Hello Air Force friends! I am a current mom of a firstie (Sr.) at USNA and will be the proud mom of a class of 2024 USAFA son. My problem is, I know absolutely nothing about USAFA. I know that at Navy, they had a plebe parent weekend at the end of the 6 week plebe summer. I looked at the USAFA calendar, and only saw a parent's weekend, not specified for the doolies. Is this it? Also, is there a list about all the abbreviations and lingo associated with USAFA? I need to go back to school, lol. I'm so excited to be on another journey to a service academy!
Newbie Mom needs Help
- Thread starter Mom529
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Parents Weekend is for everyone at USAFA. All classes participate. We went every year and it was great each time. The first year is good to go to everything like the parades, speeches, and lunch at Mitch’s. The second years we spent more time going to his classes on Friday because we could skip the things that we have already done. The next two we had it figured out and could be selective on what we attended so we could enjoy it more.
Stealth_81
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Lots of posts on PW. I would add as a doolie, he will probably want to sleep more than anything else. I would not make extensive hiking plans, etc. Sleeping, eating, & a trip to the store for a printer, extra computer screen, hand-warmers for Football game attendance, etc. A picture frame which stores digital photos of the family (they can have only 1 frame so it's OK) can mean more than you think.
PS: When you get back from AFA's PW, please post your opinions between NA & USAFA!
PS: When you get back from AFA's PW, please post your opinions between NA & USAFA!
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This has nothing to do with parent’s weekend questions, and I wish you would remove this. I am trying to learn about USAFA, not be controversial.
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Friendly Good Good
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For what it's worth...freshman at USAFA used to get to leave after the football game and spend the nights with their parents. This seems different than USNA freshman weekend where the midshipmen return at night. It's been a long time so definitely confirm but might be worth keeping in mind when booking hotel rooms. Congrats on your USNA senior...that's exciting!
A-Day is directly after basic training graduation. If you can swing the extra trip, it’s amazing! After the parade (and seeing them get their shoulder boards thus officially becoming cadets), you’ll only get a 2 hour visit but you can pack a lunch & go see their room, etc. I highly recommend it!
rosepetals
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@Mom529 Congratulations to your son on his appointment! I found this page helpful: Parents - USAFA There's also a private Facebook group called USAFA Class of 2024 Parents, moderated by the USAFA Parent Liaison. Hope to see you there!
Agree USAFA - Parents tab and all those links are great to get a feel for what's to come (when Class of 2024 info is available!)
Here's what I (the parent) am doing:
Facebook (exact group names):
(You will need to provide documentation; most likely send admissions letter)
USAFA Class of 2024 Parents Group - great for info on current class, blurb on Class of 2024 boots is out now (I am not going to respond to any SAF requests for more info since that info was provided on closed group);
USAFA Parent Resource - great to educate yourself on what goes on at USAFA!
Your local USAFA parent page (in my case, USAFA North Texas Parents Club) - great to make friends locally and get an idea of your annual cycle of events (Texas night, etc). Make sure to ask if they have amazon smile/Kroger/Tom Thumb to link now.
Buy/return boots now.
On the lookout for local incoming Class events (parents & DD)
Now to Fall schedule:
Cleared schedule/Standing by for admitted student day (possibly last 2 weeks of April, according to last year);
Made reservations for R Day 06/21-06/27 (for 06/25)
Cleared schedule/Standing by for A Day (1st week August)
Made reservations for Parent's Weekend 09/01-09/08
Standing by for Thanksgiving
Standing by for Winter Break
On my radar:
All things dental & medical like shots
All things ID-wise like DL/passport/birth certificate etc
Financial accounts, what to do with 529, taxes
Backup plans (not really figured it out yet) May 1st to June 25th & medical turnback
Here's what I (the parent) am doing:
Facebook (exact group names):
(You will need to provide documentation; most likely send admissions letter)
USAFA Class of 2024 Parents Group - great for info on current class, blurb on Class of 2024 boots is out now (I am not going to respond to any SAF requests for more info since that info was provided on closed group);
USAFA Parent Resource - great to educate yourself on what goes on at USAFA!
