<p>I am taking the liberty of moving this to a new thread. The congradulations thread is used to list all the CC appointtee’s. Please feel free to ask away. I know there are plenty of 2011, and 2010 parents, and cadets ready to answer all your questions.</p>
<p>OK, this is my first posting on this site. I basically have no clue as to what most of you are writing about – all the acronyms?! I have so many questions that I don’t even know what to ask/write. Since I have a daughter who is a fencer (per my fencing4ever name) who will begin BCT this summer, I will ask if there are any other mothers out there who have a fencer other than fencersmother (whose postings I have read and sort of understood??). I guess I’m just looking to connect with someone…anyone who I can get to know. I know NOBODY at the Academy. Hopeful for responses…</p>
<p>New Parents - Ask away. And ask as much and as often as you need to. There will be plenty of answers for you to sift through or cadets and parents sending you to old threads where the questions have been asked before. No where else will you find a more helpful group of people than on this USAFA site! </p>
<p>This is probably a silly question, but here goes.... what do the cadets do with all of the "stuff" that they accumulate over the school year? Do they have to take it with them over the summer? Do they keep the same room each year, so they just leave it? Do they get a new room and move their stuff in before having their summer sessions or leave? Thanks!</p>
<p>I know this has been talked about before, but I couldn't find it. What do people usually send in the first package to their cadet? How much lead time is needed so that it is there on the first day allowed?</p>
<p>For the first package they can accept after BCT, I would suggest nothing perishable until you know they are getting stuff in their P.O. Box in a timely fashion. Maybe homebaked cookies but more along the lines of your cadet's favorite candy, personal products for girls (nail files, lipgloss, hand lotions, etc), maybe an alarm clock, etc. </p>
<p>Talk to your cadet to see what they may want to have right after BCT.</p>
<p>The current cadets will chime in here as well telling you what was important to them right after BCT. Usually involves what we may consider trivial but trivial will not be a word to take lightly from now on.</p>
<p>Forgot - When the Basics go on Doolie Day Out during Basic, they almost alwyas get to make a phone call home. That is a good time for them to plan what to tell you they want as soon as BCT is over and for you to start putting the package together.</p>
<p>And, make plans to be home that day and by the phone if possible. That is a phone call you do not want to miss. :)</p>
<p>Will they get their cell phones back for that day? If we give them a pre-paid card will they get that? or do they have to rely on the family they are with to allow them the use of their phones?</p>
<p>Welcome to all the new 2012 moms! (and dads-shame on me!) I think you'll find that this is a GREAT resource with wonderful people and a really nice place to spend some time when you need to feel closer to your cadet. You'll get used to the acronyms. They'll start sinking in after you see them the first 100 times! Our son is a 4 degree, 2 days from heading into recognition. It's been quite the year, almost 2 with summer seminar! This forum continues to be invaluable to us, so if we could help the next round of newbies parents in the same way that we were helped, we'd love to be able to contribute. Welcome to the ride!</p>
<p>I don't believe they get their phones back for Doolie Day out. Our son called using his sponsor family's phone. The kindness extended by many last summer was amazing, not only his sponsor family, but other parents, sometimes cadre for rewarding performance with a quick unexpected call home, or parents of BCT cadre passing an encouraging word about the squad or pictures sent to them from Jack's that day. Webguy and the AOG were also great help. The 2010s, and now 2011s on these boards, along with the advice currently posted by others, are reflective of a great community that we could easily "feel" as early as I-day.</p>
<p>Candlewood - It is an "unwritten rule" that the Doolie Day Out "parents" give the Basics phone time on their house phone. It's expected. If I am correct, the Basics still do not have any access to their cell phones. Don't worry, the Doolie parents will let them call home.</p>
<p>That first phone call from the sponsor family is great. They will have been out of touch for about three weeks and you will have a lot to catch up on. The sponsor families are great in this regard. Don't worry about the cell phone. Have him take it and let the squadrons hold it. You might get a lucky call as a reward over the summer too.</p>
<p>Want to express my apprecitaion to all parents of cadets along with cadets themselves for their input and advise. We have learned so much by reading info posted here. Son comes to breakfast every morning to remind me us of months, days, and now hours till he arrives in June. Any suggestions on do and don'ts when we take him out in June.</p>
<p>Just be ready to let him go. You will be in for a bumpy ride no matter how much of a superstar he is. They are all superstars, and most not used to failing at much of anything. You will get calls, email and letters telling you how great it is, and the next day they will use the (IHTFP) attitude. just be ready to support them. Potter has been going back and forth all week. Her facebook says she feels bipolar....it is just the stress and the process. This group and the parents yahoo group will help you get through.</p>
<p>Lessons we learned in the past four years (Wow has it been that long?)</p>
<p>USPS flat rate Priority mail boxes are great for packages--it's a flat rate for anything you can "stuff" into them. They usually arrive in 3 days. I always get a tracking # (45 cents extra) which I e-mail to my son.
