Basic Cadet Training
BCT
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Our now C3C told me last night (yes, parents of "00 you will eventually reestablish telephone communication) that the two best pieces of advice
1.BREAK IN THOSE BOOTS! and
2. DO SOME RUNNING!
He said speed wasn't nearly as important as endurance; be able to go the distance. The altitude may be bothersome at first, but it will be less so if you're in shape. Keep an eye on your feet during BCT, although I guess the cadre checks as well. He had two ingrown toenails removed-ouch-and was back running after each within 24 hours. Then he split a thumbnail wide open setting up tents in Jack's Valley. I remember he wrote home that "at least the doctors like me." Saved the letters, great memories!
Just be in great physical shape before you go to BASIC. Keep running and do your push ups (cuz you'll be doing a lot of those) Your body will go through so much in those 6 weeks. Do the best you can do in Basic. Just remember that those cadets there are doing there job, it's nothing personal.
Your son should have received a publication from U.S.A.F. A. entitled "instructions to appointees". This has most of the answers to your questions in it. Read it carefully, as should your son. There is a checklist at the back of that publication...use that!!
Our son is a soon to be C3C Last year he took the clothes on his back,(very non descript no phrases or saying on them) he did wear his running shoes as he is a cross country runner for the academy. He had a small backpack-bookbag in which he had a new electric razor, tooth brush and paste and comb, his good HP calculator and his entrance papers and copies of his shot records. That was it. Immediately upon checkin they told him to remove his watch (new and a grad present from his grandmother) and put it in his bag. The bag was well marked with his name and squadron and flight on it. They lost it!! He did not get the bag back until the middle of August after pestering the AOC his squadron commander of both beast squads and then his permanent SC. I even called the chaplain. It seems there was another kid with the same name in another squad and he got both bags and it got set aside until someone with persistence went looking. So my advice is take the absolute minimum that you need to get by. I think I'd send the razor the calculator an iron and his watch a week after beast starts. They won't let him keep food but there shouldn't be any problem with those items.
We sent our son packages all through beast. The cadre insisted they open up the packages in front of them and then confiscated food to eat themselves. Send disposable razors with him and then mail his good one so that it doesn't get lost like our sons did for 3 months.
When our '99 son only had 5 minutes to shower, shave, and dress and line up in the hall, it doesn't leave much time for brushing his teeth. He had near perfect teeth when he left home and has now experienced military dentists first hand. We also sent him a electric razor and a battery razor (for jacks valley), and he really appreciated it. Other than that nothing else is needed that I can think of. Sit back and hold on!!!!
When we went up to visit him for the first Parent's weekend, we took him a camera. When I thought back of all the old college buddies that I do NOT have pictures of, I decided that the camera (and lots of encouragement to use it) would absolutely be the best thing I could do for David. He says he uses it, and we have actually seen a few of his pictures.
Hi! May want to let your son take the razor with him and wait till towards the end of bct for the rest. My understanding is they won't let them have packages during bct because usually the packages are full of food. Rather, the packages stay at the post office, undelivered, until bct is over.
1. Read the publication from USAFA about what to bring and what not to bring..they mean it. We went through it and used it as a checklist.
2. Do not send the watch until Acceptance. They will not allow basic cadets to keep a watch during BCT. If he takes the watch, they will confiscate it until after basic.
3. Irons can be purchased there and most cadets work out the "iron" and "Ironing board" among the roommates. My son did that and had no problem.
4. Have a care package ready to send to arrive at the end of basic that includes a good alarm clock, a good watch and those goodies he's missed for so long.
5. Your cadet has a long day ahead of him on Day 1-In processing. Minimize anything he brings with him...he'll carry it around all day long while they issue more stuff than they can carry...all the while walking and getting yelled at.
An IRON, which they will need prior to Parents Weekend. Not a little travel one either. Its best to get it now and teach your cadet how to use it even though they will learn new ways to look sharp. We sent our son with his iron, electric razor, tooth brush & paste, scientific calculator (TI-85), plus a photocopy of both sides of my Visa with a note explaining he is allowed to charge his meal(s) and room to the card. That way they can't lose it or have it stolen and it worked just fine (he stayed at the Drury Inn also). They also need the $2500 check . You could also give him pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes for writing home. Congratulations and Good Luck
We sent a really good pair of scissors, sort of medium sized, but sharp and pointed, for cutting
the cardboard to the requisite sizes for folding clothing around. Another idea about the beds, my cadet purchased 2 extra pairs of the "shirt suspenders" to use on the corners of his bed to hold the sheets in place. Since they don't have the oversized mattresses, probably the "sheet holders" they have at Walmart will work, too. They are like garter belts for sheets.
Hi My son walked in with the clothes on his back and a small gym bag with a shaver, toothbrush, etc. That bag (shaver and all) got lost for the entire BCT and it didn't get found until after he started normal academics. This is not an uncommon problem. The best thing is to go in armed with good physical conditioning, broken-in combat boots, and most importantly, a good attitude. Tell your cadet to take nothing personally and realize it is all part of "the game".
I recommend your son take only what they say to in the appointees book. Everything else is issued, except the iron and ironing board which usually the roommates share the expense of. During basic, everything is put away anyway except what he is issued on check-in day. Even his civvies are taken away. Since he has to carry everything around with him -- what he brings and what he's issued -- a backpack would probably be the easiest on him. It's quite an interesting period of time -- like a roller coaster.
