Freshman here AMA

How hard was it to transfer from civilian life to a service academy? Also, what kind of stuff do you like to do on your free time at USAFA?
 
Do most cadets get their haircut to standard on their own before I-Day or do they wait and have it done at arrival?
 
Are you allowed to bring skis, and if so where do you keep them? Thank you!
 
Ummmmm…not when you are first reporting in for summer training. You would immediately become infamous - “that person,” or the next “box boy.”



Someone here will be able to advise knowledgeably on when and where.
 
Ummmmm…not when you are first reporting in for summer training. You would immediately become infamous - “that person,” or the next “box boy.”



Someone here will be able to advise knowledgeably on when and where.
Yes of course not for BCT, but there is a nordic team so I was thinking more toward winter sports season.
 
Are you allowed to bring skis, and if so where do you keep them? Thank you!

Yes, you can have skis. No, do not bring them to BCT. Cadets are typically allowed to have a few large personal items in their room (at least under pretty recent cadet guidance) which could include things like a pair of skis or a guitar. There are cadet storage lockers but they’re typically for sophomores and up and they might might not be an appropriate size for something like skis. I also seem to remember that the Nordic ski team had their own storage room for the team’s gear.

Info is a few years out-of-date. Perhaps a current cadet can chime in.
 
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My DS has skis at the academy, but he's a sophomore. He also has an EPIC ski pass, which is VERY affordable for cadets. He really didn't get a chance to ski until after recognition his doolie year, in March. Now, that could be due to covid. Last year was a strange one, but he didn't even get a ski pass. The first ski resorts don't open until mid-November, so ski season doesn't really get going until Christmas. My advice is to find out how much free time to ski doolie year you may have while experiencing your first semester. If you then think you might be able to get away some weekends to ski, bring your skis when you come back after Christmas.
 
My DS has skis at the academy, but he's a sophomore. He also has an EPIC ski pass, which is VERY affordable for cadets. He really didn't get a chance to ski until after recognition his doolie year, in March. Now, that could be due to covid. Last year was a strange one, but he didn't even get a ski pass. The first ski resorts don't open until mid-November, so ski season doesn't really get going until Christmas. My advice is to find out how much free time to ski doolie year you may have while experiencing your first semester. If you then think you might be able to get away some weekends to ski, bring your skis when you come back after Christmas.
Thank you! I am thinking specifically about the nordic ski team, which he would be joining. Presumably that's allowed for Doolies? I might ask him to reach out to the nordic coach for more info.
 
Yes, you can have skis. No, do not bring them to BCT. Cadets are typically allowed to have a few large personal items in their room (at least under pretty recent cadet guidance) which could include things like a pair of skis or a guitar. There are cadet storage lockers but they’re typically for sophomores and up and they might might not be an appropriate size for something like skis. I also seem to remember that the Nordic ski team had their own storage room for the team’s gear.

Info is a few years out-of-date. Perhaps a current cadet can chime in.
Thank you! That would be ideal if the nordic team had storage. He will definitely ski for them if it's allowed for Doolies.
 
Some do. Personally, I would wait. The haircut is part of the I-day experience in my opinion.
Our son, his dad, and his younger brother all went to the BX and had their heads shaved the day before I Day. On I Day, our cadet got his head shaved again, regardless of it having just been done. Save the money, wait for I Day.
 
How hard was it to transfer from civilian life to a service academy? Also, what kind of stuff do you like to do on your free time at USAFA?
It wasn’t hard for me. Some of my classmates found it hard to accept the differences of being a civilian, most notably the fact that everything you do represents the Air Force.

I try to get off base to get food here and there. There is a Top Golf close as well that we go to occasionally. Plenty to do if you look around the Springs!
 
What aspect of yourself were you least confident in while applying? (i.e., academics, athletics, ECs, etc.)
For me it was ECs. I didn’t have a super diversified resume but being a reapplicant from AFROTC probably helped. Just remember it’s a holistic view, not just one thing they look at!
 
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