USAFA Doolie Questions

hopefulmom182 said:
Technically, doolies aren't allowed mattress toppers/blankets/sleeping bags to sleep on top of their made bed. Yet they all have them. The way I understand it, if it fits in their trunk, it doesn't exist.
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I've seen posts mentioning how freshmen can take advantage of this special trunk to sneak things in we aren't allowed to bring, but I'm still confused about how you can bring anything in in the first place. Aren't we only supposed to bring one backpack with all the bare-bones essentials?
 
Conqueror99 said:
I've seen posts mentioning how freshmen can take advantage of this special trunk to sneak things in we aren't allowed to bring, but I'm still confused about how you can bring anything in in the first place. Aren't we only supposed to bring one backpack with all the bare-bones essentials?
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For BCT-- Yes. Do not bring anything more than a backpack with the list of items you are told to bring--ie: underwear, v neck t-shirts, running shoes, etc. After A-day, is when contraband accumulated. My DS got a mattress topper, blanket, and pillow-- he ordered a projector (from Amazon) and streamed football and Game of Thrones with his fellow doolies. (On Sundays, mostly, as they were typically too busy on other days of the week). Also, playing cards and poker chips were accumulated. My DS' squadron had many doolie poker tournaments.
 
KiwiBird said:
I want to know more about that... 😂
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It was actually on one of your thread posts, read what shiner wrote XD

Personal Items

I wasn't sure about this. After BCT, could my parents send me a blanket? I doubt that one would be allowed during. Plus, I know that people sleep on top of their beds, and I'd like to have a blanket if I had to do that.
www.serviceacademyforums.com
 
usafacellist2026 said:
It was actually on one of your thread posts, read what shiner wrote XD

Personal Items

I wasn't sure about this. After BCT, could my parents send me a blanket? I doubt that one would be allowed during. Plus, I know that people sleep on top of their beds, and I'd like to have a blanket if I had to do that.
www.serviceacademyforums.com
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To be clear - it wasn't mine, but I tolerated it. I clearly remember surfacing out into the halls after that early morning MWH inspection and everyone was asking - "so... did they take 'Homie' ?" I just gave a head knod and a look of utter shock and said "They missed it." In that same inspection, they did net a lab rat one of the guys didn't have the heart to kill and I was really surprised by that because I didn't even know he had that in his room. I think what saved us was the very obvious illegal television sitting on a table and that one was easy for them to focus on. We had a lot going on in that inspection.... I distinctly remember the knock at 0530 - then sitting up in bed understanding we were going to get in trouble for my TV and my roommate's pet with a degree of resignation and reluctance I started to climb down the ladder of my bunk when my roommate proceeded to curse and inform me that he had alcohol in the mini fridge freezer.... I didn't know that was there and I wish he wouldn't have told me either because there is a concept of plausible deniability. The look on my face would have clearly shown I didn't know that was there and it wasn't mine.

So for those keeping score at home - we had a live iguana in a 10 gallon aquarium, a TV before we were allowed to have it, my roommate's alcohol in the freezer, a candle, and anything else that was contraband didn't really matter at that point. It was over - we were going to be in a serious amount of trouble!

It was showtime.... Well, the inspectors stormed in and focused immediately on the TV. My bad (thinking to myself if you think that is bad... just wait!). The inspector then went to open the large trunk we had in the room. There was a large blanket on top and miraculously they swept that to the side and conveniently on-top of the cage. The iguana remained silent -- he knew what was at stake! After they finished rifling through the trunk, their focus moved to the fridge - skipping over the tank now covered by a blanket.

I looked at my roommate.... he looked back at me.... we knew it - they were going to miss the cage, but the focus was now the fridge. I went into distract mode and was calling out other infractions like - look over here! They opened the fridge and glanced but never opened the freezer.... Miracle number 2!

At that point.... I looked at my roommate.... he looked back at me.... and we both went into distract mode inventing infractions to draw them away from the bombshells lurking in our room. Then.... I carried the TV to the CQ desk collection point for contraband and couldn't breathe fully until they were gone.

It was a wild morning - for sure.

