Hi! Thank you so much for doing this - it really helps to ease the CC’s minds (including myself!).
I mainly have some questions about Beast.
As someone else asked - how often do we get to shower?
How does church/attending religious services work?
What does a typical week at Beast look like? Or day? (Ratio of classes/indoor learning to outdoors, PT, rucking, etc)
What’s the IOC like? Is there anything we can do to help prepare ourselves for that, physically?
How was your plebe experience? Anything bad/good/interesting we should know?
Thank you again for doing this!! It really helps!
1) You will be able to shower at least once, but almost always, twice per day. Please take advantage of the showers, New Cadets are notorious for a particular stench and your cadre will thank you if you practice good hygiene. One exception to this is if you are in the field.
2) If my memory serves me right, there is an opportunity for services of all sorts of faiths and denominations every Sunday. There are also non-religious services which will give you pizza. I would recommend attending one anyways with your BEAST buddies since its a nice break and there is a ridiculous amount of food and goodies available. If you are in the field, let your Squad Leader know and they will do their best to accommodate your needs.
3) Uhhhh its been a hot second since I did BEAST and I know things have changed quite a bit but I'll do my best.
0450- wake up and bathroom, 0500 - dressed in PTs and accountability formation, 0520-0630? - PT, 0630-0700- shower n stuff, 0730-0800 Breakfast, 0830-1130: briefs or issue points. You will be spending a lot of time standing around and memorizing your knowledge book. 1130-1200 lunch, 1230-UTC afternoon briefs, issue points, or training. The evening is just dinner and maybe a brief or knowledge party.
The first part of BEAST is how to be a cadet while the second part is how to be a soldier. The first three weeks are filled with getting stuff like uniforms and taking placement tests for classes. There are lots of informational briefs and stuff too. Try not to fall asleep. You will spend a bit of time on the range with the M4, but most of the cool stuff is during the last three weeks. You'll ruck out to Buckner and do mountaineering, land nav, crew-served weapons, grenades, M4 qualification, rucks, and all sorts of fun stuff. Then you'll ruck back and be accepted into the Corps.
4) the IOCT was a pain but also fun in a sickening way. Please don't try to prepare for it by yourself. A lot of it is dangerous and they instructors will teach you all you need to know. If it makes you feel any better, I am a 6' 3'' dude that is VERY slow and clumsy but I never had any issues with the IOCT. There are a plethora of cadets and instructors who are happy to help you along. Much like everything else at USMA, it may be difficult to ace, but it is even harder to fail.
5) Plebe year isn't bad. Being at USMA is a really cool experience and you get to live it. Enjoy the football games and Army-Navy, old grads will be more than happy to feed you at tailgates after games. It's the start of a new era in your life. Everything you did before is washed away and you can start new. Make friends, stay in shape, and stay out of trouble. Make a good name for yourself, your reputation is all you have as a Plebe. Be a good follower so you can be a good leader. Lastly, have faith in yourself: USMA saw that you had the right stuff in you.
