I-Day information

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Crazyboyz2027

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Jan 18, 2023
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Hello! My son just accepted his appointment to USAFA class of 2027 and since we aren't a military family, we have lots of questions. We live in Michigan, and we are wondering when he should arrive for I-Day this year (some threads recommended a couple days early to get use to the altitude). Also, should both my husband and I go? I can't really find information about the amount of contact that we would have with with our son after we drop him off for I-Day (if any at all). Any information or advise about this would be appreciated. Thank you!
 
I would recommend you both go if you can. No contact after drop off. The following day there is a ceremony where the class marches onto stillman field and takes an oath. If you have eagle eyes you may be able to see him them. After drop off they have a lot of events for the parents and family going. very informative. I wouldn’t miss it. As we get closer to that day there will be a lot of information posted about it all.

Below find links to last years I Day schedule and the 2026 Appointee handbook.
I expect this years will be very similar.

Congratulations !!


 
There are lots of threads on this - but there are a few factors to consider here. I post this as the child of two non-military parents who were even initially very against my attending USAFA.

1. Does your DS want you to come out with him? I actually told my parents I'd prefer they didn't come with me for I-day. I needed the extra time to be past my goodbyes before starting the stress of I-day, so we said goodbye in the Portland airport and I went to USAFA on my own. Yes there were elements of traveling alone that were a tad stressful, but it was totally worth it. I couldn't have handled a tearful goodbye followed immediately by all the I-day stress. On the topic of altitude- no short number of days will really help that much, it's going to be a miserable change no matter what.

2. Expense - can you travel for I-day? A-Day (acceptance day, right after basic, you'll only have a couple hours with your cadet so many parents don't come for this)? Parent's weekend? If you can afford to travel for all of them, great! If not, prioritize parent's weekend for both of you as its common for parents to be absent on I day and A-day, but parent's weekend would be tough if you couldn't make it.
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Hello! My son just accepted his appointment to USAFA class of 2027 and since we aren't a military family, we have lots of questions. We live in Michigan, and we are wondering when he should arrive for I-Day this year (some threads recommended a couple days early to get use to the altitude). Also, should both my husband and I go? I can't really find information about the amount of contact that we would have with with our son after we drop him off for I-Day (if any at all). Any information or advise about this would be appreciated. Thank you!
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We are in the same boat with my son. We’re from PA and very new to all this excitement. I found a private parents FB page today. USAFA Class of 2027 Parents Group, make sure to choose the private group. You’ll need to email the acceptance letter first and answer questions. Good luck to your son! 😊
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Hello! My son just accepted his appointment to USAFA class of 2027 and since we aren't a military family, we have lots of questions. We live in Michigan, and we are wondering when he should arrive for I-Day this year (some threads recommended a couple days early to get use to the altitude). Also, should both my husband and I go? I can't really find information about the amount of contact that we would have with with our son after we drop him off for I-Day (if any at all). Any information or advise about this would be appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
We showed up a couple of days ahead of time and I thought that worked out fine. You can spend some time exploring Colorado Springs. I would suggest both parents go for sure. I was advised to arrange to keep the siblings at home (if you have additional children). I thought it was amazing advice. Drop-off is INCREDIBLY emotional. We felt torn between immense pride and profound sadness and I think it was a good idea not to subject the younger siblings to that.

If you don't know already...your Basic Cadet relinquishes their phone on the first day and will only get it back 2-3 times over the next 6 weeks! That is very difficult to get your head around. As soon as you drop your child off you have no contact and won't get a phone call until Doolie Day Out, which I believe is about two and a half weeks later.

The next opportunity you will get to hug your child will be at Acceptance Day (A-Day) which was in early August. I got mixed advice on this. Some people told me to save my money and not go. Other people said I should definitely go to see her get her shoulder boards "pinned" on (the button them on) as they transform from Basic Cadets into Cadets. If you are on a tight budget you may not want to go as you can only spend 2-3 hours with your Cadet eating and hanging out after the ceremony. If you can swing it financially, I would go. It made me feel so much better and my DD really enjoyed seeing me (my wife did not make the trip).

