<p>We just returned from Colorado Springs, including spending parts of two days at USAFA touring the buildings and watching the cadets. For those of you whose sons and daughters are attending BCT, I can report that nearly all of them seemed to be alive and doing pretty well.</p>
<p>Our first day there was Monday (July 4). We arrived at about 8:30, and found lots of marching, with some of the units doing some basic calisthenics (pushups, leg scissors, etc). My son was particularly impressed with the strength and technique exhibited by the Cadre that were leading the basic cadets.</p>
<p>After the cadets filed into Arnold Hall (for classes, I presume), we went to the Visitors’ Center to look over everything there. I asked the man at the information desk whether there would be any formation before lunch, and he said not during the summer. So, after going back to the wall and seeing that nothing was happening on the Terrazzo, we went into Arnold Hall. While looking over the exhibits there, we heard some music that seemed to be coming from the Terrazzo. We left Arnold Hall and arrived back up at the wall in time to see the last half of the units as they were marching to lunch.</p>
<p>Note to Visitors at USAFA - do not trust the information provided by the Visitors’ Center staff. We found that the cadets were marching to lunch both days that we were there, contrary to what we had been told.</p>
<p>We had lunch at Arny’s (I recommend this over eating at the Visitors’ Center), then went down to look over the Field House and the Cadet Gym, but found that both were closed for the 4th of July. We went back to the wall above the Terrazzo, where we saw some more marching and a lot of yelling. One female Cadre in particular was not happy with some scores that her unit had posted, and was letting them all know that this was not acceptable. I don’t think I’d want her yelling at me!</p>
<p>We were hoping to stick around to see any 4th of July celebrations at the Academy, but they were closed to the public. The next morning, we arrived at about 8:00 to find that things are not always quite so serious for the basics. They were doing some runs around the Terrazzo, followed by some exercises in the large grass field. The basics actually seemed to be enjoying themselves here, and things seemed more light-hearted than the previous day.</p>
<p>After the cadets left the Terrazzo, we headed back to the Field House and Cadet Gym, where we were able to do the tour that we missed the prior day. We used the tunnel to move between the Field House and Cadet Gym - it appeared to be open to the public, but still seemed a little like we were gaining some special inside access to the facilities.</p>
<p>We returned to the Terrazzo just in time to see the basic cadets filing out of Arnold Hall, chanting “0 9, our time” over and over. After they got thru the gate, two at a time, they quickly organized into units where they were all chanting something (not sure, but I think it might have been the oath of allegiance). Once they were all in formation, most were marched back into the dormitory area, except for one special(?) unit, which was held up by an NCO. He would pull one basic cadet after another out of formation, then ask him or her a question. Occasionally, the basic’s response would earn a loud “OUTSTANDING!” followed by “GO AWAY!,” whereupon that basic cadet would turn and march back into formation.</p>
<p>On the whole, I was impressed with how solid the basic cadets looked. I wish them all the best.</p>
<p>By the way, my son and I also used the trip to try a little hiking. If any of you are interested in climbing Pike’s Peak, I would highly recommend stopping at Barr Cabin (about 1/2 up the mountain on Barr Trail). Neal and Teresa are wonderful hosts, and you can even get a meal or cot there. However, a word of advice to any other 47 year old parents out there - don’t try to keep up with your 16 year old athletic sons in any event which involves many hours of exertion. Also, if you do not come from altitude, prepare for some pain when you get to the 16 golden stairs at the top of the mountain!</p>