All He needs is a positive mental attitude and the clothes on his back. USAFA will issue him the things that he needs. You can bring the rest of the things that he finds he needs during Parents Weekend.
The less he takes the easier it is. We did send a large portfolio type envelope with separate files of everything he needed paperwise-copies of immunization records, his check, parental permission (he wasn't yet 18), etc.Our son flew out alone and stayed over in a hotel. He had extra cash with him as well as a brown, pre-addressed and stamped envelope. Once he left the hotel he put any leftover money(except for a couple of dollars) in the envelope and sent it home. If you aren't going to be there then you should know that during in-processing the Academy gave them 5 minutes of free phone time to call home. This was something new so we hadn't been forewarned and I wasn't here for his call. Like everything else you never know if it will happen again but it's good to be prepared. During BCT there must have been a couple of small things he needed because he wrote that he needed 3 or 4 dollars and I had no trouble sending it to him although I've heard stories of being unable to get money to them. My advice- if the book says "no" then abide by it. Your cadet is there to learn the rules so everything you can do to follow them as well is the best message you can send. Yes, send letters ahead of time, but avoid pretty pink and flowered envelopes for your son! I bought lots of "pick-me-up" cards, sent cartoons from the paper and generally tried to be upbeat. Messages that come through can be exceptionally up or down and by the time you try to respond, the mood has changed. The first note I had from my son was about 8 days into the summer. He told me he thought all the training was sinking in because when he had been praying in chapel that morning he realized he was calling God "Sir!"Hopefully your messages from there will always have something positive in them, but don't be surprised if they don't. Just hang on and hang in!
Please don't send a watch and calculator a week after BCT starts. He will not be allowed to keep them in his room and the upperclassmen will have a hard time finding his bag that was locked up the first day he arrived. The Instructions to Appointees booklet really does answer most of your questions.
The Instructions to Appointees Booklet asks appointees to bring a scientific calculator with them to BCT. It also says to inscribe their social security number on it followed by an AF. It will be locked up along with their watch and street clothes on the day they arrive and they won't see that bag again until after BCT is over. My two bits on the toothbrush and toothpaste. He should be able to keep both of them and use them. The academy will also issue him both items. Make sure he has enough of the special toothpaste because he won't be able to buy any until BCT is over. He will have to remember to get these items out of his bag before they lock it up. Brushing his teeth every day shouldn't be a problem. Letters to home may have to wait a few more minutes. It really depends on how bad HE want's to brush his teeth. I read about an experiment they did with hidden cameras to see if kids brushed their teeth and flushed the toilet when parents weren't around. Guess what the results were!
Arriving for Basic Training......
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For any new appointees who are on-line, and for Parents' Clubs to pass on to their new appointees: I have been asked to let you know that the Baptist Student Union (BSU) in Colorado Springs has several rooms available for any appointees who need a place to stay the night before inprocessing. They will pick you up at the airport on Wednesday and deliver you to the Academy on Thursday morning. If you are interested or need more information, please call Dwain or Marilyn Gregory (Directors of the BSU) at 719-599-9094. Also, the Association of Graduates also have a list of graduates in this area who will provide a room for new appointees that night. For more information on this, call their office at 719-472-0300.
Here's an idea for all you parents of a firstie, 2 degree, or 3 degree cadets.
Our location here at St. Louis is one of the hub airports for all the new cadets making their way to the Academy to begin life as a cadet. The soon to be cadets transfer to a flight that is going directly to the Colorado Springs Airport to be picked up by the Academy bus.
Last year and this year on that day, my wife and I got the idea to go to the airport and "see off" all the cadets that were going on that flight. This ended up to be one of the best things we could have done. We got to meet a lot of great, soon to be cadets, but we also met several parents from our area who were sending off their sons and daughters for the first time. My wife and I were able to be there for those parents, answer any questions they might have had, and just generally be a friend to them in need at that time. The parents were able to talk and confide in someone who had been through this trying time.
One thing that my wife and I realized was that we were able to help several parents with questions about being the parents of an Air Force Academy cadet FROM THE PARENT standpoint. Questions about Parents' Weekend, Doolie Day Out, general advice, etc.
Another thing we realized was (even with all the information that is passed out on paper, through the LO's and appointee dinners) there were several parents that had fallen through the cracks and had not found out a lot of the details of the first year and what is good and not good to do AS A PARENT of a new cadet. It's kind of interesting that it is very important to the general well-being of the new cadet to train the parents of that cadet in the rigors of Academy life. We feel that it helped everyone concerned to make it through the first trying time of that 4 degree year.
This also helped to put faces to the names of the parents that we were assigned as sponsors for the year from the parents' clubs that we belong to. We met several of those parents at the airport, and we feel that the parents were more likely to get in contact with us if they had a question or just wanted to talk, rather than us calling them every time.
If you are on flex time, or like us can get off that morning, give it a try next year. Call the airport, and get the flight number and time of departure. We're sure you will not be disappointed with your efforts.
