Worth joining?

3

34KING18

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Apr 15, 2015
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Is it worth joining the Association of Graduates? No one in my family has been in USAFA and I will be the first one there. Is it good from a parents view? I know many people here are probably in the Association so looking for some opinions. Thank you

http://www.usafa.org/appointee
 
If you're on the fence, just wait until you're closer to graduation to buy membership you want to. There's a TON of pressure to get membership before you show up, but I think it's smart to get an idea of the programs the AOG is involved in once you get here if you're unsure.
 
BlahuKahuna said:
If you're on the fence, just wait until you're closer to graduation to buy membership you want to. There's a TON of pressure to get membership before you show up, but I think it's smart to get an idea of the programs the AOG is involved in once you get here if you're unsure.
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BlahuKahuna is exactly right. Historically, 'they' put a lot of pressure to purchase a lifetime membership while you are signing 128 other forms.

You will have plenty of time to decide later if that is a good use of your resources
 
34KING18 said:
Is it worth joining the Association of Graduates? No one in my family has been in USAFA and I will be the first one there. Is it good from a parents view? I know many people here are probably in the Association so looking for some opinions. Thank you

http://www.usafa.org/appointee
Click to expand...

We did -- Lifetime family membership. We are parents, so when you throw in the WebGuy subscription and discounts on all the stuff we buy, it makes sense. Our DD will get the benefit and can decide if she wants to participate after graduation. So, my advice is -- get your parents to join!
 
DH is already a lifetime member - '79 Grad. So, not sure about getting a "family" membership.
 
You should join. What does AFA means to you? Do you think AOG supports AFA to become a better organization? The challenge all, I am pretty sure, AOGs has is not enough young members. I am somewhat active in WP AOG and I am a young one, even though I graduated back in mid 90s.
 
MemberLG said:
You should join. What does AFA means to you? ....

The AOGs are very worthy programs and do great things for each SA and they do the little things that never get noted. As an example if a cadet has a family emergency and needs to get home and lacks the financial resources somehow that ticket always gets purchased.

Also, AOG members get discounts but so do active duty and retired military

I just think historically there was a lot of pressure for cadets to join with no real appreciation for what they were joining and at what cost and it was almost implied it was mandatory to join.

There is a financial cost to join so the benefits should be weighed.

The SAs put on a tremendous show for parents and I guess 'web guy' is part of the show. The journey is the cadet's journey, so I wonder how vicariously some parents plan to live through their cadet's experience.
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We bought our son his lifetime AOG membership for Christmas his Doolie year there, and when we bought it we got the family membership for the next 4 years. It was about $600 then and it came with a guarantee of a refund if he didn't graduate. He has told us a couple of times how he appreciated that we did that because it is a lot more expensive to do it after they graduate. It was well worth it for us. As a graduate he also gives to the AOG each year.

One thing that prompted our support of the AOG was learning that they provided the money for transportation for the Powerlifting team to go to away tournaments, including the Tri-Services meet at USNA. They do not get funding for that through the Athletic Department because they are a club sport. We felt that buying his membership was a good way to pay it forward for the next programs that AOG supports.

Stealth_81
 
My husband became a life time member long before DD was appointed. We decided that we wanted to support the young people who were going to USAFA and this was one way to do it. What DH really appreciates, however, are the reunions. With USAFA friends literally all over the world, its the one time the MOST of them return.
 
I have only one word: WEBGUY

Never regretted spending any money as I stayed glued to my screen, looking for those faces! Even when they were BCT cadre, it was great to find them.
 
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