Plebe Summer intensity?

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Is the Plebe Summer training more intense than West Point's Beast Barracks?
 
nobody has been through both. you're only going to get subjective answers here. i would hope that these answers would not influence your decision when deciding between USMA and USNA.
 
No one has been through both, especially in the same year. :smile:

Seriously, it's hard to compare something you have experienced with something you've only heard about -- even if the other person was a sibling.

It also depends on what is harder for you. WP has much more in terms of "field" activity -- just like the USArmy. That may be more difficult for some. But I'm not sure there is an answer to this one.

If you're appointed, USNA or USMA thinks you can handle their program.
 
nobody has been through both. you're only going to get subjective answers here. i would hope that these answers would not influence your decision when deciding between USMA and USNA.

Au contraire !!!!

A cadet in my son's company went to USNA for a year then a civilian school, then joined the National Guard and is now at West Point! Whew!!!

That's the first thing I thought of - this guy went through a Beast-type summer TWICE . :eek: :thumb:
 
From the tales parents in our area tell ... all three are intense ... and unique. Our son's USNA plebe summer shook his shoes! It did help that we were able to send care packages and letters. Other parents tell us that some SA's don't allow food and such to be sent over the summer ... I can't vouch for that, but I know our son appreciated what we could do for him (and his roommates)
 
Well, plebe summer is a consideration, but hopefully it isn't a major criteria for your appointee choosing between SAs, or NROTC for that matter. In discussing it with my appointee, we reasoned that the first week will likely be hell, but as your body and mind adapt (or conform), a routine will set in. That's not to say that it will get easier as the six weeks progress, just that the surprise factor will be removed after the first week or so.
 
plebe summer, beast, etc will be EASIER if you are physically prepared. Run, Forrest, Run!
 
buff - he isn't the only one!
I met a West Point cadet who had been through Beast at USAFA and Beast at West Point.

There are differences and I do think it's a fair question, but don't pick your Academy by the Plebe summer/Beast experience.
At West Point you will do pt but you will also do road marches. There is a lot more "out in the field" training. The past few summers New Cadets have spent the entire last week in the field, on the ground. You will become intimate with your rifle. You will do several ruck marches with heavy packs including the 12 miles marchback.

During Plebe summer, I think there is more running that at West Point. Navy allows care packages and West Point does not allow them. I have never heard of a New Cadet starving to death though.
Plebe summer is also shorter than Beast at West Point by about two weeks.

My daughter's good friend at USNA described Plebe summer as running by the water and sailing in the water. :wink:
 
Thanks for the advice. Don't worry. I'm not too concerned that the training might be too hard for me. I've been through a lot of tough stuff, and I've always overcome them. I just wish to learn the differences between the two academies' plebe training courses.
 
plebe summer, beast, etc will be EASIER if you are physically prepared. Run, Forrest, Run!

I'm sure things have changed - but in my day, the USNA Plebe Summer experience was said to be more psychologically demanding whereas USMA was more physically demanding.

Of course, if you show up not in very good physical condition, you're going to find either quite demanding.

Just dropping down and doing 20 push-ups for not doing something correctly is painless. It seems West Point is more into that sort of thing. The Naval Academy is a little more into the mental aspect - which can sometimes be worse, depending on your particular temperament.

Here's what I told my sons before they went off to the Naval Academy for Plebe Summer.

Remember these five things:
1.) They can't hit you.
2.) The first class midshipmen haven't even graduated yet. They haven't completed their Naval Academy experience. In fact, THEY are being evaluated in how well they train you.
3.) The first class midshipmen are not perfect. Sometimes they will be unfair ... sometimes too slack ... sometimes they will provide a BAD example ... they are still learning how to be leaders. It's their training, too. For all you know, YOU are a better Plebe than your squad leader was when HE was a Plebe.
4.) They can't stop the clock. They can't make there be 8 days in a week or 25 hours in a day. No matter how bad your day was, once it's over, it's over. That's one less day of Plebe Summer. It's like turning over an hour glass filled with sand. The first class midshipmen cannot turn the hour glass on its side or flip it and start all over again. When the last grain of sand falls out of the glass - Plebe Summer is over and there is no way they can make it last any longer than it is.
5.) Plebe Summer is pass/fail. You pass if you're still there when it's over. In recent history, I've never heard of anybody getting kicked out of the Academy because there was something they could not do during Plebe Summer. Those who leave always quit ... not kicked out.
 
