I Day is hours away...it’s mighty quiet out there!

Best wishes to all!
I have to say, the flag looks really cool with 48 stars...
 
I am going out on a limb and state, the screaming will be much less impressive this year, with all the masks and what not:)
 
@Candidate_Dad If it's still on, stop by the Colorado Parent's Club BBQ after you drop her off!
There's a letter writing station, good food & lots of AFA grads (from back in the day) to commiserate with.
 
I have a different take on today...

June 25, 1979...1,516 crazy kids arrived at USAFA and began the transition from "high school grad" to AF Cadet. Back then the fourth class training system was rooted in what is known as "negative motivation." In essence, it was designed to "weed out" those that...to use a movie phrase "couldn't hack it." It was universally hated.

Thankfully that system went away over the next four years and it has evolved into the extremely challenging but motivating process that it is today.

One 1 June 1983, 956 members of that group walked across the stage in Falcon Stadium.

What did they accomplish? Two Navy Seals (both admirals), one AF Chief of Staff, more than 20 flag officers, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, several CEO's, university presidents, corporate officials, FAA Deputy Director, and on and on...in other words, a "fairly typical" academy class from any of the academies.

The difference?

They're my classmates.

The class of 2024 begins today...and if they're "typical" then we can expect great things from all of them!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Class of 2024 - best of outcomes to you all!

Heart felt THANK-YOU to this forum and its contributors for your collective assist toward DGS’s inclusion in I-Day today.

As far as I can discern; you offer the precious treasures of time and instruction in a thoroughly egalitarian framework.

And that, dear friends, is a present tense operating example of the American ideal.

May your tribe increase!
 
After we dropped off our DD, we went to the Colorado Parent's BBQ. There we met a retired AFA grad who described his I-Day (Vietnam era I guess from his age):
His mother would't take him to the AFA so his aunt drove him up to the ramp to drop him off (in those days). There an upperclassmen was waiting. When the car stopped, the cadet opened the door, ripped him out of the car and started to berate him.. His aunt just drove away...He remembered that he was upset at the time as his aunt had dropped off her son the previous year thus knew what was in store, but didn't tell him. And that's the way it was.
 
Wishful said:
After we dropped off our DD, we went to the Colorado Parent's BBQ. There we met a retired AFA grad who described his I-Day (Vietnam era I guess from his age):
His mother would't take him to the AFA so his aunt drove him up to the ramp to drop him off (in those days). There an upperclassmen was waiting. When the car stopped, the cadet opened the door, ripped him out of the car and started to berate him.. His aunt just drove away...He remembered that he was upset at the time as his aunt had dropped off her son the previous year thus knew what was in store, but didn't tell him. And that's the way it was.
Click to expand...

LOL. One of my best friends' father is a Naval Academy grad. Last year, I was showing him Webguy posts of I Day, and after a few minutes, he said "what is this?", and I explained that Webguy was allowed to take pictures and report the progress of the day. He laughed and laughed! He said when it was time to report to the Naval Academy, his parents couldn't take him, so his boss (who was the owner of a hardware store in rural SC) drove him all the way up there. His parents didn't hear from him until he was allowed to write letters after basic. He said his parents never knew WHAT was going on!
 
New parental involvement styles, cultural expectations and social media have changed how all this happens.
DH took the train from Philly to Baltimore, then a taxi to Gate 1. Walked in, checked in, saw his parents at Christmas. No I-Day fuss and events, no PPW, no Thanksgiving leave, no spring break, no 2/c parents weekend, no mobile phone, no internet, no regular communications.
He laughs and laughs too.
 
In non-ancient times (1989), I flew alone from the middle part of the country to Baltimore. There was a USNA shuttle there. I checked in all by my own self. I had a blue Jansport backpack, my allowed running shoes, my Velcro nylon wallet with a twenty my dad slipped me, a big manila envelope of documents, my DL and SS card and original birth certificate. I do not recall whether there was a PPW that summer or not (it's all kind of a blur except the athletic socks with a blue stripe and a gold stripe at the top and other random inconsequential things). I'm pretty sure I didn't call home during PS. I had a really great sponsor family. I didn't see the 'rents until I flew home for Xmas.

When I separated and went to a SLAC in the middle of the country, I moved in with two pairs of Levis, the shoes I was wearing, my white crewneck T-shirts, a navy blue V-neck lambswool sweater, a rugby jersey from my time at USNA, socks & underwear, toiletries, and a few textbooks. Desk lamp. Iron. Probably a few floppy disks (google it, kids). That was it. It all fit into my issue seabag, which I used constantly until it finally got destroyed during my NOLS time. I see kids moving in where I teach now and I'm agog at how much STUFF they have. How many clothes! All those shoes! Rubbermaid totes and U-Hauls and comforters, oh my!
 
Capt MJ said:
New parental involvement styles, cultural expectations and social media have changed how all this happens.
DH took the train from Philly to Baltimore, then a taxi to Gate 1. Walked in, checked in, saw his parents at Christmas. No I-Day fuss and events, no PPW, no Thanksgiving leave, no spring break, no 2/c parents weekend, no mobile phone, no internet, no regular communications.
He laughs and laughs too.
Click to expand...

We learned that DS apparently gets to call home THREE TIMES during BCT. New this year. 😳
I’ll be curious if he does.😂
 
LongAgoPlebe said:
In non-ancient times (1989), I flew alone from the middle part of the country to Baltimore. There was a USNA shuttle there. I checked in all by my own self. I had a blue Jansport backpack, my allowed running shoes, my Velcro nylon wallet with a twenty my dad slipped me, a big manila envelope of documents, my DL and SS card and original birth certificate. I do not recall whether there was a PPW that summer or not (it's all kind of a blur except the athletic socks with a blue stripe and a gold stripe at the top and other random inconsequential things). I'm pretty sure I didn't call home during PS. I had a really great sponsor family. I didn't see the 'rents until I flew home for Xmas.

When I separated and went to a SLAC in the middle of the country, I moved in with two pairs of Levis, the shoes I was wearing, my white crewneck T-shirts, a navy blue V-neck lambswool sweater, a rugby jersey from my time at USNA, socks & underwear, toiletries, and a few textbooks. Desk lamp. Iron. Probably a few floppy disks (google it, kids). That was it. It all fit into my issue seabag, which I used constantly until it finally got destroyed during my NOLS time. I see kids moving in where I teach now and I'm agog at how much STUFF they have. How many clothes! All those shoes! Rubbermaid totes and U-Hauls and comforters, oh my!
Click to expand...

NOLS courses seem to do a number on any equipment. Maybe it's the sheer amount of weight they give you to carry... But I wouldn't trade anything for my experiences with them.
 
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