I-Day information

Coffee_mom2026 said:
Lots of good advice on previous threads about this-
1. They need to bring their list items on I day and not extras (except underclothes). They don’t even need socks- those are issued. Remember that they have to carry everything around in their left hand for hours. Backpack with items is best. No extra clothes as they are not allowed to wear them and there is very little extra space in their rooms.

ONE EXCEPTION- have your cadet get an extra pair of boots and break them in. There is a general list of approved boots and guidelines. They will want to wear those on I day and put the fairly new (but broken in) running shoes in the backpack. Search threads for recommendations on which boots to look at. Also note that your cadet is probably eligible for military discounts from some retailers even before they report- particularly Nike and Oakley.
2. iPads, etc, would be for A day l, and you will get them more for over parent’s weekend. Remember that PW is about a month into school. The Academy will issue each cadet a computer which they will use A LOT. Mine still wanted his iPad, AirPods, sunglasses, etc on A day.
3. Vaccinations and wisdom teeth. They will get a list of ALL vaccinations they are required to have and they should show up with those done. Otherwise they are a pincushion in addition to everything else in that first day or two. Wisdom teeth- this is a more debatable topic. If they are likely needed out in the next couple of years then here is the balance- they get more care and comfort in recovery at home. If they get them out at the Academy it is a day procedure and they are sent back to the dorm - and I think it is locals, not general anesthesia. On the flip side, if cost is an issue then the military will take care of it if it is necessary. If they are impacted then both of those topics are serious considerations.

Ask questions- there are a lot of us only a year from where you are sitting. And I remember not necessarily trusting that my cadet was telling me everything. (He was, mostly.)
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Thank you so much! There’s so many places to look and find information. Definitely overwhelming 😊
 
Capt MJ said:
The document at link below will be updated for Class of 2027, but certain basic things will not change.


Wisdom teeth. If his current dental provider thinks they should come out, get it done sooner rather than later, so the recovery doesn’t fall too close to reporting and make him ineligible to report.

Vaccinations. Read the document. If he doesn’t have a document with proof with him on reporting in, he will get them. Nothing like sore arms for endless push-ups.

Stuff. Resist the urge to load him up with stuff you think he might need. Focus on the list. Everything else will be issued. Go browse back through USAFA I-Day threads that pop up every spring and look for common sense things, such as an extra few pairs of compression shorts.

Passport. If he doesn’t have one, get that started now. He’ll be ready to go when opportunities arise for foreign travel.
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Thank you! Great information! 😊
 
Stick to the list for I-Day except pack more undergarments than they suggest (no one wants to run out of underwear in Jack's Valley).

We brought our DS any extra stuff he needed for the academic year (his graphing calculator, his iPad, favorite pens, etc.) to Parent's Weekend. In fact, we had him pack a backpack before he left so we would know exactly what to bring. You can do that or bring it to A-Day if you attend. The mailroom gets pretty backed up at the beginning of the year with cadets ordering books and such so we did not want to send him any of that. He was fine without it for the first few weeks of school.
 
99Gold said:
Stick to the list for I-Day except pack more undergarments than they suggest (no one wants to run out of underwear in Jack's Valley).

We brought our DS any extra stuff he needed for the academic year (his graphing calculator, his iPad, favorite pens, etc.) to Parent's Weekend. In fact, we had him pack a backpack before he left so we would know exactly what to bring. You can do that or bring it to A-Day if you attend. The mailroom gets pretty backed up at the beginning of the year with cadets ordering books and such so we did not want to send him any of that. He was fine without it for the first few weeks of school.
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Thank you. I just said to my DS, let’s pack the extras before you leave for I-Day and then we know exactly what to bring parents weekend.
 
Enjoy this vintage article. It includes a photo of the forever-famous Box Boy.



www.cnet.com

Welcome to the Air Force Academy. You're doing everything wrong!

