<p>My son just received an appointment to attend the United States Air Force Academy! I just felt the need to 'publicly' say it. We are very proud of his accomplishment. Now he has the tough decision to make.</p>
<p>Proud Dad.</p>
<p>CONGRATS. A friend of ours is on his first year at Colorado Springs.</p>
<p>Congratulations to you and your son. My nephew is completing his third year there and is loving it. The first year (actually up to about March or April) would be viewed by most as living hell, but it's probably one of things that you can look back at with pride and say that you conquered it. After that, things seemed to get a bit more "normal" (except the survival training that they get during the second summer is not your typical summer "job") The opportunities for travel around the world are amazing as are the opportunities for graduate study for those who end up near the top of the class. My nephew will have the opportunity to attend MIT for his master's subsequent to graduation.</p>
<p>BIG BIG CONGRATS from our house! As an Air Force Brat it is a HUGE achievement. DS#2 has requested his supplementary app for next year.</p>
<p>CONGRATS!!!!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>congratulations- my nephew who was admitted to Duke- was denied at the Academy ( and is graduating next month from UCBoulder with an aeronautical engineering degree)</p>
<p>He will love Co springs</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Yes, the first year will be extremely hard, especially the summer. I'm glad to hear that the upper class cadets are enjoying themselves.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son, senior friend of DD's from last year is finishing his freshman year, came home for a spring break visit - doing great, grown in many ways!</p>
<p>One other point about the Air Force Academy - they are very supportive and stress the military concept of teaming and brotherhood (& sisterhood?). In my nephew's first year, one of the cadets was struggling academically and was on target for flunking out. Rather than let nature take its course, they moved the struggling cadet into the room with my nephew and another good performer and told them to mentor the struggling one. It worked and now he is on target to graduate.</p>
<p>fundingfather, That's great to hear. One thing that attracts me to the academy is the camaraderie that developes with the cadets. Going through hell for 4 years together will develop friendships that will last a lifetime. </p>
<p>I've heard similar stories of cadets helping others and not letting them drop out. It sounds like the support structure is very strong.</p>
<p>What a great achievement and opportunity! Congratulations from an Air Force brat.</p>
<p>Congrats! A wonderful kid from S' hs is appointed and going next yr. Excellent student, excellent athlete, leader.</p>
<p>daves123 -</p>
<p>Congratulations. Your son should see if he can hook up with a sponsoring family in the Gleneagle/Monument area. This can give him an occasional pressure-free environment where he can eat and sleep to his heart's content!</p>
<p>Congrats again.</p>
<p>Hey - congratulations from an old hippie who is not an Air Force brat:). That is a great school and over the years I have truly come to appreciate what military training brings to people. If I'm hiring, military training is a big plus.</p>
<p>Congratulations. The best academy IMHO.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone! It going to be an exciting 3 weeks as my son makes his decision. He has some great options. I just booked our flights out to the Adademy at the end of the month for an orientation session. I"m looking forward to it since I've never been there.</p>
<p>A hint from my sister: You might want to book a room for the family weekend that they have right at the end of the summer. Apparently it is very popular with all of the families - not just the first years, and rooms become very scarce. I'm sure that if your son decides to not attend that you can cancel your reservation.</p>