Greetings! My son just received his 3Q letter last Saturday, then his nominating congressman called him on Tuesday to give him the great news that he had received an appointment. Now that the news is truly sinking in, we are realizing that we have many questions as we are not a military family. Any information other parents can provide (good hotels near WP, what to expect during the first year) would be greatly appreciated.
Helpful Tips for Newly Appointed WP Families
- Thread starter WP2025Mom
- Start date
I'm not sure if that will show up, but that thread has a bunch of hotels you could use for R Day and A day. However, that is the extent of my knowledge seeing as I'm an appointee for the C/O 2025
txfwindian
Parent of USNA C/O 2025
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We have been told that there are some local parents group on Facebook.
Awesome, here is what we've learned, my wife and I studying etc. There is a WP Parents 2025 group, lots of info there, it is run by WP admin of some sort I believe
Go to the Thayer Hotel on https://www.thethayerhotel.com/ and they have a ton of information, this hotel is on WP campus, and they actually have a package for RDay, ADay, Plebe Weekend and Graduation, I booked it all (not fun, hurt a LOT) you have to pay all up front. We stayed there a couple summers ago to drop off at Wrestling Camp, and it was absolutely amazing. There are a lot of other great hotels around the area.
My wife just got the book "The Mom's Guide to Surviving West Point" she likes. It has some things we haven't seen like people making negative comments....maybe because we're in Texas, but the avalanche of people saying such positive things to him and us has been crazy.
txfwindian
Parent of USNA C/O 2025
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where in TX?
DuneDragon
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Get the low quarters as soon as you can. They get hard to find in the most popular sizes well before R Day. Get a good pair of running shoes and the boots off of the list as soon as it comes out. Break all footwear in well and slowly to avoid blisters. Watches and multitools (search forums for recommendations) for Beast make nice graduation gifts. Spend lots of quality time together from now until R Day. It’s so hard to hear as a parent but your time together will never be the same again after drop off. It will grow and evolve in a new and exciting way, but prepare yourself. They should be hydrated, well rested and ready to go on R Day. Depending on where in the country you are coming from, get to your hotel at least a day in advance of R Day to focus on these things. Make sure they have something to eat in the morning before report time.
Impulsive
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Follow the WP website and Facebook WP Groups closely, TONS of info. +1 to @DuneDragon, VERY important to get footwear (boots and low quarters) early, and broken in before reporting. Run in the boots to get used to it, and walk a lot in the low quarters. Last thing you want is foot problems during Beast...
Also keep checking, as of right now there is no visitation on Post allowed, everything is virtual for parents. This past January, the Corps was brought back in groups, quarantined, and then integrated back into the cadet areas. I am pretty sure WP will make a determination, maybe in June as to if R-Day will be like old times or a drop off like last year. A lot depends on COVID and vaccines and the level of positive tests in the area and on post, and the outlook going forward. Again, the WP Parents Clubs are a GREAT source of info, find your local Club (if they don't find you) and get involved.
Also keep checking, as of right now there is no visitation on Post allowed, everything is virtual for parents. This past January, the Corps was brought back in groups, quarantined, and then integrated back into the cadet areas. I am pretty sure WP will make a determination, maybe in June as to if R-Day will be like old times or a drop off like last year. A lot depends on COVID and vaccines and the level of positive tests in the area and on post, and the outlook going forward. Again, the WP Parents Clubs are a GREAT source of info, find your local Club (if they don't find you) and get involved.
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Congrats to you all!!
We are in Cedar Park, TX my son is graduating from Cedar Park HS. Just outside of Austin.
Cumberland24
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Congratulations!
