Cadet Trust Fund

cmur942

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
9
My DD just got her appointment and is going through the necessary paperwork. We read about the $2000 deposit but am unsure if we should send it or let it get deducted from her checks. Can someone give us a bit of explanation or direction? I saw a post but it was from 2012.
Thank you.
 
After all deductions, Plebe Cadets only get 200 dollars monthly. If deducted from the checks until paid in full I believe it is reduced to 100. Total.

Seriously cuts into Starbucks etc.

Something to think about.
 
If you can afford to pay the $2,000, do so. Like Walman888 posted, the Plebe net pay is not much to begin with. There will be weekends where the mess hall is closed, or a cadet can't make it to dinner and will need to buy food at Grant Hall or get delivery from one of the Highland Falls restaurants. Other expenses can come up, where a last minute trip to the Cadet store is necessary. Unless your DD has unlimited funds via credit card/bank account, she will appreciate the extra $$ each month.
 
@ca2midwestmom As my 11th ADA Brigade Sister said, "If you can afford the $2000, pay it with a check." Your plebe will earn $100 a month if you pay it. She or he will earn less than that if you do not. They need a little money to buy school supplies and toiletries and non-Mess Hall food. He or she will be more independent if you all can swing the $2k in advance, and the system is really designed for people to make that initial payment.
Later, in the portal, your future cadet will receive a booklet with instructions of to whom the check should be made and the address to which you should mail it. It is MUCH simpler to pay it up front. Also, your kid may have enough time to earn part of that money between now and R-Day if that is the issue.

Not paying the $2000 is more of a lengthy Opt Out mechanism, that can result in missed paychecks and other weirdness while your kid is adjusting to life as a cadet. Some scholarships can be used to pay for the $2000, too.
 
Another thing to consider -- some scholarships can be used at West Point to offset the $2,000 deposit (check the wording on the scholarship award). BUT, if the scholarship is for less than $2,000 and you plan to pay the difference, funky things can happen in the treasurer's office. My DS had a scholarship check sent directly to WP, but it arrived during Beast. The treasurer's office sent him an email, to a new cadet account he wasn't even aware of or able to access during Beast, and because he didn't respond right away they mailed the scholarship check back. It wasn't until Reorgy week or later that we got a message from the scholarship foundation asking about it. So in the time a 2nd scholarship check was sent back to WP and I had paid the balance of the $2,000, the treasurer's office decided DS's cadet account would have the $2,000 deducted during Plebe year. He never got the full amount of pay during Plebe year (maybe into Yuk year too?). I don't know where the combined $2,000 went -- but it wasn't applied to DS's account. That was the first of 4 yrs of frustration for missing $$, charges for things that weren't used (laundry), and funky accounting. Just sayin'...
 
When is the deposit due? And what if we were to pay $3500 on the deposit instead of the $2000, would that be allowed, and if so would it help our Cadet out financially? Our Cadet wants to do everything himself, but if we can help him out with this we would. Thanks!
 
When is the deposit due? And what if we were to pay $3500 on the deposit instead of the $2000, would that be allowed, and if so would it help our Cadet out financially? Our Cadet wants to do everything himself, but if we can help him out with this we would. Thanks!
I would suggest that you might pay just the required 2K. Others have mentioned that odd things seem to happen in regards to accounting when people try to "Color Outside the Lines." Anything that might complicate the process probably will. With that said, that extra 1.5k can easily be used to support your Plebe slightly down the road. AFTER Beast, we began sending funds for food, food itself, a Keurig and pods, etc. They will probably come to an understanding with the roomies to each be responsible for a required appliance that they can share. Iron, box fan, things along those lines. Also, just after Beast you might need to help your Plebe replace much of the socks and underwear supply you sent for Beast. The rain, mud, sweat, and mildew destroy clothing and some of it can't be saved. Very possible that a second pair of the boots you sent for R Day will be needed as well. It all adds up. In regards to buying online and shipping to your Cadet we have found Wal-Mart to be the most cost effective and reliable. We tried them all. Many items are delivered in two days. Under normal conditions, that means your Cadet will get those items in 4-5 days. The online X-Change store is also very good in regards to pricing and shipping. Cadets can set up an online account once they have net access and their new CAC cards.

Congrats on his/her appointment!
Go Army!
 
