To second
@mom3boys --who has done serious social media leadership to create and maintain a group of more than 5000 moms in which the attitude is one of sharing, respect, and love.
Just last night a mom wrote in wanting to learn if there were any resources or suggestions to help her and her family attend a special event with her cadet--in that the family has a handicapped child who can do everything during that weekend but not the one event (a formal dinner)--within five minutes, three women had volunteered to assist this family.
When my own #1 graduated and was en route to his first duty station, he was in a pretty serious multi-car accident. He thought he was fine. He thought he could handle it--but then he found himself at a gas station in the rain in a rural area without a car and without a plan. At 21 and only having lived in the US to go to USMA, he suddenly realized that a little help at the end of a long day would be 'helpful' and much appreciated. Using the power of the WP Moms network, a dad picked him up within 15 minutes of the call. He was invited to stay at their home while he figured out what was going on with his car and with his insurance--and let his first duty station know he would be later than expected.
No one has to use social media. The emails from the Parent Liaison can be enough. However, the FB groups can help the cadet--things like 'no wheelie suitcases' and 'put everything in big ziplock bags' for R-Day. Figuring out how to get your plebe home for Thanksgiving (did you know that the MDDCVA parents club runs buses? that USMA has buses to the airports? what time to book a flight?) However, it can help with the where to be, when, and what to wear--where to stay/not stay--and frankly, for those few occasions when a mom or family spends time at a West Point event (R-Day, A-Day, Ring Weekend, Graduation)--and the cadets are off doing their own thing (school/parade practice/formation/etc)--it becomes a reunion of friends.