Good Luck 26

USAFA_86

USAFA_86

USAFA class of 2025
Joined
Dec 17, 2019
Messages
276
This time last year I was absolutely terrified and so anxious that I thought I would puke. I-day was horrible for me and I thought I might have made a mistake. However, as soon as I got to know the people in my flight and started having some fun, things got much better. Push through I-day and take basic one meal at a time. It will not be easy, but I guarantee you that it is possible and definitely worth it. The entire cadet wing is very excited to meet all of you, although it won't seem like that for the next month. If you have any last-minute burning questions, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, get off of the forums and spend time with your family. You will miss them a lot more than you think you will.
 
Been a while since I've posted in the USAFA thread but also wanted to wish y'all good luck! Obviously, I had to choose the better SA :laugh: but I really hope y'all do well and maybe I'll get to meet some of y'all one day. Best of luck again and Go Navy! :rockon:
 
The standard advice: One minute at a time...make it to breakfast....then make it to lunch...then make it to dinner....make it to bed....day is over....start and repeat process every day and SOON it will be fall semester....then before you know it it's 2026 and you are graduating. You WILL look back and appreciate ALL that you accomplish. Guaranteed. Remember: One minute at a time....you CAN do this!!!!
 
DestroyerOfCommies said:
What happens on the day after I-Day?
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It's your first full day. On I-Day, everything is fairly calm until the buses, and even after that, there is so much going on that you don't have all eyes on you at all times.

On your first full day, it's a very early Reveille, and non-stop until the end of the day. It's the day that'll most make you contemplate leaving... But don't listen to that pessimistic voice. Push through!
 
*Just going to tag on my advice to this lovely thread*

There will be days when nothing seems like it’s going right and it happens at different times for everyone. Day 12 was the worst for me and my friends still shudders at the thought of day 4.
Just keep going and support each other.
One day early on I cried after taps after reading a letter from my sister and my roommate’s talk with me meant more to me than I can express.
Basic is a foundational experience and I can’t wait to see everyone on the other side.
 
USAFA_86 said:
This time last year I was absolutely terrified and so anxious that I thought I would puke. I-day was horrible for me and I thought I might have made a mistake. However, as soon as I got to know the people in my flight and started having some fun, things got much better. Push through I-day and take basic one meal at a time. It will not be easy, but I guarantee you that it is possible and definitely worth it. The entire cadet wing is very excited to meet all of you, although it won't seem like that for the next month. If you have any last-minute burning questions, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, get off of the forums and spend time with your family. You will miss them a lot more than you think you will.
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Thank you Sir, wilco.
 
BCT is tough. For many, it will be the toughest thing they have done in their lives to this point. The homesickness, stress, and physical and mental fatigue, are all real and each person deals with them differently. Talk with your flight mates, you are all going through this together. Lift each other up, encourage each other, tackle this as a team and all of you will get through just fine.

One day at a time, and if the day is really tough, one meal at a time. Almost 60,000 others have gone before you and made it through. You can too.

The last piece of advice - keep your sense of humor - and laugh (when the cadre isn't looking). You will see and experience lots of "interesting" things over the next few weeks and some will be funny as he**.

Good Luck 26'! Your journey is about to begin
 
USAFA_86 said:
This time last year I was absolutely terrified and so anxious that I thought I would puke. I-day was horrible for me and I thought I might have made a mistake. However, as soon as I got to know the people in my flight and started having some fun, things got much better. Push through I-day and take basic one meal at a time. It will not be easy, but I guarantee you that it is possible and definitely worth it. The entire cadet wing is very excited to meet all of you, although it won't seem like that for the next month. If you have any last-minute burning questions, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, get off of the forums and spend time with your family. You will miss them a lot more than you think you will.
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This sums up how my son was feeling so perfectly that he could have written it! Part of me was afraid that we might pull up at the drop off point and that he would panic and just not get out of the car. But he did it- he got out and walked up those stairs and never looked back. He said that everyone had at least one breakdown moment during BCT where they thought about quitting. I agree with another post that the day after I-Day is more intense because it's a full day and starts with an early wake up call. Try to remember that everything is for a reason and a purpose, even if it seems absurd at the moment.

He ended up having a fantastic year and I cannot express how happy he is with USAFA and this journey. Best of luck to the incoming basics!!
 
Wishing 26ers the very best of luck!! You will be embarking on a life changing experience and I know you will look back on it with a strong sense of accomplishment.

Parents, I hope you are prepared to spend the next month glued to Webguy looking through thousands of pictures of your DS DD. In time you will get very familiar with all of the cadets surrounding yours and it will seem as of you know them personally. Aaah the memories….
 
Two words: Never quit.

That's what got me through PI. I also constantly reminded myself that no matter how bad it was, it can't last forever. You will reach your destination and the road march will end. The pushups will stop. The day could be the worst day of your life, but the sun WILL go down and it will be time to hit the rack. Pain is temporary, pride is forever!
 
There is a lot of good advice in this thread. Each Basic will have their own experience so don't try to pattern yours after that of someone else. And the low, negative moments will hit each person on their own schedule.

One piece of advice I'd like to echo is to take BCT in small chunks, minute to minute, hour to hour, meal to meal, whatever time marker works for you. It will be over before you know it. This technique worked for my DS and DD (Class of 2020, 2025). DS and DD also shared that most of I-Day was a blur to them, and for what it's worth they don't remember much.

I will also add, and this is for the parents, be prepared for a call on the evening of I-Day. We didn't receive a call from DS (2020) but did receive one from DD (2025) and I will be brutally honest that it was an ugly call. I don't know why they allowed the call last year and not sure if they'll do it again this year but I wanted to give a heads-up that it may happen. The point of me sharing this is to advise parents to support and encourage your DD/DS and not dive into their misery with them, even thought your first instinct may be to join in their chorus. As someone mentioned before, this is likely the hardest thing a high percentage of the Basics have ever experienced and their flight response will be very high. Support and encourage, and get used to doing so, as this will happen throughout their time at the Academy. It's not an easy path but the rewards are great. Your DD/DS will get through.

Hope these words are helpful.

Best wishes to the Class of '26. You've got this!
 
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