When is the deposit due? And what if we were to pay $3500 on the deposit instead of the $2000, would that be allowed, and if so would it help our Cadet out financially? Our Cadet wants to do everything himself, but if we can help him out with this we would. Thanks!
Another thing to consider -- some scholarships can be used at West Point to offset the $2,000 deposit (check the wording on the scholarship award). BUT, if the scholarship is for less than $2,000 and you plan to pay the difference, funky things can happen in the treasurer's office. My DS had a scholarship check sent directly to WP, but it arrived during Beast. The treasurer's office sent him an email, to a new cadet account he wasn't even aware of or able to access during Beast, and because he didn't respond right away they mailed the scholarship check back. It wasn't until Reorgy week or later that we got a message from the scholarship foundation asking about it. So in the time a 2nd scholarship check was sent back to WP and I had paid the balance of the $2,000, the treasurer's office decided DS's cadet account would have the $2,000 deducted during Plebe year. He never got the full amount of pay during Plebe year (maybe into Yuk year too?). I don't know where the combined $2,000 went -- but it wasn't applied to DS's account. That was the first of 4 yrs of frustration for missing $$, charges for things that weren't used (laundry), and funky accounting. Just sayin'...

UGH! My son was recently awarded 2 scholarships that satisfy the deposit plus. He has several other scholarships that he can deposit into his account to offset the difference in pay but I would hate to think the money was not accounted for correctly.

I was in favor of my 21 not sending the deposit and supplementing his income with the scholarship money in his account. I was overruled and he sent it anyway. My concern was if he got hurt etc that the money wouldn't be seen again by him.
 
I would suggest that you might pay just the required 2K. Others have mentioned that odd things seem to happen in regards to accounting when people try to "Color Outside the Lines." Anything that might complicate the process probably will. With that said, that extra 1.5k can easily be used to support your Plebe slightly down the road. AFTER Beast, we began sending funds for food, food itself, a Keurig and pods, etc. They will probably come to an understanding with the roomies to each be responsible for a required appliance that they can share. Iron, box fan, things along those lines. Also, just after Beast you might need to help your Plebe replace much of the socks and underwear supply you sent for Beast. The rain, mud, sweat, and mildew destroy clothing and some of it can't be saved. Very possible that a second pair of the boots you sent for R Day will be needed as well. It all adds up. In regards to buying online and shipping to your Cadet we have found Wal-Mart to be the most cost effective and reliable. We tried them all. Many items are delivered in two days. Under normal conditions, that means your Cadet will get those items in 4-5 days. The online X-Change store is also very good in regards to pricing and shipping. Cadets can set up an online account once they have net access and their new CAC cards.

Congrats on his/her appointment!
Go Army!

Thanks.....sounds like a good idea. I am not so old that I don't remember military accounting and the mess that was usually created if ANYTHING out of the ordinary was done. We will let him pay the $2000, then as you suggested use the left over saved money for him to buy whatever he needs without having to worry. Our thought was if we could get the "debt" paid off early by sending additional money up front, that he would begin getting full pay sooner. But I like your idea of sending gift packages, or whatever he needs for his dorm room instead.
 
I would suggest that you might pay just the required 2K. Others have mentioned that odd things seem to happen in regards to accounting when people try to "Color Outside the Lines." Anything that might complicate the process probably will. With that said, that extra 1.5k can easily be used to support your Plebe slightly down the road. AFTER Beast, we began sending funds for food, food itself, a Keurig and pods, etc. They will probably come to an understanding with the roomies to each be responsible for a required appliance that they can share. Iron, box fan, things along those lines. Also, just after Beast you might need to help your Plebe replace much of the socks and underwear supply you sent for Beast. The rain, mud, sweat, and mildew destroy clothing and some of it can't be saved. Very possible that a second pair of the boots you sent for R Day will be needed as well. It all adds up. In regards to buying online and shipping to your Cadet we have found Wal-Mart to be the most cost effective and reliable. We tried them all. Many items are delivered in two days. Under normal conditions, that means your Cadet will get those items in 4-5 days. The online X-Change store is also very good in regards to pricing and shipping. Cadets can set up an online account once they have net access and their new CAC cards.

Congrats on his/her appointment!
Go Army!

Thanks.....sounds like a good idea. I am not so old that I don't remember military accounting and the mess that was usually created if ANYTHING out of the ordinary was done. We will let him pay the $2000, then as you suggested use the left over saved money for him to buy whatever he needs without having to worry. Our thought was if we could get the "debt" paid off early by sending additional money up front, that he would begin getting full pay sooner. But I like your idea of sending gift packages, or whatever he needs for his dorm room instead.

