<p>Son just got notice from his MOC this weekend that he got an Appointment but we are still awaiting the grey envelope, etc. In the meantime I have seen some breif mentions here on the forum of some sort of Orientation in April. Is that for new appointee’s? Dates? Details in the appointment package? </p>
<p>Just trying to get a head start on reservations, etc. here from the east coast (NJ).</p>
<p>Dknightfam</p>
<p>Dknightfam,</p>
<p>Here is a link to the registration page for orientation. Fill it out and submit online. If there is a problem (no Appointment to match the registered person), the USAFA staff will contact you via email. Otherwise, they sould send a confirmation email.</p>
<p>Stealth_81</p>
<p>Thanks Stealth - exactly what I needed! </p>
<p>Did you get the link in your Appointment package, or was it hiding somewhere on the AFA website that I should have seen previous?</p>
<p>D</p>
<p>I think that link came from son's ALO in her email telling him he got his appointment. I know he registered for orientation before he got the grey envelope. It is among a whole list of links and web pages that I have collected over the last year + that we have been on this journey. I am glad that I can share them as needed.</p>
<p>Stealth_81</p>
<p>Dknightfam -- As a parent, you will get a LOT out of orientation. Topics covered included: wisdom teeth, the loan program, what to bring on I-day, cellphones, what Basic is like (to some degree anyway), how to contact your cadet -- emergency or otherwise, bank accounts (including tables to sign up for direct deposit, online banking, etc.), medical insurance, tax/dependant questions, spiritual questions/guidance while at the Academy, famnet (one of the great networks for parents to join), state parents' club info, boot purchasing (which can/should be done right at orientation), etc. You will have opportunities to attend certain things while your appointee walks around with a cadet.</p>
<p>orientation is great for everyone. for appointees, its great to see the rooms, showers, what cadets do the whole day, although it is post-recognition</p>
<p>I am not in a financial position to be able to go to orientation. Will I be informed as to the info. that is to be presented at orientation once I recieve my instructions to appointee packet?</p>
<p>for you, all you really miss is the opportunity to have contact with cadets, see the place, etc. as for you parents, i'm not sure what information they get, so a parent of a current cadet might be better suited to answer that one</p>
<p>Well, as I said it was excellent information for parents. Some of it is in the packet, but the Q&A from hundreds of parents was really helpful. I also got to ask specific questions of the staff that worked there. Last year, I posted a CC summary of all the info I wrote down. I tried to find that in the CC archive but was unable to locate it. I would suggest that parents who attend this year might also be willing to post info on cc -- that will help. I would also suggest that as soon as your cadet accepts the appointment, that you get on famnet. This is a blitz-style email service where any AFA parent who is a member can ask questions and get (tons of) answers from parents that went before you. It's a great help but it's a LOT of emails. I actually established a mailbox specifically for this which I go through every week or so -- generally I delete most of it without looking. But I have received great info from it such as: how to send packages, good restaurant's in the area, an understanding of how the honor code works, all things military (many famnet members are ex-military), how others have handled certain stress points, such as recognition, locating other parents in my sons' squadron, dresscode for certain functions, etc. The biggest thing you'll miss is being able to buy boots early so they can be properly broken in BEFORE I-day. Can't emphasize the importance of that one enough. Still, you can contact the academy, send them a check (early boots will cost you about $100 bucks) and still get em in time. Also, go a little early on I-day to sign up a bank account since you'll have missed that at orientation as well. Otherwise, you'll be fine. Ask us on CC! ;)</p>
<p>It was pointed out to the class of 2010 that of all those who dropped out during BCT of the class of 2009 only three of them had attended orientation. The inference was that orientation really helps you in your final decision making. Certainly it helps reduce the "surprise" factor on I-day.</p>
<p>for boots, if you live near an AFB, you can also go there. with the number for the boots, you can buy them there also. just make sure you match the boot number EXACTLY</p>
<p>**that's mainly for ppl who cannot go to orientation. if you are going to orientation, its easier to get them there if you are positive you are going to go. i waited b/c i didn't decide to attend until after orientation</p>
<p>I would note that our airforce base in NJ did NOT have the correct boot style. But that was last year.... We checked into it because Son's boot purchased at orientation was defective. The Academy was great about it -- they UPSed him another pair immediately so he could break them in. We were shocked at how fast they took care of this!)</p>