Some of the best parts about being connected to a military academy are traditions and milestones, which are often intertwined. It starts with I Day and ends with Commissioning with a countless blur of them in between. The Air Force Academy Class of 2026 now has two major ones in their pockets with I Day … Continue reading Putting A Day in the rearview mirror

Summer for Basics and Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy means something different to everyone involved. The Basics, of course, grind their way through BCT. The Cadets have a wide range of experiences that may include BCT as part of the cadre, professional training, and the coveted time off. But there's one thing … Continue reading “T” is for Transition

It's been excited to read posts by Class of 2026 parents about Jacks Valley. The best part, of course, is that my daughter isn't there. 🙂 For the academy - and for the Air Force at large - Jacks Valley is important because it introduces important skills to the Basics and reinforces key traits like … Continue reading Why Jacks Valley is important

We all have summer at the same time, but we experience very different summers. For those with cadets heading into their second, third, or final year, there’s a lot of excitement. Sure, the rising C3C’s have to struggle through combat survival training (CST), but there’s also a more, um, interesting training block to look forward … Continue reading Summer and those precious phone calls

The shock and awe of I Day are in the rearview mirror. The Basics are, well, learning the basics from the cadre, and the rest of the Cadet Wing is scattered to the Four Winds. A few random thoughts as we hurtle through summer... If you have a Basic, take a deep breath. There's probably … Continue reading Random thoughts during BCT

Three I Days - 2016 at USNA, 2020 at USAFA Prep, and 2021 at USAFA. I’ve been through three I Days with two kids and while everyone’s experience is different, there’s one thing I can say with some certainty. Your perspective changes after  I Day. The most jarring change for us came on that first … Continue reading After I Day, some perspectives are forever changed

It’s Father’s Day season and this one strikes a little harder than some with my son preparing for an imminent deployment and my daughter neck-deep in summer training. The reminders are everywhere, from commercials touting tools and grills as gifts for dads to stores stocked with mugs proclaiming “#1 Dad” and “World’s Best Dad.” Perhaps … Continue reading Happy (Imperfect) Father’s Day

The change in depth, frequency, and cadence of communication with your child represents one of the many difficult adjustments for academy parents. When my kids were in high school, I talked to them every day, usually at length. The conversations could cover everything from help with an English paper to a changing practice schedule to … Continue reading When just a little is enough

My Facebook stream often confounds me, but that's almost a certainty this time of year. As our school district's year would careen to a close, many parents would make posts bemoaning the fact that the kids soon wouldn't be at school every day. As a practical matter, I understand some parents have to make accommodations … Continue reading Trying not to wish summer away

Make sure you add summer to the list of things your friends at "normal" college will not understand, most notably the silence. Being male and female is only one of the myriad of differences between my kids. He's an omnivore who will clean his plate even if it's something he doesn't particularly like. She will … Continue reading Summers sounds of silence