Parents who are going to R-Day at West Point

Just_A_Mom

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For Parent's only!!

A couple of suggestions:

If you will be in the Highland Falls area the afternoon before R-Day -

Go to the visitor's center! It's a great place to get your Class of 2014 tote bag and start stocking up on your West Point gear.

In the afternoon, in the church lawn across the street from the visitor's center you will see a tent. This is a reception for all New Cadet's and their parents. Go, drink lemonade and mingle! You will also see a table with Parent Handbook's for sale by The Parent Club of West Point (NY/NJ). It's about $20 and if you live close enough to occassionaly travel to West Point for a visit or game, I suggest you purchase one.

On R-Day -
After the famous "90 second good bye" (or is it 30 seconds?) you will be hustled out and left wondering what now?

How many hours do you really want to spend playing "Where's Waldo" behind the ropes? If you want some time for reflection, prayer or just quiet - there will be Mass at 11 am in the Catholic Chapel. (You may want to double check the time)
This is a lovely Mass for parents of New Cadets, though you will find some really supportive community members there. The Catholic Chaplain is great and will have a little reception afterwards with some snacks and drinks. He will talk to you about what he does for New Cadets during Beast and Cadets during the year.
Of course, all are invited.

Don't forget to go pick up your New Cadet's address with Beast Company on it so you can try to find him/her during the parade. I suggest that you bring binoculars, especially since the parade will be held on the Parade Field.

Congratulations to you all for raising such wonderfully Patriotic children!
 
Just a curious question.

Is "R" day in the army the same as "I" day in the air force. Our "I" day is "In-Processing" day. It is the cadet's first day going into Basic Training. Air Force's "R" day is "Recognition" day, which is in March. When the cadets are "Recognized" as being human and now officially being an equal in the "Cadet Wing". "A" day is acceptance day. It is after Basic Training, and is a ceremony the day before classes start. The cadets get their shoulder boards and are officially accepted as cadets. Anyway, was just wondering if "R" day in the army was the same as "I" day in the air force.
 
Just a curious question.

Is "R" day in the army the same as "I" day in the air force. Our "I" day is "In-Processing" day. It is the cadet's first day going into Basic Training. Air Force's "R" day is "Recognition" day, which is in March. When the cadets are "Recognized" as being human and now officially being an equal in the "Cadet Wing". "A" day is acceptance day. It is after Basic Training, and is a ceremony the day before classes start. The cadets get their shoulder boards and are officially accepted as cadets. Anyway, was just wondering if "R" day in the army was the same as "I" day in the air force.

R-Day for USMA & USCGA - same thing as I-Day for USNA & USAFA
 
Cool. So what is our "R" day in the army and coast guard? "Recognition day" in March?

Since 2001, USMA Cadets are no longer recognized. They are promoted. The distinction is that they are not permitted to call upperclassmen by first name or carry on personal relationships with upperclassmen. They are afforded fall-out and talking privileges, and do not have to perform their duties frantically at the table any longer. But, all duties do remain and they must conduct themselves as privates first class, rather than as privates. As such, it is simply called "Promotion" whereas before it was simply called "Recognition" but not "R-day."

R-day = Reception day
 
Scout - this is the first I've heard of this - could you provide more details? So when are they "recognized"? During 3rd class summer? When they return yearling year? Never? I mean I'm assuming a yearling still calls a firstie by his first name, correct? When I was there we were recognized at the Graduation Parade - the afternoon before graduation, so it really wasn't an issue. Yes, everyone shook hands and said their first names, but things like duties didn't really matter for those 12 hours or so!
 
Cool. So what is our "R" day in the army and coast guard? "Recognition day" in March?

USCGA swabs will be accepted as 4/c Cadets upon the completion of Swab Summer and the awarding of their shoulder boards (around mid August).

They will continue to square corners, square meals, bus to class, etc, and perform all the other 4/c-specific duties until they are formally granted "carry-on" status in early May.

Although the saying goes "You're still a Swab until you see a Swab" applies, they will be promoted to 3/c upon the graduation of the current 1/c.
 
Scout - this is the first I've heard of this - could you provide more details? So when are they "recognized"? During 3rd class summer? When they return yearling year? Never? I mean I'm assuming a yearling still calls a firstie by his first name, correct? When I was there we were recognized at the Graduation Parade - the afternoon before graduation, so it really wasn't an issue. Yes, everyone shook hands and said their first names, but things like duties didn't really matter for those 12 hours or so!

I recall that we were never officially "recognized." But when we got to Buckner as official Yearlings, we could address upperclassmen informally. But, as I recall, they continued to get more strict about the "rank" system. We still called the cadet CO "sir" and the 1SG was "First Sergeant" and it often extended to the platoon level as well. It was done because the bosses didn't like how buddy-buddy everyone was after previous recognitions. We hated it at the time, because being recognized is so much easier and fun, but we got used to it. Overall, I think it's a much better way of doing it. I am friends with my boss, but he'll never be "Steve" to me. He'll always be "sir."

I suppose since you become a Yuk on grad day, it happens then, but there's no ceremonial piece to it.
 
Cool. So what is our "R" day in the army and coast guard? "Recognition day" in March?

At the end of Beast USMA has "A-day" (acceptance day). This is when the new cadets are accepted into the Corp and are officially cadets/plebes.

As others said recognition comes during grad week. For my son recognition was the morning of graduation. He told us the upperclass cadets in his company introduced themselves to the yearlings (plebes just moments before) by first name and the yearlings were allowed to do the same. Plebes have no first names. :biggrin: They were also promoted from cadet private to cadet PFC. After they finished Buckner they were promoted to cadet Corporal.

R-day = cadet candidates become new cadets
A-day = new cadets become plebes
Recognition = plebes become yearlings
 
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