For the 1,376 basic cadets who reported for duty at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, the next four years will be about keeping impossibly high standards and refusing to give in to the temptation to give up. And trying to avoid getting screamed at.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
 
My DS wears glasses 👓 only when needed to see white board in class especially if sitting in the back or when extremely tired. Otherwise his eyesight is fine. Passes eye test without glasses. Should he still bring glasses to I-Day? He doesn’t need for daily wear. Looking at 26’ info and I’m not sure after reading.
 
Capt MJ said:
Enjoy this vintage article. It includes a photo of the forever-famous Box Boy.



www.cnet.com

Welcome to the Air Force Academy. You're doing everything wrong!

For the 1,376 basic cadets who reported for duty at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, the next four years will be about keeping impossibly high standards and refusing to give in to the temptation to give up. And trying to avoid getting screamed at.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
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Box Boy is hilarious, but one of my favorites is "Talk to me Goose"
 

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USAFApa said:
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! 😊
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Thank you, I have been searching facebook for a USAFA group. Request sent!
 
USAFApa said:
My DS wears glasses 👓 only when needed to see white board in class especially if sitting in the back or when extremely tired. Otherwise his eyesight is fine. Passes eye test without glasses. Should he still bring glasses to I-Day? He doesn’t need for daily wear. Looking at 26’ info and I’m not sure after reading.
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Yes, bring the glasses. Depending on, the basics will be issued a new pair on I-Day, but "extremely tired" would be a good description of how basics feel.
 
Capt MJ said:
The document at link below will be updated for Class of 2027, but certain basic things will not change.


Wisdom teeth. If his current dental provider thinks they should come out, get it done sooner rather than later, so the recovery doesn’t fall too close to reporting and make him ineligible to report.

Vaccinations. Read the document. If he doesn’t have a document with proof with him on reporting in, he will get them. Nothing like sore arms for endless push-ups.

Stuff. Resist the urge to load him up with stuff you think he might need. Focus on the list. Everything else will be issued. Go browse back through USAFA I-Day threads that pop up every spring and look for common sense things, such as an extra few pairs of compression shorts.

Passport. If he doesn’t have one, get that started now. He’ll be ready to go when opportunities arise for foreign travel.
Click to expand...
Since my son has already received and accepted his appointment to USAFA, does he still need to update on DodMERB that he had this done. We have him scheduled to get them out on 3/7 and he is hesitant because he doesn't want to be disqualified for having the "surgery" without permission. We can't find anything concrete in writing from the academy to say that this is ok to do. Any help would be great since we only have a few days before his appointment.
 
My DD has her appointment and has accepted. She is getting her wisdom teeth out next week and I simply sent DodMerb a copy of what she's having done and informed them of the date. Doesn't seem to be a problem at all and it is preferred that they get wisdom teeth out before reporting.
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Since my son has already received and accepted his appointment to USAFA, does he still need to update on DodMERB that he had this done. We have him scheduled to get them out on 3/7 and he is hesitant because he doesn't want to be disqualified for having the "surgery" without permission. We can't find anything concrete in writing from the academy to say that this is ok to do. Any help would be great since we only have a few days before his appointment.
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See page 20 in last year’s appointee handbook,

This guidance does not change - appointees are clearly directed to report any changes to their medical history, injury/illness/surgery/procedures, to DoDMERB. He will either be cleared to enter or not. It’s for his own protection. If not, he will work with Admissions for a plan for the next class year.

In this case, it’s early March, and I would think all will be well.
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Since my son has already received and accepted his appointment to USAFA, does he still need to update on DodMERB that he had this done. We have him scheduled to get them out on 3/7 and he is hesitant because he doesn't want to be disqualified for having the "surgery" without permission. We can't find anything concrete in writing from the academy to say that this is ok to do. Any help would be great since we only have a few days before his appointment.
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There is an email address on the DoDMERB website. Your son just needs to send them the details.
 