Parents' weekend is about 4 weeks following A-Day and we all went out (including the siblings) and it was awesome. You should start looking for an Airbnb or hotel room now because they are going to fill up quickly. We made the mistake of waiting and it was very expensive as all of the reasonably priced places were rented.

Congratulations on your son's appointment! It is such an exciting time. Feel free to reach out to me via private message if you have any questions you would prefer not to be broadcast.
 
I'm sure this thread will generate lots of great advice. Feel free to PM me with any questions. DD is a '26er.

We arrived a few days early, but tried to keep the activity level light and focused on R&R, hydration and staying calm. There was plenty to do pre/post drop off for the parents and it's an "experience" to say the least, so go if you are able. We also went to the swearing-in parade the next day and it was worth it (although it was raining and the basics were in ponchos so zero chance of identifying your cadet).

WebGuy is a must (it will become your daily summer activity). A-Day (basically their graduation parade and picnic) was worth it. Parents weekend was great, too. Looking back we did spend a lot on travel last summer, but I wouldn't trade it.

The FB pages will heat up with advice as more of the class is appointed. At least you are on the positive side of the waiting game. Congrats.
 
Two words. Web Guy. It's like a deranged Where's Waldo. There will be thousands of pictures on Web Guy every day (you do have to pay for it, but it's worth it). You'll spend WAY more hours than one should looking for the back of an ear that you recognize. You'll see:). You'll also want to join the FB USAFA Class of 2027 page.

As far as I-day, it's like car line in middle school, you'll come to a stop, they jump out, and that is that. There will be a burger burn at Arnold Hall after where you can write your first letter and commensurate with other parents. Apparently waterproof mascara is a requirement. BCT summer goes by quickly.

As far as arrival, a couple days early is great. On Wednesday there will be hundreds of cadets and their families roaming around Garden of the Gods. It's a good way for them to start bonding. Highly recommend.
 
USAFA10s said:
There are lots of threads on this - but there are a few factors to consider here. I post this as the child of two non-military parents who were even initially very against my attending USAFA.

1. Does your DS want you to come out with him? I actually told my parents I'd prefer they didn't come with me for I-day. I needed the extra time to be past my goodbyes before starting the stress of I-day, so we said goodbye in the Portland airport and I went to USAFA on my own. Yes there were elements of traveling alone that were a tad stressful, but it was totally worth it. I couldn't have handled a tearful goodbye followed immediately by all the I-day stress. On the topic of altitude- no short number of days will really help that much, it's going to be a miserable change no matter what.

2. Expense - can you travel for I-day? A-Day (acceptance day, right after basic, you'll only have a couple hours with your cadet so many parents don't come for this)? Parent's weekend? If you can afford to travel for all of them, great! If not, prioritize parent's weekend for both of you as its common for parents to be absent on I day and A-day, but parent's weekend would be tough if you couldn't make it.
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Thank you so much! This is really helpful information and I will have to talk to him about this.
 
Cider42 said:
I'm sure this thread will generate lots of great advice. Feel free to PM me with any questions. DD is a '26er.

We arrived a few days early, but tried to keep the activity level light and focused on R&R, hydration and staying calm. There was plenty to do pre/post drop off for the parents and it's an "experience" to say the least, so go if you are able. We also went to the swearing-in parade the next day and it was worth it (although it was raining and the basics were in ponchos so zero chance of identifying your cadet).

WebGuy is a must (it will become your daily summer activity). A-Day (basically their graduation parade and picnic) was worth it. Parents weekend was great, too. Looking back we did spend a lot on travel last summer, but I wouldn't trade it.

The FB pages will heat up with advice as more of the class is appointed. At least you are on the positive side of the waiting game. Congrats.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much! All of your advice is very helpful!
 
