A-Day

From Deb Dalton on the WP c/o 2018 Parents page:

Cadets are fully engaged in Cadet Basic Training from July 2 through Aug. 12. Once they complete CBT, they are then engaged in the reorganization activities; picking up books, going to briefings, receiving their computers, meeting their cadet chain of command, drill practice, etc. The BIG event for parents and families (and cadets) is the Acceptance Day parade on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Deb Dalton is the WP Parent Communications Liaison.
 
Deb Dalton....who?

It can get very pricey the first year. If I were to rank the importance of "must be there" events it would be;

A-Day - Family Event
You have the weekend with a very tired Plebe
PPW- 1. Parents 2. Family Event
The Plebes are given two tickets for the dinner, space is very limited
Great being with your Plebe the weekend
R-Day- Plebe drop off in the morning, thats it no personal contact till A-Day

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
PPW.....

Date is still pending. Its usually in March

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
PPW will start just before the first weekend of spring break. Which is normally announced when the Academic calendar surfaces late spring to mid summer.

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A day weekend (and marchback if you can make it) is important for the cadet. And VG for the family.

PPW is your best opportunity as an outsider to see your cadet's world. You will not get similar opportunity until grad week, if even then.

So it would be very hard to prioritize one over the other for me.

Much less opportunity yearling/cow years, so go to as many of the plebe events as you can!

Personally, I grumbled about taking the week off to see march back rather than just A day weekend. Found it was well worth it. If I could I'd go to march back every year!

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It can get very pricey the first year. If I were to rank the importance of "must be there" events it would be;

A-Day - Family Event
You have the weekend with a very tired Plebe
PPW- 1. Parents 2. Family Event
The Plebes are given two tickets for the dinner, space is very limited
Great being with your Plebe the weekend
R-Day- Plebe drop off in the morning, thats it no personal contact till A-Day

Push Hard, Press Forward


I would agree with Tug's assessment overall.

R-Day: It is a unique experience that you and your CC will share and remember forever. Emotional time with the added shock of feeling like you have fallen into a cold pond unexpectedly. There are things to see and do all day long and concludes with a formation and the CC repeating their oath on the Plain. Our CC had high stress which we could observe grow as we got closer to WP. By R-Day morning he was on pins and needles and would barely speak to us. Some CC don't want their parents there and I would acquiesce to their desire (but push to go).

A-Day: a very proud event that helps make up for the six weeks of no/limited contact. You need to be there for your cadet as they need to get off of base after enduring CBT. It is their only chance for some normal experiences (dinner out; movie; time with family and friends) before Christmas break, as there are limited things to do around WP within their normal walking privileges. Encourage extended family to come. If it is feasible, get there early enough on the Monday of ReOrgy week to watch March Back.

PPW: From a parent's perspective, if I could only go to "one event" it would be PPW - which happens the weekend before Spring Break and is the major annual Plebe event. Plebes are released for Spring Break on Sunday morning. Most upperclassman are gone by this time, and the Plebes are somewhat relaxed. As a parent, your only chance over four years to see the barracks, tour the uniform factory, and see anything and everything related to West Point (that you can squeeze in; we told our DS that eventually he needs to become commandant as we could not get a place on the tour of the commandant's quarters, so we have not yet seen them). You can learn more about WP overall in those two days than you could in a lifetime from touring and visiting.

Tug is correct: it can be very pricey to travel and stay near WP for these events. But all of these give exactly one opportunity to experience them. For those who are in the NE, you are fortunate. For those on the Left Coast, you have my sympathy. Fortunately WP Parents understand that not all parents can attend everything so there are always people volunteering to take and host your cadets should you not be able to be there for things like A-Day.
 
GoBlue1984 - Are Plebes not allowed to travel home over Thanksgiving Break?

Your post says that A-Day is their only chance for some normal experience before Christmas Break but I thought they could travel during Thanksgiving.
 
GoBlue1984 - Are Plebes not allowed to travel home over Thanksgiving Break?

Your post says that A-Day is their only chance for some normal experience before Christmas Break but I thought they could travel during Thanksgiving.

From memory they'll get the following leave and passes:

- At least one pass which can be used for a 3 day weekend (typically Labor day if games don't goof it up)

- Thanksgiving Leave (Wed noon-Sunday)

- Winter Leave (abt 2 weeks, started on the 21st this year)

They may get one or more performance passes for individual or other reasons. Which could be used on one of the 3 day weekends (Columbus or Veterans's day) or even a 2 day weekend.

Again, from memory, it's rare to get more than one performance pass per semester.

Typically buses run for Labor day weekend, and the general vibe is plebes don't really want to be stuck there with unhappy upper classmen also stuck there. :) Some including DS did not have problems, but I know of others who did. And they'll have to keep 2+ per room, etc.

I'd have to check for Columbus/Vet's day buses.

The academic year calendar is your friend. Not available for AY 14-15 yet, but the 13-14 one will give you a good idea how it works:

http://www.westpointparentsclubofsouthflorida.org/planningdates2013-2014.pdf
 
good stuff from Hawk.

checking the buses is key in a lot of our flight plans.

Their last class before Winter Break can vary quite a bit, too.

(Then there's the praying for no weather delays part...)
 
My bad... I thought I had posted the link to the calendar at the USMA parent site. Here it is from the proper source:
http://www.usma.edu/parents/SiteAssets/Calendar Information for Academic Year 2013.pdf

The buff card is also worth looking at, as you'll hear your cadet refer to "1" and "2" days. Also the A,C, and F Saturdays. (There is a proper name for them.) The older buff cards had more of a key on them plus a layout of the academic days.

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GoBlue1984 - Are Plebes not allowed to travel home over Thanksgiving Break?

Your post says that A-Day is their only chance for some normal experience before Christmas Break but I thought they could travel during Thanksgiving.

My bad too... Thanksgiving does offer a short time of respite however it has the Army/Navy game (and corresponding drill) followed by the completion of fall term (and TEEs) hanging over it.

Hawk hit the Plebe Year opportunities away from the academy fairly good. I think one of the passes each semester can be for a "spirit pass" to attend an away sports game of some sort. Just remember, the cadet is responsible for all costs in travel to and from the academy. Plebes must also be in uniform from the time of departure until arrival at their destination.
 
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Can anybody tell me the date for the marchback. Being only short car ride away we would like to attend
 
March back is normally the Monday before A-day weekend. Have not seen specifics for AY 14-15 yet

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Passes

Living within an easy 5 1/2 hour drive, my DS came home several times during his plebe year. He was in a great company and earned many passes!

This year, all of the three day weekends fell on home football games, and cadets CANNOT leave until after the game. Couple that with him being in a different company which doesn't give passes made for a very long Fall!!

Next year the home football games fall on short weekends so we are hoping that he can get home on at least the three day weekends. Plus he will be a cow so should be able to earn more passes!
 
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