<p>EXCELLENT! Very proud to "know" the state champs' dad!</p>
<p>Next is what boots do I buy, and do I really need two pair. Orientation and the endless (yes even after 21 years in AF) endless briefings. What bank do we use USAA or Armed Forces Bank...Then the fun of BCT. Staring endlessly at Webguy pictures looking for what you think is your child. Stalking the mailman for any news from the hill and Jack's Valley.
Your close enough to travel down for field day to watch the squadrons compete, even if it is from the observation point. Yeah much fun to enjoy.</p>
<p>We found the same "appointment offered" status change before any mail. Truely will be exciting to actually get the mail today/tomorrow. S has two appointments now, one for USMA and one for USAFA. WOW, it is great. But, what a decision for him to make. Will be scheduling a trip to AFA very soon.</p>
<p>Candle:</p>
<p>I made the same choice between West Point and USAFA my senior year of high school and have been to West Point in addition to attending USAFA. If your son would like someone to talk to about his choice, send me a message and I'll give you my email.</p>
<p>candlewood. I think it takes a few extra days to get an appointment ready to send out than an LOA. It took 6 days from the day my son got his appointment, and the day they actually mailed out the package. It then took 2 more days to deliver it via the mail. (I only live 2 hours away from the academy, yet it took 2 days. Go figure)</p>
<p>Anyway, the appointment package is totally complete. All the info you want to know; banking info; the candidate's obligation; paperwork to sign. It's pretty complete. Probably why it takes a few extra days. Plus they send emails and phone calls to your senators and rep to inform them of the appointment. (1 of our senators still wants to meet my son. Still wants to nominate him even though he already is nominated and has an appointment). Anyway, congrats and you should have the package soon.</p>
<p>Got the "appointment" package in the mail today. </p>
<p>Letter dated 11/13</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>Well, it looks like my son got to the FINAL STATUS CHANGE POSSIBLE. It now says "APPOINTMENT ACCEPTED". YEEHA!!!!!! What a long 5 months.</p>
<p>I went ahead and updated one of my ORIGINAL threads on "What the online application will say" to include all the stages and possible status' that we have seen over the last 4-5 months. I know I've asked a lot of questions here as certain status' changed. Hopefully the people waiting, as well as the new people next year, can read that one thread where so many of you have given great assistance, and they won't have to ask the same questions over again.</p>
<p>Anyway, we have reached the "End of the Journey". Now, the NEW Journey begins. Finishing high school and having my son get ready mentally for BCT and the academy life. Although, he has said that growing up as a military BRAT, he's sure that BCT and the academy will be EASIER than my rules, discipline, and living conditions. LOL!!! He meant it in a humorous and loving way. But I know what he means. My goal in raising him and his sister was never to TELL THEM WHAT TO DO in the present or the future. It was to make sure that they had OPTIONS. His hard work maintaining a 4.0 since; forever; as well as EC, Sports, ACT/SAT, etc... has paid off. He has realized that he does indeed have the options I promised. He has been accepted to all 4 schools he has applied to. 2 with full ride scholarships, the academy, and another prestigious school with a 50% merit scholarship. (Academy is definitely #1). His options allowed him to do well in sports, winning state, being recognized, and now having the opportunity to be a part of Falcon football. All the hard work he has done has indeed paid off.</p>
<p>I am not really writing any of this for the parents reading this. For us, our kids are raised now. We have done what we can. The rest is up to them. I write this for the cadets out there who will some day settle down, marry, and have children of their own. Besides the safety and health of your children, and the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE that you should have for them; the BEST thing you can give to your children is the understanding of OPTIONS. That the reason they need to do well in school is so they have OPTIONS. Why they do the best in all of their endeavors. So they have OPTIONS. If all you want to be is the manager at Burger King, then that's great. But do it because you WANT to and not because you DIDN'T have any other OPTIONS. If you can ensure your children have OPTIONS, then that is the greatest gift a parent can give a child. Now, they have the opportunity to make educated and informed CHOICES and not be reactive to their situations.</p>
<p>Thank you EVERYONE for all the help you have provided in the last 5 months. My son also thanks you; even though he doesn't frequent the forums and doesn't realize how much information he has gotten through me, via through you all. Have a great holiday everyone and a great year for you cadets. Hopefully many of you can make it to Ft Worth to see AIR FORCE FALCON FOOTBALL win a Bowl Game. later... Mike.....</p>
<p>Thank YOU, Mike. You've added a lot of info and it is appreciated -- and congrats to your son !</p>
<p>Mike, what a great summary, and you're right. We and our kids have worked hard so they can have options, sometimes options WE never had! I am so proud of all the wonderful young people I have "met" on this forum. What fantastic leaders they will make.</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your son too. I can feel the beaming pride all the way over here in Steeler Country!</p>
<p>Congrats to all, I only wish my wait would end soon. I am still truckin away and I just wrapped up my application today with my CFA. Ive already been accepted to Penn State so college is definitely in my future, just waitin on the academy and ROTC. CFA scores anyone???</p>
<p>BBall: 48' (yea gross but in my opinion an odd test)
Pull Ups: 15
Shuttle: 8.9
SitUps: 91
Pushups: 59
Mile: 5:52</p>
<p>I am smaller, and I am a distance runner, I run XC and Track. Iam currently in the middle of wrestling season, and as of yesterday ditched my projected weight class of 119lbs, (tooooo much to lose). I felt these were pretty good comin from someone who doesnt lift weights or anything. I turned them in so that is that but any info coming from those that have been accepted would be nice...</p>
<p>Thank you all, and again I congratulate everyone!!!</p>
<p>Good job, except the bball throw might hurt you since you failed it....hopefully they will still accept it with the scores everywhere else.</p>
<p>haha i know a bad score, but from what i have gathered, i did very well in all other aspects and i shouldnt have a big problem...</p>
<p>today was an up and down day for me, i began by opening a letter from Senator Specter, I received my nomination, quite early too, but soon after i opened my letter that stated i had been medically disqualified because of BRACES!!! wow, so iam gonna call up DODMERB tomorrow and sort things out, i turned in the questionaire so i dunno why this happened, but it will probably end with me sending in a waiver letter, but as long as i get it cleared up, i feel my chances are looking brighter i hope...</p>
<p>That definitely brings up a question. Doesn't apply with my son, but what is the deal with braces? I could have sworn that in my many visits to the academy, I remember even seeing a cadet or two WITH braces. Is it as simple as a waiver? In which case, why do they even worry about braces if people just get waivers? Is it something that some physicians make note of and some don't during the DODMB physical and thereby once you are qualified no one asks about it? Just a curious question considering not too many people mention it. Maybe one of the current cadets can comment on it. Would be helpful for future candidates. I.e. Telling the physician that the braces are scheduled to come off prior to high school graduation, therefor they don't mention it in the physical because it's not going to be an issue.</p>
<p>Braces are BAD during BCT and I don't think you're even allowed braces. However, as a cadet many have braces. I will have braces starting next semester lol.</p>
<p>Well I cleared it up, a waiver may not always be granted, and thus I decided, along with my orthodontist to have them removed next month. He will submit a letter and it will all be taken care of. I was scheduled to have them removed in October but was a bit delayed.</p>