Preparing for June

T

tryingmybest

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2019
Messages
46
While there is no BFE yet, there is a LOA and nomination check mark (but no other notification yet) which we understand means it is highly likely our son is headed off to USMA in June. Is there anything I should be shopping for or on the lookout for while there are after holiday sales? I admit to being totally clueless and I am really in a bit of shock that he seems to have won the admission's lottery. It would make me feel better to begin preparing. Any advice of things to look for or get out in front of while we have some time?
 
tryingmybest said:
While there is no BFE yet, there is a LOA and nomination check mark (but no other notification yet) which we understand means it is highly likely our son is headed off to USMA in June. Is there anything I should be shopping for or on the lookout for while there are after holiday sales? I admit to being totally clueless and I am really in a bit of shock that he seems to have won the admission's lottery. It would make me feel better to begin preparing. Any advice of things to look for or get out in front of while we have some time?
Click to expand...

- Multitool
- Non-shiny men’s leather durashocks oxford E001112 or E00932 from batesfootwear.com - low quarter shoes will be issued, but many buy ahead of time to break them in. The durashocks will very low in supply in the spring/early summer timeframe so consider getting early
- boots - I’d list the authorized boots for you here but it may change. I doubt the list will change but you never know. Again, boots will be issued but many buy ahead of time to break them in
- running shoes - buy now, but don’t start to break in until late May/early June
- black backpack - I’ll get back to you on this when I ask my DD the brand and model we got for her
- boot socks - the cadets like the Fox River brand. We got DD the black ones.
- running socks - I suggest ankle length white or black. In my opinion, black has a better look with the current Army PT uniform
- headphones or earbuds

We got my DD the laptop, monitor and printer package through West Point, so no need to get these on your own.

In the spring, join the Facebook group for the parents of the class of 2024. Lots of helpful info there.
 
Capt MJ said:
Vaccinations!
Click to expand...
I hadn't even thought of vaccinations. I will need to get on that one since he will need a new doctor. This one will take some time to get an appointment. His pediatrician stops seeing them once they are 18. Since he just had his exam before his birthday for sports physicals and back to school, I didn't quite think about him aging out. This is the exact advice that I needed so he (and I) are not scrambling for recommendations. Thank you.
 
Especially any of the vaccinations that require a “one-two punch” separated by time. Anything not documented clearly when they report in will mean they are given again. Nothing like doing push-ups with sore arms.

I can easily find the link for USNA required vaccinations, but had no luck with USMA. Am sure someone can help out with that.

If things get challenging, I recall some people posting they were able to get vaccinations from a county health office.
 
Hepatitis A- 2 doses at least 6 months apart

Hep B - 3 dose series at 0, 1-2 months, 6 months

Inactivated polio vaccine - one dose after the age of 18yo. If your DS won’t be 18yo until after R-day, then don’t worry about this

MMR- 2 doses at 12-15 months and then at 4-6 yo. If your DS did not get the series as a child, then will need 2 doses at least 28 days apart.

Menincgococcal ACWY- after the age of 16yo

Tdap- within the past 10 years. Most likely got around the age of 11-12yo

Varicella (chicken pox) - 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. USMA will accept titers proving immunity

We went on a cruise to Mexico and Honduras in June before R-day so I made sure DD got typhoid vaccine too.
 
GoCubbies said:
Hepatitis A- 2 doses at least 6 months apart

Hep B - 3 dose series at 0, 1-2 months, 6 months

Inactivated polio vaccine - one dose after the age of 18yo. If your DS won’t be 18yo until after R-day, then don’t worry about this

MMR- 2 doses at 12-15 months and then at 4-6 yo. If your DS did not get the series as a child, then will need 2 doses at least 28 days apart.

Menincgococcal ACWY- after the age of 16yo

Tdap- within the past 10 years. Most likely got around the age of 11-12yo

Varicella (chicken pox) - 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. USMA will accept titers proving immunity

We went on a cruise to Mexico and Honduras in June before R-day so I made sure DD got typhoid vaccine too.
Click to expand...

Doc Cubbies, what’s the latest on the HPV vax? Optional but recommended?
 
Waytogo said:
Do we need to prepare real ID? Or SA will do for our DS/DD?
Click to expand...

If by Real ID you mean the personal state driver’s license that meets Real ID criteria, that is the responsibility of the individual. They will be issued a CAC (common access card) as their military ID, but that issuance will be contingent upon certain proof of identity documents being presented upon reporting in.

Your DS will get a paper or online packet of reporting instructions and forms.
 