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I remember telling my son to try to find some thing good that had happened at the end of each day. Even if it was only "Today I got yelled at less than yesterday", it helped to know that things did improve. He also said it was easier knowing that everything was a part of the process and that each day would end. I know he said once that if we "had to yell" at him, it was more upsetting since we were yelling at "him" the person. His letters home were few and far between, but your family needs to understand that there may not be time. That's when the Parents' Club was a blessing. We would call each other and share what news we did get and by doing so, we got a more complete picture. Whatever you do, remember to be there for yourself-because YOU want it. And also remember that if the cadre has you up early or late, they're up too! Somehow that seems like justice! Try your best, grow each day and know that there is a long line of young men and women who have been there before you. And never forget that there ,too, is an enormous group of parents out here who, whether we know you personally or not, will always consider you "one of ours." Good luck and Godspeed", and to your family, we are here for them as others have been for us.
According to my daughter the best thing you can do during BCT is to blend in and remember why you wanted the Academy in the first place. She took everything as it came, and did not take anything personal. And try to see the humor in what your doing, she always found something to laugh about ( in the privacy of her room, not in front of the cadre). Whether it was the way the cadre had to keep a straight face while they where yelling at them for how the beds where made, or when they all walked out into the hall in their stocking feet to inform the cadre of how badly they needed a shower. Above all remember to break in those boots.
Sending Food in envelopes? Recommended ONLY if your basic says to do it. It turned out, my son was receiving 15-20 pieces of mail everyday, so I was instructed to try to sneak in "fruit rolls" and other flat items because with so much mail, something always made it through. Plus, he was already doing extra push-ups because he was getting more mail than anyone else in his Flight. He didn't care about his "Payment" for having food in his envelope, and he told us that the upper classmen liked finding fruit rolls in his mail because then they had something good to eat (not that it made any difference in how he was eventually treated during the training, but apparently, it was worth a few laughs for everyone). DO NOT, however, send dry items that are suppose to go into water [i.e., Crystal Light powder---someone sent this and the cadre made him eat the entire package dry. He reported he didn't like that very much. Just remember, if you send contraband to your sons or daughters in basic, that son or daughter must be willing to take the punishment that is meeted out....some are more willing than others to risk that punishment. If your son or daughter doesn't want to deal with it, then don't create the risk.
When our son was in Beast he said that if we sent enough cookies for everyone in his squadron, that they would all get to keep some. So, that's what we did. Went to Costco and bought a bunch and sent them off and they really enjoyed them. It's the small things that count!
You may want to start sending him mail before he leaves so it will be waiting when he arrives. I think Jason appreciated that as well as the daily letters and cards. It's quite an interesting period of time -- like a roller coaster. Be prepared for the down messages and the up messages. Jason recommends that new cadets go physically prepared and then "just survive".
Hello friends! i appreciate all of the encouragement being offered to everyone - especially addressed to the '00 parents. And, i don't want to sound negative, but i am concerned for many of you who are holding your breath - waiting for a letter from your son/daughter. In talking with our club families, i've learned that a number of their doolies wrote often - even during BCT. Some did not write at all. Our son wrote "only" 2 times (to us) during BCT - once on the 4th of July (when they can finally catch their breath), and once soon after that. Our cadet is a "writer" and is good about keeping in touch - but he was kept so busy...there wasn't time! Each squadron is different and each doolie is different. So, don't be too disappointed and don't worry if you don't hear from your Basic Cadet as soon or as often as you had hoped! i remember we set our son up with all kinds of postcards (including postage...) etc. before he left. i also remember the anxious feelings we had, and the anticipation each day when checking the mail - hoping for a word! Seems to me that he also wrote once or twice to my folks also...
"Amen" to the suggestions previously made about trying to send your son/daughter something in the mail everyday...a humorous card, a letter, a news clipping (from their high school) or cartoon...And getting a care package to them at the end of BCT is a welcome treat! Perhaps someone already advised against decorating the outside of the envelopes...this can create problems for your cadet. The one set of stickers that did not get my son extra unwanted "attention" - were of the U.S. flag!
i also agree with the suggestions to "keep it light" - our L.O.'s in the club suggest not troubling your kids with any negative news from home, etc.But remember, some news travels whether you want it to or not! When we had a housefire last Fall, we knew xxxx would hear about it eventually, and decided not to put off telling him! As far as not telling them you "miss them" goes...i feel this can be done in a way that does not bring them down emotionally. Again, everyone is different, and we felt we could tell our son this (and still do) honestly and even felt it was good for him to know he was missed...Be honest - but be positive!
i have always believed that "children are a gift from God" and that we only have them for a little while...to do the best we can with them, raising them to be independent, morally good, responsible citizens...And, while my brain understood this, my heart was a little slower getting the message! It does get easier to let them go...given a little more time and experience. Trust that everything will work together for their good (and yours)! And, in the same way it was difficult to watch your toddler trip and skin his knees, it is difficult to turn him over to "camp USAFA" to let them add the finishing touches that will help make his future better than it otherwise would have been!
Sorry to be so lengthy-
It would be nearly unnatural for a great number of cadets NOT to express this feeling during BCT. And over the long haul, nearly every one of them will have doubts at some time. First of all, the Academy is not for everyone. It is no shame for a cadet to leave. There are almost as many reasons for leaving as there are for staying. No matter what your cadet decides in the long run, be proud and supportive of what he/she has accomplished to this point. These cadets are a very small minority...the best of the best. They have proven that by getting to where they are right now, regardless of the eventual outcome. The good news is that while so many express doubts during the first part of BCT, the vast majority stay. If your cadet is having doubts right now, (and mine certainly did) just give them the same love and support you have given them to this point. Listen to what they say. Sometimes, they just need to "vent."
