped for/picked up by them at Arnold Hall(?) that day. What's a good time to have the package dropped off by (an already known) sponsor?

AD:
What time is the beginning/end of the Acceptance Parade on 4 Aug? How much time is the 4* allowed to visit after this with parents if they come?
 
in regards to phones.

My suggestion would be to have them take their phone with them. Yes, it will be taken away but it will be given back whenever their squadron is allowed to have them. Quickest way to get it is if it is already there.
 
What about charging them? Are there outlets where they can all plug in?
 
in regards to phones.

My suggestion would be to have them take their phone with them. Yes, it will be taken away but it will be given back whenever their squadron is allowed to have them. Quickest way to get it is if it is already there.

I understand a few Doolies had "issues" getting or finding their phones last year causing them to resort to the phone bank during DDI. Another parent said the sponsor delivered a care package w/phone fully charged and it worked out well.

Any feedback on the times/package delivery?
 
If you're referring to the "misplacement" of the phones, I doubt that will happen again.

Seems like it has happened every year my S has been there. Why would it not happen this time?
 
You have to remember that last year Field Day was the day before DDI and both were all day events. For 2014 I thought I read it was half field day and half DDI.
Anyway, packages had to be at Arnold Hall early -- like by 9am. Son's sponsor delivered his phone fully charged along with some goodies.
As for time of phone call - if I'm correct and there is Field Day first, then it would be after Field Day ended.
You might need to "plan" your call through snail mail letters to your child. Tell them where you'll be that day so they'll know if they should call home or call your cell phone.

Acceptance Day -- we didn't go so I don't know time of the parade but most parents said afterwards they had 2-3 hours with their cadet after the parade was over, enough time for a small picnic lunch and to give them some items from home (printer, monitor, etc)
 
Thanks greentrees! :thumb:

Anyone know or remember what time the parade begins & ends?
 
I believe that the Acceptance Day Parade begins at 0900. (Get there EARLY!) After the parade, the newly accepted cadets will stay on the parade ground to have their shoulder boards put on. Parents will be able to go down from the stands to watch this. Make sure you know where your cadet's squadron is so that you can go directly to them when you are told to go onto the parade grounds. If you take too much time in locating them, you will miss it.
After the shoulder board are on and the cadets talk and smile together for a while, you will be able to go somewhere in the area for a couple of hours with your cadet. We went over to the fieldhouse and sat in the hockey arena stands (to stay cool) and enjoyed the box lunches that we brought. We left by 1400.
As a warning, (which I have stated before) there is ALWAYS the possibility that your cadet may be required to do something else during the time that you would visit with them. It will happen throughout their time at USAFA. Always be prepared to have plans disrupted by their duties to the Academy, and don't ever make them feel guilty for doing what they need to do.

Stealth_81
 
Very good point Stealth. My D was one of those with a trillion things she was required to do during our 2 hours on A Day :mad: . I was thrilled to just be in the same area as she - I walked around with her as she accomplished those things. It was an extremely full 2 hours. I like to say the truly uninterrupted 8 minutes we had at the end were the best that I've had at USAFA, though I am sure that's somewhat of an exaggeration by now! The reality is that of the two hours, we had 8 minutes when she was not required to be doing something else (and that was only because two other 4°s from her squadron took over so she could have time with me). My best friend came with me & the two of us followed her around (at cadet speed, much faster than human speed let alone mom speed :yllol: ) until the very end when a few others took over & sent us to our 8 minutes of bliss at the chapel. :thumb: I was truly loving the time together, even the traipse through every back staircase of USAFA! I look back now and it really was a GREAT time albeit very hectic. Being flexible is the name of the game & while it may have been fun to have a picnic in the stands of the hockey stadium like Stealth did, instead I was wondering through the bowels of USAFA (she got lost a time or two too) and watching my kid interact with "important people" in a way that I had never seen before. Very proud of the first glimpses I saw of the competent woman my child was rapidly becoming.

Those are the memories I have of A-Day and I wouldn't trade them for any number of picnics. So take whatever time you are given and let your cadet do whatever it is that they must do. Some will have nothing to do other than spend time with you. If you're one of the lucky ones great. But if your cadet has to traipse around various departments of USAFA interacting with apparent mucky mucks (for all I know they were the janitors but they looked important to me :yllol: ), follow and observe. Like me, you may get your first glimpse of the new found confidence, maturity and polish of a newly minted 4° - and it only gets better from there! That newly minted 4° is a rising Firstie now (WOW STEALTH, can you believe it - Stealth Jr. & 2011's kidlet are about to get their RING and then a week from today they magically turn into Firsties! Time flies!) By the way, if I thought that 4° had polish, the rising Firstie is something else all together! It's a wild ride but it's better than anything I could imagine.
 
You have to remember that last year Field Day was the day before DDI and both were all day events. For 2014 I thought I read it was half field day and half DDI.
Anyway, packages had to be at Arnold Hall early -- like by 9am.

From what I've been told, last year it was originally supposed to be a DDO and was changed the night before to a DDI due to a Swine Flu (H1N1) outbreak. :confused: If there is a field day the first half of the day this year, I would think if the package is there by 11AM that should be ok (I would think). :idea:
 
After the parade, the newly accepted cadets will stay on the parade ground to have their shoulder boards put on. Parents will be able to go down from the stands to watch this.

I think in another thread that someone said this is always done by an upper class Cadet. I also heard that if they know an upper class (such as from your high school) or have a sibling in the Wing they can request that Cadet to put on the shoulder boards. Anyone have confirmation or more correct info?
 
I think in another thread that someone said this is always done by an upper class Cadet. I also heard that if they know an upper class (such as from your high school) or have a sibling in the Wing they can request that Cadet to put on the shoulder boards. Anyone have confirmation or more correct info?

Yeah. You choose who puts on the shoulderboards. I had a high school teamate do it.
 
It's the greatest feeling in the world...until you get to the prop and wings pin-on (if you make it that far haha).
 
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