<p>hey everyone, i am so happy i went to orientation!!! the base is so beautiful, and the cadet area is HUGE!! i didn’t think it would be that big, but when i was walking it with hornetguy i was like “WOW!!”. and by the way, hornetguy was really awesome- he showed me around and gave me a good representation of USAFA, and i am forever thankful :). but yea, the cadet chapel was awe-inspiring as well as the rest of the cadet area. i wish i didn’t have to leave, lol!. the cadets all seemed very cool with me, and they all gave their two cents about the academy. i learned a whole lot from the breifings and got an idea of what the academics will be like from shadowing hornetguy and his roommate. what really got me excited was how advanced the academic facilities were! as well as the top-notch teaching skills of the instructors. however, the highlight of my stay was when i found out that next year, freshmen will have the opportunity to take basic soaring in their second semester!!! i still haven’t confirmed this with official sources, but i heard about it from two different soaring IP’s and that really encouraged me more than anything to not only go to USAFA but to excel academically. </p>
<p>i encourage all appointees to try and make it to orientation, weather you have decided to go or not, because it is well worth it!</p>
<p>Yep. Actually, one of my squadmates (another 4-dig) has soaring THIS semester. It's a new program they're trying out. If you want it, definitely request it when the time comes at the start of the Spring semester your freshman year.</p>
<p>thats what i said, right? that freshmen can soar in their second semester? and do you know how hard it was for him to get the slot? also, is USAFA bringing back PFP?</p>
<p>Actually, my squadmate is a female. She didn't do anything at all to get soaring, they just gave it to her. She said that personally, it's not something she would have signed up for, but she's doing it just for the heck of it. She doesn't really have any interest in being a pilot, so soaring isn't really all that interesting to her. I nearly fell over when she said she didn't really care about it. It was given to her just because she had the three class periods free when they were offering it.</p>
<p>lol, thank you hornetguy. i guess i should have asked different questions. when is the earliest i could do pfp? and can i do pfp and be a soaring IP as well? for example, i do basic soaring and earn my solo the second sememster of my 4 deg year, then take jump in the summer, then do PFP first semester of 3 deg year, then upgrade to IP second semester of 3 deg year.</p>
<p>oh, and flyboy, water haze does not have a tunnel u swim through. its just a pool and u have to stay under on your own, and u come up where u want. a tunnel would be cool, but there isn't one.</p>
<p>Well this flymom has been out there and she loves it!.....but I'm not flyboy's mom. I'd adopt him anyday though as he's one motivated flyboy, but I'm sure his real flymom would not allow that! :)</p>
<p>flyboy I'm so happy you had a great time at orientation and also happy you found the cadets so accommodating. I'm beginning to think their barks are bigger than their bites...:) :) ...or stings in Hornet's case...</p>
<p>Fencersmother: My dad accompanied me to orientation. He had a blast and if you can do the parent tour on tuesday i HIGHLY recommend it. You wont be able to get a full tour like that until parents day!</p>
<p>no, flymom is not my mom, lol. but i'm sure she is still a great mom! but both of my parents did come...they bought shirts and hats at the visitors center saying air force academy mom/dad. it was kind of lame, but funny too. they loved it and are really happy i am going :). CAfalcon, did you like orientation?</p>
<p>haha, that's funny eagle. oh, and that reminds me...it was really great to meet you eagle36!! as well as guy4christ!! and petko! you guys were all really cool and helpful, thanks again :)</p>
<p>haha yes I loved orientation, it was more then I could have hoped for! </p>
<p>eagle36: well escaped probably not the best word for it! haha Actually, ended up getting mixed up in the crowd, she being in class and me looking for her in the fieldhouse. I ended up getting paired up with another 4 dig...Sutton...Everything worked out well in the end. But its interesting to see that this is the topic of discussion lol</p>