<p>S is going on his official tour in a couple weeks and his Dad and I are trying to put together a trip for us there as well, at the same time, so we can see the Academy etc.</p>
<p>Questions: Do you recommend we go ahead and spend the several hundred dollars for this tour? Did you parents go out before your children enrolled? Were you cadets embarrassed by the accompanying parents?</p>
<p>If we do decide to go, does anyone have any recommendations on lodging? I see only one visit report, which was great, and he recommended the Hampton Inn.</p>
<p>There is an orientation in April geared to the appointees and their parents. The parents have several briefing, a tour and whatnot. The appointees stay the night with a cadet in their dorm etc... If you can only go once, I suggest you plan on this trip instead. There are briefings for the candidates/appointees and parents. I went last year and was very glad I did. It is done three times in April so that as many appointees as possible can attend. A group of us from this board arranged to meet for dinner the night before and had a great time. A couple of cadets from 2010 joined us for dinner so that was neat too. The appointees sat at one table with the two cadets that came and the parents at another table. The cadets dropped over to the parents table and chatted with us too. Bet you guys can guess who the 2010's were!!!</p>
<p>The Hampton Inn is nice - we've stayed there several times. There is also a Holiday Inn Express across the street and an Old Chicago nearby. I just stayed at the Comfort Suites last weekend - it's located just off the South gate and all and all it was a good value for the dollar. We went to the noon meal formation on Friday (awesome flyby by two F-15s), a hockey game Friday night, and the Wyoming football game Saturday afternoon (a wacky game but still a thrilling win for AF).</p>
<p>If you decide to go out your son will likely be on a separate schedule. You may start together at the 9:00 AM presentation but at 10:00 AM he'll be assigned to a cadet for a day while you'll go on a family tour. It may be your only opportunity to spend time in the cadet area until orientation in April. If you do go out try to go on Mon, Wed or Fri to see the noon meal formation from the Chapel wall. You'll realize very quickly that this is not your regular State U.</p>
<p>As a parent of a Pennsylvania cadet the trips we made out for summer seminar and orientation were a good investment. It helped to put us all on the same page and I believe we all were better prepared. Also I wouldn't want any of my kids to attend a college or university that I didn't have the opportunity to see beforehand. So for us this was a college trip similar to others places we went together - really no different.</p>
<p>It is worth the expense and time. You will enjoy having had the opportunity to see what happens at USAFA. Most of the nearby hotels are just fine. The most common is probably the Academy hotel outside the Northgate. If you have the money you cannot beat the Broadmoor Resort. There is a lot to take in and it will be a big choice, especially being geographically separated by so far. If the coaches have not already set him up with a roommate for his visit, I am sure there are several volunteers here among the current 4Dig's. The really nice part is they can be a rest when he is with them.</p>
<p>lol MoH2011. Hampton Inn is great, I stay there if my parent's don't go to the embassy suites (great since the embassy is two room suites!). I would suggest going to orientation as well. You will get more info, and you will get to meet many more people as well. It's also much warmer!</p>
<p>First day spent in a sweaty auditorium with endless briefings, second day spent on I-25 north four hours traveling 1/8 of a mile. Don't like the weather wait an hour.</p>
<p>I remember when I had my first orientee over last year, he took a quick nap while I did some homework. When he went to sleep it was sunny and warm. When he woke up, snow was coming down.</p>
<p>Well, I am thinking we should actually wait and go in April! Thanks, we had no idea this was available. Where can I find more information about this orientation, and other topics like that?</p>
<p>My DH was especially anxious about spending what would be close to $1000, when S has LOA but no nomination yet. Senator's come out in Dec. (I think) and he'll appear before the MOC's "Board of Inquiry!" in Nov. Does anyone know (and I'm sure you do, as well as I'm sure that this has been asked and answered before; I'm just too lazy to search for it): how likely is S to get nomination since he has the LOA in hand?</p>
<p>I had three LOAs (one from West Point, Annapolis, and USAFA) when I went in for congressional interviews, and you are basically guaranteed that nomination. That's not to say that you shouldn't still prepare for the interview and take it very seriously, but I'm pretty sure the nomination boards will give candidates with LOAs precedence, because the Academy clearly wants them. Also, I don't know about in your paticular case, but one of the reasons I got an LOA from USAFA is because my congressman's Academy staffer called and talked to admissions and told them that they really wanted to see me get an appointment. This was before interviews and everything, because I had my nomination package complete in early August and made a good impression through phone conversations and a good resume. I've heard from other people too that their congressman's office actually helped them in getting the LOA, and they didn't find out until they actually got the appointment. This might be the case with your son, too. But honestly, your son would have to screw up pretty badly in the interview to not get the nomination. The Academy obviously wants him if he got one of the first LOAs for the class of 2012. :)</p>
<p>Generally speaking, it is a reasonable assuption that an LOA will translate to a nomination. But, it is not a guarantee and some MOC's as a matter of course do not let the committee know about LOA's. In a competative district the LOA candidate would have to do well on the nomination interview. My D was told after the fact that our MOC specifically directs his staffer not to let the committee know about her LOA and that the nomination slate is determined entirely from the committee in order to "keep the politics out of it". Theoretically, in our area, an LOA reciptient may not get the nom. However, if the candidate is good enough for an LOA - they are likely to be good enough for the nom too. </p>
<p>Your son will get notice about the orientaiton. I think it came by mail, though not certian. Pretty sure D got the invite in January or February, but not certain. Anyone else remember when they began sending out the invitations to the Orientation? I know I had ample time to get cheap airplane tickets.</p>
<p>S is leaving for CO SPRS tomorrow afternoon, without his parents. When you see that VERY curly-haired kid with an extremely athletic gait wandering around, you'll know it's my son. </p>
<p>We're heading out there too for the Army football game. Noon Meal Formation on Friday should also be fun. He's picked a great time to be out there.</p>
<p>Not sure about other states (I'm from NC) or their districts, but my district told me that they give the nom. to the candidate(s) who have LOA's, unless there aren't any that year from that district. Pretty much, it's a slam-dunk deal unless there is something obviously wrong when they interview you, at least that’s how it is where I'm from. However, each state is different, so still prepare and make sure you look as good as possible...like what was said before, the committee may not know that you have an LOA. Oh, and as a side note, only the Rep's have interviews in my state..</p>
