Questions for current cadets and alumni?

CadetMoore

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
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Looking on this site I always notice people asking a lot of questions about themselves, but I would like to know a little bit more about USMA (particularly the Beast portion) from the perspective of a current cadet or alumni. Here are a few questions:

1. What is one thing you wish you had more information on or had prepared for before Beast?

2. Letters are the only form of communication with the outside world during Beast, but how much time do you really have to respond to any letters you may have?

3. How crucial is it to study Bugle Notes before going to USMA?

4. Have you ever had a less than pleasant roommate? How did you deal with this?

5. Did you find it hard adjusting to the way you eat at USMA? How is the food?

6. Any words of wisdom for incoming cadets?
 
1. I should have done more push ups. People always say to run a lot-which is a good thing. But when you get in trouble, more than likely the cadre are not going to run you. They're going to make you do a lot of push-ups.

2. You don't have a lot of time, but you have some. You won't be able to respond to every single letter, so pick the ones that are most important to you.

3. Don't even worry about Bugle Notes. Not worth wasting your senior year over.

4. I've always had a good roommate, so I can't help you there.

5. It's not a hard adjustment if you have manners. And the food is...well, almost edible.

6. Have fun! This place is not exactly the land of fun. But also, don't do anything dumb. Also, cadets are people too. People make mistakes all the time. So this summer, expect professionalism, but not perfection.
 
So we ARE allowed to respond to letters during beast?
 
So we ARE allowed to respond to letters during beast?

Yes, you ARE allowed to respond to letters during BEAST. My squad leader made everyone in my squad write a letter home the first week of BEAST.

1. Take nothing personally. BEAST is for your development. It's not the complete haze fest it used to be back in the old corps days.

2. You "have" 30 minutes of "me time" right before bed, but in all reality you spend most of that time preparing for bed or the next day. Pretty much you write letters whenever you get the opportunity.

3. It's not crucial at all to study bugle notes before BEAST. In all reality you won't really read Bugle Notes. You will be spending your time focusing on your BEAST knowledge book. Have fun senior year, you'll have plenty of time to study knowledge here.

4. Buck up and find ways you can help improve your roommate or your own toleration.

5. It takes all of 30 seconds to learn how to eat at USMA. Just stare at your crest, listen to your squad leader and have manners.

6. I agree with Lightfoot, have Fun! Too many people find themselves with a gray attitude because they are at West Point and life supposedly sucks. It's really not bad at all, and remember, you are being given an opportunity that tons of kids would die for (metaphorically speaking) so enjoy it! :biggrin:
 
So we ARE allowed to respond to letters during beast?

Yes, and be sure to capitalize it as BEAST every time you write it. That adds the proper gravitas, and makes it seem like an acronym.

It's short. It's not that hard. It's just a change. You'll be fine.
 
Lightfoot and dhawbaker, you guys really hit the nail on the head! Thanks for the advice and I will do my best to have fun!
 
Advice for Beast

The one piece of advice that I would give based upon my experience and the experience of my DD who is a current cadet is that during those first few hours/days of Beast, get to know the members of your squad and come to an agreement/make a pact/whatever, that everyone will work together to support each other and try to prevent anyone from resigning. During the "Old Corps" of the 1970s, a class would lose approximately 500 people before graduation with a couple of hundred of those coming during Beast. While today, the resignation rate is nowhere near that, it was very demoralizing for the entire unit to watch classmates resign and sometimes just disappear, often without a word. Take a leadership role in helping the members of your squad beat the Beast ("cooperate and graduate"). You'll be helping them but also yourself (e.g. the chain is only as strong as its weakest link...)!
 
The one piece of advice that I would give based upon my experience and the experience of my DD who is a current cadet is that during those first few hours/days of Beast, get to know the members of your squad and come to an agreement/make a pact/whatever, that everyone will work together to support each other and try to prevent anyone from resigning. During the "Old Corps" of the 1970s, a class would lose approximately 500 people before graduation with a couple of hundred of those coming during Beast. While today, the resignation rate is nowhere near that, it was very demoralizing for the entire unit to watch classmates resign and sometimes just disappear, often without a word. Take a leadership role in helping the members of your squad beat the Beast ("cooperate and graduate"). You'll be helping them but also yourself (e.g. the chain is only as strong as its weakest link...)!

This could go both ways. Keeping someone here who truly doesn't belong (by doesn't belong I mean they realize it isn't really what they wanted) then you could be hurting rather than helping that person in the long run. Cooperate to graduate, but keep in mind some people don't find out what they really want in life until anywhere from R-Day to Cow Commitment. Some even later, unfortunately. Just a thought.
 
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