Discussion: AFA Team!?

First I've heard of this- there's an O-Team at the Academy now? This is great!!

Yep!

This will actually be the second year for the team. It was started by a Cadet last year and has continued on into this year. We're hoping to field a team to the 2014 Intercollegiate Champs in Ohio but as we're not an official club yet that will be a huge challenge with travel expenses and gaining permission from the Academy itself etc..

Just to note, the Intercollegiate Champs will probably be in Pennslyvania April 26-27. DVOA has made the bid and the OUSA board will vote this Wednesday. The Interscholastic Champs (HS and younger) will be in Ohio/Indiana north of Cincinnati, the first weekend in April. The last few years the Interscholastics and Intercollegiates have been together, but that isn't always the case.

I hope your team can make it!

If it helps make your case for funding with the Academy, the officials from Armed Forces Sports were very impressed with the CISM championships this year, and are looking to continue funding an active-duty team. One of the areas I'd like to focus on in the next year or so is working with the service academies to build the visibility of the sport (particularly within the military).

Mike! Thank you very much for that clarification!! We didn't realize the difference. That will definitely affect our planning...

Virginia, we would definitely appreciate any help you can provide in regards to funding and/or greater visibility of the sport. I would be able to put you in touch with our faculty sponsor at the Academy. If you have contacts of your own at the Academy that would be even better. Thank you!!

What ever happened to Navy Orienteering?

There was a team briefly at the Naval Academy in the early 2000's, but it was run by a midshipman, and there was no faculty/staff to take over once the student left.

Christoph- I don't have any contacts at USAFA, so if you could email me with the faculty sponsor's name, I can contact him/her.

Awesome stuff. Christoph & Virginia- Keep me posted on what support AFA team needs. If for some reason the intercollegiates will be in ohio instead of Pennsylvania I will be in ohio by 2014 and can look into options to keep costs low for the team at Wright Patterson AFB. If for some reason any of your cadets are in Michigan on Nov 1st and 2nd I have a tri-service ROTC O-event going on they'd be welcome at.

Will do Virginia!!

Thanks Joseph, I'll pass the November dates on to the Cadets and once the Intercollegiates are decided We'll see about possible low cost options...