One of my sons favorite treats was from Fairytale Brownies-<a href="http://www.Brownies.com">www.Brownies.com</a> -they are a great company. (They are very supportive of our troops--when my nephew was in Iraq they upgraded an order and sent it for free) I believe they have free shipping to the SAs</p>
<p>At parents weekend you have a chance to sign up for Zoomienet ( they will have a display) your cadet can have an account with them and you can add money for them. They can then order food from a large # of restaurants and have it delivered to the dorms (they have regular drop off areas). Some squads may not let them have this privelege, your cadet will know. My son has said many times (he is now a "firstie" soon to be a 2nd Lt.) that is what got him through the first year. He would treat himself to a meal whenever things got tough. </p>
<p>If you have other questions I would be happy to answer them --</p>
<p>USAFAMOM - I didn't know we had a firstie mom here with us. Congrats to you! Wow! I just can't imagine what you are feeling right now - just a few months from the emotions of graduation. I just can't imagine. Thanks for sticking with this CC group to pass on advice. The time and your wisdom to all is appreciated. </p>
<p>As a mom of 2010 I can't believe how fast the years to this point have passed. Seems like yesterday we were talking about getting through high school and see hwere we are now.</p>
<p>BAMOM - I wish I could help you with your question of what to do and not do in June. We left our cadet at the airport to make the trip alone. Not my first choice, and I was NOT given a choice, but glad my cadet was smarter than I was and made the decision himself. I am known as an emotional slob and I know I could not have said good-bye at USAFA and my cadet knew it, too. Never say the young are not wise. Sometimes wise beyond their years.</p>
<p>Congratulations parents of the class of 2012! Put your seat belts on because you are going to be riding a VERY WILD rollercoaster ride from now until.....I don't think it ever ends. </p>
<p>My son completed 10 months of his first year at the AFA in the class of 2010. I check in on CC every once in a while to see if there are any parents that need direction if their child/cadet decides to leave the Academy. (I also have one son starting college in the fall.) I stay in touch with the parents of the 2010 Yahoo Group. We are still Family. I have been the "Go to" person when the news "I'm comming home" takes our breath away. My son has no regrets. He learned so much about himself and matured through his experiences at the AFA. He has landed back on his feet at a State University and is also participating in ROTC. His goals and dreams have not changed. He is even more determined to serve our country! The reality is, not everyone that starts BCT graduates from the Academy. There is NO SHAME associated with a cadet's decision to leave. With that said....Stress to your new cadets that you will ALWAYS love them no matter what path they take. </p>
<p>Some parents of cadets have a "back up plan" in place just in case something does not work out. Cadets have been injured during BCT and are given a "Medical Turn-Back" which means the AFA holds a spot in next years entering class as long as they are medically cleared and physically qualified to restart BCT. Your cadet may not be able to cope in that environment. Your cadet may not be able to handle the academic demands. Even the brightest students can struggle. I pray to God that they don't find themselves on Honor probation. If they do, LOVE them anyway. The last thing they need is more stress from home. Remember that they are now adults. We can't get them out of trouble anymore. </p>
<p>So what does a "back up plan" look like? Some parents have paid the non-refundable admission fee and housing deposits at the college or university that their child would most likely attend if their Appointment was not offered. ALSO *** now is the time to file the FAFSA even if you don't think you will qualify for Financial Aid ***. You will use your 2007 Tax Return figures and answer the questions as if your child/cadet were not planning on going to the Academy. Make sure you request that FAFSA send their report to the college or university that you paid deposits/fees to. You should also recieve an estimated cost of attendance breakdown from the back up college. If your cadet does complete BCT, I am pretty sure you can still request that the back up school hold their offer of admission for one year without penalty. This may hold true for some scholarships offered by the same school. Let them know that your child is serving active duty at the USAFA. </p>
<p>I share this information now to prevent you from dealing with it as we had. We were not prepared for our son's return home. If you have specific questions or concerns, please send me a private message. I will do my best to answer them. </p>
<p>Again, congratulations for raising a child that is selfless and willing to defend our country.</p>
<p>It is hard for me to believe that I am not really a "new" mom anymore, (same goes for not being 20 y.o. anymore, but that is a different thread!). Although my d is a 2012 it seems that we have been working on this forever and at the same time it seems that we just started yesterday!<br>
I want to echo what the other 2012 parents have said. All of the AFA parents and cadets on this forum have been a huge help.
I was very insistent that my d was not arriving in Colorado Springs alone! However after reading all of the replies to my question, I realized that the B&B program was the best (not easiest) thing for our family. I have also realized that my future cadet will be well taken care of and challenged to the max. I know she will love it.</p>
<p>Again, thanks for all of the support and time y'all give on this forum!</p>
<p>Though there probably little you can do...but try to "bubble wrap" your future cadet as best as you can so they can report on June 26th and complete BCT. Basics cannot start the academic year if they don't finish BCT-1 and BCT-2 and there are probably several medical turnbacks on I-day due to injuries that occur in the Spring or after high school graduation. </p>
<p>Second during Field Day have your cadet to steer clear of an event called Push Ball - probably lots of fun but way way too many injuries. I think a number of Basics were sent packing after that.</p>
<p>Third - send as much mail as you can all summer. You may not get much back in return but it's their only connection to the outside world and really helps to sustain them.</p>