<p>I was at the Air Force Academy yesterday.
1. Your kids are doing fine. They were assembling in the main yard for what seemed to be lunch. Various squads were assembling and marching towards one of the main buildings.
2. The Chapel IS, indeed, incredible. </p>
<p>Some observations compared to USNA.</p>
<p>The grounds are significantly larger. [There is no comparison actually.] I read somewhere--and was told by Son who is at USNA--that cadets get more liberty than midshipmen. However, since the Academy is much further removed from Colorado Springs, this may not be worth much.
Do the cadets get rides to town or something?</p>
<p>The public does not seem tob e encouraged to interact with cadets. There is, literally, a fence between the public areas and cadet areas. I was there doing some business and made my way to some administration buildings but I was struck at how the public is separated from the Cadet areas. In Annapolis, the public walks in teh same areas as those used by Mids, with obvious exceptions re: academic buildings and dorms, etc.</p>
<p>The architecture is significantly different. A sign of the times in which the buildings were built, but the USAFA is much more stark, cold, etc. Much less grass, etc.</p>
<p>The visitors cetner is set off by itself--see above re: separation of the public from the cadets--and not as inviting.</p>
<p>The fence is new and added after 9/11. Or so I'm told. Visitors would stand up against the wall and watch the wing march to lunch and also scream baby killers in the 70's. That is why it is called the zoo, you look down on the animals in there habitat. There is plenty of grass in the center in the air gardens. Did you see the field house area it is very green?</p>
<p>My S has played hockey and worked as a referee at Navy the past 3 years. I believe it was Bancroft which is now being used as a dining hall now. The new ice rink sounds beautiful, I hope he gets a chance to skate on it.</p>
<p>As to Navy, the buildings are of the time that they were built too. I always feel that there is no elbow room when I am on campus. They are historic and have their own beauty. AF is modern to reflect the modern age of flying. The wide open spaces are wonderful like flying. I always thought the Navy campus was crowded to reflect life on a boat. </p>
<p>As to the cadet's free time, that changes like the wind. We had several cadets that we sponsored and many times that would make plans to come off the grounds only to have some unexpected inspection or such. The cadets are allowed to have cars the junior year, that started with the class of 81 :). But we didn't get them until christmas break. Cars are lent to cadets by other cadets so they can get around. Many times guys will just start walking off toward the BX or C Springs and cadets will stop and pick them up. They have all been there. It is sort of like slugging here in DC/NOVA.</p>