Fun at USAFA

[jb2023]

Going to a service academy and a military school, it is not a typical colllege. There are obviously lots of rules, restrictions, a high workload, lots of training etc. However, this is more geared towards current cadets, what are all the fun things cadets get to do while they are there?

 

[Theredbaron]

Depends on your definition of fun...lol.

Don't expect too much "fun" until after Recognition. There are sporting events on campus throughout the year, but my Doolie did not attend, except for mandatory football games, because it's "not worth it" to travel across campus unrecognized. He spent most of his time in class, library, and his room.

My Doolie hiked up Eagle's peak about 3 times before it got snowy/icy.

He also spends most weekends at his sponsor's house to relax, attend church, eat somewhere other than Mitch's. He went on 3 retreats, one of which included snow skiing. Upperclassmen with vehicles ski more regularly.

There are sand volleyball courts, cadet gym, and he went bowling once I think.

Now that he's recognized, he's planning to see a Rockies baseball game and will venture off base into the Springs more.

 

[Renegado]

My DS said, “Contrails. Definitely Contrails.”

 

[99Gold]

Depends on your definition of fun...lol.

Don't expect too much "fun" until after Recognition. There are sporting events on campus throughout the year, but my Doolie did not attend, except for mandatory football games, because it's "not worth it" to travel across campus unrecognized. He spent most of his time in class, library, and his room.

My Doolie hiked up Eagle's peak about 3 times before it got snowy/icy.

He also spends most weekends at his sponsor's house to relax, attend church, eat somewhere other than Mitch's. He went on 3 retreats, one of which included snow skiing. Upperclassmen with vehicles ski more regularly.

There are sand volleyball courts, cadet gym, and he went bowling once I think.

Now that he's recognized, he's planning to see a Rockies baseball game and will venture off base into the Springs more.

This is similar to my ds (and my time at USAFA). I'm hoping he'll go to more games and hit the gym more often now that he is recognized. His sponsor family is great so he'll still head over there for a lot of 3 day weekends. He did go skiing a few times but he is so excited for next year on the slopes. He bought his Epic Pass for $160 and will ski "as much as humanly possible" next year which means any weekend he has a pass and a car.

They do have fun in the squadron too. The doolies were allowed to watch movies or play video games in the SAR and they seem to go out to dinner most Thursdays. Buffalo Wild Wings has a deal so they are all in for that. They try to go bowling on base once a month, etc. That is all squadron dependent, though. Seems like everytime I call, there is a hall brawl going on.

 

[shiner]

Although USAFA is a small school by typical college definitions, there are so many things to get involved in. Clubs, flying, skydiving, athletics, fitness, music, outdoors, golf, religious groups - the list gets big when you break it down.

"Fun" can be defined in many ways - typical college kid, the heavily restricted/sheltered kid, the rebel, universal, service academy kid, etc.

It is safe to say students will generally find "fun" in each category -
Division 1 college football games when you have a competitive team is FUN
Spirit Missions can be FUN
Breaking that small rule to be the rebel and push back can be FUN
Playing in the snow is FUN
Doing that one thing that no one back home would imagine like taking a ride in a cargo plane or helicopter, or jumping out of one -- a totally normal SA day but WILD to anyone outside of the environment.

 

[justsomecadet]

Don't expect too much "fun" until after Recognition

You can have some of the most fun of your life prior to recognition, especially before parents weekend when you're still fully restricted. Get up to shenanigans, especially as a freshman. Hall brawl upperclassmen. Put on movie nights with your friends. When you're not restricted, get an airbnb. Go camping. Sign up for a club that travels. Push each other on rolling chairs down the halls until you get yelled at. Run through the air gardens at midnight. Explore the tunnels. Climb the HAC.
Fun is what you make it. I haven't been restricted in more than a year, and some of my most fun nights are playing board games or video games in someone's room. If you choose to be miserable because you have to get up early and you can't wear civvies, you're choosing to miss out on opportunities for fun all around you.

 

[T-37IP]

I know a cadet who may or may not have an inflatable hot tub in their room, skis all the time, gym, Denver, significant other, etc and still has a 3 plus gpa in engineering. Appears to have more fun than I had in a civilian engineering school many, many years ago. It is what YOU choose to make of it.

 

[Peter2025]

It is what YOU choose to make of it.

+1. You have a limited amount of time. If YOU choose to be efficient and not procrastinate, you can very well have fun. For a data point, the 24er who is #1 academically in their class plays golf regularly during the week and goes to bed at 10pm every night. How? He studies diligently when he studies, and relaxes diligently when he relaxes.

 

[Ranchinmom]

They have fun. Of course Doolie year is pretty restricted. They take the moving carts and wind surf the terrazzo late at night on windy nights. They play pranks and move the Superintends office furniture to the top of eagles peak with a telescope in his office aimed there. They’ve done slip n slide in the squad hallways. They get to go hang at sponsors homes and now always just theirs but friends sponsors. As they get older there is Haps to go have a drink with cadets. They go to their favorite restaurants with friends. Hiking, clubs, horseback riding at the stables, concerts… all the normal stuff. I don’t think my C2C has been lacking in college fun. He even let me know when he went to his first frat party at Colorado State where he has friends who attend.

 

[RunningGirl]

Just finished Doolie Year. Even before recognition there were plenty of moments that reinforced my decision to come to USAFA and allowed me to have "fun." Your experience at the academy will be what you make of it. Free time is hard to come by during the academic year, but there are plenty of opportunities to participate in squad activities, personal interests, and off-base adventures with friends.