Crazyboyz2027 said:
Since my son has already received and accepted his appointment to USAFA, does he still need to update on DodMERB that he had this done. We have him scheduled to get them out on 3/7 and he is hesitant because he doesn't want to be disqualified for having the "surgery" without permission. We can't find anything concrete in writing from the academy to say that this is ok to do. Any help would be great since we only have a few days before his appointment.
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Also read pg. 24 of the document Capt MJ linked. Notify DODMERB of the surgery but unless there is a complication that renders him unfit to start BCT, he will be fine. My ds had his out spring before BCT and it was not a problem at all. We just wanted to do it early enough that if he did have an infection or dry socket that it had plenty of time to heal. You would have to notify DODMERB if any complications like that happen after surgery...still would not mean a dq if healed prior to BCT. I think March 7 is plenty of time (before the 8 week point mentioned in pg. 24) before BCT.

Now, if they were up in the sinus cavity or the surgeon thinks there could be complications with the nerve, we might not have done it before BCT unless it was emergent. Ds's x-rays showed a run-of-the-mill extraction. Surgery/recovery went so well he only missed lacrosse for 1 week. He got to recover at home instead of a USAFA dormroom and disn't have to miss essential USAFA classes.
 
Out daughter is Class of 2026 at USAFA so we just went through I-Day last June.
My wife and I both traveled with her out to Colorado Springs a few days early to explore the area and help her get acclimated to the altitude.
On I-Day, her drop-off time was early, around 7:30 am and the drop-off was at the Holaday Athletic Center. Say your goodbyes before you get there because when we drove up to the drop-off point they wanted her out of the car and us moving on pretty quickly. Maybe 30 seconds.
There were a bunch of people cheering and high-fiving the cadets as they walked up the stairs, but the whole mood changes as soon as the go through the doors.
Last year the cadets were generally allowed 2 phone calls during BCT. They get 1 call the first night - I-Day evening.
They get another call about half-way through BCT on Doolie Day Out.
They get their phone back once they get back from Jack's Valley and BCT completes.
Some squadrons may get an extra call or two - it depends on the leadership.
My daughter had some separation anxiety so the first week was dicey. She really wanted to quit.
After that first week she had a complete turn around and loves it there.
Good luck.
 
There are two overlooks as you drive up the hill from North Gate that provide a nice vantage point to view the academy from the north side. We made sure to get through North Gate early (anticipating a delay that didn't materialize), so we had some extra time before the scheduled drop off time. (FYI, there is extensive construction of a new hotel and visitor center going on at North Gate so it backs up a bit more these days). We pulled into the overlook to relax for a bit and say goodbye there. Final pictures and hugs. Once we pulled up the Athletic Center, our DD hoped out and the marshals hurried us along...whole event was less than 30 seconds. So, yes, give your hugs and kisses before you pull up to the final drop.

Pro Tip: Swing by Arnold Hall a bit later in the morning (after the Colorado Club picnic). There is visitor parking there. You can walk up to the area that overlooks the Tzo (next to Polaris Hall and the Chapel) and watch the Basics hustling up the ramp from the footprints. They a far across the Tzo, but you'll hear the "encouragement" of the cadre and see all the lines of Basics moving from station to station. Binoculars recommended for this and the swearing in parade.
 
Forgive me, as I've been stuck in the USMA threads for awhile. DS received appointment to West Point early on this cycle. And Just yesterday, certificate of appointment to USAFA from one of our Senators in TX.
He hasn't completely decided yet, but is leaning towards USAFA.
I would be grateful if someone could please give us the actual DATE of I-day for c/o 2027? So that we can make appropriate reservations.
Thanks!
 
Jetbill said:
Forgive me, as I've been stuck in the USMA threads for awhile. DS received appointment to West Point early on this cycle. And Just yesterday, certificate of appointment to USAFA from one of our Senators in TX.
He hasn't completely decided yet, but is leaning towards USAFA.
I would be grateful if someone could please give us the actual DATE of I-day for c/o 2027? So that we can make appropriate reservations.
Thanks!
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Wednesday June 28,2023.

Good luck on his decision and congratulations on his appointments.
 
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