Training

34KING18

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Apr 15, 2015
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Quick Question. I know at service academies they have swab summers and that goes for around 8 or so weeks. At SMC, I have heard that there are week "boot camps". After those "week boot camps", does life at campus turn kind of "civilian" in the sense that you're not squaring every corner and meal? Little less strict?
 
cant speak for all the SMCs but so far as I know it does not get significantly easier after initial training and at VMI and The Citadel there is no 'civilian' aspect or less strict part of the plebe system.
 
At Texas A&M the "Fish" (freshmen) don't strain, either during Freshman Orientation Week (FOW), or during the rest of their Fish year. That said, Fish year is a grind. Some things change from year to year, such as square meals; I think this year the Fish have to do it until they earn their "brass", usually in late October or early November. Some of that changes from unit to unit as well as from year to year; such as when female Fish can wear uniform skirts. At A&M the units usually have group physical training (PT) at least three mornings a week. By that I mean the entire unit or outfit PTs together at 6am. Morning formation is at 7am followed by breakfast. There is a lot of individual instruction that goes on in the afternoon as well, particularly during Fish year. From my current "Pisshead" (sophomore) and my former Pisshead who completed her four years in the A&M Corps last year, in many ways the Pisshead year is harder, as you are actually up before the Fish and are expected to lead and instruct the Fish assigned to you. On the rare "free weekend" (meaning no home football game) the A&M cadets can wear civilian clothes and go home if if they want to. Most of the "privileges" that Fish don't have continue all year.
 
Just returned from Norwich to visit our Rook for Parents Weekend and trust me it is in no way "civilian". They are still squaring corners - early morning PT- no access to cell phones or social media/tv and in uniform 7 days a week plus many more restrictions too numerous to mention. This will continue until they are "recognized" which I believe is in February. I believe that VMI also gives back some privileges once recognized but that the Citadel goes the entire Knob year. That being said, Norwich does not require Rooks to "brace" or 'strain" which I believe Rats and Knobs at VMI/Citadel are required. I am not familiar with UNG or VT. From my limited experience if you want a 'civilian" experience you should avoid a SMC.
 
My son is a Rat @ VMI. It does not calm down until Breakout. Breakout is determined by the Cadre when they feel the Rats have unified and become a class, typically early February, late January. The Rats Strain in Barracks, eat at attention, cannot talk in mess hall unless spoken to, walk the Ratline on post, no cell phones (unless can use one off post on Sunday religious permit, or sometimes their Dyke will let them use it occasionally in the Dykes room). There are no civilian students at VMI. Rats earn various privilidges throughout the Ratline. I believe the first one they earned was to Strain.
 
My DS is a Fish at Texas A&M and his "boot camp week" called Fish Orientation Week was quite intense and the time thereafter has continued to be structured, rigorous, and none of this changes until they receive their "brass" which is sometime in mid-November. It seems to emulate other SMC's that have this "recognition" event. Now, that being said, there are over 20 different units at Texas A&M that range from "less intense" to "pretty darn intense". Some of it is the branch, unit purpose, and your personal goals but the good news is you can pick based on your individual goals.
 
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