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.