<p>I am a 4 degree here at the Academy and becuase of my recent completion of BCT and obviously getting in here, I am open for any questions anyone has about the Academy, application process, rumors, BCT, ect. I know what it is like to have many questions because I was in your guys’ position less than a year ago.</p>
<p>I think it's great how some of you four degrees are so ready to help us aspiring USAFA cadets out. I have a lot of questions and although in the long run many of them are trivial, my mind is already in Colorado Springs and I want to know all about the academy. What was your favorite part about basic? Do you have time to get to know the other basics? Do you have any time to yourself or are the cadre drilling you 24/7? What was Jack's Valley like?</p>
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What was your favorite part about basic? Do you have time to get to know the other basics? Do you have any time to yourself or are the cadre drilling you 24/7? What was Jack's Valley like?
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<p>Favorite part? I'd say the day we spent at the airport for airmanship stuff. We had a glider ride and got to check out the aircraft there. I also got a ride in the twin otter (paradrop plane) which was neat. </p>
<p>I had some time to myself. Very little during the day, but after nighttime hygiene time, we were left alone except destroying our beds. (by the end it took like 5 minutes to make the bed).</p>
<p>Jack's- It was different. A lot more activity and really was fun in some ways because it wasn't as monotonous or "boring" as first BCT. The courses were a lot of fun (- the Assault course) and we had some good memories! Gotta love the mud lol. </p>
<p>Ask as many trivial questions as you like. I will answer them because I asked them in your position. But I will let you know if they are insignificant once you are here. I say that because a lot of my "worries" or little concerns went out the window because of the environment we are in.</p>
<p>Keep on truckin'!</p>
<p>My favorite part of basic was field day, it was good to compete but in a fun way and do amazing sports such as push-ball and tug-o-war. You do have time to get to know other basics, at night ou should try your best to get to know your roomate, there are free time periods like chapel where you can talk, relax, and some cadre give you additional freetime. There is not much at all in basic, but find time to get to know your classmates, they will also be your classmates during the 4 degree year! Jack's Valley was a blast. Cadre will make rumors about the courses and make it seem hard, but it is all a mind game. The courses are fun, but the cadre make them difficult, the rifle range was a blast becuase due to the obvious advantage the basics have (M-16's) the cadre do not mess with you. All in all, basic was tough, but the feeling of getting shoulder boards was worth it.</p>
<p>My favorite part of Basic...hmmm...Probably going to the rifle range or Chapel services. If you are religious, chapel can be the absolute best part of your BCT week.</p>
<p>There is very little time in Basic to chat with other Basics. You really have to make time. We would go to one person's room for a "study session" and try not to get caught chatting. It is better at Jack's, because half of your flight will be in one tent. There, it is impossible not to get to know people better.</p>
<p>More on time...Even when the cadre are not bugging you, they expect you to be doing something productive...ALWAYS...</p>
<p>Jack's-- The courses are fun (except the Assault course). You get to be outdoors nearly all the time (a plus in my opinion). Jack's is A LOT more physical than the first three weeks (1st BCT). If you are fit, then you will be ok. If not, pray that your team carries you along. No matter how fit you are, you will break at some point, just try to keep up as best you can.</p>
<p>Keep the questions comming! This is the stuff we are good at answering.</p>
<p>Everyone talks about how hectic life is as a cadet and how important time management is. What are your schedules like? Is it hard to find time to get everything done or is it easier than you expected? How many classes do you have each day as a four degree? Is there time to work one-on-one with teachers if you don't understand something? How much sleep do you get? How intense is the physical training during academic year?</p>
<p>Life is a bit hectic. You can always be doing something productive. Right now, I could be doing homework, studying military knowledge, cleaning my room, working out, doing squadron work (we are repainting some murals), etc. Basically, all of the things I listed will need to be done by Sunday or sooner, it is just about priorities and not procrastinating too much. Most stuff does not take a lot of time, it is that there is always something else to do.</p>
<p>Four Degs. only have five classes, not including gym. Some classes can have large work loads though. I would say it is a little like having a bunch of AP classes. The big difference between High School classes and here, is that the instructors are here to help you learn, not teach you. They expect you to learn the material before class and have any questions ready.</p>
<p>Yes, there is time to work with the teachers. They will tell you where their office is and when they are available. You just have to make an appointment.</p>
<p>I get about five to five and a half hours of sleep a night. Some people get less though.</p>
<p>Training during the AC year is not that intense in my squadron. We will train a couple times a week. They expect you to work out on your own.</p>
<p>It can really depend. First of all, you need to have a good work ethic. If you're someone who will take advantage of evey minute of freetime and work your butt off to get work done, and work ahead, you will do fine and get to bed early.</p>
<p>Here's what its like for me. Keep in mind that I'm an IC (intercollegiate athlete) which means that I have at least 3 hours a day that I'm in practice as well. </p>
