Ask a Plebe!

[armypanda_]

How much harder does it get after BEAST? From what I’ve seen and heard BEAST sounds like the hardest cause you’re also transitioning from civilian to military life.

 

[loyal1912]

Naturally Monday to Friday days will be spent in class time, sports etc and evenings spent doing study etc.

What are Friday and Saturday evenings like for cadets though?

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

How much harder does it get after BEAST? From what I’ve seen and heard BEAST sounds like the hardest cause you’re also transitioning from civilian to military life.

All personal opinion but I'd argue that BEAST is the easy part. All you have to do is do what you're told and don't quit. Life gets "easier" after BEAST, but also harder, depending on what factors you're considering. Yes there's a lot more freedom but the daily toll of academics is difficult itself.

 

[armypanda_]

All personal opinion but I'd argue that BEAST is the easy part. All you have to do is do what you're told and don't quit. Life gets "easier" after BEAST, but also harder, depending on what factors you're considering. Yes there's a lot more freedom but the daily toll of academics is difficult itself.

I can see that

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

Naturally Monday to Friday days will be spent in class time, sports etc and evenings spent doing study etc.

What are Friday and Saturday evenings like for cadets though?

We have ESP (Evening Study Period) every Sunday-Thursday night, and also Friday nights if we have a football game or training that Saturday. So that basically takes care of those nights, though you can still go see friends and have clubs and whatnot. On weekends without ESP there honestly isn't too much to do for plebes, but you can find something. Walk around post, go into Highland Falls, go bowling (my plan for tomorrow), hang with friends in the barracks, work out, etc. It's a bit nicer for the upperclassmen as they can take OPPs and leave post outside of Highland Falls every weekend, but plebe year is only one year so we make the most of it and do our jobs well.

 

[AA787DRIVER]

Who cleans the bathrooms and common areas? My kid had people who do it at USAFA, unbelievable! That was our go to job at Army OCS.

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

Who cleans the bathrooms and common areas? My kid had people who do it at USAFA, unbelievable! That was our go to job at Army OCS.

We have janitors, but to be honest, I have never seem them here yet. I just know that they are around and do clean bathrooms and such. Plebes are assigned areas to keep clean though, including the bathrooms, hallways, water fountains, laundry room, and collab room.

 

[armypanda_]

How mean are the upper classmen? And is it more like, it’s their “responsibility” to be mean or is it like they just have big egos and hate the under classmen. No disrespect intended, just making an exaggerated example to compare.

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

How mean are the upper classmen? And is it more like, it’s their “responsibility” to be mean or is it like they just have big egos and hate the under classmen. No disrespect intended, just making an exaggerated example to compare.

I've never come across a mean upperclassman... seriously. Some are a bit tougher on you than others, but all of them want you to succeed. Recognize that fact and you'll have much more respect for them, do well and they'll have more respect for you. But truthfully they all want to see you graduate & commission just like them.

 

[armypanda_]

What are those groups you’re put in with other cadets called again? The ones where you compete against the other groups and pull pranks. And how do they work? Are you rooming in the same building as them, have similar classes as them?

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

What are those groups you’re put in with other cadets called again? The ones where you compete against the other groups and pull pranks. And how do they work? Are you rooming in the same building as them, have similar classes as them?

Spirit missions?? I think that's what you mean. They're company vs. company, and only plebes can do them. Usually it's stealing another company's mascot or something, though now all spirit missions must be TAC approved first before executed. Your company vs. any company in the Corps!

 

[armypanda_]

Spirit missions?? I think that's what you mean. They're company vs. company, and only plebes can do them. Usually it's stealing another company's mascot or something, though now all spirit missions must be TAC approved first before executed. Your company vs. any company in the Corps!

Yeah companies! How do those work? The spirit missions have to be approved now?? Aw

 

[armypanda_]

How are the professors? I heard they’re really nice.

Kind of related to this: are professors you don’t have equally willing to help you out as professors you do have? At my school, a girl kept going to this one really good chemistry teacher for questions and he basically said stop coming to me go ask your teacher.

 

[VasilyZaytsev]

How much sleep do you actually get?

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

Kind of related to this: are professors you don’t have equally willing to help you out as professors you do have? At my school, a girl kept going to this one really good chemistry teacher for questions and he basically said stop coming to me go ask your teacher.

There are 36 companies in the Corps, you're assigned to one randomly when you come to CBT and stick with it unless you're scrambled. This year the cows were scrambled (which seems to be the norm now), so the rising cows last May got assigned new companies for this AY which they're now a part of.

I saw instances like that a lot last year at my civilian college, but here mostly anyone is willing to help you, especially if you do it through the right channels and schedule appointments- there is no shortage of help anywhere.

 

[USMA2026Cadet]

How much sleep do you actually get?

I'd say most people average around six hours, some more some less. Depends on how you manage your time. I've been getting around six, midnight to 6am. I'm trying to get that to seven though.