Personal possessions

arishipshape

25er (NEVER QUIT NEVER SETTLE)
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Nov 10, 2020
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Greetings! I understand that there is no space for extra stuff beyond what you're required to bring to BCT (deodorant, toothpaste, etc) initially. However, I (and everyone else I'd assume) have some personal items I'd like to have at the Academy afterwards. Reading through the instructions to appointees, the best solution suggested seems to be to have your parents or friends bring you your items at Parent's Weekend. This would work–if it wasn't canceled. As I do not know whether or not it will be canceled this year, I'd like to have a contingency plan in the event other people can't bring me anything after BCT. Are there any suggested solutions? The first thing that comes to mind would be to rent a nearby storage locker for 2 months, shove my stuff into it (I know you can't have more than would fit in the trunk, I wouldn't by any means fill the locker), and come back for it after BCT. Would this be an effective solution?

Thanks in advance!
 
Greetings! I understand that there is no space for extra stuff beyond what you're required to bring to BCT (deodorant, toothpaste, etc) initially. However, I (and everyone else I'd assume) have some personal items I'd like to have at the Academy afterwards. Reading through the instructions to appointees, the best solution suggested seems to be to have your parents or friends bring you your items at Parent's Weekend. This would work–if it wasn't canceled. As I do not know whether or not it will be canceled this year, I'd like to have a contingency plan in the event other people can't bring me anything after BCT. Are there any suggested solutions? The first thing that comes to mind would be to rent a nearby storage locker for 2 months, shove my stuff into it (I know you can't have more than would fit in the trunk, I wouldn't by any means fill the locker), and come back for it after BCT. Would this be an effective solution?

Thanks in advance!
So if you were able to leave to get to your storage locker to retrieve your stuff if parents weekend should be cancelled, wouldn't you be able to meet your family at a nearby restaurant for them to give you your stuff? I understand this may not be feasible for everyone if their family had to purchase expensive plane tickets to visit with you for only a few hours, but it was a thought.
 
So if you were able to leave to get to your storage locker to retrieve your stuff if parents weekend should be cancelled, wouldn't you be able to meet your family at a nearby restaurant for them to give you your stuff? I understand this may not be feasible for everyone if their family had to purchase expensive plane tickets to visit with you for only a few hours, but it was a thought.
That might work, but quite frankly I'm not sure if you're even allowed off-base to grab stuff, especially so early in your first year (where privileges are slim). Thus this post: is that feasible?
 
My counsel is to wait for the academic year and see what’s allowed per regs, what variations are tolerated, what you really need, what you’ll have time for, what makes sense, what will not infringe upon shared space in the room, what you are willing to deal with at the end of the year in terms of logistics.
 
Here is a great recent thread about how to get things, as well as other helpful advice: (see my post #8 and other's posts on getting packages)

You could also have your parents make friends with parents group and often they will bring things up for other Cadets. We always offer my parents group BFF to take packages up when we are going to COS.

To directly answer your question: I don't recommend a storage unit. While possible, it's not practical. If PW is cancelled and/or parents don't come, or you can't see them - it's going to be something like Wing-wide pandemic posture, you are in Q&I, or you are on some probation and denied the privilege of leaving base. So that defeats the purpose of having things in COS when you can't access them anyway. Plus as @Capt MJ says, you don't know what you'll need, be allowed, and what fits, especially if you get a 3-man unbunked room.

For parents: it helps to have a mindset that you will know everything last minute. As in, well past the time to get cheap airfare, ideal accommodations, etc. You have to plan ahead and often guess, perhaps with fully refundable tickets. I suspect it will still look more like 2024 rather than the known, plan-able, pre-Covid it's-always-been-on-xyz-schedule. Don't assume your priorities are USAFA's - theirs is probably focused on graduating the class of 2021. So no, we do not know DD's finals schedule, whether she's allowed some leave before 1st block, and thus also not for how long, travel radius, overnight...nothing. It doesn't bother me. After getting a glimpse of the comprehensive planning, I can understand why they try to avoid half-baked instructions. DD was in the unfortunate Q&I group in December and lost a week of winter break. She was accidentally included on a premature email saying she would be allowed to come back later, but they were in the process of getting EVERY teacher to ok this. That took awhile, and when the official email came, it was about 3 days before regular reporting time. So we appreciate they didn't just throw out a half-baked idea and then leave it to the Cadet to deal with it, they provided a comprehensive return schedule based on how long each had been in Q&I plus every teacher was on board with it. (DD chose to come back at her regular time, she was in a virtual triathlon sprint for bed/desk position with her 2 new roommates, finally agreeing that it was every man for himself/first come first served; she said she got the 2nd best positions, whatever that is).
 
Parent's Weekend was canceled last year, but the cadets got passes. Some parents flew out to see their kids anyway and were able to. The parents who canceled their plans were pretty upset. If parents' weekend is actually fully canceled, parents can send packages. Technically, the Doolies can have packages after A-day. Parents can plan to mail packages to be received then. Mail is slow, so I'd mail that package in late July. Many local parents on the parent's facebook page will agree to accept the mailed packages and deliver them instead of using the assigned PO Box. Cadets who don't get a parents' weekend still get their stuff.
 
Listen to #CaptinMJ What you think you want now and what you will want then may be different and you may or may not be allowed certain things.

I am pretty confident Parents Weekend will happen this year in some form, so if it does, that is probably the easiest way, but last year, we did a few things.

My DS made contact with a sponsor before I-Day and we dropped off his flight bag with him. The local family sponsors multiple cadets and one of the 1 deg, brought it from the sponsor to my DS the second week. Then when my DS found out what he could have from his squadron, he ordered a monitor from Amazon. And finally, we mailed him a few things.

Everything you actually need, you will have there. Extras like a monitor, etc can be had via mail pretty quick.
 
+1 @Capt MJ and @HCopter

As a parent of a 2021er, my recommendations are as follows:

For Appointees - focus on closing out your senior year, getting/staying in shape, and (safely) enjoy your next couple of months with your friends and family. USAFA will provide a very specific list about what to bring with you in I Day - don't worry about about "stuff" for the academic year at this point in time. During BCT and transition, you'll have very specific guidance about what you will be allowed to have with you and which "diversions" you will want with you during the academic year.

For Parents - let you cadets take the lead. They will know the rules and will let you know what they need and when they need it. Amazon Prime will be your friend (but don't count on it getting to your cadet in two days, as the mailroom often gets backed up - especially at the beginning of each semester). You will see incredibly growth in you DD/DS the first year - let them know that you'll be there to support them in whatever they need, but take a setup back and enjoy the ride. They'll be okay.
 
Greetings! I understand that there is no space for extra stuff beyond what you're required to bring to BCT (deodorant, toothpaste, etc) initially. However, I (and everyone else I'd assume) have some personal items I'd like to have at the Academy afterwards. Reading through the instructions to appointees, the best solution suggested seems to be to have your parents or friends bring you your items at Parent's Weekend. This would work–if it wasn't canceled. As I do not know whether or not it will be canceled this year, I'd like to have a contingency plan in the event other people can't bring me anything after BCT. Are there any suggested solutions? The first thing that comes to mind would be to rent a nearby storage locker for 2 months, shove my stuff into it (I know you can't have more than would fit in the trunk, I wouldn't by any means fill the locker), and come back for it after BCT. Would this be an effective solution?

Thanks in advance!
 
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