What are must see events for parents of West Point first years?

waboo@1229

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I am once again coming to this forum for some guidance.
My son is currently at prep school in Alabama and working diligently to get to USMA for class of 2021. I am a full-time firefighter and need to bid all my 2017 vacation over the next few weeks. If I could get some feedback from those of you who have experience.

I was lucky enough to have a very kind employee of West Point give me the tenative date for R day next year of July 3rd, 2017.

Thank you in advance for any and all assistance.
 
If you need to skip something, skip R-Day - very little time with your cadet. Go to A-Day instead.
 
Great question and one that has a different opinion from every one here. Here is my two cents.......

1. A-Day- The Cadets will be coming back from March Back and you'll have a weekend to spend with your Cadet. They have a 50 mile radius limit on travel and must be back on post at a certain time. The Cadets need to get off post to decompress, relax and sleep. The A-Day parade is very cool to see. The Corp marching formation surrounds and accepts the Plebes. You will have the opportunity to buy a lot of cool keep sakes stuff such the class tote bag. And a WP wool coat with Class Year sewn on. (This the only time you may purchase) Its great to meet other families and take in many of the WP tours that are available.

2. Plebe Parent Weekend-You will have more access to your Plebes classrooms, teachers and see his dorm (one of the very few times-meeting his teachers, mentors and professors who will make your heart swell with pride knowing how dedicated they are to our country, Army, the Corp, and the success of your Plebe, some of the most outstanding people you ever meet). You will be able to attend a formal dinner and the wine glasses are yours to keep. They will have the Class Crest etched in them. So bring packing to safely get them home. And again, see friends and families you have meet on the Parent FB page.

3. Last would be R-Day. You stand in line in the morning. Send your CC off then may see him at the parade in the afternoon. No interaction after your short good bye in the morning.

As a matter of etiquette, please do not walk on "The Plain"

A-Day and PPW are memorable events

I hope this helps

Thank you for your service being a first responder and being our first line of defence at home-domestically waboo@1229

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
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Great question and one that has a different opinion from every one here. Here is my two cents.......

1. A-Day- The Cadets will be coming back from March Back and you'll have a weekend to spend with your Cadet. They have a 50 mile radius limit on travel and must be back on post at a certain time. The Cadets need to get off post to decompress, relax and sleep. The A-Day parade is very cool to see. The Corp marching formation surrounds and accepts the Plebes. You will have the opportunity to buy a lot of cool keep sakes stuff such the class tote bag. And a WP wool coat with Class Year sewn on. (This the only time you may purchase) Its great to meet other families and take in many of the WP tours that are available.

2. Plebe Parent Weekend-You will have more access to your Plebes classrooms, teachers and see his dorm (one of the very few times-meeting his teachers, mentors and professors who will make your heart swell with pride knowing how dedicated they are to our country, Army, the Corp, and the success of your Plebe, some of the most outstanding people you ever meet). You will be able to attend a formal dinner and the wine glasses are yours to keep. They will have the Class Crest etched in them. So bring packing to safely get them home. And again, see friends and families you have meet on the Parent FB page.

3. Last would be R-Day. You stand in line in the morning. Send your CC off then may see him at the parade in the afternoon. No interaction after your short good bye in the morning.

As a matter of etiquette, please do not walk on "The Plain"

A-Day and PPW are memorable events

I hope this helps

Thank you for your service being a first responder and being our first line of defence at home-domestically waboo@1229

Push Hard, Press Forward
Excellent information! Thank you.
 
Great question and one that has a different opinion from every one here. Here is my two cents.......

1. A-Day- The Cadets will be coming back from March Back and you'll have a weekend to spend with your Cadet. They have a 50 mile radius limit on travel and must be back on post at a certain time. The Cadets need to get off post to decompress, relax and sleep. The A-Day parade is very cool to see. The Corp marching formation surrounds and accepts the Plebes. You will have the opportunity to buy a lot of cool keep sakes stuff such the class tote bag. And a WP wool coat with Class Year sewn on. (This the only time you may purchase) Its great to meet other families and take in many of the WP tours that are available.

2. Plebe Parent Weekend-You will have more access to your Plebes classrooms, teachers and see his dorm (one of the very few times-meeting his teachers, mentors and professors who will make your heart swell with pride knowing how dedicated they are to our country, Army, the Corp, and the success of your Plebe, some of the most outstanding people you ever meet). You will be able to attend a formal dinner and the wine glasses are yours to keep. They will have the Class Crest etched in them. So bring packing to safely get them home. And again, see friends and families you have meet on the Parent FB page.

3. Last would be R-Day. You stand in line in the morning. Send your CC off then may see him at the parade in the afternoon. No interaction after your short good bye in the morning.

As a matter of etiquette, please do not walk on "The Plain"

A-Day and PPW are memorable events

I hope this helps

Thank you for your service being a first responder and being our first line of defence at home-domestically waboo@1229

Push Hard, Press Forward

I concur!
 
