Another Weekend Recap

The Class of 2022 is now in the home stretch. On August 1 (Wednesday), they’ll be marching back from Jacks Valley. They will then spend a few additional days in basic training and preparing for the start of classes on August 9^th.

After BCT, the basic cadets will enter their academic year squadron. The Cadet Wing (i.e., all cadets at the AFA) are divided into 40 squadrons of approximately 110 cadets, with 25-30 from each class. The cadet squadron (CS) is the basic unit in which cadets live and operate. Graham will enter squadron 37, the Skyraiders. After his sophomore year, he will change squadrons one last time. Some key upcoming dates:

BCT Coin Ceremony: (1 Aug 18) The BCT Coin Ceremony is held when the Basics return from Jack’s Valley. Each Basic is given a coin in honor of completing Basic Training.

Acceptance Day Parade: (7 Aug 18, 9:00 a.m.) The parade starts around 9:00 am. After the parade shoulder boards (rank) are put onto the C4Cs. The rank has to be put on by upper classmen Cadets, but parents are allowed on the field to observe and take pictures. This is unique parade as it is a wedge formation and the BCT squadrons will march and join the rest of the Cadet Wing. We won’t see another parade like this until their Graduation Parade when the seniors leave the Cadet Wing in a wedge formation. Jackie and I will be attending in person.

This past Friday saw the Hellcats squadron running the obstacle course. A quick review of the course, as provided by USAFA WebGuy:

Obstacle Course

Mission: The Obstacle Course will teach and require basic cadets to negotiate 17 physically-challenging obstacles. It is designed to assess their physical fitness, agility, confidence and increase awareness of personal capabilities. The first time through the Obstacle Course is the orientation run.  The second time through the Obstacle Course basic cadets are timed.

WebGuy Translation: Climb, crawl, jump over and under obstacles.  Try to never, never fall in the water.  Think "Officer and a Gentleman" and war movies.

WebGuy Rating: (Fun Level Scale 1 - 10) Obstacle Course is 4

Graham on the Obstacle Course.

Heck, even joining in on the OC over the weekend was USAFA Commandant Brig Gen Kristin Goodwin, who then shared some photos via Instagram.

Commandant Goodwin leading by example.

Saturday the Hellcats were not covered by WebGuy. This means they were likely on the Leadership course.

Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) 

Mission: The Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) safely provides basic cadets experiences in functional leadership, effective followership, group and individual problem-solving, and group dynamics by working through six exercise scenarios. Assigned cadre provide critiques after scenario completion to enhance the learning experience.

WebGuy Translation: Group Problem solving.

WebGuy Rating: (Fun Level Scale 1 - 10) Leadership Reaction Course is 8

Sunday, the Hellcats were back on the Assault Course. However, Graham was seen wearing the dreaded belt. The belt means there is some sort of physical limitation being experience by the Cadet. It could be anything from a tweaked muscle to a blown knee. It could mean a cold, or some sort of ailment. We just don’t know. So, we’ve got our Worry Hats on, and it may take a week before we either get a letter from Graham explaining, or we actually see him next week on Acceptance Day.

I was surprised to see Cadet Maas amongst the infirmed.

The color of the belt, red in this case, holds no significance. 

We are told USAFA takes good care of the basics medically and physically. Basics have the opportunity to go to the clinic every morning, and there are Cadet Emergency Medical personnel on-call 24/7 to respond to acute incidents as needed. The clinic does get busy, particularly come Jacks Valley (most people start coughing and getting sick), but every basic that needs to be seen will be seen and treated.

When Graham was at his sponsor family during Doolie Day out, and called us, he let us know the squadron was passing a chest cold around to each other and he was dealing with it. So, I wonder if the tear gas experience exacerbated the chest cold somehow. And maybe they were just taking precaution with him. Graham had also been experiencing blisters. And had been told his iron levels were low, as were other cadets, and was given iron supplements to take. Another squadron mom had found out that her son had experienced a bad concussion. So, it could be anything.

But his arm was not in a sling. He wasn’t wearing any type of knee brace. He was still standing. We’ll just keep sending positive thoughts his way until we gather more information.

For more photos of Graham from the weekend, check out the BCT 2 Flickr Album.