Your local USAFA parent page (in my case, USAFA North Texas Parents Club) - great to make friends locally and get an idea of your annual cycle of events (Texas night, etc). Make sure to ask if they have amazon smile/Kroger/Tom Thumb to link now.
Buy/return boots now.
On the lookout for local incoming Class events (parents & DD)
Now to Fall schedule:
Cleared schedule/Standing by for admitted student day (possibly last 2 weeks of April, according to last year);
Made reservations for R Day 06/21-06/27 (for 06/25)
Cleared schedule/Standing by for A Day (1st week August)
Made reservations for Parent's Weekend 09/01-09/08
Standing by for Thanksgiving
Standing by for Winter Break
On my radar:
All things dental & medical like shots
All things ID-wise like DL/passport/birth certificate etc
Financial accounts, what to do with 529, taxes
Backup plans (not really figured it out yet) May 1st to June 25th & medical turnback
I forgot to attach - here is a pdf screenshot of my watched threads - they are mostly USAFA related for after acceptance questions, but also some of my favorites. FYI "The Sports and your academy application" was at some point moved to DoDMERB and that's why I couldn't find it (searching in USAFA). I just really like that thread.
I just showed this to my parents. Thank you for posting!
@MullenLE , not a specific DoDMERB question.
My reference to dental & medical was more along the lines of two things: When the Class of 2024 booklet comes out, there will likely be a section on dental and medical things (esp. shots) and then the implications of her turning 18 wrt her medical information. It's on my radar ($$$) regarding wisdom teeth, and all things medical/financial/other impacted by DD turning 18 and parent can't do things. We are actually looking more into the future and seeing what we need to do for ourselves as aging parents (me and DH) and setting up accounts/access so our DDs have access to bank accounts, etc.
But seeing you in any thread always gives me comfort! Maybe others will have questions. Thank you!
My reference to dental & medical was more along the lines of two things: When the Class of 2024 booklet comes out, there will likely be a section on dental and medical things (esp. shots) and then the implications of her turning 18 wrt her medical information. It's on my radar ($$$) regarding wisdom teeth, and all things medical/financial/other impacted by DD turning 18 and parent can't do things. We are actually looking more into the future and seeing what we need to do for ourselves as aging parents (me and DH) and setting up accounts/access so our DDs have access to bank accounts, etc.
But seeing you in any thread always gives me comfort! Maybe others will have questions. Thank you!
Is this the same for Preppies?
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@HCopter : As a parent I've been there. 1st. your DD can sign a HIPAA release authorizing you access to her medical info. Further, she can authorize you to have a say in her medical care if she is unable to communicate her wishes. To put things in perspective, you will get papers authorizing you to sign for her body. This is not college.
Don't sweat the wisdom teeth; as soon as she's in, Tricare is her healthcare provider so it's covered. Same with shots-if she needs them, she will get them when she in-processes. ...relax...you did good! You raised an amazing young woman! .... enjoy the ride!
Don't sweat the wisdom teeth; as soon as she's in, Tricare is her healthcare provider so it's covered. Same with shots-if she needs them, she will get them when she in-processes. ...relax...you did good! You raised an amazing young woman! .... enjoy the ride!
Thank you @Wishful for your kind words and all the advice over the years! I really like the digital photo frame idea!
Still bumbling in the facebook pages. I found them a bit overwhelming, but for the local group, I searched on "2023" and "appointee", and those gave me some great info on events for the incoming class and/or parents, and earmarked likely dates for this year.
Also on my radar to join usafawebguy(dot)com.
Still bumbling in the facebook pages. I found them a bit overwhelming, but for the local group, I searched on "2023" and "appointee", and those gave me some great info on events for the incoming class and/or parents, and earmarked likely dates for this year.
Also on my radar to join usafawebguy(dot)com.
I would caution some of the above information on A-Day. This year Doolie Day Out is being moved to the end of Basic Cadet Training rather than between BCT1 and BCT2 as in years past. May change some of the events around A-day and in the days leading up to it after the completion of basic training and acceptance day for the basics.