<p>Okay so over on the USNA forum they are talking 'bout if mom/dad should go with you on I day. They implied USNA I day is way different than AFA. So, what is it like at AFA? I wanted my folks to go with me but the USNA forum guys imply AFA has like nothing for my folks to see/do. I know my parents are ready and want to come, but will they have stuff to do? What is the whole day like? When do we show up? What do parents do when I go off? Is there a parade / oath ceremony they get to watch? When is it, June 28th or maybe the next day? I don’t even know all the questions to ask!! My parents are going to come (unless you guys tell me it’s useless to have them there!!! Even if I only get to say good bye for like 30 seconds, I still want to share it with them - so I’m going to ask them to come anyway!). I just want to know what to tell them about what to expect. I have a pretty good idea of what I can expect (a lot of $#@$#$!!!) but I want to have an idea of what they can exect too. </p>
<p>For you, it's going to be insane! You have to report in (to Doolittle Hall) between 0700 and 1100 (IIRC). From there, they will have a few displays set up inside. They have reps from the banks, services, and activites. You say goodbye and walk upstairs...and the fun begins. You will go through some paperwork stuff upstairs, then leave on a bus...Welcome to BCT!...GET AT ATTENTION!!</p>
<p>The next day, they have a swearing in ceremony that parents can watch.</p>
<p>umm lots of questions but ill try and hit them all...Inprocessing day for me was very busy. I honestly don't really remember a lot because it was so busy. My parents did not come out with me but I know a lot of parents who did come out. Basically, inprocesing takes place at Doolittle Hall, the Association of Graduates Building. You can arrive there, anytime from 7 to 11am i think. The earlier you get there the longer you have to wait once you're settled at the, but the later you get there, the more waiting time it will take to get all of your stuff, including lines to get stuff before and after you actually enter the academy. At the doolittle, your parents are with you, up until you have to take stairs upward to fill out paperwork. The nice things for the parents are that they can see you off, they can watch you cross over the "bridge" and then see you off onto the bus. You can expect to be with them for roughly an hour before you have to go off and sign paperwork. I believe the day after (everyone else try and correct me if i'm wrong) but the day after you inprocess, you will take the oath of office given by General Desjardins, and you parents can come down onto the terrazo and watch you take the oath. You will be all grouped together but if the bring big signs, you can usually see them. So the bottom line is that it could be nice having your parents see you off (especially if they have not seen the academy yet) but don't expect too much interaction. -Groog</p>
<p>D has asked us to go with her - which we are thrilled to do (of course, who wouldn't be?!). Maybe there are some CC AFA parents that can give me an idea from a parents perspective what to expect. From the above posts, I take it we bring D around 9 am (not to early, not to late kind of thinking?!) hang out in Doolittle Hall for about an hour while she sets up banking or whatever (I had assumed we would do the bank before she got there but is that incorrect? Somewhere on here y'all discussed USAA and the free ATM etc.? - remember? Or was that WP or USNA forum?) anyway, she'll hang around doing little things and then suddenly have to go upstairs and hubby and I will be hanging in the lobby with nothing to do for the balance of the day until some unknown time the following day when we can watch the oath etc? Approx what time is the oath? We have to think about things like travel arrangments for us and appropriate flight time home (sounds like we could have some serious periods of "down time" in which case, make flight home without excess "cushion"!). As long as I am thinking travel - when D signed paperwork she gave nearest airport etc. and someplace I think it said AFA will give her the ticket about 2 weeks before she leaves - so in order for us to be on the same plane, hubby and I can't make arrangements until after she gets her flight info (yeah - we get to pay full fare, no early bird super saver rates here???!!!). Technically, I guess we don't even know if AFA will fly D into Denver or Colorado. Anyway can we arrange to find out her flight info earlier so we can plan? What did some of you more seasoned AFA parents do for flight arrangements? What did you do for the rest of the day and night before the oath ceremony? We will certainly be there and can't wait but it does sound like we may spend that afternoon making HUGE signs so D can see that we are watching as she takes the oath, anything else to do - organized tours for parents or maybe a speaker or two to tell us what the adventure our child is about to embark upon will entail etc....</p>