DomerDad said:
We showed up a couple of days ahead of time and I thought that worked out fine. You can spend some time exploring Colorado Springs. I would suggest both parents go for sure. I was advised to arrange to keep the siblings at home (if you have additional children). I thought it was amazing advice. Drop-off is INCREDIBLY emotional. We felt torn between immense pride and profound sadness and I think it was a good idea not to subject the younger siblings to that.

If you don't know already...your Basic Cadet relinquishes their phone on the first day and will only get it back 2-3 times over the next 6 weeks! That is very difficult to get your head around. As soon as you drop your child off you have no contact and won't get a phone call until Doolie Day Out, which I believe is about two and a half weeks later.

The next opportunity you will get to hug your child will be at Acceptance Day (A-Day) which was in early August. I got mixed advice on this. Some people told me to save my money and not go. Other people said I should definitely go to see her get her shoulder boards "pinned" on (the button them on) as they transform from Basic Cadets into Cadets. If you are on a tight budget you may not want to go as you can only spend 2-3 hours with your Cadet eating and hanging out after the ceremony. If you can swing it financially, I would go. It made me feel so much better and my DD really enjoyed seeing me (my wife did not make the trip).

Parents' weekend is about 4 weeks following A-Day and we all went out (including the siblings) and it was awesome. You should start looking for an Airbnb or hotel room now because they are going to fill up quickly. We made the mistake of waiting and it was very expensive as all of the reasonably priced places were rented.

Congratulations on your son's appointment! It is such an exciting time. Feel free to reach out to me via private message if you have any questions you would prefer not to be broadcast.
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Thank you so much for all of the information and advice! Much appreciated 😊
 
Congratulations on the appointment and get ready for a wild ride!! I echo joining the 27’er Facebook group and webguy. The main parents page is nice bur there can be some snooty older/done that parents that won’t empathize with the craziness of the Doolie year. There are also some amazing admins that will help guide you through the process.

One tidbit that I have prior to IDay is take a 360 photo of your son so that when you are pouring through thousands of webguy photos of bald headed kids you’ll know whether or not yours has a freckle next to their ear or not. There are lots of stories every year of parents creating photo albums from basic of kids that aren’t their own.😂
 
CrabbittMom said:
Congratulations on the appointment and get ready for a wild ride!! I echo joining the 27’er Facebook group and webguy. The main parents page is nice bur there can be some snooty older/done that parents that won’t empathize with the craziness of the Doolie year. There are also some amazing admins that will help guide you through the process.

One tidbit that I have prior to IDay is take a 360 photo of your son so that when you are pouring through thousands of webguy photos of bald headed kids you’ll know whether or not yours has a freckle next to their ear or not. There are lots of stories every year of parents creating photo albums from basic of kids that aren’t their own.😂
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That’s hilarious! Thank you for the advice!
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Hello! My son just accepted his appointment to USAFA class of 2027 and since we aren't a military family, we have lots of questions. We live in Michigan, and we are wondering when he should arrive for I-Day this year (some threads recommended a couple days early to get use to the altitude). Also, should both my husband and I go? I can't really find information about the amount of contact that we would have with with our son after we drop him off for I-Day (if any at all). Any information or advise about this would be appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
I wish I had asked this last year! My wife stayed home and I still regret that. Go as a family! There is more to do than I thought there would be. As everyone will say, it is emotional for sure but the pride overrides the despair. :) I am happy to answer any of the 100 questions you are going to have between now and May while it is all still fresh for me. Congratulations to you all!
 
