"Early is on time" R-Day reporting

RLTW

RLTW

15-Year Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
178
DS reports in the first group of candidates at 0630 on R-Day. Hearing so often that “early is on time”, I’m trying to plan a reasonable morning schedule, including what time to be at Stony Lonesome Gate in time to allow us to process security, park, ride the shuttle, etc. and get to the reporting location on time. I have zero idea how long all of that takes, especially for the first group of folks when I also don’t how many that will be trying to do the same thing at the same time of day.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you,
RLTW
 
My son had the early time slot last June. We got to the gate at about 6:20 AM, got through it pretty quickly, drove down the hill to parking, and you could walk to the building that they had to report to. That is when you stand in line for a while, and the line does not end when you get inside. It only continues to wrap around. The line ends when they take groups of about 30 plebes, and their parents, into the gymnasium for a few minute speech. You then get to say goodbye for about 10 seconds, and they march the plebes out to begin processing.

The report times are spread out so that you can come in the window of time for your slot. Some will tell you to be there at 6:00 AM, so you can be the first in line, and that is ok. Just realize they all get to the same place, and get processed. I personally would not worry about being there in advance of the reporting time window.
 
It will probably be a little different this year as compared to last. Last year they reported to the Hollinder Center because Ike Hall was being renovated. I am assuming they will go back to IKe Hall this year as it has in the past. If that’s the case, the parking will not be as convenient as it was for the Hollinder Center.
 
Livinlarger said:
It will probably be a little different this year as compared to last. Last year they reported to the Hollinder Center because Ike Hall was being renovated. I am assuming they will go back to IKe Hall this year as it has in the past. If that’s the case, the parking will not be as convenient as it was for the Hollinder Center.
Click to expand...

But Ike Hall has air-conditioning! :thumb: It was so hot in the Holleder Center as we wound around in that long line---I hated when we had to move away from the fans.
 
If my report time is 8:00AM is it recommended I get to USMA by 7:30? Or earlier/later?
 
abeastlybeast said:
If my report time is 8:00AM is it recommended I get to USMA by 7:30? Or earlier/later?
Click to expand...

If you get to the gate at 7:30 AM that should work well. I would not worry about getting there any earlier. Everyone stands in the same line. If you are much earlier you will just be in the back of the earlier time slot. You are going to be nervous about many things that morning, just plan on being there within your time slot window, and do not stress over a few minutes plus or minus.
 
Last year, son had the early slot and overslept (!) - nerves the night before and time zone change kept him from getting to sleep at a decent time. He arrived at Stony Lonesome Gate at 7:45, got to back of the Holleder Center line at 8:15 or so, and was in-processed after 1-1/2 hours in line. No consequences - nobody noticed - and the "Cadet in the Red Sash" had mellowed a bit by then.

Not the recommended procedure, certainly, but don't panic if you're not there on the dot at 6:30.
 
im no expert but it seems to me that it wouldnt matter if you show half an hour late. you will just in process later. I think they just stagger it so everybody doesnt come at the same time. I feel nobody will notice if your late as said in the post above.
 
Time slots and reporting and a note of caution

As long as you are in the line by the end of your report window you are in good shape. There are no extra points for being first. Last year the report time was given as a window. I believe 0630-0800 for the first group. If it is the same as last year,, i.e. the reporting time is a window, then the key time is the last time to report, not the earliest.


I also understand that processing will be done at Ike Hall rather than at Hollander. That means that you will probably park your car behind Michie Stadium, and take a shuttle bus to Ike. Don't know about the delay, but in the past at other activities, the shuttle buses worked very efficiently. Now for the word of caution.

The real deal is getting there on the R Day with enough time to be processed in. Fail that one, and in years past you would be SOL. I don't know why this year would be any different. In the summer, particularly for candidates coming from the South and West, flights can be delayed by weather. If you connect through Midway or Denver, you may be singing the blues if you don't leave a two or three days before R day. It happened to us last year and we spent a very uncomfortable night on the floor in concourse C at Midway. We got in to Long Island Islip around 10 am the next day. Had that been R Day I think my son would have been out of luck. As it was, we had planned on 3 days in Manhattan so it didn't matter much. This is a cautionary tale, as I have read stories of candidates denied admission through no fault of their own i.e. weather delays in air transport. Don't let this happen to you. or your son or daughter when it is so easy to avoid.
 
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