Another option is to use the $1,500 to start a Roth IRA is his name.
 
When is the deposit due? And what if we were to pay $3500 on the deposit instead of the $2000, would that be allowed, and if so would it help our Cadet out financially? Our Cadet wants to do everything himself, but if we can help him out with this we would. Thanks!

UGH! My son was recently awarded 2 scholarships that satisfy the deposit plus. He has several other scholarships that he can deposit into his account to offset the difference in pay but I would hate to think the money was not accounted for correctly.

I was in favor of my 21 not sending the deposit and supplementing his income with the scholarship money in his account. I was overruled and he sent it anyway. My concern was if he got hurt etc that the money wouldn't be seen again by him.

I paid my 2021 DD $2K deposit. She also paid $1K from money she received from High School graduation gifts. She was also awarded a local scholarship that was payable upon her completing her first semester of college. The scholarship was for $5K. All of that was put into her Cadet fund. To make a long story short, she was able to take Cap off at the beginning of her Yuck year. It pretty much served as an additional savings account for her.
 
I would suggest that you might pay just the required 2K. Others have mentioned that odd things seem to happen in regards to accounting when people try to "Color Outside the Lines." Anything that might complicate the process probably will. With that said, that extra 1.5k can easily be used to support your Plebe slightly down the road. AFTER Beast, we began sending funds for food, food itself, a Keurig and pods, etc. They will probably come to an understanding with the roomies to each be responsible for a required appliance that they can share. Iron, box fan, things along those lines. Also, just after Beast you might need to help your Plebe replace much of the socks and underwear supply you sent for Beast. The rain, mud, sweat, and mildew destroy clothing and some of it can't be saved. Very possible that a second pair of the boots you sent for R Day will be needed as well. It all adds up. In regards to buying online and shipping to your Cadet we have found Wal-Mart to be the most cost effective and reliable. We tried them all. Many items are delivered in two days. Under normal conditions, that means your Cadet will get those items in 4-5 days. The online X-Change store is also very good in regards to pricing and shipping. Cadets can set up an online account once they have net access and their new CAC cards.

Congrats on his/her appointment!
Go Army!

Thanks.....sounds like a good idea. I am not so old that I don't remember military accounting and the mess that was usually created if ANYTHING out of the ordinary was done. We will let him pay the $2000, then as you suggested use the left over saved money for him to buy whatever he needs without having to worry. Our thought was if we could get the "debt" paid off early by sending additional money up front, that he would begin getting full pay sooner. But I like your idea of sending gift packages, or whatever he needs for his dorm room instead.
I do know that as R-Day nears the accounting office gets BURIED. Probably the cause for some of the issues reported. They handled our issues but it took a bit of doing. but it was all good to go by R-Day.
Best!
 
My DS took top off at some point...and every time it was offered thereafter. Other parents relayed stories of their own cadets who left the top off in the account, only to find it missing the next year.
 
My DS took top off at some point...and every time it was offered thereafter. Other parents relayed stories of their own cadets who left the top off in the account, only to find it missing the next year.

What does “top off” mean? Sorry I’m new at this!
 
Top off is the $$ left over in the cadet account at the end of the year after all expenses (real and imagined) have been deducted. Plebe year has the most (uniforms, laundry, barber, sports/spirit items, etc) (you can find a list on USMA website https://westpoint.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/General/Parents/Cadet Budget 2018-2019.pdf ). Expenses also include things cadets may or may not actually use (ie barber & laundry) but everyone gets dinged.
 
I have never heard a Cadet say anything positive about a Cadet account. Never.
My DS took top off at some point...and every time it was offered thereafter. Other parents relayed stories of their own cadets who left the top off in the account, only to find it missing the next year.

What does “top off” mean? Sorry I’m new at this!
Ask away! Some of the folks here have invaluable insight to the ins and outs of all the best ways to move through the process of joining the USMA family. We have found that they have greatly eased a difficult and confusing time.

Enjoy.
Congrats and Go Army!
 
I have a new cadet for 2023. How do I make the initial deposit? Do I send a check to transfer funds electronically? How do I do this? I would like to get that done soon but my daughter does not seem to know how to do it. I want to make sure it is properly applied. Thank you for you help!
 
Make a check out to “Cadet Account Services Office, USMA”

Send to :

Cadet Account Service Office, Class of 2023
Office Mail and Distribution Center
646 Swift Road
West Point, NY 10996-1905

It’s on page 9 of the instructions from the portal
 
Back
Top