We were in this very same position just over a year ago with our child. It was kinda surreal. Here are my top takeaways from the experience so far:
1. The West Point Moms book was excellent (and I'm not a mom).
2. People told us it would be a roller coaster (emotional/psychological). That's been exactly right.
3. We let our son figure out his part himself. We fight the urge to do it for him.
4. There's a lot I've wished to know about the experience, but I can't really know. It's not my experience, it's my son's experience. As a curious non-military family, this has been the hardest thing for me to deal with.
usmacadet2024
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Cannot second this enough! Low quarters are SUPER important to break in - your new cadet will wear them for about the first week of Beast incessantly! Super thankful I broke mine in REALLY well - several miles of walks to break mine in. Same for running shoes - Brooks are super popular for Beast and at USMA in general, and mine treated me wonderfully, but make sure you put some mileage on those too, otherwise they'll be in a world of hurt. For boots, anything that falls under the rules of AR670-1 is allowed - some common boots are the Garmont T8s and the Belleville Khybers, but I personally like the Danner boots. I would also recommend a G-shock watch (or something nice and waterproof that has at least one alarm and a stopwatch/timer) and a Leatherman for the multi-tool.
If you have any questions specifically on the cadet experience, especially as a plebe, I'd be happy to help! And frequent the Facebook parent pages - they helped my family out a TON in terms of prep before R-Day!
Good luck to you and your future new cadet!
One question, I wear Danner and love them and was going to get my son some for RDay in June, but I've seen warnings for Plebe year to stick to what is on the list....and my son does not want to be the one that sticks out like that, ha.
Just curious, when you say you like the Danner's is that what you brought to Beast or did you get them later? Curious if it was noticed?
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Don't get hurt! Yes, serious undisclosed, recent injuries and/or corrective surgeries will get you bounced on R day. Stay in great shape - will make the summer go by easier. Break in all footwear, especially the boots. Try to work up to 5-10 mile 30-40 lb rucks. Get out and jog regularly. Keep doing pushups and pull ups to your CFA scores if you can. Watch the partying and no tattoos. Spend quality time with family and siblings. Learn how to go without your cell phone for 6 weeks (Beast). Portals will open on 1 April for uploading up all paperwork except fingerprints. Good luck!
usmacadet2024
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I brought mine to Beast and it was not noticed at all! As long as they are AR 670-1 compliant no-one even bats an eye! I have two other plebes in my company who wore them, as well. There's not really any "atypical" boots, or any that really stick out. It's all about preference!
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This will really depend on the cadre. Every company is going to have a different mix. Some might not care. Some will tell new cadets to wear the issued, non broken in boots instead of the boots they brought if they aren’t on the authorized memo. Why add the chance of doing something to add more stress to a situation you don’t have to by disobeying a simple instruction that could potentially result in beating your feet up which makes life miserable having to use unbroken in boots? If the memo goes out as any 670-1 authorized boot is authorized as has happened occasionally in the past, then by all means go for whatever boot you prefer, but if there’s an authorized list, I would recommend staying within your given instructions.
Military MOMx2
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Congratulations to your family. The most surprising thing for us (DS Class of 2022) is the majority - as in 99.9% of the information we get from WP is on FB, not would I would have thought for a government-run organization. Had to restart my own FB page to get information. Another parent gave us this tip. I've signed up for many WP-parent emails and have yet to receive one though we confirmed the correct email after not receiving information posted on FB. It's a ride is all I can say. Support my son 100% but as a parent it's not the easiest road to be honest. At the end of the day, we are proud to have a son and potentially another who wants to serve our great country!
prairie full moon
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I have a question from ignorance:
Are the "low quarters" dress shoes? If they are, what is recommended, is the "shiny-ness" a useful consideration?
Are the "low quarters" dress shoes? If they are, what is recommended, is the "shiny-ness" a useful consideration?
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Yes, low quarters are the black leather shoes worn with more formal uniforms. They need to be shined when worn in uniform, and many officers will wear chloroframs instead of the basic old fashioned leather shoe because they are a high glossy shine without needing to shine them.
Plebes do not get the privilege of wearing chloroframs until they are no longer plebes, and unless things changed, upper class cadets still have to wear their shined leather pair on uniform inspection days (which just leads to typically having an “inspection” set of shoes and an “everyday” shoe that can get a little scuffed up walking around.
USMAZoo98
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Yes, low quarters are dress shoes. I believe the dress shoes have to be a specific type of leather dress shoe. I do not believe you are permitted as a plebe to have patent leather shoes (already glossy).