Doolie Day Out

All is good! Sponsor Mom contacted AFA and worked out all the details and is picking up DS at designated time & place for Doolie Day! Can't wait to hear from him Saturday. Thank you all for your support! Believe it or not, this is my middle child. My oldest is 25 and she has lived and traveled all over the country/world for college and work. It just "feels" different with this one leaving. Some of the previous posts explain it I think. It's not like sending your son or daughter off to a regular 4 year college.
 
Dad2018 and In-the-Know (and all sponsor families) - thank you so much for sponsoring our DS/DDs!! Whether it's just for DDO or for the year(s) to come it is so very appreciated :)
 
Sponsor families can be a great asset for basics, then cadets, who are far away from home.

Now, take a deep breath and prepare for the wild ride ahead!
 
Yes, thank you to all the sponsor families out there! I got the call this morning and was so glad to hear his voice! He is doing well, and looking forward to Jack's Valley. A special thank you to 2018Dad, your specific post on how the DDO works was the information I was looking for, so that I could forward it to DS's sponsor family, since it is their first time being a sponsor family and I they were not able to make it to the orientation.
 
Try not to forget your sponsor family, especially if it is their first time too, around Christmas time (or any time). We always tried to give a small gift to ours, and I remember hearing about others sending their DS/DD's sponsors things like gas & restaurant gift cards, Cuisinart ice cream makers, small items from your hometown (tree ornaments, Terrible Towels, baskets with ethnic foods or a selection of local wines). You aren't paying them to host your son or daughter, you are thanking them.
 
No thanks is needed or required. One thing I have found on this USAFA forum is that we are all here to support the Cadets, including of course the newest, the Basics! Personally, I think that the timely, accurate advice by those with A LOT more experience than me is crucial for those beginning the wild ride from 1st thought or dream to Graduation and Commissioning. Hornet, Christcorp, Pima, Fencer's, Stealth, Raimius and many, many others, do more everyday of the year here than our simple act today.
Having said that...we had a blast on our first DDO. We had 5 assigned, then they called to see if we could take 3 more...of course..nobody stays on the hill, nobody is left in the parking lot. These 8 Basics were from all over the country and even in their 'beaten' tiredness were such a joy, and blessing to be around. I tried to channel the absolutely essential advice that I have gleaned over the last several years of lurking here.
I hope we succeeded in filling more than their bellies today, I hope they will attack Jacks and Second Beast with all they have in them. As many, many before have done and been successful...and joined that Long Blue Line.

With all of the events that are taking place in our Country now, and throughout the world..it was refreshing to spend a day with these service minded young folks with their guarded enthusiasm and vigor..the desire to join the Wing on A-day..and tackle the tremendous challenges of time management in the Academic Year. As we sit here exhausted from the day..it is a very comforting thought to know that as we look across I-25 to the Academy..up there in Vandy tonight.. I hope there are 8 individuals that gained renewed support and drive to finish BCT and fully become a USAFA Cadet!
(PS DS is on 3rd leave so it was really unusual to be out here without feeling his spirit up on the Hill!)
 
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I hope they all enjoyed DDO. My new Dooleys, from the minute we drove off, their cell phones never stopped going. I kept extra cell chargers in case. First thing they want to do is usually stop at Walmart and pick up a lot of junk food, which I remind them they can't take back, and leaving it here........ they probably will not see it again, especially if it's something I like. :)

I got a kick out of dropping my kids off this year, you know your sponsor parent when you carry a lint roller in your car. There were so many sponsor parents using the lint roller over their uniforms as soon as they got out of the car. It was so funny.
They love to eat sleep and relax. I know I look forward to also.
 
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