Would anybody from the academy or who has knowledge about USAFA be willing to explain how life changes from year to year. I obviously know that Doolie year is rough but I really do not see a lot of information about the next 3 years regarding life at the academy and how roles change. Thanks so much!
Year to Year Life
- Thread starter Ghayd44
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,185
Life changes in a number of ways...
Academics - historically, your sophomore and junior year have more credit hours. It is manageable because you established study habits in your freshman year and ideally learned how to leverage the academic help resources available to you.
Militarily - you will gain more leadership roles as you become a junior and senior.
Quality of life - you gain additional privileges each year. This may not be accurate today, but let's use it as a frame of reference to understand a few of the levers available to you that many do not understand are even something that can be controlled:
Freshman - People yell at you to make you think you can do nothing right, door to room open during the day (every day) until academic call to quarters (after dinner). limited items of memorabilia (they count things like pictures or nick nacks. Limited "passes" to go off base - sponsor passes, day passes, and overnight passes.
Sophomore - People really don't yell at you and you become the instructor for freshman, door closed whenever you want. more items of memorabilia. + a few more passes
Junior - more items of memorabilia, a mini refrigerator. Ability to have a car. Can go out but return by academic call to quarters
Senior - a tv + go out and be back by taps. Virtually unlimited overnight passes to stay out on the weekends.
Considering that your ability and quantity of times to depart campus are managed by class year, and the school can "close the sign out logs" at any time to prevent anyone from leaving (generally for severe weather), that perk is one of the most valuable. Underclassman who participate in clubs or sports that travel generally can travel more than the average cadet because those activities are approved and do not count against your authorized total.
Academics - historically, your sophomore and junior year have more credit hours. It is manageable because you established study habits in your freshman year and ideally learned how to leverage the academic help resources available to you.
Militarily - you will gain more leadership roles as you become a junior and senior.
Quality of life - you gain additional privileges each year. This may not be accurate today, but let's use it as a frame of reference to understand a few of the levers available to you that many do not understand are even something that can be controlled:
Freshman - People yell at you to make you think you can do nothing right, door to room open during the day (every day) until academic call to quarters (after dinner). limited items of memorabilia (they count things like pictures or nick nacks. Limited "passes" to go off base - sponsor passes, day passes, and overnight passes.
Sophomore - People really don't yell at you and you become the instructor for freshman, door closed whenever you want. more items of memorabilia. + a few more passes
Junior - more items of memorabilia, a mini refrigerator. Ability to have a car. Can go out but return by academic call to quarters
Senior - a tv + go out and be back by taps. Virtually unlimited overnight passes to stay out on the weekends.
Considering that your ability and quantity of times to depart campus are managed by class year, and the school can "close the sign out logs" at any time to prevent anyone from leaving (generally for severe weather), that perk is one of the most valuable. Underclassman who participate in clubs or sports that travel generally can travel more than the average cadet because those activities are approved and do not count against your authorized total.
BuckeyeDad20
Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 317
^^^^^^^
Thats what my Doolie tells me
A couple current changes do to COIVD:
They are currently in Phase III COVID response which limits formations and certain activities and for some reason allows him to close his door all the time now - I think because inspections are limited. (Its strange to hear to him talk about how leaving the door closed is a big deal - though they do take crap from some upperclassman for having it so easy)
There are restrictions for movement off base but as a Doolie, its not a huge hit for him since he doesn't have much chance anyway.
He is assigned a Sophomore "Coach" who has helps him adjust, they discuss goals and progress etc. Most of the Sophomores are pretty cool in his opinion, though a couple try to be tough on the Doolies and if a Junior or Senior are nearby, the Sophomores are usually swatted down. He is in Calc III and studies with some Sophomores so its collegial in general. He has been pleasantly surprised at how the upperclassman are generally helpful and not aggressive post BCT.
Last thing I would mention is that your experience can vary depending on the squadron you are in. Each squadron has influence or control over certain aspects of cadet life. Some squadrons are more chill than others. In BCT, while other squadrons were playing volleyball, my DS was inside training for instance. Post BCT, his squadron seems to be one of the more chill ones and don't manufacture too much chaos. His read on it is that that upperclassman are so busy with academics and their activities that they really don't want to spend the time harassing them. But, if you do something that makes them file a report or fill out a form, be prepared for some heat.
Thats what my Doolie tells me
A couple current changes do to COIVD:
They are currently in Phase III COVID response which limits formations and certain activities and for some reason allows him to close his door all the time now - I think because inspections are limited. (Its strange to hear to him talk about how leaving the door closed is a big deal - though they do take crap from some upperclassman for having it so easy)
There are restrictions for movement off base but as a Doolie, its not a huge hit for him since he doesn't have much chance anyway.
He is assigned a Sophomore "Coach" who has helps him adjust, they discuss goals and progress etc. Most of the Sophomores are pretty cool in his opinion, though a couple try to be tough on the Doolies and if a Junior or Senior are nearby, the Sophomores are usually swatted down. He is in Calc III and studies with some Sophomores so its collegial in general. He has been pleasantly surprised at how the upperclassman are generally helpful and not aggressive post BCT.
Last thing I would mention is that your experience can vary depending on the squadron you are in. Each squadron has influence or control over certain aspects of cadet life. Some squadrons are more chill than others. In BCT, while other squadrons were playing volleyball, my DS was inside training for instance. Post BCT, his squadron seems to be one of the more chill ones and don't manufacture too much chaos. His read on it is that that upperclassman are so busy with academics and their activities that they really don't want to spend the time harassing them. But, if you do something that makes them file a report or fill out a form, be prepared for some heat.
Great thank you so much for the reply! That really gives me a grip on what it’s like.
That’s really interesting to know the differences with COVID. Thanks for the info!