HPV vax is specifically optional for USMA, but is routinely recommended for all kids starting at the age of 9yo. My DD got it as part of her routine childhood immunization series.

Vaccination against mening B isn’t a requirement for USMA. In general, this vaccine are for those who are immunocompromised or at risk because of group B meningococcal disease outbreak.

Mening vaccine ACYW is routinely recommended (and almost always required) for undergrad students at any college.

Mening B is not one that is routinely recommended, nor required, for undergrads.

A recent study by Johns Hopkins University last year showed vaccinating 100,000 college kids against mening B would prevent less than 5 cases of mening B. Universal vaccination of college kids against mening B would be cost-effective if the price of the vaccine went down.
 
tryingmybest said:
While there is no BFE yet, there is a LOA and nomination check mark (but no other notification yet) which we understand means it is highly likely our son is headed off to USMA in June. Is there anything I should be shopping for or on the lookout for while there are after holiday sales? I admit to being totally clueless and I am really in a bit of shock that he seems to have won the admission's lottery. It would make me feel better to begin preparing. Any advice of things to look for or get out in front of while we have some time?
Click to expand...

One thing I forgot to mention is we (spouse and DD) did a lot of mental gymnastics on wisdom teeth.

So let’s get to the teeth (pun intended) of the matter here... to take out or to not take out prior to R-day.

DD was NOT symptomatic at all. We were considering having them taken out as a preventive measure. IF she were to have them taken out, then a good time would be before May so she would have had May and June to recover before R-day.

One thing that was a complication for DD was her being a state-level distance runner in track. She would have missed at least a couple of weeks of track season if she were to have them removed. Her team was counting on her to run away (pun intended again) with the 1600m and 3200m events at each meet. That was gnawing on her. She was the captain for the runners and wanted to contribute to the team that was expected to win the conference finals for the first time in the history of the school, sectional finals, and place in states.

We got her seen by a civilian oral surgeon who happened to be in the USNR. He gave us recommendations based on scenarios like a Sailor having access to an oral surgeon in the near future vs being in a deployed location.

I also talked to a buddy of mine who has a cow at USMA. He said his DS has not needed to get wisdom teeth removed yet.

In the end, she didn’t get the wisdom teeth removed. The USMA dental officer reviewed her records and x-rays and concurred with the assessment of the oral surgeon. She still has no pain, so we will wait and see. In all probably, she’ll graduate from USMA without needing them removed.
 
I saw a mention of a black backpack. My son is a firstie at WP and he is still using the one he was issued. Some like to use a different one but the issued one may be just fine. Might want to let your kid try it first before buying one. There are many other things to spend money on. lol. I never spent so much money on socks and underwear for my kid as I did in prep for cadet basic training. FYI - get black compression shorts for your son. I think that most of the male cadets wear them. They can also work as impromptu bathing shots (ask me how I know. lol).

Mostly I'd suggest that instead of shopping that you focus on creating fun memories with your son. Once he is at WP, you'll have very limited times to see him (unless you live near by). So have fun together and prepare all his fav foods. He won't have this much free time again so encourage him to make the most of it.
 
For the most part, if the cadet needs it, the item will be issued to them upon arrival. As stated, boots have historically been encouraged as a pre-arrival purchase, but there are generally several brands/models that would be considered "in regulation" - so I would suggest waiting on official paperwork to know what they would like you to get for the upcoming year. It is generally not a good thing to be "different" as a 4th class cadet, so I would suggest getting something off of the official list that is sent to you.

I know it sounds weird sending your student off to college with essentially the clothes on their back, but --- that is what you do here. Things like a personal printer could come later - like Parent's Weekend, but there will be little wiggle room for other things in the first year.

For wisdom teeth, I had mine done at the base hospital as an upperclassman. If it were me, and you could wait, I would do it as a cadet to 100% ensure you are doing it the Department of Defense way and not jeopardizing your medical qualification status. FWIW, I also had my laser eye surgery at the base hospital at no cost.

Typically, you are required to have a Passport for the student upon arrival - so I would agree with the others on getting that out of the way.
 
Review medical history with your CC prior to I/R-Day. If there are ANY issues bring them up now. You do not want them bringing up a non disclosed medical condition on day 1.
 
Just a suggestion... while I applaud the forethought, I would recommend waiting until you get direction from the Service Academy about immunizations that are required. Even if the list above is based upon prior classes --things change ! Also, unless you have a problem with wisdom teeth, why risk a disqualifying complication. If the Service Academy/Service want's the wisdom teeth gone, they will handle it. (It's good training for the young dentists ;)!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top