<p>"As a firstie you get shower privliges... That means you can shower twice a week. But during basic and the rest of your time at the Academy, you only get one per month." </p>
<p>How'd you know?? Honestly... After BCT, you can take longer showers. There's really no time limit, but other people will get mad if you're wasting time and they're having to wait on you. There's no limit to the showers you can take in a day, I guess... How many were you planning on?</p>
<p>There are also showers down at the gym in the locker rooms. I can't speak for the males' but in the females', the shower room has about four "poles" spread out, and around each one are 4 or 5 showerheads, which are located quite close together.</p>
<p>UNcynical, if there was one thing we could bring, or do, to make basic a little bit easier (speaking objectively...of course its going to be hard), what would you say?</p>
<p>West - Two things to bring to basic. Gold Bond, and boxer briefs - the issued tighty whiteys will chafe like no one's business and the gold bond will help keep that area and your feet healthy. You will have a chance to go to the Cadet Store during basic, get cleaning supplies, ironing supplies, boxer briefs and more black t-shirts. That's my recommendation.</p>
<p>Shower time is only regulated during BCT. During the school year, you can take as long of showers as you want although you have duties as a fourth class cadet so can't just shower anytime you want.</p>
<p>"UNcynical, if there was one thing we could bring, or do, to make basic a little bit easier (speaking objectively...of course its going to be hard), what would you say?"</p>
<p>My 2 cents - Come in good physical shape. Also, just realize that once you inprocess, you're not a civilian anymore. You're not an individual; you're part of a team. You're not entitled to anything special and your previous accomplishments are just what allowed you to get accepted and not much else. Life here, especially at the very beginning, will be very confusing, frustrating, difficult, and different from what you've most likely ever experienced. Before you inprocess, have a firm grasp on the reason you wanted to come; you'll probably need to refer back to this at numerous times.</p>
<p>What I would not bother doing before coming is memorizing quotes and trying to do a ton of other things to show up your future classmates. It's a process you will all go through together, and in the last few months before you come here, you should be enjoying your civilian life. Life here isn't "bad," but it's different, so take advantage of all the opportunities you have right now to do what you want (and also relax some!).</p>
<p>Hopefully they allow boxer breifs. I never liked boxers at all and prefer to keep the goods in place. </p>
<p>When you go to inprocessing, i think you just give them your civvies and after BCT you get it back (like your cell phone, clothes, and anything else you brought they didnt approve of).</p>
<p>I think we've flogged the shower topic to death...</p>
<p>Whats the food like there: service, amount and quality (and dont answer "Fast average neat" :-))?</p>
<p>Also, for people who enter with a relationship with a SO who is not going to the air force academy...how do those work out usually? Is that where the 2% club comes from?</p>
<p>If you are truly serious with someone else then it works out fine. I am still with my girlfriend of 2.5 years. If you don't truly want to be together then yes, you won't make the 2%.</p>
<p>"the goods in place" LOL Sniper - cover your eyes. A few posts back, someone asked what a Jodie was. I couldn't let it slip by. I mean it Snipe, don't read any further cause its not nice but I gotta do it.</p>
<p>Example of a Jodie Call:
Well, I don't know but I've been told
Those Navy wings are made of gold.
I don't know but it's been said
That Air Force wings are made of lead!</p>
<p>Oh there are no fighter pilots in the Navy.. IN THE NAVY.
Oh there are no fighter pilots in the Navy.. IN THE NAVY.
Because they're all on ships and boats, doing god knows what to goats.
Oh there are no fighter pilots in the Navy.. IN THE NAVY.</p>
<p>You could throw out the one about the Marine Corps, zeroeight, but it would probably be a good idea to leave out the one about the boyscouts, lol.</p>
<p>While many prior relationships do end at the Academy, more than 2% do survive; the "2% Club" has no statistical data to back it up.</p>
<p>There are a lot of factors that contribute to whether or not a relationship lasts (as it is hard on both people, for reasons other than just the distance).</p>
<p>I would not recommend, however, going out right now and trying to find a girl/boyfriend before you already leave. If it happens or if you have one now, fine, but I wouldn't seek it out at this point in time.</p>
<p>At summer seminar we ate all of their food, it was ok but nothing gourmet. I think i would get fat eating it if i wasnt working out every day.</p>
<p>The way that they serve it is kind of interesting, especially for freshman. As i understand it you sit at a table with alot of upperclassmen and a senior at the head of the table that is sort of in charge. The person at the end is called the "load master" and has to pass down all of the food for the upperclassmen. Then there is someone that has to pour water for everyone and you have to do all of this stuff while staring at your "eagle" on the top of your plate and sitting at the position of attention. </p>
<p>And as to the amount that you get, i dont think we ever really finished everything from the table off. </p>
<p>Oh and if you want the chocolate syrup thats on the table you have to memorize the bar code on the back (ie. "big bar, space, little bar, little bar, medium bar) </p>
<p>im really not looking forward to eating at the position of attention though..how long do we have to do that? I dont think i can only take 7 chews, every single bite, for a year...omgggggooshhh</p>
<p>"im really not looking forward to eating at the position of attention though..how long do we have to do that? I dont think i can only take 7 chews, every single bite, for a year...omgggggooshhh"</p>
<p>The amount of time the last few classes have had to sit at attention varies from "just during BCT" to "through the middle of March." As for the 7 chews, my class did it until March, but we were the last class to do that. While there are changes going on here, I don't foresee this being something that comes back. However, if your biggest concern is eating at attention, I think your priorities are a bit skewed. ;)</p>
<p>"I think your priorities are a bit skewed."</p>
<p>lol thanks! (sarcasm) There are things i care about more, but that just seems like one thing that is unneccessary and sort of strange..but what can you do?</p>
<p>Ohhh and i wanted to ask you about the hair thing..i think i read somewhere that you said that we didnt have to cut our hair short and that we could wear it in buns..is this true? Because i read in my little booklet that came in my "offer of appointment" package that girls hair has to be cut short, but i dont know if this is a current book or not...i want to know so that i can plan on getting it done before i go to basic. lol.</p>
<p>I'm not sure of the specific guidance that as given to females before BCT this past summer, but all of the girls who came in either had short hair that didn't need to be put up or it was somewhat short (shoulder-length or so) but needed to be put up. As long as it was able to be put up quickly/easily/professionally and didn't come undone, it wasn't a problem. While longer hair may be able to be put up, it won't stay up in a way that BCT requires (do to all the moving around). If you haven't gotten it already, when it gets closer to inprocessing, you should get more specific information concerning your hair (i.e. "needs to short or able to be put up and be within regs" or "needs to be short enough it does not require being put up to be in regs").</p>