I agree with tugboat but note that class of 2021 Plebe Parent Weekend will be in 2018 so doesn't apply to your quest to map out your 2017 vacation.
 
It's not at West Point but Army-Navy football should be added to the bucket list. Incredible event - tons of energy - great display of esprit de corps - brimming over with tradition and respect. It really is a must do event!
 
Plebe Parent Weekend is at the start of spring break week in March. The upperclassman are gone, and the plebes have the place to themselves to show off. There's a parade, academic open house, and a banquet for the parents.

The last couple of years – after my time – there has also been a "Parent Weekend "in October. Deborah Dalton, the parent coordinator at USMA can probably give you the date. (As a matter fact she's amazingly helpful for everything).
 
Plebe Parent Weekend is at the start of spring break week in March. The upperclassman are gone, and the plebes have the place to themselves to show off. There's a parade, academic open house, and a banquet for the parents.

The last couple of years – after my time – there has also been a "Parent Weekend "in October. Deborah Dalton, the parent coordinator at USMA can probably give you the date. (As a matter fact she's amazingly helpful for everything).
Thank you for your time. I appreciate the information.
 
Piggy-backing off of this thread: What is the etiquette about parents or relatives wearing military uniform at these events?

My brother, DS's uncle, is an Army O-6, and wants to come along and visit with us. Should he wear his uniform? If so, which one?

(Assuming my DS will get appointed to WP......)
 
There are two thoughts on this and I can respect both view points. 1. Im proud of my military career and its a military function so I'm allowed to wear my uniform. 2. Its not about me, its about my Cadet. During dinners many proudly wear dress mess. Nothing wrong with either aspect and I respect both. And many wear their uniforms proudly from other military branches.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
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Piggy-backing off of this thread: What is the etiquette about parents or relatives wearing military uniform at these events?

My brother, DS's uncle, is an Army O-6, and wants to come along and visit with us. Should he wear his uniform? If so, which one?

(Assuming my DS will get appointed to WP......)
It's really up to the individual. As tug_boat says, some military wear them and some do not. My DH is a West Point grad and is retired, but he chose not to wear his uniform to the formal dinner at Plebe Parents Weekend. I don't think he plans on wearing his uniform to any function at West Point with our cadet, except for one, which is the day he commissions him!
 
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I concur with skip R-Day. ADAY is awesome in the sense of what awesome truly means....you will be in awe if you never have been to WP. Your New Cadet will most likely be a bit traumatized but in a good way. 2020 Beast was a bit of shift from previous years...some might say it was a bit more spartan and military oriented but that debate is moot. New commandant will likely still be in place so expect same for 2021. It's all hard. But got to aday for sure. But of course good luck with appointment!
 
PPW will be a memorable experience for both you and your son!
 
You're probably in a tough spot, because I don't think they finalized the 2020 calendar until spring this year.

I live in California so the journey to West Point is not an easy one. My DS is in 2020 and have had the privilege of attending R-day and A-day, we're looking forward to Parent Weekend this coming weekend, check in with me next week. Both visits are emotional. R-day is a day to walk around in a funk. My DS has the last SSN of 0, so we had to be there a 0 dark 30 (it was tough getting up early, but didn't have to wait in the enormous line). Did our 60 second goodbye and wandered in a haze. Wrote a letter to DS and comforted mama bear. Walked around the incredible campus seeing the sites. Went to swearing in ceremony and endured the rain, swelled with pride watching them march into Washington Hall. A very long day, glad I went, but if you must choose, skip Rday. If you can afford it, stay at the Thayer, we stayed in Montgomery, about 30 min north. It wasn't convenient to go back to the room to wait for the swearing in ceremony.

Unfortunately, I could not afford to attend marchback and stay for the week. Went to A-day and was great experience watching them accepted into the Corps of Cadets. (I couldn't find DS until I reviewed the pictures of his company later at home on my computer.) We were excited to see him, and he was thrilled to see us. We stayed in Fishkill about 30 min north of campus, near some restaurants and a Walmart. Hungout and napped in hotel room. Wife seemed happy to be doing his laundry. Ate and shopped for supplies (and a Keurig) at Walmart. Even went to a minigolf Sat evening. Had to be back by Taps Sat. nite, picked him up Sunday for another day together. So happy we went. DS was happy to be off campus and away from upper classmen. For that reason DON'T stay at the Thayer. DS wanted to be away from campus in general, upper classmen in particular, plus he wanted to shop for school/dorm supplies and there's nothing like that in Highland Falls.

We have splurged for Plebe Parent Weekend in March 2017, making a reservation at the Thayer.

Best of luck to your DS. My DS went to NW Prep in California and really helped him for the academic rigors of the academy. It's a roller coaster and our ride has barely started.
 
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