Just wanted to start a thread for any questions about the different clubs offered at West Point First off, if anyone has any information or experiences with the USMA Infantry and Tactics Club or the Parachute Team, I'd love to hear about them.
My son is in Infantry Tactics Club and loves it. If you have specific questions I can ask him. (I tried to get him to join this forum but he doesn't have much free time )
West Point has one of the most comprehensive extra-curricular programs of any school. It is well recognized and there, truly is something for everyone. There are military and non-military clubs, there are competitive club sports teams and individual sports teams. The list can be found here: http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/clubshome.html My understanding of the Parachute team is plebes tryout. I think they just had them a week or two ago. You try out as a plebe and stay on the team until graduation. Tryouts are very competitive and you must be in excellent physical condition. My daughter is on a competitive club athletic team, her sport has a fall and spring season and they practice 4-5 days/ weeks for two hours. She is excused from intramurals. Her team has done some traveling as well. At the end of Beast, they will have a special evening and present the different clubs and club sports. You can talk to the members and decide what you want to join
Good question - You can do as many as you want ......but there is a time contraint. Some clubs and sports take up a lot of time. Some are seasonal. My daughter has time for her sport, that's it. I think some plebes have time for two but most only do one. There are some clubs also that are "major specific" and those are populated more by upper class from what I hear. Anyway - to start you will probably join one, but please do join a club or sport. If you are athletic, there are several club sports that many cadets have never tried nor had an opportunity to try. Some cadets want to pick a club or sport that "travels" and this is a great way to get off post especially as a plebe (and wear civies!). Some clubs and sports have tryouts and are difficult to get into - if you tryout and don't make it then find another club to join.
JAM is right...you can join as many as you have time for. You may be able to do inline hockey and ITC (Infantry Tactics Club) depending upon how much time hockey takes up. If my memory serves, ITC meets once a week on Tuesday evenings. They usually have field exercises (FTX) on weekends, but not every weekend and not when there is something else going on. For example, in the fall they will not schedule an FTX on a home football weekend. You can try a club and if it doesn't work out you can drop it or switch to another club. There are so many to choose from it is almost overwhelming.
Wow, thanks for the great information. I deffinitely think I'll give ITC a shot. Many of my friends who are now cadets at Norwich University criticized West Point for only having military exercises and training during the summer; ITC looks like a great solution to this =] JAM: Yes, Ive read that the parachute team is only about 30 strong. I've made it my goal now to get in good enough shape to max my APFT and qualify for the team
?????? Wonder how they define "military excercises and training". Sounds like someone without a complete understanding of West Point. Re: Parachute team - you have to do more than max the APFT. You will come out of Beast in fantastic shape, for sure. After Beast, with all the demands of school, duties, sports and drill many/most cadets find it difficult to find the time to work out. You have to make it your "fun" time and make it a priority. http://www.westpoint.edu/dmi/ click on the link and "cadet clubs" - this will show the military clubs.
JAM: lol yep, they sort of have a little bit of contempt for their big brother. Also, Ive read all about the long process it takes to join the parachute team and such, but Im sure its deffinitely worth it!
The parachute team is quite awesome indeed. I saw them jump at Homecoming and it was very cool indeed. Did you find the link? Here is the one for the selection process: http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/jump/selectionpage.html (just a helpful hint - don't go around Beast telling everyone you are going to be on the parachute team, if you know what I mean -)
I love roller hockey, usafa doesn't have a team I think I saw something on the site with contact info, should I contact them?
naw - just wait. they can't help you win an appointment. You will have a chance after Beast to meet them on Club night.
Any info on the Model UN team? i just saw on the USMA homepage that they won the national model UN conference (again!).
Man, I will sure have to narrow my choices then sinec there are about 10 I'm interested in (not including sports). I know I'll definitely do ITC and Para, though. By the way, how many do upperclassmen have time for?
The website goes into a lot more detail, but basically you need to get better than a 300 on the APFT, and go through an interview process and attend meetings and such