I made it clear Homie was not welcome back for our senior year and so the roommate took him to his sponsor's. Good times!!
 
shiner said:
1) Is there any way for someone to get their private pilots' license while at the Academy?
YES - there are aimanship programs through the school and options to personally pay for flying lessons. Time and transportation options are limited in year 1, but you gain more freedom in years 2-4.

2) What is the policy on cell phones and laptops?
You can have them after the acceptance parade marking the end of BCT. You are issued a laptop that is generally a high quality and spec machine. There are onsite support resources to fix things when they break. Personal gear is allowed but there are rules on getting them on the government network.

3)How often are doolies allowed to leave base?
4* freedom is a highly variable experience. One squadron may restrict their 4 degrees while others are not restricted. The amount of "passes" are codified and others may point to the specifics. To leave the base, you need a "pass" and these come in the form of a day pass, overnight pass, and a sponsor pass. Club or Intercollegiate trips have their own permissions structure and are not counted against your other passes.

4) How many clubs/sports are we allowed to participate at a time?
You are a grown person and get to choose your level of involvement. I would CAUTION against running into club day and signing up for a bunch of activities prior to understanding the amount of free time you have for these activities. As a former club team captain, we would collect dues for people who signed up --- and some of those people never ended up participating.... so.... caution and know if they are collecting dues out of your paycheck when you "sign up."

5) How much do we make a year at USAFA (personal amount, after all the books, uniforms, haircuts, etc.)?
answered.... back in my day, you received a check for $65/month for a 4 degree after all expenses. Based on the chart, wow, times have changed for the better!
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If you come in with your PPL, can you get any flight time as a 4 degree?
 
shiner said:
To be clear - it wasn't mine, but I tolerated it. I clearly remember surfacing out into the halls after that early morning MWH inspection and everyone was asking - "so... did they take 'Homie' ?" I just gave a head knod and a look of utter shock and said "They missed it." In that same inspection, they did net a lab rat one of the guys didn't have the heart to kill and I was really surprised by that because I didn't even know he had that in his room. I think what saved us was the very obvious illegal television sitting on a table and that one was easy for them to focus on. We had a lot going on in that inspection.... I distinctly remember the knock at 0530 - then sitting up in bed understanding we were going to get in trouble for my TV and my roommate's pet with a degree of resignation and reluctance I started to climb down the ladder of my bunk when my roommate proceeded to curse and inform me that he had alcohol in the mini fridge freezer.... I didn't know that was there and I wish he wouldn't have told me either because there is a concept of plausible deniability. The look on my face would have clearly shown I didn't know that was there and it wasn't mine.

So for those keeping score at home - we had a live iguana in a 10 gallon aquarium, a TV before we were allowed to have it, my roommate's alcohol in the freezer, a candle, and anything else that was contraband didn't really matter at that point. It was over - we were going to be in a serious amount of trouble!

It was showtime.... Well, the inspectors stormed in and focused immediately on the TV. My bad (thinking to myself if you think that is bad... just wait!). The inspector then went to open the large trunk we had in the room. There was a large blanket on top and miraculously they swept that to the side and conveniently on-top of the cage. The iguana remained silent -- he knew what was at stake! After they finished rifling through the trunk, their focus moved to the fridge - skipping over the tank now covered by a blanket.

I looked at my roommate.... he looked back at me.... we knew it - they were going to miss the cage, but the focus was now the fridge. I went into distract mode and was calling out other infractions like - look over here! They opened the fridge and glanced but never opened the freezer.... Miracle number 2!

At that point.... I looked at my roommate.... he looked back at me.... and we both went into distract mode inventing infractions to draw them away from the bombshells lurking in our room. Then.... I carried the TV to the CQ desk collection point for contraband and couldn't breathe fully until they were gone.

It was a wild morning - for sure.

I made it clear Homie was not welcome back for our senior year and so the roommate took him to his sponsor's. Good times!!
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I... have no words.
 
AFmama said:
If you come in with your PPL, can you get any flight time as a 4 degree?
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There is a cadet flying club at the airfield and as far as I know they still have a couple of T-41 Mescaleros (C-172s) that cadets can rent and fly. The logistics of doing that as a Doolie are hard, but not impossible. They will figure it out once they are there.