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As several have alluded, it's a matter of what's difficult for a given individual. The first few days will tend to be more difficult for most everyone because of a drastic change in lifestyle and the heavy push on getting the newbies into the military mindset and learning their new routines. So far as fitness is concerned, you are well advised to be in excellent condition; I push hard for appointees to get into distance running as it develops your endurance and recovery techniques. Bear in mind that the Bay Area (including DC) used to be swamp - it is hot and humid, which exacerbates whatever exertion you are experiencing. When that happens the tendency to make mistakes increases, and when plebes make mistakes they get a whole lot of personal attention from cadre - more than is wanted or healthy. Another reason to report in excellent condition is the fact that PE often is conducted by SEALS who tend to be determined to ensure that the plebes will be in better shape at the end of summer than they were at I-Day. Along with learning basic military customs, traditions, and courtesies, you will be exposed to swimming, sailing, running, the rifle and pistol ranges, fire-fighting, damage control, the academics and sports available at USNA. Most importantly you will learn the value of teamwork on several levels. You will have a very busy summer.
 
Memphis - with all due respect - the physicality of Beast at West Point has nothing to do with dropping for 20 pushups.
 
Swab Summer, Plebe Summer, Beast......may be one of the "easier" times while your at your academy. Why? Because the cadre tell you exactly what to do, and if you do it, you will generally not be singled out. Do what your told, there's not much thinking involved. Yes, you'll get yelled at, corrected, etc, but just do what they tell you to do.

I found my time as a cadre more exhausting, however, less sweaty. :wink:
 
Another reason to report in excellent condition is the fact that PE often is conducted by SEALS who tend to be determined to ensure that the plebes will be in better shape at the end of summer than they were at I-Day.

There is a grand total of 1 SEAL on the yard, and he was only at 1 PEP. He did however do situps non-stop for our whole strength workout. He also runs semi-weekly workouts for people who want EOD/SEALs. PEP is run by a marine now with a few stipers on the podiums.

Plebe summer is hard. Deal with it. They will threaten to kick you out for not being good enough, but they won't actually do it. No one day is hard, but they build. Right now I feel like Plebe Summer was harder than what I felt like it was at the time.Every day the grind gets to you a little bit more.

How long is USMA's BEAST because I never thought it was 2 weeks longer than Plebe Summer? USMA started earlier this past year but ended about a week and a half earlier as well.
 
Swab Summer, Plebe Summer, Beast......may be one of the "easier" times while your at your academy. Why? Because the cadre tell you exactly what to do, and if you do it, you will generally not be singled out. Do what your told, there's not much thinking involved. Yes, you'll get yelled at, corrected, etc, but just do what they tell you to do.

I was surprised to hear my son echo this same sentiment. He actually enjoyed the physical challenges of swab summer. Studying all night for a chem test? Not as much "fun". :wink:
 
Plebe summer is hard. Deal with it. They will threaten to kick you out for not being good enough, but they won't actually do it.

We used to say "is it a will problem or a skill problem?" If someone had a "skill problem", it was out fault and we could fix it by better instructions. If is was a "will problem", it was their problem.

People who thought they would just skate by, without working, somehow blend in....they were found. If they did not do the minimum, it was documented, if it continued, despite multiple corrections, they could be selected for "suitability for service" and if it continued to be a problem, they COULD be kicked out.

Don't assume once you walk though those gates the 4 years will automatically happen. You have to "want" to be there, and you will need to work for it.

Once you get your acceptance letter to a service academy, the easy part is over, then the work begins.
 
R-Day for the past few years has been the last Monday in June. In 2011 Beast was 8 weeks long. It is now 7 weeks long.
 
I am aware of plebes who had to survive a fitness board in order to be continued at NAVY - that is not the normal course of events, but it has happened. I also remember a plebe in 65 who was in jeopardy of being "found" as late as May of plebe year because he just was not coming up to standards of performance. It is not a cakewalk. Most plebes will find that the faster they snap in to plebe year the earlier the upperclassmen will find someone else to be the focus of their attention and efforts.
 
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