Appointee Orientation

Info for Appointees and Parents

Important APPOINTEE Information
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IMPORTANT DATES
mid to late April every year Appointee Orientations are held each week; only those who have received Offers of Appointment from USAFA are sent registration materials ; advance reservations required.

5 June 2010
Appointee Reception
Appointees' First Official Military Function

24 June 2010 In-Processing, Class of 2014

24 June - 31 July 2010 Basic Cadet Training, Class of 2014

9 July 2010 Doolie Parent Dinner

10 July 2010 Field Day (AM)
Doolie Day In (PM)

15 July 2010 Prep School: In-Processing

7 August 2010 Doolie Day Out

Class of 2012 Swearing In Ceremony in front of Chapel Wall

photo courtesy of www.usafa.edu
(Class of 2012 Swearing In Ceremony in front of Chapel Wall)

USAFA APPOINTEE ORIENTATION
Questions?
contact
Academy Admissions Office
or call 1-719-333-2236

FAQs

Is the Appointee Orientation Important?
If the Appointee has not yet visited the Academy, it gives the Appointee a chance to see USAFA up close & personal. The Appointee will shadow a cadet, stay in the dorm with the cadet, & have an opportunity to talk with the faculty, staff, and many cadets from the Academy. For parents, it's a chance to see where your Appointee, if s/he accepts the Appointment, will be attending college. Please read WHEN TO VISIT if parents have limited time or resources for a visit to the Academy.

Should parents attend Appointee Orientation?
Parents who have gone to Orientation invariably agree it's an excellent learning opportunity for not only the appointee, but for the parents. Parents are able to ask specific questions directly to the command staff, medical staff, military training staff, and the cadets they meet. An extensive tour of the Academy campus is offered for an in-depth look at what USAFA offers the cadets in facilities. As one dad said, "I'd never want to attend college here in a million years, but it looks like the perfect place for my son to pursue his goal. I now better understand why he wants to go to school here." Alternatively, an Inter-Collegiate (IC) recruit and the family is given a private tour by the coach. This experience is vastly different from the Appointee Orientation.

BUY BOOTS OR NOT?
Before the advent of the lightweight BDUs, it was imperative for appointees to buy boots & wear them for weeks to months before In-Processing. Now it's a matter of personal preference. Some appointees may not be accustomed to the stiffness of boots, & need time to acclimate their feet before InP. Others may have personal foot preferences, e.g., custom orthotics, & may feel more comfortable buying boots in advance. Still others are heedful that in some squadrons the cadre may not like dirty boots on the basic cadets, & a clear pair can be helpful. Still, my own cadet chose not to buy boots. He did't experience any problems.

What if I only have time (or money) for 1-2 trips?
If there are any questions in any appointee's or parents' minds about whether or not to attend the Academy, it is crucial for appointees and their parents to both visit during Orientation. The USAFA is not your regular university experience. The Academy challenges its students with rigorous discipline, academics, physical activity, and military training. The Orientation is the optimum time to learn whether or not the Academy is the right place for the appointee. However, if the appointee and the family are completely committed to attending the Academy without reservations, and the family can only afford (time/money) 1-2 trips, the Parents' Weekend is an optimal time to visit the Academy, when USAFA holds special events for parents, including the opportunity to attend your cadets' classes and meet the professors and instructors.

Should parents attend In-Processing?
That is the personal question that faces each family. While some Appointees may ask their parents to attend, some do not. Some Appointees tell their parents to stay home, that they want to in-process without the parents present. Some Appointees want to ask their parents to not come, but the parents don't give the Appointee a choice. We recommend that the parents wait to hear from the Appointee his/her preference on their accompanying him/her to In-Processing. It would be best for the Appointee to be enabled to make this decision. For Inter-Collegiate (IC) recruits , the coach oftentimes invites the parents to accompany the Appointee to In-Processing. Oftentimes, the coach holds parent gatherings while the Appointee is In-Processed with his/her team. While IC parents oftentimes very much enjoy the coach soirees, the Appointee is best asked what s/he would prefer. There will be plenty of opportunities for the team parents to meet and connect at future sportings events.