My daughter is a plebe at West Point this year - roughly this is how it works - this year, of course always subject to change.
When you report for R-Day you go into Beast Barracks for Cadet Basic Training that will last for 8 weeks. There is NO Leave during this time. NO Visitors either.
At the end of Beast is A-Day, which is Acceptance day.
This is on a Saturday and your parents are most welcome to come.
After the Acceptance Day parade, we could see our cadet and she had "walking privledges". She had to be back for Taps but was released again at 0520 on Sunday.
During the Academic year, Plebes are entitled to One pass and One "Sprirt" pass.
Extra passes can be earned - my plebe for two passes this semester.
This year, the whole corps gets a sprit pass for Army/navy so you don't have to use your spirit pass for that.
A spirit pass is a pass to attend an away Army sporting event. You must provide and pay for your own transportation. Many cadets use these if Army football is playing near their hometown.
To make matters more complicated - there are restrictions on when you can use your pass. You basically can only use it when Army football is on a bye week or away and it is NOT a Commandant or Dean Saturday.
You also may not take a pass if you are on restriction - for grades or discipline. One failing grade gets you on restriction until you are passing again. So, if you fail the first test and another test is not scheduled for 4 weeks - you are screwed.
What my plebe did is take her pass Labor Day weekend since it was a three day weekend. The football game was Friday night and they were released early Sat am.
She got an "extra" pass and took that "Ring Weekend" when there was no football game. She is on a club sports team so she doesn't have time to use her spirit pass this semester but will next semester.
Bottom line - you won't be going home on the weekends, especially the first year. However, your parents certainly may come visit you. I have been to a couple of home football games and had a great time visiting my plebe.
Next year she will have off post privledges so we can actually go shopping! or to the movies!
As you move on through the years you will get more privledges.
Honestly, you are so busy you just won't have time to go home often. Stuff happens at West Point 7 days a week.