<p>Every day after breakfast I either have a 2 hour chemistry class and then a 2 hour break, or a 2 hour break and then calculus and engineering. In that 2 hour break I have in the morning, I spend every minute of it doing homework. If I finish all my homework for a day, I move ahead to the next day. Then I have noon meal formation and lunch. After lunch, I have either world history or MSS (military studies), and then I'm off at 2. Practice starts at 3 for me, so I get back to my room, change, pack for practice, check my email, and go down to the gym. I get done with practice around 5:30-6:00, run by Mitchell hall to pick up dinner, get back to my room between 6:00 and 7:00. After I eat, I get straight back to homework, and perhaps work on my knowledge, iron uniforms, or clean my room if needed.</p>
<p>If I've had a good day, I work my butt off in my free time, and I'm ahead in my schoolwork, I get done by 9:00 some days, even with having to go to practice. Then I can go to bed, or, if I want, stay up and talk to people from home, write emails, etc.</p>
<p>Some days, though, I'll have errands to run during my free periods in the morning, I'll have a lot of homework, or I'll need to do a lot of ironing or knowledge studying. Those days, I might be up untill 11:00 or 12:00 and still have to get up at 5:30 the next day.</p>
<p>So, as you can see, your schedule will be full, but you will have those opportunities during free periods (especially if you are not an IC) to get work done and even work ahead. If you take those opportunities and aren't struggling in any class, you'll get plenty of sleep and probably be just fine. It really depends on the person, schedule, and work ethic. It's hard no matter what, you just gotta attack it.</p>
<p>Keep in mind you might also have squadron training sessions (beat-downs or runs) during the evenings, knowledge tests on thursdays, or various other chores or events that pop up. Flexibility is the key...its why I work so hard to try to stay ahead a day in every subject so if I need to drop schoolwork for a day and study for one subject or a knowledge test, I can do it.</p>
<p>Just develop good habits now, and they will serve you well here. Hopefully that answered your question.</p>
<p>Guy4Christ,
What is your IC sport?</p>
<p>Fencing. :)</p>
<p>Which weapon? Were you recruited?</p>
<p>DS would love to fence for USAFA!</p>
<p>I don't know which weapon yet...and no, I was a walk-on, which was awesome.</p>
<p>At home I fenced epee, but I don't know what I'll do for AF.</p>
<p>I agree with Guy4Christ. If you work really hard and efficiently, you will have extra time. I work at an easy pace and do stuff like hang around cc. ;)</p>
<p>It is how you prioritize.</p>
<p>My class schedule:
M days:
M3-M4 double period of Chem 222 (analytical chemistry)
T-days
T1 Engineering 100
T2 Math 253 Advanced Multi-Var Calculus
T3 Comp Sci 110H Honors Comp Sci
T4 Japanese 221 (intermediate japanese)</p>
<p>Period are 55 min long. 10 min in between periods. 1st period begins at 0700.</p>
<p>I have no classes after lunch at all. I usually take a couple hours to run errands (cadet store, mail, flight issue, etc.)</p>
<p>I do chemistry in the library before class, if I know that won't be enough time, I'll do some the night before (usually only if there is a lab). </p>
<p>My homework load is very low. Usually, most cadets have a lot less time with calc 1 and chem 141 because of the enormous amount of homework in those classes. English and History also have large loads. My classes are very light on hw. Calc has homework due every 3-4 lessons (6-8 school days). So I am lucky there. Honestly, I have plenty of time in the day to do homework, and military duties. I do very well on knowledge tests and keep my room looking good. I even have time to help tutor people. The only thing that keeps me up is a roommate on AIM or playing music.... Really though, it comes down to how you use your time. Litterally, down to the minute. If you have 5 minutes to spare, study a quote for knowledge. you get the picture.</p>
<p>My squad doesn't train much at all. Group requires a few squad training sessions during the week, but we make them fun. We don't train much when in BDU's on mon and fri. Our people are awesome, and they let us be because we do so well. Our knowledge scores (the most visible sign of a squad's achievemnt) place us high. First in wing last week, 3rd this week. (not a drop, that's on each week's test, chances are that we are still in the top two wing-wise)</p>
<p>Again, teachers are there to help. USAFA was ranked NUMBER ONE for teachers helping students. It is a failure on your part, not to be harsh, if you cannot keep your grades up because of understanding. They will take their time to help you, that is rare. </p>
<p>Otherwise, I enjoy myself. Today, after our morning briefing, we ran about 1.75 miles then played soccer (some did football, lacrosse, or just messed around) until the end of the "athletic period" or even longer. It was a blast cause it was awesome out. I earned another form 10 for helping out, so I am happy! You find joys in small things here!</p>
<p>I guess I am the underachiever of the overachievers...aka everyone here...I caught up on sleep, ate, and will do some homework today.</p>
<p>good plan to me! Do your lab btw. ;)</p>
<p>Thats what I did too...don't feel bad...though my reason being that I'm sore from practice and need to rest. :P</p>
<p>Guy4Christ: Are you going to be fencing in the Nick Toth tournament? Or coming to the NM Open the next weekend?</p>
<p>Definitely not anything soon...we're not even fencing right now, just doing pure conditioning to ensure we all do well on the PFT and AFT. I honestly don't know what tournaments I'm going to be in, and competing in fencing is a whole new world to me...I never competed at home, I was just in a local club.</p>
<p>Alright. I need some help. I need help on time management. You guys at the academy...during the week are experts at it, and well, im a procrastinator. Everday I get up at 6:45, leave by 7:30. Go to school from 8:30 untill 3:45, then I have track and cross country practice from 4:00 to 5:30, go home and work out for the CPFT to practice for the academy untill dinnner whichi s about 6:30. Take my shower, then start homework and then study for ACT/SAT until bed. IM going to get full into this routine in the next week. How can I better manage my time do this sort of thing? Its a weird question, but how do you guys do this day after day. Any tips or advice?</p>