Otherwise, the Soaring and Powered Flight programs will provide some stick time.

Stealth_81
 
So another question I have is how many clubs do you guys recommend joining as a Doolie? Maybe two tops, because I want to become adjusted to Academy lifestyle? Also - if I wanted to get my PPL, what would I do to get that?
 
shiner said:
To be clear - it wasn't mine, but I tolerated it. I clearly remember surfacing out into the halls after that early morning MWH inspection and everyone was asking - "so... did they take 'Homie' ?" I just gave a head knod and a look of utter shock and said "They missed it." In that same inspection, they did net a lab rat one of the guys didn't have the heart to kill and I was really surprised by that because I didn't even know he had that in his room. I think what saved us was the very obvious illegal television sitting on a table and that one was easy for them to focus on. We had a lot going on in that inspection.... I distinctly remember the knock at 0530 - then sitting up in bed understanding we were going to get in trouble for my TV and my roommate's pet with a degree of resignation and reluctance I started to climb down the ladder of my bunk when my roommate proceeded to curse and inform me that he had alcohol in the mini fridge freezer.... I didn't know that was there and I wish he wouldn't have told me either because there is a concept of plausible deniability. The look on my face would have clearly shown I didn't know that was there and it wasn't mine.

So for those keeping score at home - we had a live iguana in a 10 gallon aquarium, a TV before we were allowed to have it, my roommate's alcohol in the freezer, a candle, and anything else that was contraband didn't really matter at that point. It was over - we were going to be in a serious amount of trouble!

It was showtime.... Well, the inspectors stormed in and focused immediately on the TV. My bad (thinking to myself if you think that is bad... just wait!). The inspector then went to open the large trunk we had in the room. There was a large blanket on top and miraculously they swept that to the side and conveniently on-top of the cage. The iguana remained silent -- he knew what was at stake! After they finished rifling through the trunk, their focus moved to the fridge - skipping over the tank now covered by a blanket.

I looked at my roommate.... he looked back at me.... we knew it - they were going to miss the cage, but the focus was now the fridge. I went into distract mode and was calling out other infractions like - look over here! They opened the fridge and glanced but never opened the freezer.... Miracle number 2!

At that point.... I looked at my roommate.... he looked back at me.... and we both went into distract mode inventing infractions to draw them away from the bombshells lurking in our room. Then.... I carried the TV to the CQ desk collection point for contraband and couldn't breathe fully until they were gone.

It was a wild morning - for sure.

I made it clear Homie was not welcome back for our senior year and so the roommate took him to his sponsor's. Good times!!
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I thought they weren't allowed to open the trunk.
 
@Peter2025 An MWH inspection is conducted by an AOC/AMT and is usually concerned with more substantial contraband (alcohol, drugs, weapons) so yes they open everything in your room, check the ceilings, etc. When they conduct them they don’t necessarily suspect you of possessing these things but they conduct them randomly and every so often. Obviously like the story above if they find something else in the course of their search it can’t be unseen. I had one done as a freshmen and they saw my mattress pad (unfortunately no iguana) and didn’t care, they’re concerned with more significant discoveries as I said. Other cadets can’t open your trunk or locked drawer and that’s why it’s said that what is in there doesn’t exist.
 
jokey02 said:
So another question I have is how many clubs do you guys recommend joining as a Doolie? Maybe two tops, because I want to become adjusted to Academy lifestyle? Also - if I wanted to get my PPL, what would I do to get that?
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This is going to be totally up to you. Different clubs have different expectations and schedules. Some are more intense/rigorous than others. The Cross-fit club has a competitive portion and non-comp portion. If you are on the competitive portion, you will be expected at scheduled workouts. If you are on the non-comp portion, its more self-study kinda thing. Gaming club might meet once a week, but if you can't make it, you can't make it. Flying team is a lot of schedule time throughout the week. So you will need to attend the club event and see what you are interested in and ask members what kind of commitment is expected. Then figure out what you are willing to commit to.
 
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