USAFA Summers

One of the best things about USAFA is that the summers are great. While civilian kids usually try to pick up a near minimum wage job, we get awesome opportunities.

Our summers are divided up into 3 periods, about 3 weeks long each, preceded by a period called "prep-week". Prep-week is from the end of final until after graduation, and usually prep takes place for your summer programs - hence the name. A typical summer includes two periods of activities, with one period of leave (vacation).

Fortunately, I get to avoid prep week this summer, as I'll be running the Great Wall of China Marathon in - you guessed it - China. It's a paid trip by the Olmstead Foundation, which provides money for cadet groups to experience different world cultures. Should be pretty exciting.

For first and second period, I'll be working on a Cadet Summer Research Project (CSRP) at Brooks Air Force Base near San Antonio, TX. I'll be working on a project that is attempting to modify circadian rhymicity in people using magnetic fields.

For third period, I'll be a Flight Commander for 2nd Basic Cadet Training (BCT or "beast"). A Flight Commander is directly responsible for the day-to-day activities of all the basic cadets (incoming freshmen) for each academic squadron. After working 1st BCT last summer, I'm looking forward to experiencing the other half - 2nd BCT. 2nd BCT is more like a camping trip in "Jack's Valley" and emphasizes more physical activities than the first portion of BCT, which emphasizes learning military discipline and knowledge.