No Appointment or TWE....just Crickets

Class of 2020 LEAD applicant here. I've been enlisted for almost four years now and am currently an E-4 testing for E-5 this year. I am applying for direct appointment to the USAFA because my age renders me ineligible for the preparatory school. I have known four Airman get picked up for the prep school from AD and am helping another Airman in my squadron submit his package for the class of 2021. In the event that your DD does not get accepted into the prep school and instead enlists, it is my opinion that she should definitely consider applying to the USAFA earlier in her enlisted career rather than later. The chances of her getting picked up for a prep school slot while she still meets the age requirements are significantly higher than the odds of a direct appointment, especially if she has a solid civilian record to reinforce her accomplishments while she is enlisted.

While it is ambitious and admirable to want to make E-5 before submitting her application through LEAD, she'd basically have to strategically plan out her entire enlisted career and accomplish every task she needs to first try. Step one is enlisting as E-3 from day 1 of BMT. Step two is working toward and earning SrA below-the-zone before 1 February, which means she'd have to enlist specifically in the month of March to keep her time in service at a minimum to help with making the age cutoff. Then, once she has put on E-4 BTZ, step 3 is studying for and passing her WAPS test. When she does that, she'll be granted a promotion date and a "line number" (which are both announced in late August each year). Depending on her line number, she could put on E-5 within a few months to a year of finding out her line number.

I say all of this because I don't think it's worth the time and energy to strive specifically for E-5 before applying to the USAFA. It might make her application look a little better, but not enough to warrant nearly four years of strategically going from day-to-day not able to mess up in fear of your entire plan shattering to pieces. And besides, she's in a much better position professionally to apply as an E-3 or E-4 while not bogged down by the administrative workload of a junior NCO. All of this is just my personal opinion, so take this as you see fit.


She is just 18 (as of March). So that would give her 3 1/2 years. She has plotted all of this out. I however am along for the ride. I will pass this along to her. She has been back and forth with her ALO and local AF recruiter. She is dead set on USAFA, becoming an Officer, flying and then working for Alaska State Troopers.lol No seriously she is a little high strung (for me) and very goal oriented.
 
16 April, 2016 - Initial portal check: 00:54

If your on the East Coast you will need to wait until 2 am (0200) Colorado is Central Standard Time (currently 10:57pm/2257)...We are West Coast so we would need to wait until 11pm (2300).
 
She is just 18 (as of March). So that would give her 3 1/2 years. She has plotted all of this out. I however am along for the ride. I will pass this along to her. She has been back and forth with her ALO and local AF recruiter. She is dead set on USAFA, becoming an Officer, flying and then working for Alaska State Troopers.lol No seriously she is a little high strung (for me) and very goal oriented.
Fantastic, just wanted to lay it out in case there were details you were missing. If she does end up enlisting, make sure that she knows to inform her chain of command at her first duty station when she gets there that she intends to apply to USAFA
 
This totally feels like ACT/SAT result nights (Ok way more nerve wracking)! We would sit and catch up on mind numbing TV shows. Since she has been busy with her College/HS mid terms/tests I have kicked her off of here. She has complete control of her own email and portal, so if something does happen...she will know first and have no idea the rest of us have been stressing out.lol Today actually has been a bad day for her (teen life) so I'm hoping for a better day tomorrow or soon.
 
So I'm visiting my plan B school this weekend which is a hour and a half away from USAFA so I'm just gonna go talk to admission in person and demand they give us our answers on this fine Saturday morning. Sound like a good plan?

Just kidding but in all seriousness this is getting ridiculous I think I'm getting gray hairs.
 
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So I'm visiting my plan B school this weekend which is a hour and a half away from USAFA so I'm just gonna go talk to admission in person and demand that give us our answers on this fine Saturday morning. Sound like a good plan?

Just kidding but in all seriousness this is getting ridiculous I think I'm getting gray hairs.
Haha this cracked me up. Waiting here too, however, I'm enlisted.
 
I would shoot to hear something by the 20th of April. That gives time for letters to go out and the online portion to get processed and updated.
 
Checked portal this morning and no update. In fact, doesn't look like it has been updated since 4/12.

USAFA Online Application v2.47 released 12 Apr 2016
Today's date is 4/16/2016 (US Mountain Time)

So I guess just keep waiting. We decided to confirm with Plan B school so we could start housing applications and what not. He has to have a school in the fall, so for those still waiting make sure Plan B is in line. Other than the small deposit to the school, nothing else is due until Mid-May. So I won't be out of pocket too much money if we get somg good news.
 
Maybe it's just this group who has heard nothing. :wave: Just saw a posting on another thread where the DS got his appointment Friday morning. Posted this morning. Happy to still be a part of it.
 
I am not a swimmer, although I do enjoy swimming!

My nephew has a team mate on his HS team (in Alaska) who got accepted into USAFA. I was wondering if that was you.lol

I was a swimmer for 21 years (competitive...#3 in Ca in Fly when I was 14). Coached our local team for 10 years (including my DD). My nephew will be heading to JOs in a few weeks with his relay team. Love that USAFA has such a great swim team...Hoping my nephew will apply in a couple years.
 
Ahahaha same here! Didn't even know about LEAD until late Oct

I applied last minute too (LEAD Program)!!!! I am currently 22 and not eligible for the preparatory school (I feel like I'd be a shoe in).

I've been a part of this Forum for now 1 month and it kills me to see people rejecting an appointment to USAFA. If i get that portal update saying I made it, I will no kidding, flip some tables out of excitement.

I'm expecting the results to come in this week. I don't think I can take another week of torture. I was set on the results coming out mid March for us (Enlisted Airmen). We stay getting trolled lol.
 
I applied last minute too (LEAD Program)!!!! I am currently 22 and not eligible for the preparatory school (I feel like I'd be a shoe in).

I've been a part of this Forum for now 1 month and it kills me to see people rejecting an appointment to USAFA. If i get that portal update saying I made it, I will no kidding, flip some tables out of excitement.

I'm expecting the results to come in this week. I don't think I can take another week of torture. I was set on the results coming out mid March for us (Enlisted Airmen). We stay getting trolled lol.

Well for us, our commanders will find out first. Only after our commanders get the notification would update, but that won't happen until 3 days after that happens. Trust me, I'm right there with you stressing out seeing people get rejected almost everyday on this forum. More than likely, we'll know early this week, so keep the confidence that it'll be over soon
 
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