<p>It seems just like yesterday that I came on this forum asking about summer seminar and the academy application process for my son. I remember Redhead having her appointment letter and being so excited. She was also providing us with great information about filling out the app. It’s been almost a year now. Son did the summer seminar in June; Received the letter about the online application; Filled it out; Did the CFA; DODMRB medical exam; etc… and finished the app in July.</p>
<p>Everyone mentioned enjoying senior year because it was going to go by real fast. It didn’t seem like it at the time. Then school started; football season started; October-November came along with the Appointment Offer “Inclosed” envelope; Son signed the appointment offer and returned it; High School Football season ended; Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went; Falcons had a great football season, etc… </p>
<p>Now it’s February tomorrow. National Signing Day and another visit to the academy next week, (Convenience of living 2 hours away); Finals just completed at high school for the semester; Orientation coming up soon; Then high school graduation and the final drive to the academy.</p>
<p>Sure has gone by fast. Definitely going to miss my “Little Boy”. (I guess 6 ft isn’t so little - LOL). I have to say that each of you current cadets and other posters have made the entire process so much smoother. You helped the “Hurry up and wait” process between July-November much easier. Hopefully some of the threads on this forum will be made stickies or at least remembered so they can be referred to so those starting the process next month can also have a smoother time without reinventing the wheel. My son’s ALO has learned about this forum from me and she is very impressed with it. She WON’T post here, but she has made it a suggestive reading for all new applicants. She also visits it when searching for specific questions.</p>
<p>Anyway, just wanted to thank everyone who has made the last year smooth. While my son doesn’t actually visit the forums, I know how much he appreciates having a question about the process and when he asks me I can give him an answer or a direction to look within a day. I wish that every future applicant could have this website somehow included in their application package. But then again, maybe 10,000 posters in a month could really suck. Maybe it’s better that it’s used by the more motivated applicants. Anyway, thanks everyone. The time sure flies by. Thanks.</p>
<p>Christcorp - Wow! Did you bring back memories, or what? :) </p>
<p>Since I am a real softie and a "seasoned" 2010 parent, I have to say you brought tears to my eyes. Good to have you on the forum this past year. I only post occasionally.....but, read faithfully.....and continue to have all the emotions right along with all the parents and kids! (Sorry, you kids are still kids!!!!!)</p>
<p>Totally agree. I just want to thank everybody for all the assistance in the process. I have been really confidant throughout the process because I have been knowledgeable about the process. I am really looking forward to the new adventure and challenges that the next four years will have to offer.</p>
<p>That just brought tears to my eyes! Okay....., I'll admit, everything is making me cry lately :( I agree, the best info comes from our current cadets and families. Bless them all for sharing.</p>
<p>Ditto!!<br>
Although my dh and I spent time in the Air Force we had no idea about how to go about completing the application process for the Academy. My d found this forum and the both of us read daily and post when necessary. It has made the process less daunting and sometimes even exciting.
Our latest posting was concerning I-day and whether or not her dad and I should go. We received a lot of opinions and suggestions that helped us make the right decision for us. It's hard to believe that just a year ago we were beginning the process with the app for SS.</p>
<p>yea this forum has been more than helpful for me and I remember being on the forum reading hornet's questions about the academy and now he's a 3 dig almost a 2 dig. Now i will finally be able to answer questions and pose my own opinions as a 4 dig for the newcomers soon enough. It's been a very educational couple years so thanks alot and im glad to be apart of this community!</p>
<p>Christcorp - I am hoping to be in your shoes soon.... parent of a child who will be attending USAFA this June. The year has both flown by and dragged on. This week my son was finally able to submit his CFA (recovering from an injury set him back) and now we wait. I am finding it hard to relax, but fortunately my son is taking everything in stride. I keep my anxiety away from my son, but it's going to be difficult now that his application is actually finished and nominations are in hand. To all the parents out there...any advice on staying calm????</p>
<p>singaporemom
Staying calm is a bit dicey but I have tried to enjoy just being a mom of two HS seniors and trying very hard not to think about next month or next year or any next. Going on dates with my dh, reading a good book (one that has nothing to do with the military is best) and movies all help. Just focus on today.<br>
And always remember to breathe!</p>
<p>Thanks txtwinmom. I don't think I've taken a breath all day. I'm sitting here in Singapore, it's almost midnight and I'm watching American Idol for the third time tonight! very sad, very sad. My kids will be going on 'field trips' next week...10 days in Turkey for my Senior and New Zealand for my Sophomore. While they are touring I get to head to Houston to househunt. So not only do I get to worry about one traveling through Instanbul and the other on his mountain bike, I get to find a house in five days and get my sophomore registered for school next year. Okay, can you feel my stress oozing across the internet?</p>
<p>The ability to connect with other Parents and Cadets is truly special. Not long ago the best you got were the local parents clubs, letters from your cadet. and if forunate the payphone or weekend call from a sponsors home. The amount of information available about what the Candidates are about to face, the cadets are doing, and how the parents are able to keep up is amazing. Don't stress to much Singaporemom things will come together.</p>
<p>I do feel the stress oozing...I don't know about anyone else out there but I never used my Lamaz training for childbirth, but it has come in handy for all the stress associated with raising them!
