Going it alone to R Day

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Gryffinmom

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My cadet has expressed a desire to go it alone to R Day. Can anyone tell me what the experience is for a cadet who flies up solo the day before?
 
I have no idea what it will be like but as of now I will be traveling up there alone for R-Day and have my parents come on A-Day.

It should be pretty safe. Someone takes you to the hotel and from then on you will be with other cadets so you won't get lost.
 
I was talking to a Cadet in the class of 1987 that went up alone and he said he liked it that way because he got his goodbyes out of the way and was able to focus on what to do.
 
Here are some more specific questions:
1) Where do they stay?
2) Does anyone know what percentage (roughly) choose to go alone?
3) Will cell phones be taken away that night? (I'd like for him to at least be able to call to say he arrived safely)
4) When are they processed? The next morning with everyone else? that night?
5) Anyone who didn't go alone wish they had or vice versa?
 
Gryffinmom said:
Here are some more specific questions:
1) Where do they stay?
2) Does anyone know what percentage (roughly) choose to go alone?
3) Will cell phones be taken away that night? (I'd like for him to at least be able to call to say he arrived safely)
4) When are they processed? The next morning with everyone else? that night?
5) Anyone who didn't go alone wish they had or vice versa?
Click to expand...

My son went to R-day on his own. He used the travel package offered by USMA. The package includes the hotel room (2 candidates per room) and transportation between airport and hotel, and hotel to USMA. The Army arranges and pays one way airfare so you don't have to worry about that.
1) They stay at hotel near the airport in Newark. Several Army officers are there to keep an eye on and help the candidates as needed.
2) I don't have any idea but my son said there was a good sized group at the hotel.
3) No. My son called from the hotel the night before R-day. His cell phone will be left in his luggage and locked up during CBT. He will get it back during reorgy week (that is the week between marchback and A-day).
4) They are bussed to USMA the morning of R-day and get in line with all the other candidates and their families.
5) I can't answer this one.

Due to finances we were trying to decide if we should go out for R-day or A-day. I asked my son if he wanted us to go to R-day with him. He had no preference. We chose to come out for A-day since we could spend more time with him then. I think it was harder on me not to be there on R-day than it was for him. I took the day off work, it was my birthday, and spent the entire day online looking at the pictures as fast as they were posted.
 
Gryffinmom - I can honestly say after several years on this and another forum I have never heard any cadet or parent say their wish their son/daughter had not gone alone.

Your New Cadet will be well cared for.

Last summer - the day before R-day there was wild weather across the country. Some New Cadets had connecting flights that were canceled and some did not arrive to West Point until the afternoon on R-day.
They are given a contact person and phone number to call if any unforseen circumstances occur.
All the New Cadets did arrive, from what I heard while some missed good portions of R-Day they all arrived for the parade. No, they were not punished either.
The folks at West Point are well versed in dealing with unforseen circumstances.
 
My daughter is Class of 2011 and she chose to use the flight/hotel package. She expressed to me later that it had been a good decision. It allowed her to meet and socialize with other candidate cadets who were all facing the same experience the next day. Plus, the extra day of separation from home/family/friends allowed her time to adjust to what she was heading into without all the emotions from everyone else.
 
If i was to take the train to New York and arrive on the 28th what would be the best way to get to the Academy/Academy hotel? Would the Academy provide transportation or would I have to fork over mucho dinero to a taxi driver? :thumbdown:

If anything I was planning on at least accepting the hotel package because I would like to either go to the Academy by train (three days of mental preparation and just enjoying myself (true there may not be a lot to do on a train, but I still felt it was an absolutely amazing experience last time around)) or by plane, but get my own tickets.
 
I've pondered over this thread for a day now and I'm on the side of attending as a parent. My son wants us to and it will be a cherished moment to remember. I realize there may be many circumstances that prevent parents from attending, but given the chance, I say parents or family join in :thumb:
 
We (parents and older sister) are planning to attend R-Day with our son. I asked him what he thought about going by himself. His response was he knew he would be fine if he went alone, but he knows we want to be there and he is glad we will be. Each family has to do what works best for them, knowing if they can't attend that their son or daughter will be well taken care of.
 
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