Decided

Academy_Questions

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For all of you wonderful people who have been out there and helped me through this process, I just wanted to let you know: I am going to West Point.

Decided, at last, and I have never felt better.



(Now for getting ready, so plenty of questions to come!!!!)

Just to make sure I understand correctly, R-Day doesn't have any sort of "picnic" (the way USNA does?) after the Oath, correct. It's just drop your plebe off in the morning and see then 6 weeks later?
 
While there is no picnic, it's a full day for the parents. After the new cadet is dropped off, there are USMA tours, shopping for class of 2014 merchandise, meeting parent club representatives, and the all-day sport of "Waldo Watching." This is done by finding a shady spot with camera at the ready...they you watch as every group of new cadets marches by...you might get lucky and get a glimpse of yours. Meanwhile, you snap a bazillion pictures and later post them. You might not have your cadet, but you have someone's...and they are very appreciative later to spot their Waldo or Wanda. Later in the afternoon is a briefing by the Superintendant. After the briefing is the Rday parade (don't miss this!!). Then...the new cadets march off, then you leave. So, no...don't just drop and go!!
 
For all of you wonderful people who have been out there and helped me through this process, I just wanted to let you know: I am going to West Point.

Decided, at last, and I have never felt better.



(Now for getting ready, so plenty of questions to come!!!!)

Just to make sure I understand correctly, R-Day doesn't have any sort of "picnic" (the way USNA does?) after the Oath, correct. It's just drop your plebe off in the morning and see then 6 weeks later?

Congratulations!!

While there is no picnic, it's a full day for the parents. After the new cadet is dropped off, there are USMA tours, shopping for class of 2014 merchandise, meeting parent club representatives, and the all-day sport of "Waldo Watching." This is done by finding a shady spot with camera at the ready...they you watch as every group of new cadets marches by...you might get lucky and get a glimpse of yours. Meanwhile, you snap a bazillion pictures and later post them. You might not have your cadet, but you have someone's...and they are very appreciative later to spot their Waldo or Wanda. Later in the afternoon is a briefing by the Superintendant. After the briefing is the Rday parade (don't miss this!!). Then...the new cadets march off, then you leave. So, no...don't just drop and go!!

Alright, mom3boys. You've got me worried!

A local family who has a cadet at WP suggested that we fly out with our son for his overnight visit and let him fly out for R-day on his own. We even checked the box on the portal for him to stay with another cadet in a hotel the night before they report.

Flying from the west coast is pretty expensive (about $450.00 per person) and we can't fly everyone out for all 3 trips. Which do you suggest is more important, going with him for the overnight or coming with him to R-day? I worry that I will be very emotional on R-day.

We already have the whole family booked to come out for A-day. I would appreciate your opinion if you are willing to share it!
 
It is fine to have your son/daughter to fly to R-Day alone. If you have to make a choice between attending R-Day and A-Day then pick A-Day. hands down.
You will be able to follow R-Day on the website, facebook and twitter - they will even post photos. There will be posted a video of the oath ceremony and the Superintendent's comments to the parents.
 
Just to make sure I understand correctly, R-Day doesn't have any sort of "picnic" (the way USNA does?) after the Oath, correct. It's just drop your plebe off in the morning and see then 6 weeks later?

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around! Sorry, no R-day picnic at USMA. I remember hearing that song when I was a Plebe. Congratulations, best of luck and ask those questions!
 
Alright, mom3boys. You've got me worried!

A local family who has a cadet at WP suggested that we fly out with our son for his overnight visit and let him fly out for R-day on his own. We even checked the box on the portal for him to stay with another cadet in a hotel the night before they report.

Flying from the west coast is pretty expensive (about $450.00 per person) and we can't fly everyone out for all 3 trips. Which do you suggest is more important, going with him for the overnight or coming with him to R-day? I worry that I will be very emotional on R-day.

We already have the whole family booked to come out for A-day. I would appreciate your opinion if you are willing to share it!


Personally, having experienced the overnight and R-day, if I had to choose one, I would choose R-day.

On the overnight, you and your son meet with all the other parents/kids in one of the auditoriums where someone is there to answer questions. Your cadet that is assigned to your son will come and get him during this time. When all of the kids are gone, they will have a cadet take the parents on a tour of West Point who will also answer any questions that you have. We were done about noon. We had the rest of the day to mill about West Point on our own. We picked our son up the next day about noon.

R-Day: Yes , it can be very emotional, but it is the last time you will see your Cadet Candidate for 6 weeks. After the '90 second good-bye' there are tons of things to do, which kind of keeps your mind off all of the emotional stuff. Yes, you can see the Cadet Candidates around. We stood outside one of the sally ports and watched some of them being in-processed, hoping to see our son. We didn't but we at least got to see the process. Later that afternoon is the Supe's briefing followed by the Oath Ceremony. Being there with all of the other parents is comforting. At least it was for me. You are all in the same boat, feeling the same things. People you have never met before are suddenly your friends.

If you can't go to R-day. No big. Your son won't be the only one there without his parents. In fact, some kids prefer this. I know of 3 kids from the same high school that had accepted appointment to West Point last year. They decided that they wanted to go to R-day on their own together - with out their parents. They flew up together and stayed together the night before.
Ask your son if he has a preference and go with that.

Also remember, West Point will pay for his travel expenses for R-day (plane - hotel).
 
We didn't go on the overnight w/ our son. He flew up alone. The fam's first time to see WP was Rday. Ask your son what he prefers, and go with what works for y'all. We are in the southeast, so the airfares were more reasonable. If I had to secure flights from the west coast, I would have made different choices, no doubt. Rday helped me deal with him leaving; Aday was great, but he slept sooo much of the time!
 
We didn't go on the overnight w/ our son. He flew up alone. The fam's first time to see WP was Rday. Ask your son what he prefers, and go with what works for y'all. We are in the southeast, so the airfares were more reasonable. If I had to secure flights from the west coast, I would have made different choices, no doubt. Rday helped me deal with him leaving; Aday was great, but he slept sooo much of the time!

Thanks for your insight! I've asked my son to think about it and let me know. I like the idea of being able to see the grounds and the tour of WP on A-day. He laughed at me when I told him I will be emotional! I was hoping that he may have another new cadet from the area that may be travel company. Thanks again!
 
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