<p>Sorry to add onto the list of questions, but I also wondered if I should ask my parents to come. I wasn't planning on it because I kind of want to go by myself, but now I'm wondering if the swearing in is something that my parents would really want to be there for. And will the ticket the Academy sends be a red-eye flight so that I get to the Colorado Springs airport between 7 and 11, or will they schedule it so that I get there on the 27th and spend the night at a hotel?</p>
<p>I got to Doolittle Hall around 8AM. I would recommend that time, give or take a half hour. (You get more time to sort out all of your equipment etc. after going through inprocessing.)</p>
<p>redhead, its up to you. Honestly, the "swearing in" is for parents and such to see. If they really want to see something I would suggest Acceptance Day Parade in August when you can actually be with them. I just waited till Parent's weekend which I don't regret at all. But it's YOUR decision and what makes you happy and comfortable.</p>
<p>Pretty soon I am going to sound like I don't know anything! When is Acceptance Day Parade? Is it on a weekend or would it require us to take time off work? Is there really opportunity to see our cadet and visit - if so, how much? We are certainly going to parents weekend and we plan to go in June - but there is this option too - so please give me the run down so I can budget and figure out what we can afford to go to - may have to do some kind of cost/benefit analysis for all this stuff! Anything else lurking in the time between reporting in June and Thanksgiving?</p>
<p>I-Day is for parents, too! Please go if you can.
The academy will provide detailed information for both parents and candidates well before I-Day. It will answer 90% of your questions. The rest, I guess, you'll just have to figure it out on your own like the rest of us did. It's all a little different for every family anyway. At any rate, it's all very well organized. No sweat.</p>
<p>I-Day IS for parents and it's well worth it IMO. Still, you should take the lead from your cadet. It's all about what will make them most comfortable. Still, watching the oath the next day was great and I wish we had had a sign! I did know my son's squadron at least. That helps when they march through so you can try to look. You can ask a blue-capped cadre where squad xx is and then watch for your cadet. Of course, they all look alike! So when the squad passed, I yelled his last name, and one head turned! Caught a smile that let me know he was "ok". Sounds crazy, but it meant a lot to both of us. As for banking, I recommend taking care of that during orientation -- less rushed and they process everyting for you in advance -- notably direct deposit for your cadet.<br>
During I-day, there is little to do but wait on line with your cadet, uhhh, actually Basic, well actually "nothing" until they swear in I guess! But everyone is nervous and as parents you can help calm things down just by being there. Check out the photos on the <a href="http://www.usafa.af.mil%5B/url%5D">www.usafa.af.mil</a> website for I-day. It may help.<br>
After they in-process and board the bus, you have little to do except head for Walmart on Academy Blvd and make the HUGE sign for the next day. Do it! Also, stop by the visitor center and load up on AF stuff. The selection is a lot better than at the athletic center by the way.<br>
As for travelling, we always flew into Denver (it was cheaper) and the AF booked them into Denver and then bussed them. We drove our son because we were with him. Good luck!</p>
<p>Aceptance day is the day that your "Basic" gets accepted into the wing as a cadet. This marks the end of Basic Cadet Training officially as they march out to join their squadrons. It is a pretty impressive sight to see, as your cadets are taking that next step. At the acceptance day parade, the get their shoulder boards pinned on (which tells them their rank [now they actually have rank]) and you will be able to visit with them for anywhere from 2-4 hours. This is a great time for them to show you around campus and to spend some quality time with them on base. It IS on a weekend, which is the good part, and personally I think it is more worthwhile going to then the Inprocessing. Both are great, but my reasons for this are that 1. It will be nice to see them off but you wont get to spend much quality time, 2. they need to realize that this isn't just a trip away from home, this is their new life, and 3. Acceptance day, you will be able to really see a change into what they have become and how mature they are. To me, acceptance day was great, but its your choice.</p>
<p>I can name 3 big reasons for a parent to go.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Be with them as they stand in line, and give them that last hug of encouragement before they go upstairs to get started on their in-processing.</p></li>
<li><p>It will be a long wait, but go over to the Chapel and you may see your S/D take their first walk on the TZO "strips".</p></li>
