USAFAPS Questions

[ColinBlueMoon]

Excellent information. Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Doesn't the prep school give you an opportunity to open an account with a bank there in CO, upon arrival? If so, it sounds like it'd be in my best interest to have the monthly stipend directly deposited into an alternate banking account and to pay off the MSC as quickly as possible.

I plan on saving as much money as I can throughout prep school and first two years of USAFA with the plans of being able to purchase a cheap/reliable car my C3C year should I be appointed to USAFA. I don't know how realistic of a goal that is, but it's my plan at this point.

Thanks again for your answers. I appreciate it.

You can open a bank account with Academy Federal Credit Union, but I suggest you open one with USAA before you even get here. They're the best one to have for military people.

You plan is unrealistic because only C2C and up gets cars.

 

[2bornot2b]

I would doubt the FAFSA would apply to AFA either. Because everything is covered at the AFA there is no "cost of attendence". Please correct me if I am misinformed.

You are absolutely correct. There is no 'cost to attend' because they give you plenty of money to cover expenses, I.e. your costs are covered by the AFA.

 

[2bornot2b]

You can open a bank account with Academy Federal Credit Union, but I suggest you open one with USAA before you even get here. They're the best one to have for military people.

You plan is unrealistic because only C2C and up gets cars.

He did say 'after ' his first 2 years at AFA. So he would be a C2C.

 

[JAPAF]

You can open a bank account with Academy Federal Credit Union, but I suggest you open one with USAA before you even get here. They're the best one to have for military people.QUOTE]

Agreed... I've had USAA since I enlisted, I have had no issues with them. Great car insurance rates, great customer service through 2 deployments... great choice. I don't remember if you can open one prior getting to the Academy, as you won't be "military" until you inprocess.

 

[Remember_This_Day]

Agreed... I've had USAA since I enlisted, I have had no issues with them. Great car insurance rates, great customer service through 2 deployments... great choice. I don't remember if you can open one prior getting to the Academy, as you won't be "military" until you inprocess.

Agreed. Fairly certain you have to be enlisted / commissioned or a dependent. Either way, def recommend them too. (you'll also get paid 1 day earlier)

 

[LFry94]

You can open a bank account with Academy Federal Credit Union, but I suggest you open one with USAA before you even get here. They're the best one to have for military people.

You plan is unrealistic because only C2C and up gets cars.

I meant C2C. I apologize! Looks like USAA will be worth looking into immediately upon getting there. (Or rather look into it now, and join once I've arrived, seeing as I can't until I have some sort of military affiliation.)

I've been reading USAA's website, and it looks great. I noticed that they offer insurance too. Do you recommend them for insurance as well?

Apologies for asking so many questions. I just want to be well informed so I don't make any financial mistakes that I would regret later in life...

 

[JAPAF]

I meant C2C. I apologize! Looks like USAA will be worth looking into immediately upon getting there. (Or rather look into it now, and join once I've arrived, seeing as I can't until I have some sort of military affiliation.)

I've been reading USAA's website, and it looks great. I noticed that they offer insurance too. Do you recommend them for insurance as well?

Apologies for asking so many questions. I just want to be well informed so I don't make any financial mistakes that I would regret later in life...

I have auto/renter's insurance through them... they have awesome rates and a lot of discounts. Like I said, I've worked with them through 2 deployments and they've been nothing but awesome about changing my auto insurance to storage rates and things like that.

 

[LFry94]

I have auto/renter's insurance through them... they have awesome rates and a lot of discounts. Like I said, I've worked with them through 2 deployments and they've been nothing but awesome about changing my auto insurance to storage rates and things like that.

Sounds good. Thanks for the input.

 

[Remember_This_Day]

One word of warning...

The only potential downside with USAA is that it takes something big to trigger a fraud alert. I use them as my credit card while on missions / deployments and I have only had it trigger a warning once (I typed my pin in wrong -.-). To clarify what I mean here is an example:

One of the first times using the card I went on In a 5 day mission and I made purchases at:
Dover, DE -> Andrews MD -> Kaiserslaughtern, Germany -> Manas Krygyzstan -> Rota, Spain -> Dover, DE.

Remember this is under a week time frame, and not 1 flag was raised. If that doesn't make you ask questions, not much will.

 

[LFry94]

The only potential downside with USAA is that it takes something big to trigger a fraud alert. I use them as my credit card while on missions / deployments and I have only had it trigger a warning once (I typed my pin in wrong -.-). To clarify what I mean here is an example:

One of the first times using the card I went on In a 5 day mission and I made purchases at:
Dover, DE -> Andrews MD -> Kaiserslaughtern, Germany -> Manas Krygyzstan -> Rota, Spain -> Dover, DE.