He remarked this morning about his first encounter with underclassmen. He said it seemed really, really strange when he ran into a group of basics the other day and they scurried to greet him properly. So it isn't just the Class of 2000 that is making major adjustments. Members of the Class of 1999 are now taking on a new role, that of upperclassmen. I think for my own cadet, the memories of anytime before April (and being Recognized) are really vivid yet.
Parents of the Class of 2000: I remember very well this time last year. I think about all of you so often, and know how you feel right now. It isn't easy waiting for Doolie Day Out, and it is not easy to count one less plate at the dinner table. Our cadet even "celebrated" his 18th birthday during BCT last year, and he said, for some reason, it was the worst day of basic. But he made it through it, and your cadets will too. So hang in there, parents. Your children are bright, diligent and determined, or they wouldn't be at USAFA. Here's a few things--a few tidbits of advice---that I wouldn't have minded knowing last year at this time:
(BESIDES PRAYING FOR AND WRITING TO YOUR CADET DAILY DURING BCT:)
a) Join USAFAnet---and don't be afraid to participate. I certainly wish I'd known about USAFAnet last year during BCT!
b) Don't be afraid to ask questions. The only dumb question is the one not asked.
c) Keep yourself too busy to think! Now is the time to dive into that project or take that vacation you have never had the time for. It'll make Parent's Weekend come that much more quickly.
d) Read (or re-read) the Academy literature your cadet received a few months prior to in-processing. It has a lot of answers to questions I notice come up on this net.
e) If you haven't read a parenting book about separating from your child, do so. I read "Give Them Wings" by Carol Kuykendall (Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, is the publisher) immediately before we dropped our son off at the Academy. Although it isn't specific to cadets, it does give good insight about owning up to the fact that both you and your child are entering another phase in life.
f) DON'T MISS Parent's Weekend! But be prepared:
1) Be familiar with the itinerary and have an idea of what you want to do, in case your cadet leaves it all up to you. Although the conventional wisdom is that most cadets just want to sleep and lie around, this is not always the case. Ours wanted to hang out with us, as far away from the Academy as possible. We had to come up with some ideas for family fun. Looking back, it would've been nice to have had some plans for a road trip out of CSprings (like up in the mountains) just for a two-day adventure.
2) Don't be shocked if your cadet wants to purchase a printer of his own. That was our son's first request. The evening we visited a computer shop in CS, the whole place was crawling with C4Cs on the same mission. BTW, there are some really good buys on printers during that weekend!
3) Be prepared to listen, listen, listen (and to stay up until 1:30 a.m. on Friday---the time all cadets must report back) Our cadet talked to us for about 7 hours straight about all his new experiences. He was excited; we were excited AND exhausted!
4) Be prepared for a major letdown on Monday of Parent's Weekend. Though he was very enthused about the Academy on Friday, Sat and Sun.of Parent's Weekend, our cadet was very, very blue all day Monday. It was very draining for all of us to leave him that day---I'd say even more emotional than In-Processing Day, when he was quite prepared to begin his Academy experience.
5) Encourage your cadet to bring everything he needs for the weekend from his room on Friday night after the Parade. Ours didn't, so we had to go back to his room after the football game on Saturday. Not a good plan (bad traffic!)
g---Encourage, root for, cheer on, motivate and praise your cadet. Encourage him/her to take one day at a time, one minute at a time. Always let him/her know you are there. And, although everybody may not agree, I think it is important to let your cadets know that, should they decide that Academy life is not for them, that you will not think less of them should they decide to call it quits. I would never encourage my son to quit, but I have always told him I would accept his judgment if that was something he felt he had to do. I've always let him know I have great respect for the fact that he was brave enough to go for it. He had the will to pursue acceptance, and the decision whether it was right for him is also his.
h---Brag, especially to all of us other parents. We are as proud of YOUR cadet as we are of our own. After all, it is the team USAFA that makes the place great!
Most of all, ENJOY BEING THE PARENT OF A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADET! You have so much to be proud of! God Bless the Cadets and Parents of the Class of 2000! We are all thinking of you!
Write your Cadet as often as you can. We were very fortunate, we heard from our son frequently. We tried to sent short messages and cards. They really appreciate hearing their name called during mail call. Those that do not receive letters tend to bunch around those who did, so they can hear something from the outside world. The more you send, the better of for your cadet. They will write you when they have time.
Once they get their computers, take advantage of the email. We hear from our son at least once or twice a week and tend to write back just as often or more often. I have talked to him more over the computer in the past year than he talked to me his entire senior year in high school! A lot of his friends have moved out of town, so Mom and Dad have become the steady influence is his life right now. We try to keep everything pretty upbeat and encourage as much as possible. For many of the Cadets the military routine and rules are new and different and difficult to understand at times (especially if their is not a military background in the family). There is a reason for what they do and why they do it - they are trying to get the Cadets to rely on each other for more of their support and develop teamwork - you want to be able to trust and rely on your copilot or other Air Force personnel when you are in a combat situation or peace time situation.
Our son will not be coming home during his break. He and his sponsor are going to take a trip to Scotland for 10 days and by the time the trip is over, the new semester will be starting. They started planning this trip about Christmas, and that is one of the things that has kept our son going this second semester - he had something positive to look forward to. He really enjoyed soaring the first part of the summer and is headed into the field on Friday for the last part of his CST training.
