Cadet Account

D.Joesph.A.V

D.Joesph.A.V

That guy at WP
Joined
Jul 5, 2015
Messages
39
Can someone explain the cadet account and how the decisions made about the computer preference, device preference, and internet personal access are put into effect.

I see it that whatever options you choose, you aren't paying out of pocket however it is deducted from monthly pay. Can someone clear this up for me?
 
Once accepted to a SA you are joining the military in simply terms "active duty student". The Army, WP in this case pays the Cadet or stipend. This increases over the 47 months until the Cadet graduates then starts the pay scale as an "O"-officer. Pay graduates increasingly as "O-1 , O-2, O-3" etc with out getting into too much detail. Now back to WP, Cadets have an account that they set up during R-Day to have their pay/stipend sent. Before R-Day an account is set through USAA, as part of their second step kit. So a Plebe, in simple terms receives $900 a month. Uniform expense, haircuts, laundry etc is deducted form their account to pay for these mandatory expenses.

Before R-Day you are presented with the mandatory computer the Cadet will need. You pay a $2000 deposit to front load the expense. WP chooses the hardware and software that is necessary. (No thumb drives are allowed!!) Of course if a Cadet can not afford the front load costs, a means will be provided, most likely a deduction from the Cadet Account. The optional items, printer larger monitor etc can be purchased now or you can order them from Amazon.

I hope this answered your question. Its a lesson in money management. When you have little money and responsibilities you tend to watch every penny. During their 3rd year or Cow year and low interest loan is offered to help them get a leg up after graduation.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
@tug_boat so I won't have the $2000 upfront cost so will they just take it out of my Cadet pay and I won't be "penalized" so to speak. Are we allowed to pay as much as we can even if it isn't the full $2000 and does it still count?
 
^yes and yes. If you pay only part or none of the initial $2000 deposit, your cadet pay (that goes into which ever bank account you decide) will be less each month for Plebe and Yuk years. I think (at least what my Yuk has said) that cadet pay is then the same for all Cows, whether or not you paid the deposit. Pay goes up each class year -- ~$200/mos as a Plebe if you paid the full deposit; $150/mos if you paid less.
 
WP goes through a lot of trouble and expense to give an appointment. They will not lose you to a $2000 dollar deposit. They will work with you.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
^There should be instructions in your portal/admit packets. You can send a check to the Treasurer. Details (mailing address, etc) will be in the instructions.
 
tugboat, you said that a cadet will be presented with a computer before R Day. How is this done? My cadet will not be at the academy before R Day ---
 
ca2midwestmom said:
^There should be instructions in your portal/admit packets. You can send a check to the Treasurer. Details (mailing address, etc) will be in the instructions.
Click to expand...
He probably meant before A-Day. I believe computers are issued during reorganization week.
 
USAA account is totally different. That is their personal account. The Cadet account is kept separate from them and managed by the treasurer. From the cadet account monies are contributed to their personal account after all expenses ( uniform, hair cuts etc). Thats how I understand it anyway. So, go ahead and open a personal account. It doesn't have to be USAA, but ours is.
 
For a SA cadet or mid to open a USAA account prior to reporting, if not already a USAA member through parents, copy of permit to report is all it takes. There are USAA offices at USMA, USNA, USAFA.

Google "USAA Service Academy Cadets and Midshipman" to get to the usaa.com landing page for them. For USMMA and USCGA, appointees can call in to see if they can set up accounts.

NFCU is on base at USNA, USMMA, USCGA and off-base at USMA and
USAFA. Like many sea service people, I have both.
 
As stated above, the Cadet Account is separate and not accessible to cadets. It's where the Treasurer accounts for their monthly expenses (laundry fees, initial deposit, haircuts, computer/uniform expenses, etc). (I believe cadets can see their cadet account/balance on the internal system - called CIS?)

Cadets should have a personal checking account set up prior to R-Day, either using the same one from home or a (new) USAA/PenFed account easy to access from WP. The personal account is where their monthly pay is deposited, and in the case of taxes, it's where the Tax Office (if used to file) can deposit refunds. If I remember correctly cadet candidates are asked to fill out/submit a direct deposit form prior to R-Day. A cadet can change his personal account/direct deposit from his home bank to a USAA/PenFed (or other) account by visiting the Treasurer's office and opening an account with USAA/PenFed. There are some ATMs on post and PenFed Credit Union and Navy Federal CU are outside Thayer Gate in Highland Falls. My DS still uses his home Visa/debit card/account in addition to his PenFed credit card and has never had a problem getting cash or using it at WP or while on a trip section. I imagine he will eventually open a USAA account (maybe when he gets his cow loan).

Also, c/o 2018 cadets had a PenFed account opened for them during Beast, which included checking, savings, loan and credit card accounts. My DS has a PenFed credit card to use in emergencies, and his book money goes into the PenFed checking account. Cadets can chose which accounts to use, and these accounts are viewable online. (I'm assuming the same happened for c/o 2019 and will for c/o 2020 but I don't know for sure.)
 
Capt MJ said:
For a SA cadet or mid to open a USAA account prior to reporting, if not already a USAA member through parents, copy of permit to report is all it takes. There are USAA offices at USMA, USNA, USAFA.

Google "USAA Service Academy Cadets and Midshipman" to get to the usaa.com landing page for them. For USMMA and USCGA, appointees can call in to see if they can set up accounts.

NFCU is on base at USNA, USMMA, USCGA and off-base at USMA and
USAFA. Like many sea service people, I have both.
Click to expand...


Edit: To clarify, USAA is not on-base, but their ATM cards can be used at any ATM, and transaction fees refunded each month, up to a certain limit - I think it's $25, but not sure, since I have never exceeded. USAA will be putting its first-ever on-base financial center at West Point, though I don't know when it's being built, late this year or 2017. The deal also includes USAA ATMs.
 
Ooooopsy.....
tug_boat said:
Once accepted to a SA you are joining the military in simply terms "active duty student". The Army, WP in this case pays the Cadet or stipend. This increases over the 47 months until the Cadet graduates then starts the pay scale as an "O"-officer. Pay graduates increasingly as "O-1 , O-2, O-3" etc with out getting into too much detail. Now back to WP, Cadets have an account that they set up during R-Day to have their pay/stipend sent. Before R-Day an account is set through USAA, as part of their second step kit. So a Plebe, in simple terms receives $900 a month. Uniform expense, haircuts, laundry etc is deducted form their account to pay for these mandatory expenses.

Before R-Day you are presented with the mandatory computer the Cadet will need. You pay a $2000 deposit to front load the expense. WP chooses the hardware and software that is necessary. (No thumb drives are allowed!!) Of course if a Cadet can not afford the front load costs, a means will be provided, most likely a deduction from the Cadet Account. The optional items, printer larger monitor etc can be purchased now or you can order them from Amazon.

I hope this answered your question. Its a lesson in money management. When you have little money and responsibilities you tend to watch every penny. During their 3rd year or Cow year and low interest loan is offered to help them get a leg up after graduation.

Push Hard, Press Forward
Click to expand...

A-Day is correct.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
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