Recent content by Tail-Dragon

  1. T

    Visiting West Point - MAPS R-day

    In Newburgh you can find decent hotels and eats. It is also home to Orange County Choppers, it's worth a look and if you have an interest in motorcycles don't miss Motorcyclepedia in Newburgh. It is really amazing.
  2. T

    West Point Advice

    1. Explain to your loving mother, joking dad, gushing girl-friend or boy-friend that your mail will be opened in the presence of Cadre. If there is contra-band, it belongs to Cadre and you get smoked. If it’s full of glitter, sealed with a kiss, overly personal or in any other way embarrassing...
  3. T

    PPW Tips

    No doubt all ya’ll parents of Plebes are ready to go to West Point for Plebe-Parent Weekend. As a Class of 2015 dad thought I’d mention a few things we learned last year and give you some idea of what to expect. So here goes: 1. It’s West Point, there will be lot’s of walking. More walking...
  4. T

    Authorized to Retake CFA

    My DS, Class of 2015, was authorized to re-take the CFA. It means you have something the academy is looking for but they need to see a better CFA to know you can meet the physical demands. My DS hit a wall on pull-ups and nothing he did helped until his older brother stepped in and told him...
  5. T

    What is in the BFE?

    The Big Fat Envelope will have a bi-fold portfolio with the actual appoinment in it as well as a short congratulatory letter. Shortly after you will get lots of follow-on letters and notices on your portal, boot and shoe letter, medical requirements, reporting time, location, parking pass...
  6. T

    A-Day Pointers from a Class of 2015 Dad

    A-Day is an entirely different experience than R-Day, I highly recommend you attend if you can for two reasons. First, you will see your Cadet officially join the Corp of Cadets. Witnessing the entire Corp on the Plain is amazing; knowing your Cadet is among them is priceless. Secondly, your...
  7. T

    USMAPS Questions

    My DS is Class of 2015, no varisty sports in High School. Maybe a few Cadets have every box checked and are the perfect candidate, but the majority have holes in their application. You will need to to get as high a score as you can on the CFA and let your other strengths shine through.
  8. T

    Last Minute DOCUMENT Check List - Suggestions?

    As a proud dad of a Rising Yearling I would suggest you make sure he has the required paperwork for R-Day. You can keep the other stuff handy and once Beast is over bring the other stuff if he feels he may need it to A-Day (I highly recommend you make it to A-Day) or mail it to him. But during...
  9. T

    Picnics at West Point

    Trophy Point is always a good place.
  10. T

    USMA R-Day Tips for Parents

    As a soon-to-be parent of a Yuk, I was thinking back over everything that I’ve learned and experienced during my son’s plebe-year at USMA and how fast it has flown by. As my Cadet likes to say, the days are long but the weeks are short. There were a number of things I remember thinking to...
  11. T

    Boots/Low-quarters

    My DS is Class of 2015, and a good friend's son is 2016, both of them wore the boots ahead of time and had them broken in. Neither of them wore the low quarters enough to get used to them and paid the price. On R-Day you will be in the low quarters for 12-16 hours, carrying a load, marching...
  12. T

    Difference in class difficulty?

    USMA classes are taught using the Thayer method. I suggest you do a little research as to what that means and then you'll have your answer. My DS, Class of 2015, is doing very well, others not so much.
  13. T

    Cfa-any suggestions on how to do more pull-ups?

    My DS, USMA '15, hit a wall on pull-ups. We tried a lot of things but what finally worked was I purchased one of those pull-up bars that locked onto his bedroom doorway. The deal was he couldn't go in or out of his room without doing the max pull-ups he could do. Within two weeks we were not...
  14. T

    Manhattan West Point Club

    Sounds to me like you are looking for the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard & Airmen's club. Here is the link. www.ssmaclub.org
  15. T

    Perspectives

    Apparently laundry duty got "stepped up" this week. DS spoke about it last night, his opening comment to me was, "duty was interesting last night." He does not see it as hazing, hazing by the way has no point but to make the antagonist feel empowered over someone. It is a leadership puzzle to...
Back
Top