To you and all those awaiting communication from you BCT cadets, be patient. As hard as it seems to you now, the time in BCT will go by quickly and your cadet will be through basic and wearing his C4C shoulder boards before you know it. They are very busy, very tired, and get all of about 5 minutes a day which isn't supervised by someone "communicating" with them at a decibel level slightly above normal. You may not get any mail from them, or at best, a couple of letters hastily composed. They do get yours, however, so WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!
After they start academics, you will have email to converse with them and weekend phone calls (most of the time). Even then, you may not get a lot of communications depending on the cadet and their personal penchant to write back to you. If we got one email every two weeks, we considered ourselves blessed. On the other hand, some parents get multiple emails a day. Our son told us they get "dozens" of emails a day from the "system" which they have to weed through (read trash in many cases) in the time they have for study, homework, etc. Sometimes they may "miss" your email so try and make the subject line stand out. We send ours with a subject line that says "FROM DAD, 4 July" or "FROM YOUR SISTER" Hopeful they wont miss that.
Keep your spirits up and make sure you are waiting by the phone for that call on Doolie Day Out. They will want to talk then. Let them "vent", be supportive, and let them know how proud you are of them. For 99% of these young men & women, this will be the hardest thing they have ever done (until they get to Cadet Survival Training next year <grin>) so expect them to be "emotional" about it. THEY WILL SURVIVE.
There are probably a number of Parents' Clubs that do the same thing that we in CT/Wmass do. For those of you who do not, this is something to try.
We hold an annual picnic for our members each summer. It is always on the day before Doolie Day Out. The primary purpose of the picnic is to support the Doolie parents, and help them prepare for the phone call the next day. As we "veterans" know, the days leading up to the call can drag by. The picnic helps to keep the parents occupied with some fun, and at the same time, we can give them some general ideas on what to expect, and how to react to the calls. It has become a tradition that we all look forward to.
If your Parents' Club holds a function similar to this, by all means attend. If they do not, it may be something to consider for future years.
On another subject, by now it has been a week or so since the new basics reported in. I would imagine that most doolie parents have received some communication from them. Short letters or postcards. Try to keep in mind the "time lag" inherent in snail mail. A letter received today was written four, five or even six days ago. The initial shock of Beast has by now worn off, and they are beginning to get into the swing of things. So if that first letter was less than positive, don't worry too much. As many have said, be supportive, let them know how proud you are and how much you love them. You will see some great changes in your cadets
Anyway, I have a suggestion to offer. When you write to your Basic, enclose a self-addressed postage paid postcard. (Many of you are probably already doing this.) Usually they have only a couple minutes to jot something down. The Basics are taken to the post office once each day and they can mail at that time too. I remember looking forward to those postcards. Even though our Basic didn't have time to write many words, those cards gave us a sense of what was going on and how he was feeling at the time he wrote them. Be prepared for the signs of discouragement and remember that the cards are several days old. Your cadet has probably gone through a whole series of emotions since the moment s/he wrote the card. They are going through some tough times. That is why the feelings of accomplishment are so great when they get through it!!!!
A word of experience. Congrats to your sons and daughters for making it this far and almost through with BCT. Becoming a cadet is a huge accomplishment. BUT! (And I emphasize this point as I always did to "my" basics when I was there), the REAL challenge is yet to come. Welcome to the Fourth class year! Early morning chores, news articles to memorize, shirts to iron, laundry and papers to distribute, memorizing of the day's meals, calling minutes in the morning to wake the upperclass up, etc... AND THAT"S ALL BEFORE 7:00!! Not to mention the academics that need to be kept up with and the intramurals to participate in after school, yadda, yadda, yadda....
My point is, get ready for a lot of depressed sons and daughters when they call home over the next few months. They'll be telling you BCT was EASY!!! Regarding football. My absolute best example is what I observed from my own roommate. He was probably one of the best examples of "juggling" a schedule that any cadet, end especially any football player cadet I could ever offer. Xxxxx: starting halfback for AF football for two years, Class President, highest ranked junior cadet as the Wing Srgt. Major, Group commander senior year (it gets better...), GT Academic All- American and spokesperson for the whole NCAA group, Playboy Academic All American (don't worry, he was fully dressed in his picture), ahemmm, AND.. RHOADES SCHOLAR in 1991.
SO, if your son is concerned about how he's going to make it, believe me, it's do-able. Very important, I almost forgot. I am always amazed when i think about Chris. And my amazement isn't in what he did, but more importantly HOW he did it. So, here's a formula for all of your sons and daughters (and I swear to God it's absolutely true...) Sleep. Yes, sleep. 99% of cadets never get enough sleep up there. Chris Howard was in bed at exactly 11:00 every night during the week. If the work wasn't done, he'd get it done during a free period the next day. And that's the point. He wasn't so exhausted and sleepy the next day during that free period that he needed a nap to catch up on sleep like most cadets are. So, "how" you ask? S-L-E-E-P And that, Net parents, is one for all of your kids up here...
Doolie Day Out
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Well, the day is almost upon us. Tomorrow is Doolie Day Out, and with it, that much anticipated first phone call. Let me offer a couple of tips to the new parents.
The NORMAL routine is for the cadets to go in groups to a sponsor's home, probably around 11am or 12pm on Sunday. Please note that this is CO time...for us East Coasters, that means two hours later. When Xxxx was in BCT, we got up a 8am, expecting a call any minute...it finally came around 3pm in the afternoon! Adjust your thinking according to your time zone! Anyway, once they are at the sponsor's home, they will start to take turns making calls. The first call will probably be relatively brief, so that others can also get a chance to call home. You can usually expect a second, and sometimes third call from your cadet on Sunday. It all depends on how many cadets are at that sponsor's home.
