Some observations/info from my son after turnback

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
1

<p>My son had some very interesting things about inprocessing that are insightful and maybe good for the next class to remember.

  1. take a very, very light back pack because you have to carry it in your left hand and even light ones get heavy.
  2. they didn’t let you tie your boots around your neck, you have to tie them on your bag, so that is why it is so heavy even if you don’t have much in it
  3. Wear long pants and wear boot socks with your shoes. They make you put your boots on fairly early on, before you get the rest of your clothes, and the boots rub your legs/calves when you have just regular socks on.
  4. “The bus” ride isn’t that bad… they start “encouraging” you before the bus ride, so be prepared.
  5. Be careful coming down the bus steps :slight_smile: people are pushing and moving quickly to “get off my bus”, so don’t do what he did and trip/miss the step and fall.
  6. If you have contacts, they make you take them out and put your glasses on in line. If you haven’t worn glasses much, they can make you feel dizzy and sick and disoriented/have poor depth perception (which is what he thinks happened to him as well as being shoved/tripped). So he recommends that you wear your glasses for several days/ weeks prior to inprocessing so you are very used to them before having to move around quickly and in unfamiliar territory with glasses on.
  7. The medical people are very nice and the doctors are exceptional, though I don’t think you want to meet them like he did.</p>

<p>When he gets back from seeing a few friends I’ll ask if he has any other insights or comments and post them, too.</p>

2

<p>Mom, did your son fly home alone? How did he do on the trip home? He must be very brave! We'll keep him in our prayers.</p>

3

<p>Yes, he did fly home alone. There were two girls that went to the airport in COS at the same time as he did, so they hung around together until their respective flights left. None were on the same flight as the other. He flew from COS to Chicago and then to Richmond (home). He did well. He called before they left, when he got to the airport, and when he was in Chicago. He was lonely, for sure, but got home OK and was Ok when we picked him up from the airport.</p>

4

<p>Did you have to make the flight arrangements yourself? We had to pick up the tab for our son's turnback flight....</p>

<p>Dknightfam</p>

5

<p>I am pretty sure that it is reimbursable if you find the right people to ask.</p>

6

<p>Hi.
No, we didn't have to make arrangements nor payment for his turnback flight. The admissions office did it all for him/us and called to make sure that the times and airport locations were Ok. Everyone was very nice and very helpful.</p>