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We took the distributions out of the 529 plan rather than waiting to hand down to his future children. Let DS pay the taxes on the small earnings (without the 10% penalty) and used the cash proceeds to start funding his Roth IRA. They earn upwards of 10,000 in taxable wages each year for...

Maybe this is an old wives tale - but the story went something like, universities look at a service academy GPA and will add a 1/2 to full point to the GPA. A service academy education has so many other distractions that a normal college student does not deal with that grad programs give a...

USAA renters insurance proved very helpful for our 2016 grad. In the library, left to go to the bathroom and put his cell phone on pile of books with all the other gear, came back and the cell phone was gone. Ended up in Texas when someone reached out and asked for the passcode to clear...

We have recently stayed at the IHG just behind the Visitor Center, formally known as the "5 Star". Used it both for Ring Weekend and Graduation last week. Being just outside of Thayer gate made it easy to find food options and the new ID Cards they are issuing to parents allows you to use the...

This is from a 2/10/16 post about taking AP classes, but it also goes to the question of trying to game the system and intentionally not validate a class. WP will always push you out of your comfort zone. Be ready to be challenged and understand you have a great support system to back you up...

Here is another idea to try when a team captain position isn't available. Would the coach be open to rotating the "team captain" position for each swim meet? With our DS football program the coach did not announce the team captain until after the end of the season. His thinking was you had...

Never thought I would admit it, but shopping therapy did wonders for this Dad. Left my wife and rest of the family behind while bringing out our cadet candidate, so it can be a long lonely day when you are use to having the rest of the gang to hang with. A trip to the Cadet Chapel can help...

It appears there is more latitude given to a Firstie who may be medically discharged and allowed to stay their final year to graduate then if you were a yuk or a cow. In these cases (years attended) you are most likely medically discharged and separated from the Army and WP. See Army Regs...

DS is a Firstie this year and I can share how this turned out for him 3.5 years ago when he started. Received 5's on AP US History and AP European History and was able to validate out of Plebe US History and World History, but in it's place he took the senior level class Art of War a full year...

A few years back, my DS was asked to also submit a resume after the portal was all green but before getting the 3Q letter. We took it as another indicator of competitiveness and it may have been used by his RC when they have other RC's review the file as part of the 3Q process. This is only...

Another reason to notify your senator or congressman ahead of time is the MOC may have different panels performing different interviews for specific SA's. The last thing you want to do is walk in thinking you are being interviewed for USMA when in fact the panel has been pulled together for...

Our son, also had a conflict between SLE and Boys State and it turned out attending SLE was pivotal for his decision to attend WP. He was accepted to both West Point and Annapolis leadership programs and traveled back east (attending them back to back) thinking Navy and came home Army. I...

Just heard this at our Washington State Parents Club event for new 2019 joining parents, that our state FFR's are trying to line up the 50 year connection class from 1969 to help make HS award presentations. I thought it was such a great idea, I wanted to share the concept here to see if other...

Something to remember as you start purchasing supplies, many vendors provide a discount for serving in the Army and it may help offset purchasing a more expensive model of compression shorts. My DS and I were purchasing compression shorts at an out-let mall, looking for discounted Under Armour...

The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) has a hotel finder under it's Parent's Resource section. http://www.reservetravel.com/v6?type=geo&siteid=24623&map&mapheight=350&longitude=-73.9631773&latitude=41.3795431&&pagesize=20&radius=30

Thank you for the helpful information. I will need to learn more about PRK vs Lasik after your explanation. Was the procedure performed at Keller Army Hospital on post or did it require a trip down to NY City? Do you know the Recuperation time for PRK? Lasik use to allow for you to walk...

Just curious how this works as DS is a Cow at USMA and not planning on branching Aviation but recently let us know he is being evaluated for lasik/PRK surgery. Does everyone get the opportunity to have corrective surgery after their Cow Commitment (Oath Ceremony) and do you get to choose the...

Remember that test scores from November may work for admissions, but are probably too late for use with your nomination packets. Most, but not all MOC's want a single packet submitted and are not interested in updating information with new awards or test scores. Have you considered a...

For what it is worth, and based from our son's experience as a Cow this year, a 5 on the AP test for both AP European History and AP US History will likely validate you for these two plebe classes and push you into the Cow level Art of War history class during your plebe year. This opens up...

Here is twist on the debate - how much does it cost each of us taxpayers to keep a cadet in a Service Academy for a year? Using the $100,000 cost per year divided by quantity of tax payers 216,000,000 (random internet search said 216M taxpayers in 2008) = .0004 for each of us to send a cadet...