<p>Just curious about Inprocessing day for parents, once the cadets are put on the bus, will parents have any more opportunities to see or talk to them?</p>
<p>Nope! It's a done deal once you're on that bus.</p>
<p>If your parents do come out for I-day, they can stick around an extra day and watch you officially take the oath of office. But it has to be from the chapel wall and they won't be able to talk to you or anything. They probably won't be able to pick you out of the massive crowd either, but lots of parents brought banners and posters and stuff, so you might be able to see them (not that you'll be gazing of course ;))...</p>
<p>there was a huge thread on this last year (i can't find it) about whether or not parents should come to I-day, but to sum it up without the offensive parts from least year:</p>
<p>ASK YOUR APPOINTEE. some ppl are better having their parents there, others are not. if they come alone, there's a great bed and breakfast program to look into, if not you'll be there. just please let the appointee choose which would work better for him/her</p>
<p>I see where its about 50/50 for parents that go. We (mom and dad) have already booked our flight. We have followed his dream up to this point, I guess we can be there to see him off. Unfortunately, I think I purchased non-refundable flights.</p>
<p>There was actually an opportunity to see your cadet just briefly. Not to talk to but just a wave and a hello.
Last year on Friday night (swearing in was that AM), the 4digs who chose to go to church came out of the gate near the front of the chapel and walked past us parents who were just hanging out. It might have been a 7pm service. Quite a few families were lucky enough to see their son or daughter walk right by them. My son on the other hand decided to go to his room and sit straight in his chair for an hour. Once he figured that out he started going to services instead. As he put it..."it's the only time your not getting beat".
You should definitely find out what squadron your in at Arnold Hall before going upstairs for inprocessing. That will help your folks identify where you are at swearing in and also by a specific color lanyard that you all wear. That will help when looking through unmarked pictures on webguy hoping to find your son or daughter out of so many basics that all look alike.
They really do look alike. I have some pics and video of swearing in and was able to focus in on my basic cadet. Then I brought pictures and video on parent's weekend to show my son. I just died when he said "that's not even me Mom...I was standing on the other side of the squadron."</p>
<p>We elected to go...did a short family trip to Breckenridge beforehand. I'm glad we did it...a real mix of emotions but we were quickly able to determine what BCT squad our son was in by his lanyard color and "bonded" with other parents at the Chapel wall who all of a sudden had a lot in common. We did spot our Basic in BDUs after his haircut in a group being escorted to Vandy. Parents like the new Basics cannot be totally prepared for I-day. </p>
<p>What I found most impressive regarding the oath of office the next morning was just how much they appeared to accomplish in 24 hours. You couldn't believe it was the same group of kids you saw at Doolittle Hall the day before.</p>