I echo talking with your son about his preferences for I-day. I was emotional, and it is about the only time I have ever seen my husband cry, but my ‘26er hopped out of the car as if he couldn’t get away from us fast enough. I think, though, he was glad we were both there (and his little sister). We went out about 5 days early and made a family vacation out of it. I know he appreciated the chance to exercise at altitude since we are basically sea level. There is a lot to see and do around the Springs. There will likely be a “social” put on by the AOG a day or two before I-day and there are also some socials by some of the religious groups if your son is interested. It is a great way to connect with some cadets before they actually report. There will also, inevitably, be a social media account or two for just the cadets. After you drop your cadet off, other than going over to Arnold Hall and watching over the wall, you won’t have any access. There is also usually the first formation/parade the next day where they are ALL dressed alike and in identical hats. Again, you will not actually get to talk to them.

If you can go to I-day and A-day and Parent’s weekend, then by all means! Otherwise, prioritize. You will want to be at Parent’s weekend, and your son will want you there as it is the first real overnight pass. A-day is the most expensive 2 hour date you will likely have with your child. 😆

If you have not already done so, seriously consider joining your State parent club. They will be a great local resource for questions. As for AOG- just go ahead and join. You get WebGuy access (which goes beyond BCT summer) as well as Zoomie delivery service. Both are excellent.

And- ask questions. There will always be someone who can help or provide insight.

Welcome to the USAFA family!
 
"One tidbit that I have prior to IDay is take a 360 photo of your son so that when you are pouring through thousands of webguy photos of bald headed kids you’ll know whether or not yours has a freckle next to their ear or not. There are lots of stories every year of parents creating photo albums from basic of kids that aren’t their own.😂" True Story!
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Hello! My son just accepted his appointment to USAFA class of 2027 and since we aren't a military family, we have lots of questions. We live in Michigan, and we are wondering when he should arrive for I-Day this year (some threads recommended a couple days early to get use to the altitude). Also, should both my husband and I go? I can't really find information about the amount of contact that we would have with with our son after we drop him off for I-Day (if any at all). Any information or advise about this would be appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
GO!! As a mom of a USAFA graduate and a current sponsor mom, I would recommend (if you are financially able) that you ATTEND EVERY SINGLE EVENT available to parents during your kiddo's 4 years at USFA. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the fun times & memories of I-Day, Acceptance Day, Parents Weekends each year or Graduation Week!
 
Coffee_mom2026 said:
I echo talking with your son about his preferences for I-day. I was emotional, and it is about the only time I have ever seen my husband cry, but my ‘26er hopped out of the car as if he couldn’t get away from us fast enough. I think, though, he was glad we were both there (and his little sister). We went out about 5 days early and made a family vacation out of it. I know he appreciated the chance to exercise at altitude since we are basically sea level. There is a lot to see and do around the Springs. There will likely be a “social” put on by the AOG a day or two before I-day and there are also some socials by some of the religious groups if your son is interested. It is a great way to connect with some cadets before they actually report. There will also, inevitably, be a social media account or two for just the cadets. After you drop your cadet off, other than going over to Arnold Hall and watching over the wall, you won’t have any access. There is also usually the first formation/parade the next day where they are ALL dressed alike and in identical hats. Again, you will not actually get to talk to them.

If you can go to I-day and A-day and Parent’s weekend, then by all means! Otherwise, prioritize. You will want to be at Parent’s weekend, and your son will want you there as it is the first real overnight pass. A-day is the most expensive 2 hour date you will likely have with your child. 😆

If you have not already done so, seriously consider joining your State parent club. They will be a great local resource for questions. As for AOG- just go ahead and join. You get WebGuy access (which goes beyond BCT summer) as well as Zoomie delivery service. Both are excellent.

And- ask questions. There will always be someone who can help or provide insight.

Welcome to the USAFA family!
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Remind me what AOG is again?
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Isn’t this just for graduates/alumni of USAFA?
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This is the group that operates Webguy. Think of Webguy as an embedded paparazzi team documenting all of the key events on campus. They take thousands of photos of Basic Cadets as they go through Basic Cadet Training. You will spend WAY too much time pouring through all of the pictures trying to catch a glimpse of your Basic Cadet. They also cover lots of other events after BCT is done and the school year begins. Webguy is worth every penny. You don't have to be a graduate to join.
 
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