Cell Phones, Contact, and Breaks at the USMA

[cbasalt1]

This is a stupid, silly question which really is just something I have wondered about and in no way has any influence on my views of the Academy of course, but I have been curious, what is the policy on cell phones at west point? Do you get them back after beast? Any times during beast? After your plebe year?

Can you call or write home at all during beast? What kind of other contact do you get during your plebe year?

I would also love to know more about how your breaks and plebe parent weekend goes down.

Thanks!

 

[Flevvy]

You get your phones back after march-around/march-back during BEAST. As far as using them goes, just be an adult, don't walk while texting or talking on the phone outside, etc.

During BEAST you can only write home and receive letters. However, at the end of Beast 1 and part-way through Beast 2, they allow you to call whoever you want for 10 minutes. During plebe year, you can do whatever you need to contact people and live your virtual life. Like I said, just be an adult about it and you'll be fine.

I'm not sure what you mean by "breaks." This semester we don't have a Spring Break after not having Thanksgiving last semester, but hopefully that's the last time that'll occur for a while. Plebe Parent Weekend, imo, was anticlimactic and didn't result in much for anyone (just another mando dinner). I'm sure things will be mostly status-quo next year.

 

[hchen5041]

You get one or two phone calls during beast for like ten minutes. Make sure to let your parents and loved ones know that they might have a phone call from an unknown number coming for them. Only my mom picked up during beast and I lost some time waiting for some of my other family members to pick up. You get your phone back the last day of Beast when you go to your academic year barracks, but you only get to charge and use them in your room after the company's "crucible", basically whatever dumb trial they want you to undergo in order to get to your room and finally take a break in your new barracks. You can write home during beast with letters. During plebe year, you can use your phone to contact people. Just don't. be the person who makes phone calls until 1 in the morning. I hear that plebe parent weekend is supposed to be great. Water slides down stairs, no rules since it's only plebes and the upperclassmen are gone, and your parents can come on campus and visit you. But for us, no parents were allowed and spring break was canceled/merged into winter break. Our company let us talk in the hallways and wear civilian clothes, so that was lucky, but the privileges from up higher weren't as great, so it was really company dependent. There was still fun to be had but I was stuck in quarantine so I got to listen to everyone playing loud music and water pong outside.

 

[cbasalt1]

You get your phones back after march-around/march-back during BEAST. As far as using them goes, just be an adult, don't walk while texting or talking on the phone outside, etc.

During BEAST you can only write home and receive letters. However, at the end of Beast 1 and part-way through Beast 2, they allow you to call whoever you want for 10 minutes. During plebe year, you can do whatever you need to contact people and live your virtual life. Like I said, just be an adult about it and you'll be fine.

I'm not sure what you mean by "breaks." This semester we don't have a Spring Break after not having Thanksgiving last semester, but hopefully that's the last time that'll occur for a while. Plebe Parent Weekend, imo, was anticlimactic and didn't result in much for anyone (just another mando dinner). I'm sure things will be mostly status-quo next year.

Yes I was referring to Winter Break, Spring Break etc.

That must suck pretty bad to loose those!!

 

[cbasalt1]

You get one or two phone calls during beast for like ten minutes. Make sure to let your parents and loved ones know that they might have a phone call from an unknown number coming for them. Only my mom picked up during beast and I lost some time waiting for some of my other family members to pick up. You get your phone back the last day of Beast when you go to your academic year barracks, but you only get to charge and use them in your room after the company's "crucible", basically whatever dumb trial they want you to undergo in order to get to your room and finally take a break in your new barracks. You can write home during beast with letters. During plebe year, you can use your phone to contact people. Just don't. be the person who makes phone calls until 1 in the morning. I hear that plebe parent weekend is supposed to be great. Water slides down stairs, no rules since it's only plebes and the upperclassmen are gone, and your parents can come on campus and visit you. But for us, no parents were allowed and spring break was canceled/merged into winter break. Our company let us talk in the hallways and wear civilian clothes, so that was lucky, but the privileges from up higher weren't as great, so it was really company dependent. There was still fun to be had but I was stuck in quarantine so I got to listen to everyone playing loud music and water pong outside.

LOL!! It is still cool I think that they encourage writing during beast rather than just phone calls.

I would imagine that the breaks and plebe weekend would be a nice change so sorry again for everyone up there that they got canceled!

What type of training do you have summer after your plebe year?

I believe that for the Navy your junior year summer you go out on the fleet, is there an Army parallel to this?

 

[Flevvy]

After graduation, all "plucks" (rising yearlings) go to Cadet Field Training for ~4 weeks and then do a MIAD such as Air Assault, Airborne, Mountain School (if they got a slot).

As a rising cow, you do a leadership detail for Beast, CFT, etc. and then any MIAD/AIAD you may have gotten for that summer plus any requirements that USMA may add in the future.

Rising firsties usually go to CTLT (which is equivalent to Ops Air Force or going to the fleet for USNA). You shadow a 2LT at a unit for a couple of weeks. On top of this you may also have MIAD's, AIAD's, leadership details, etc. It's not always set in stone, but that's usually how it goes over the summers.

 

[nurse dad]

How many weeks off do cadets typically have in the summer?

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Half way through Beast they also (non COVID), have an ice cream social. Néw Cadets go over to sponsors’ houses and are permitted to relax, check email, and use cell phones. I think last time Cadets were permitted to use their cell phones... can’t remember. Obviously didn’t get that summer 2020.