Remember this is under a week time frame, and not 1 flag was raised. If that doesn't make you ask questions, not much will.

Interesting. On the other hand, I think it would be a pain to have a fraud alert triggered every time you made a purchase in each of those locations due to how quickly you were on the move.

 

[USAFretired1996]

The only potential downside with USAA is that it takes something big to trigger a fraud alert. I use them as my credit card while on missions / deployments and I have only had it trigger a warning once (I typed my pin in wrong -.-). To clarify what I mean here is an example:

One of the first times using the card I went on In a 5 day mission and I made purchases at:
Dover, DE -> Andrews MD -> Kaiserslaughtern, Germany -> Manas Krygyzstan -> Rota, Spain -> Dover, DE.

Remember this is under a week time frame, and not 1 flag was raised. If that doesn't make you ask questions, not much will.

That is really surprising. We use the USAA card also. We were returning from a trip to NYC and USAA called us in the car to ask if we had bought something at an ethnic grocery store in Newark DE at 2 am the night before. Since it was out of pattern for us, they immediately flagged it. Really it's more for their benefit than mine since I am only on the hook for the first $50 in fraudulent charges. Still, we were impressed with how quickly they caught the charge and immediately cancelled the card. I think the replacement cards were received the next day.

 

[Remember_This_Day]

Yeah it was a benefit for me to not have it flagged but most people don't change countries that quickly.

USAFretired1996, I'm glad to hear yours got flagged. It makes me reconsider more options. I guess when I registered with them they put my job on file. They work with military enough I believe to recognize the traveling difference between say a loadmaster and POL. Maybe they just gave me extra room to breathe. *shrugs*. Either way, still a super amazing bank.

 

[A1C_K.P.]

Like Bmt? I believe it's just over 3 weeks. And I did hear something about airmen helping out with bmt when I went tdy to the usafa last september.
idk about being in charge though. I wouldn't mind doing it.

 

[2bornot2b]

Like Bmt? I believe it's just over 3 weeks. And I did hear something about airmen helping out with bmt when I went tdy to the usafa last september.
idk about being in charge though. I wouldn't mind doing it.

BMT at the P is only 18 days. Priors "assist", by helping the directs when they need help, and by leading by example. They are not in charge, by any means. You will report to the P on 11 July, a week ahead of the directs, for orientation on your role in BMT, among other things.

 

[A1C_K.P.]

Ah, cool story, bro. thanks Yeah, above anything, I'm just excited to have my foot in the door. And 18 days sounds like cake.

 

[2bornot2b]

Ah, cool story, bro. thanks Yeah, above anything, I'm just excited to have my foot in the door. And 18 days sounds like cake.

You are most welcome. Congratulations on your appointment to the P! It is ABSOLUTELY a "foot in the door" for you. Don't screw up and you have a very good chance of getting an appointment next year to the Class of 2017!

I am guessing the 18 days of BMT at the P is nothing compared to Basic at Lackland, but you do need to be aware the next two years are going to be very regimented for you. Not as bad as when you were in Basic, but you will certainly not have as much freedom or personal time as you are now used to, assuming you have completed tech school. The Academy is a very rigorous engineering school, with a heavy math and science curriculum. That is why you are going to the P, to prepare you for it. Your P curriculum will be heavy math (2 classes each 9 week quarter), science, and
English (expect to write lots of papers). Your day, from reveille to taps, is already blocked out for you for the next two years. I would not say it will be cake, but if you want those butter bars badly enough, it is a small price to pay for a first rate education and a chance to serve as an officer.

 

[JAPAF]

I would not say it will be cake, but if you want those butter bars badly enough, it is a small price to pay for a first rate education and a chance to serve as an officer.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[2bornot2b]

At the P they set aside time, I believe every day, from 1400 to 1500, for Extra Instruction (tutoring). This is optional, but only a fool would not take advantage of it if you are having the least bit of difficulty with the academics. They really do want you to succeed, but you must bring a burning desire to succeed with you, as well. Otherwise, why bother? Nobody ever excelled at anything by just doing what is required. Remember the Air Force' Core Values. Part of it is: EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO.

 

[skydivingkittens]

Just saw this on the USAFA Prep school FB page:

"However, for recruited athletes, we will allow you time to workout. There is a pool within 200 yards of the Prep School in our gym and the Athletic Department can make arrangements with the Olympic Training Center for training time down there."

Thats pretty cool!

 

[LFry94]

Just saw this on the USAFA Prep school FB page:

"However, for recruited athletes, we will allow you time to workout. There is a pool within 200 yards of the Prep School in our gym and the Athletic Department can make arrangements with the Olympic Training Center for training time down there."

Thats pretty cool!

I saw that earlier as well and was thinking the same thing.