Breathe in...breathe out...</p>
<p>On another note, the house hunting should be good for you since the housing market is a bit down.</p>
<p>I just wanted to add my thanks to all those who set aside time for this forum. It has been so helpful all through the application process. It has also been monumental in helping my mom deal with the prospect of me not only joining the armed forces, but going to a service academy (she is a faithful reader but does not post). Thanks again :)</p>
<p>I, too, would like to particularly thank the cadets for all they do. They are always willing to spare precious time here and at the Academy to help their fellow cadets. I know some of these cadets personally and I know they are, without a doubt, some of the finest, most open, honest and dedicated group of young people you will ever meet.Ask and they are there with their doors open and willing to give pointers, academic support, etc. even at the expense of giving up what precious time they have so others can succeed. </p>
<p>They are willing to put themselves out there to share the good, the bad and the ugly. I know humility has been discussed and all of the cadets possess that quality but without opening up and telling us the answers to all our questions, and then some, and some answers which are very personal and unique to each cadet, we could not have even begun to understand and grasp the idea of what is expected of and given by these cadets/mids at these service academies. </p>
<p>Keep posting and sharing and making this process a bit easier for all of us.</p>
<p>To the parents of incoming cadets, I can tell you, your kids are in good hands.</p>
<p>It's a real roller coaster but I can tell you the first letters and first call home are priceless. So are those initial pictures of your Basic posted by Webguy. But our conclusion with I-day, Acceptance Day, Parent's Weekend, football weekends, and the entire first semester over is the cadets are truly in good hands. It would have been far easier to have our first to leave go to a civilian college closer to home but at this point it's clearly a trade we would no longer make.</p>
<p>I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for being the true support throughout this process. It is this kind of atmosphere that draws me towards an Academy lifestyle where we all have each other's back no matter what. My application process started out pretty rough (SS app glitched and all the questions on my questionaire were answered NO...), but I knew not to quit because of an honest mistake. I came to these forums intially curious about what my nomination interviews were going to be like, and although I didnt have much time to prepare, I took some advice of some of the frequent posters on here and I went in with two main frames of mind, stay calm at all times, and dont have any dead time. Those tips and advice truly helped launch me into the current position I am in, as a 2012 appointee. </p>
<p>I have been stubborn, not dragging my parents and school into the process for I felt it was something I needed to do for myself. It is not that I didnt want them involved but my family is extremely preoccupied with some other special circumstances and this was my dream, as my father would always tell me. This amazing experience and all that I am about to encounter holds a special place in the heart of my mother. Her place of residence being on the opposite coast in WA her visits are as often as she can but never often enough for a growing family of 8. She was a USMMA appointee back in her day but was unfortunately denied the day she reported due to a thyroid condition. Living the dream she had is the small silver lining on top of all this for me. </p>
<p>I am not going to impress anyone or to simply not disappoint but to do what I have always wanted to do since I walked through the doors of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center when I was 9 years old. </p>
<p>The experience I am about to embark on is not a new one in my eyes, but a continuation of the one I began a year ago, and I promise to always return to give future cadets the same respect and support that all of you have so grasciously given without any reprimand whatsoever.</p>
<p>Once more I give you thanks, and I will see everyone in June!!! :-)</p>
<p>yea I was born in Ft. Riley and my entire mothers family lives in manhattan and KC. I went through 4 years of there space camp at the cosmosphere.</p>