<li><p>The next morning to see the first formation of their class - first off you are amazed at how fast they learned to march in formation. Catching a glimpse of your S/D is almost impossible, but you may have a balloon or big sign for them to know you are there. I went up to the Commandant of Cadets after that formation just to shake his hand. I held in my overwhelming pride until we had driven a couple hours and stopped for lunch - guess I looked like a sap when I let a few tears drop on my pizza. But man I was so proud - a great "once-in-a-life" experience. Highly recommend it for all parents.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>From a cadet's perspective, there are both pros and cons of having your parents there, which depends on your son or daughter.</p>
<p>I did not have my parents there with me for I-day, and I think it was better for me that way. I was able to get the big goodbye to my family out a day early, which helped me deal with the change better. However, that was my preference. My parents offered, but I told them I was fine. It would have been neat to see them holding a sign during the oath ceremony, but I still think it was better that I went alone.</p>
<p>Ask your son/daughter, and do what they want...that's most important. If you go, you won't be sorry. If they don't want you to go, understand that you will see them in a couple months in September, and have much more time with them then.</p>
<p>Another addition that hasn't really been discussed is the bed and breakfast program the AOG does. If you come alone and sign up beforehand (no cost), your sponsor for the day before inprocessing picks you from the airport (mostly likely with others) and you spend the day and night with them. I stayed with a Colonel who was a grad and his family with 2 fellow classmates. I had a great time, taught their 10 year old the card game "idiot" that he still plays to this day, and got ready for the journey. I highly recommend this program too.</p>
<p>I also did the B&B program. I did not want to say goodbye to my parents and immediately start BCT. I took the government airline ticket and said my goodbyes the day before. I think it was better for me, because I had some time to adjust without having cadre in my face.</p>
<p>It really is a personal choice. If you (or your son/daughter) wants to go alone, I would suggest not going. If they want you there and it's not too pricey, go for it. In order of importance, the events that parents should go to are Parents Weekend, Acceptance day, and I-day. That is also in order of the most time you can spend together.</p>
<p>Ramius -- I think that's spot on. That would be my recommended order of importance -- again, taking cues from your son or daughter and taking into account cost.</p>
<p>my parents weren't able to make it, and i definitely have to say that parents should try to be there. Initiaition is something that the kids have been working their butts off for and counting down the days until, but it's also something that parents have been waiting for. I definitely think that the hour alone waiting in line, and the mixed emotions of excitement, sadness, and nervousness are something you should experience with your family. Even if there's not much for parents to do atleast they can drive around the Academy and get to know a little better where their children are going to be spending the next 4 years, and so you actually know what you're cadet is talking about when he refers to the t-zo, quads, or mitch's. Trust me even if your cadet doesn't want you to go that second night of basic training, which is by far the worst, he'll be wishing he got that one last day with you</p>
<p>in my opinion, parents do not need to go. of course, this is my opinion only, but here are my thoughts:</p>
<p>1) orientation provides enough time for parents to get any quesitons answered</p>
<p>2) yes you get one last goodbye, but that also in my opinion makes it harder to start. when you fly in alone, you aer more prepared when you arrive to get going</p>
<p>3) the B&B program: great opportunity to meet another basic before you get in, and the families are great at helping with last minute anxiety</p>
<p>4) the swearing in is neat, but it isn't that exciting. Acceptance parade is much more worth the time and money. plus, the signs parents bring can cause embarassment to certain basics.</p>
<p>Again, this is my opinion only, and i don't mean to offend anyone by any comments. if you want your parents there, go for it, but don't feel that its necessary</p>
<p>Parents, speaking as a parent, please, please go to I-Day. You will never regret it for one moment. The only reason for not going is if you really don't get along very well with your son/daughter and they are ashamed to be seen with you. In that case, someone needs to grow up - and they will, pretty soon. The financial considerations, scheduling, etc. just pale in comparison to actually being there. It was one of the greatest thrills of my life, and I think all the families around me were reacting the same way.</p>
<p>Alright guys, really, its a personal thing. Do you want them there? Will it personally help you? We have great advice and differing views. People are happy with their choices, and some wished differently. But again, it boils down to your, the future basic, wishes. Do you want the last goodbye at the gate? Do you want to meet some people and stay with a sponsor with info? Is it financially feasible? These are all things to thing about when considering how you want to deal with the issue.</p>