The conversation during that first call can run the gamut of emotions. Everything from "I love it" to "This place sucks", and all between. It is a rare cadet who does not express doubts about being at the Academy, and many will share this on Sunday. Try to be as supportive as possible if this occurs. Telling them that they HAVE to stay is probably just as bad as telling them to jump on the next plane and come home. (I do believe the Academy has reverted to a "hard out" policy anyway, meaning that all cadets must finish BCT before being allowed to leave.) Encourage them to talk to someone at the Academy if they are having problems. There are chaplains, flight specialists, and many other people they can share their concerns with. Let them know that if they do have a problem, the Academy wants to know. If they go to a flight specialist or chaplain or cadre and present a problem, they will be "counseled", not trained or disciplined. They are there to help, not harass. Remember also, that the Air Force has spent a lot of money to get each cadet where he/she is right now...they do NOT want to lose a single one. There is help when it is needed.
Most of you will have great talks with your cadets on Sunday. Enjoy the experience. For those who are having problems, don't fret too much...Jack's Valley is coming next, and a lot of problems seem to resolve themselves during this period.
Just a reminder to have a tape recorder ready, connected, at hand; well you get the idea. You *will* want to listen to the call later. Much emotion will clog the thinking/hearing part of your brain when you hear your cadet's voice for the first time since 6/27. BE READY TO TAPE THE CALL
Brace Yourselves! The day is finally about here! HALF WAY THROUGH BCT!
Our son was bused with about 24 other cadets to a picnic area where they had tons of food, cell phones, and hammocks. The AirForce family that sponsored this event were not the sponsors of our son so don't expect this to be the case. He talked about eating submarine sandwiches, fried chicken, chips of all kinds, twinkies, pizza, pie, ice cream, candy, and washing it all down with Mountain Dew. He absolutely gorged himself. He called us 3 times and we talked about 30 minutes to 45 minutes each time. I also think he called friends in-between. He was tired, emotional and thrilled to be half way done with BCT. He did not say anything about leaving nor has he ever since even though there have been some rough spots. It would be RARE if a cadet got through BCT or the first year without some real tough times.
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If you can manage to be at Acceptance Parade - go for it! We drove all the way from California to see the parade knowing full well that we might not even be able to talk to our cadet. The parade was special because we could say we were there when he actually became a part of the Wing. It was one more small experience we could be a part of somehow. The next time their class will be the focus in a parade like this is when they graduate and separate from the wing. If you are at all sentimental about such things this might be important to you.
But...while we watched and waited at the Chapel wall for 4 1/2 hrs. we never got to see Xxxx! We finally got up the nerve to call his squadron from Arnold's and were told that since no other families from his squadron had come, he would just have to wait until Parent's Weekend to speak with us. That was tough, and I thought I had prepared myself for this possibility! He knew we were there and it was hard on him also.
On a positive note - many other 4 degrees did meet parents and friends at the Chapel. Several appeared to have a couple of hours to have lunch and visit at Arnold's. So, you may have to decide whether you want to take your chances or not. If you do go it is a great time to see the Academy and just hang around without the crowds that you will experience at Parent's Weekend. In spite of our obvious disappointment, we loved being there. We spent hours hiking some of the trails, perusing the Visitor's Center, watching ice skating and hockey practices at the Field House and just being in close proximity to our son.
And finally, if you have the opportunity to attend the Acceptance Parade, getting to the Academy a day or two early, and staying through the parade, and even an extra day afterwards, your 4th class cadet may actually have some opportunity to see you...it's a chance, but we recommend taking it. It was great just to see the parade, but we did get to spend time with our son, and met his roommates & new friends from basic. Some of the his friends commented how lucky he was that his parents came out (I think this was primarily because we took "food orders" went to the store, bought large plastic containers (which they can keep to store food in rooms), and wrapped them in brown paper, and showed up at the chapel wall with several large "care packages."
Regarding the Acceptance parade, it's unique in that the Wing only marches what is called the "wedge" only two times each year: once in the summer when the squadrons welcome the new cadets into the squadron, and once during graduation week when the seniors depart their squadrons. In that sense, the Acceptance parade is unique in its form.
As far as the emotional/sentimental meaning of it, I'll defer the details to other parents, but basically it marks the end of being merely a "basic cadet," and now being full-fledged cadet.
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Hi everybody, Even though we knew pack ages during BCT had to be opened in front of the cadre and possibly given up, we sent Jason a package anyway. (I wanted my cadet to know how bad I wanted him to have some goodies!) Included in the package was a note that read: "Here are two boxes of cookies - one for Jason and one for whoever he had to open this in front of." Everyone got a good laugh and he was able to keep one for himself! Those cadres do have a heart and a sense of humor! I didn't know if it would work, but I gave it a try.
Another cadet wrote a glowing letter about what a great time he was having. He must have had an upperclassmen looking over his shoulder because he closed his letter in Spanish saying "PS: This is a living hell".
