Before the Big Day of BCT

It is important to be prepared well in advance of BCT inprocessing day. This section details what personal items your son or daughter will need, what they should not bring, arranging travel plans, reimbursement and other notable areas. By planning ahead, you will ensure your new cadet’s transition takes off smoothly.

Travel

By Air

If your child will fly to the Academy, we highly recommend requesting a government paid airline ticket through the Academy Traffic Management Office (TMO). TMO will issue an electronic ticket from the airport closest to your home of record. The itinerary will be mailed by the first week of June. Based on flight availability, your son or daughter will be scheduled to arrive no later than 10 a.m. on June 24 or the day before to make the inprocessing day schedule. If you have questions after you have received your child’s itinerary, please call (719) 333-4429.

Whether a ticket is purchased through TMO or with personal funds, a travel voucher will be completed during inprocessing. The following information and documentation is required:

• Airline itinerary
• Distance (in miles) traveled from the home of record to the airport
• Receipts for personally purchased airline tickets
• Receipts for reimbursable expense items, such as taxi fares of $75 or more
• Cost of passport and/or visa (international students only)

By Ground

If your child will be driving to the Academy in a privately owned automobile, he or she will be entitled to reimbursement of $.50 per mile from the home of record. However, this should not exceed the cost of airfare through TMO. For example, if a plane ticket from Atlanta to Colorado Springs costs $309, and mileage from the same location is 1,386 miles x .50 = $693, then only $309 will be reimbursed. Your child will also be reimbursed a maximum per diem allowance of $154 a day for meal and hotel coverage. Travel time is computed and paid for the lesser of: one allowable travel day for each 350 miles of the official distance or actual time used to complete the travel. To be entitled to the mileage allowance, your son or daughter must be responsible for the operating costs of the vehicle (i.e. paying for the gas). It is not necessary to track actual mileage or provide copies of meal or hotel receipts.

Other commercial ground transportation: Your child may also arrange travel by bus or train and receive reimbursement. If traveling by this method, please instruct your son or daughter to retain all receipts until filing the travel voucher.

For questions concerning travel, please contact the Academy Financial Services Office at (719) 333-3160.

Medical Insurance Coverage

Beginning the first day of BCT, your child will have full medical and dental coverage. If any medical issue arises during BCT or any other time while at the Academy your child will be cared for. The medical facilities at the Academy’s disposal include a cadet clinic, flight medicine and immunizations and a dental clinic. In cases of emergency or extensive care, cadets are taken to nearby hospital facilities off base. If a cadet leaves the Academy for any reason, whether disenrollment, voluntary separation or a medical condition, the Air Force will no longer be responsible for medical expenses. If you would like your child to remain on your medical insurance policy, we highly recommend you contact the insurance carrier and inquire whether it is legal to keep your child on a health insurance policy while they are a cadet. After your son or daughter graduates they will continue to have complete medical and dental coverage throughout their time in the Air Force.

Computers and Calculators

Incoming cadets will be issued a scientific calculator and a new notebook computer before the academic year begins. It is not required or recommended to purchase these items or bring them from home. The notebook computer will come pre-loaded with all required software. Cadets will also have access to high-speed laser printers, but are allowed to have a personal printer in their room. If your son or daughter already has a printer, we recommend the printer be sent after the academic year begins or have it brought during Parents Weekend. Personal printers should have a USB 2.0 connection and cable.

For more comprehensive details regarding these issues, you can also refer to the Instructions to Appointees handbook.