It is highly not-reccomended to have your phone out during the week when in formation, lectures, activities, etc..
You can have it with you on silent in your backpack. DO NOT HAVE IT IN YOUR BACK POCKET at the 'MOCK R-DAY"(Your first day if you arrive early enough.
Your squad leader will let you know if you can take it out. later in the week, your squad may got for a tour/walk. You can have it out when ya'll take stops and such.
When I went for Session 2, no one "Vlogged". I think the experience is much greater without a phone in your hand or in front of your face. Yes, I would of liked to record or have pictures taken of me for my parents and instructors to see... but that is not the reason you are there for.
Yes, there is a photographer, and no he did not get one single picture of me or my squad... and that happens. But towards the end of the week, you will have opportunities to take pictures with people and of the campus. Just be very respectfully of smart watches, phones, etc...
I will say there is no need to bring a laptop. I do not think the Wifi was even on. I was lucky enough to have service in the corner of my room to call my parents to tell them how it was going.
West Point is a dream. The key to take from this is that to keep your phone on you when you have your backpack(bring a gallon or half-gallon sized ziplock baggie to put your wallet, phone and whatever else in at all times in your bag so it is easy access, will not get wet if it happens to start to rain and it will be all together). Keep your wallet on you too, you never know when you get the chance to go into the store and if your all your squad mates left their wallet in their room, you have to wait on them. So, less people to wait on if you have it on you. Also, keep your phone on silent, bring portable chargers( they do not like seeing Cadet Candidates plug their phones into outlets during the day like classes, etc...), and ask permission to take your phone out, even if you see others with them out.
I would not bring a camera. Someone brought a small Go-Pro and got asked to put it away. A phone camera is significant enough, I promise you I got awesome phots and videos when I could with mine. Of course I wanted to bring my professional camera but you will not have room with everything else you are bringing, time to pull it out, and you will probably be asked to put it away. I suggest if you want to take photos like that, your parents or guardians bring it the last day and ya'll walk around to take pictures after like a normal tour would.
Sincerely,
SLE Session 2 2019 Cadet Candidate
If you or anyone else sees this thread and has more questions or anything, feel free to PM me!!!!! If you do not have that option yet, reply to my comment here with a question! I will be happy to answer any questions or tell you about SLE! I hope this helps.