One mom drove her daughter up there on June 29th and stayed until July 5th. She went to the Noon Meal formation everyday and was able to spot her daughter (eventually). She brought a bag of candy and gum with her and was going to drop some over the chapel wall for her daughter to find. On July 4th, she was in Arnold Hall and a bunch of doolies marched in. Much to her surprise, she saw her daughter. She didn't think her daughter saw her because she walked by with her eyes straight forward. After her daughter passed she saw her daughter sneak a tiny wave from her hip with her arm straight. A little while later her daughter passed again and whispered to her to go to the bathroom. She did and a little while later four doolies came in. They posted lookouts and the mom got to give her daughter hugs and kisses. Needless to say, she also filled up all the girls pockets with gum and candy.
I thought it might be time to break a little of the "00" tension with a TRUE story from our SMACK days. Now C2C, D., took a psychology course in High School in his sophomore year. One of the concepts that he really took to heart was the "anal" personality. Now, through having 3 teenage boys in our step family, we evolved only 3 rules of the house. One, shoes off at the front door, two, be home by the city ordered curfew, and three, no eating except in the kitchen. D., of course, thought that these rules were totally unfair and felt that by our enforcement of these rules, we qualified as the MOST anal parents of ALL his friend's parents, and probably the most anal parents in the whole "free" world. So, we suffered through this for two and a half years...."you guys are so anal..... I can't believe that God cursed me like this!..... etc !!!
Finally, D. goes off to the Academy. We hugged him goodbye at the Houston airport and were sad, .... but relieved in that now , the Air Force could deal with this child for a while! I think that we got one postcard from him before "Doolie Day Out". Then, we finally got the phone call from him on his day off. I answer the phone and I swear that these were his first words to me: "Hello, J" "Yes, D., how you doing?" "J, I gotta tell you one thing" "OK D., what is it?" ( I am expecting to hear that he has already purchased his airline tickets home).... "J, I was wrong.... you guys are NOT anal ..... These guys up here ARE anal !!" So, if there is a point, it is this...your kids are undergoing hell, but they will survive and if they have a sense of humor, I think it is much easier for them.
I was looking over letters from our son from last year's BCT and thought I might share with you that your Basics will experience one of the most awesome July 4ths they've had thus far. They will be pumped up with patriotism as they watch a movie" at rest" (this is a BIG treat!), see great fire works, and get candy thrown to them by civilians. Our cadet's letter of last year says they were chanting and cheering and singing the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless the USA. (They finished off the evening by serenading some girls from the wall with "You've Lost That Lovin Feeling"). By the way, in case you wonder what they need about now, the letter also said to "Please tell me what's happening in the world, send comics, send Bible verses, SEND FOOD" (yes, I know we're not supposed to: but gum and fruit roll ups work for you rebels out there...shhhhh)
K. called late last night, her last call before heading to 'the forest' for 8 days of CST (for doolie parents, that's combat survival training that your cadet will do next summer). She said that the July 4 fireworks were awesome, with all the patriotic songs, etc. She seemed just as enthused as she did last year as a basic. This year she was tossing candy to the basics. Spirits very high, with music like "Proud to be an American". She watched the fireworks with her cousin and his wife, both Marine officers on their way from D.C. to Hawaii for a three year tour. They drove through Col. Springs hoping to see K. before she 'went out'. K. seemed to have a good attitude about CST, and was off to take a shower that would have to last for eight days. We told her to call as soon as she got back in, and she said 'after I shower". We are praying for all the CST-ers, and BCT-ers. K. said that "even though it might seem corny, I am going to remember the last for letters in the word AmerICAN while I'm out there." I asked her what it was like to see the new basics. A little over a year ago, she had dark hair almost to her waist. Then it got chopped, and she has hated it ever since. Now it almost hits her collar, and after looking at the basics she now 'almost' thinks it is long again. There are things like BCT, doolie year and CST that we, as parents, wish our kids didn't have to go through. What we have to remember is the feeling of pride that they have once they have accomplished those things. If it wasn't tough, they couldn't experience the "I DID IT!" emotion.
A note on doolie day out.K. called three times. There were three doolies at the house, and they each took a turn for a fairly short call when they first got there. Once everyone had called, they all took another longer turn, and then another. When your basic calls, ask what the chances are that they might call back, as you surely won't want to miss any additional calls. We have three-way calling, so we were also able to patch her through to her grandparents on the same call. She was a little teary and lonesome on the phone, but we tried to be positive and told her that we'd see her in only 6 weeks (parents' weekend).
Just a quick note from a C3C with a sense of humor: My parents (and sister) would send me comics out of the daily/Sunday paper every so often during BCT, especially out at Jack's Valley. If your cadet is the type who really enjoys humor, send him/her some comics. Mine got passed around the tent a few times so that everyone could read them.
Last year on the Friday of parents weekend we were going through some of the scheduled events and I was in the ladies room in Arnold Hall following the briefing for C4C parents. I glanced at the photographs that I had just received of my daughter and her Flight and burst into tears. Everyone around me was wonderful and asked what was wrong. I said that I had waited so long to see my daughter, and now she's changed so much that I can't even recognize her in her photos!! After several kind words from those around me, I regained my composure and went on to the parade just before going to Sijan to actually meet with her for our first time since June. My husband stopped on the staircase to tie his shoe, but not me!!! I charged on ahead saying, "Sorry, I've waited all that I'm going to...." by that point no one was going to stop me!
