<p>I have read a little bit about sponsors here. Are they assigned? Is this an official program? More info, please!</p>
<p>From what I've heard each cadet is assigned a sponsor and gets certain amount of passes each semester. This could (but not necessarily) be the sponsor for Doolie dining out. I think that I have heard that if one sponsor situation doesn't work out, a cadet can go to another cadet's sponsor if everyone's ok with it. It seems like its different for everyone. Some only go to their sponsor occasionally and others go a lot and stay in contact afterwards.</p>
<p>Sometimes your doolie day out sponsor will be your academy sponsor, sometimes not (mine wasn't). You are assigned a sponsor, but you can request family or friends and they will be assigned. You can change sponsors easily if one family doesn't work out. It is an official program that people in the area apply to for cadets. </p>
<p>I love my sponsors. My sponsor mom is a '92 grad and they have 2 young kids around the ages of my nephews at home. I go up to their home in Monument every so often (much more often as a 4 dig and during the fall). These days I like to do laundry as well. :) I have a blast with them and I really feel like another son in the family. I was fortunate to have a great family! As a freshman, it was so nice to go over and get away! 4 and 3 digs have UNLIMITED sunday passes to go to their sponsors. I would usually combine one basic pass plus a sponsor pass to stay overnight Sat and Sun. Great program.</p>
<p>I have 2 friends (both AF officers) that have an AFA affiliation, both have been asked to be a sponsor. Our other friend who graduated in 85 still calls them Pop and Mom XXX.</p>
<p>How are you matched, Hornet? What criteria? Completely random? It sounds like a great thing, especially for kids who are far from home for the first time.</p>
<p>i love my sponsor family. i havn't visited much this year, but will stay over for a while this weekend i hope.</p>
<p>with the acceptance package (or at orientation), there is a questionare you fill out. it has questions about animals, religious preference, kids, interests, and ethniticity, and how each is important to you. they then do their best to meet your interests. if you really don't feel comfortable with pets, or with a certain ethnic group, you shouldn't have to worry about it</p>
<p>on that same note: be honest. (not picking on anyone in particular) if you really don't want to be with a Catholic family, or you want to be with "white" ppl and not asian, be honest. don't try to be PC if it really does matter to you. i've talked to grads from many years ago who still stay in touch with their sponsors, or sponsors who stay in touch with their (now) officers</p>
<p>And all 4-digs have UNLIMITED SUNDAY passes to the sponsoring family? The cadets can actually go to these folks' homes, maybe go to church, have dinner, play with the doggies and kiddies...???? When does this start? Right after BCT?</p>
<p>BCT will end during the first week in August, and then PW will be right around the end of the month. Four degrees are usually restricted to base for that first month. After PW though, they'll probably be free to sign out, and can use their unlimited sponsor passes on Sundays as long as they aren't restricted for one reason or another. Like you said, they're then free to go to their sponsors' houses, church, out to eat, play with the doggies and kiddies, etc. Sponsor passes were definitly a good idea on the part of the PTB.</p>
<p>Do the other Service Academies have a sponsor system too? Seems like a great idea for any of them.</p>
<p>i'd ask on their boards if you want an answer to that</p>
<p>Our son is no longer a cadet however we still stay in contact with his sponsor family. We were blessed with wonderful sponsor's. They even had me as a house guest on two separate visits to the Academy. </p>
<p>Some sponsors host many cadets and do a great job, others may only have one and not be able to (or not know how to) be there for your cadet. Some families may have young children while others are empty nesters. Some have the gift of hospitality and others do not. If your son or daughter happens to feel forgotten by their sponsor family, they should not take it personal. My son's sponsor family always made room for another cadet. </p>
<p>Cadets are reminded that the spnsor family is not their personal taxi service. Cadets should plan to make their own arrangements when traveling to and from the airport for trips home. There will be information available later for your cadet (or parent) to purchase a one way or round trip bus ticket to and from the Colorado Springs and Denver Airport. Our sponsor always offered to get our son and any other cadets to/from the airport. One particular break, our son spent the night before getting up at 2:00 AM in a snow storm to make sure my son caught his 6:00 AM flight out of Denver. </p>
<p>As a perent, the sponsor program offers a "peace of mind" that your cadet has someone to turn to when they just need to get a break from the Hill.</p>
<p>I do know that USNA has a sponsor program also.</p>
<p>One of my AIM cadre at USCGA had a sponsor family, but I'm not sure if it's an Academy-run "official" program or what.</p>
<p>When we were living in Maryland . My husband and I were a sponsors. We totally loved . We felt as though we had new family members . We still stay in touch with our kids. They all have graduated from USNA now .Two have even maried and one has a child. . It can be what you want it to be. Our mids called us every weekend during plebe year . But as time went on it was less and less. but they would call. Then we moved so it has been even hard. Anyway my point is it can help on both sides if it is the right fit, not all families work out.</p>
<p>I think that if I lived near an academy, I would love to be a Sponsor Mom! Sounds like such a rewarding experience for everyone.</p>
<p>It truly was !!! I miss it very much. It is interesting now being the parent and wondering about my Daughter's own sponsor family. She is very luck to have a great family also.She hasn't been able to go over very much because of her sport but when she can she is enjoying it. She has alot of other cadets who are there too .So it helps to learn things from the other cadets.Her family likes to only take females so that helps too</p>
<p>instead of starting a new thread, i'll add on to here.. </p>
<p>i got an email today from USAFA w/ a form to fill out for a sponsor family.. i'm guessing this is the one for the academic year that'll be mine my whole time there? just lookin for some clarification.. i know the AOG's bed and breakfast family is different, so is doolie day out..</p>
<p>Depends, sometimes they are all the same.</p>
<p>ah well okay then.. i guess i'll just fill the form out and wait to see :)</p>