Later, after a wonderful reunion, I told Sandy about the pictures. She looked at them and started laughing. It turns out that I got the wrong ones! They were of another cadet and Flight!!! That never even occurred to me....as I was so anxious.... feeling so near and yet so far.... Hope this brings a chuckle to those who are anxiously awaiting news from their sons or daughters. You're not alone.
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Though you don't know it, your cadet should have his squadron assignment (we got it during the inprocessing at the AOG building) for the fall and you can ask when you get that precious phone call during the BCT Doolie Day Out.
Since I can't recall if this has been put forward yet or not to the '00 parents, our son says that if you call 719-472-2910, you can get all your Cadet Basic's assignment (whereabouts) info, for summer and academic year squadrons.
If you want to find out what BCT Squadron and what permanent squadron your cadet is in, call the following number: (719) 472-2910. This is the place to get that information you what and don't have. You may have to call during normal business hours, but call anyway. Make the effort. It's only a phone call away. Let your fingers do the walking for you.
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Hey all you 00's parents, Don't know if they are doing it again this year or not but last year we could buy a BASIC tape which was a mixture of all the summer flights. You might want to check into that. I believe they send us a paper telling us how we could order. Hey some of your other 99's, help me out here. I purchased the tapes, and even though I only saw my son on it one time it was just the idea of knowing what they sort of went through as a group that helped. If you like I might be able to look in last year's records and see if I can come up with a address or a phone number, I ordered my tape and then picked it up when we went out for parent weekend. Sometimes when I get lonesome I sit down and watch it. It helps even if it is not totally of your child. And by the way parents, I know how hard it is to sit and wait for a letter, but hey you have something I didn't have last year, the net, so we shall try to help you through this and know that your sons and daughters are a cut above the rest or they wouldn't be where they are today. By the way, although the C3C who are in CST this summer, similar to BST, are not suppose to associate with the Basics my son said they sound like a very motivated bunch and he feels they are going to be a good asset for the Wing. Speaking from a Basic of days gone by, he is now a very positive focused young man, who was at the same point your sons and daughters are today. So hang in there and time will "fly" by.
The cadet's parents will soon start receiving all sorts of mail from USAFA offering tapes produced at the Academy showing the entire BCT process including their processing day and the activities over the next several weeks. These tapes can be picked up during parent's weekend which is Labor Day weekend. For those parent that do not know about Labor Day weekend, this is parents weekend. Approximately 4000 parents will converge on Colorado Springs at one time. Plan to go, this is a major event in your cadet's life. They are excused Saturday after the football game is over and are due back by Monday 800PM. If you do not have motel reservations, get them ASAP. Most parents book a year in advance. You will also want to get tickets to the game. Your cadet can order them for you, or you can call and order them yourself. If your Cadet orders them, make sure you get them from him BEFORE Saturday AM.
By all means - buy the video! We have watched it several times and our son knows nearly all of the cadets by now and can tell us who each one is and makes it really interesting to see how these kids have grown and changed. A keeper!
The yearbook (Polaris) is the same scenario. A must when you want to look up one of your cadets roommates or a net cadet or faculty or coach or anyone associated with the academy. A beautifully organized yearbook.
Every "Beast" has its own video. I picked up our Beast Video on Parents' Weekend. The folks to contact: Wing Media...the same folks who publish the yearbook. Cadet Wing Media P.O. Box 6066 USAFA, CO 80841-6066 Tel: (719) 472-4644
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Can anyone offer suggestions on the best way to break in combat boots?
Here's a novel idea ... just wear them! That's what my son did three years ago. He wore them to school almost everyday the last two weeks of the semester. Everyone thought they looked "cool." We also purchased ours through our local AF base, and I believe they were slightly different than the ones issued by the academy. While you have them, now is the time to get a good start on a spit shine too, so get those elbows shining away!
Yep that's a good way...wearing em All of my appointees for the class of 2000 are doing exactly that, wearing them to school, out , etc My son wore his to an award banquet..under long trousers, you cant really tell and they look like a doc martens (whatever they are called) knock off.He and at least 2 other of the aforementioned have started doing a bit of running in them too. Certainly there are more dramatic methods, like getting them real wet and then wearing them while wet, but if you have the time, a slow/gradual break in is best!
The best way I have found to break in combat boots is to put them on, stand in a bucket of water until they are thoroughly wet, put on dry socks, and then wear them until they dry out. You should continue to change socks throughout the day to avoid blisters, the boots will dry to the shape of the foot and be more comfortable. This may sound strange, but this method has worked well in my 23 years in the infantry.
Here is what our daughter was told to do before she spent a summer at Fort Knox. She did it with those boots, and also the ones for the Academy. Her sister is in Army ROTC, and all the kids do it, so don't be afraid to do it. After all, think of what these boots are made to withstand! Loosen the laces, open the boots up as much as possible. Put them in the shower, and let real hot water run on them (and into them) for 30 minutes. Pour the water out, and put them on. Wear them until they're dry. They don't take long to dry, but do this on the morning of a nice day so you can go for an outside walk or to a mall. You need to be moving around, and don't want to drip on the carpeting. Two things happen. The boots start to mold to your feet, so they are more comfortable and the 'coating' on the outside comes off so you can polish them better. When your appointee reports for in-processing, he/she should have them polished up just enough so they look nice, but shouldn't show up with them looking like mirrors. You don't want to do anything that will get attention on that day, so just have them look nice, and like they've been worn around for breaking in. They can learn/practice spit shining, but wait until after getting there to show off that skill.
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