I'm a Cow at USMA, AMA (Ask Me Anything)

USMAROTCFamily said:
I'm guessing this must depend on the Company, as my DS and his roommates, who are Plebes, have had multiple passes this year. I believe he said they were awarded for performance, but it seems they have been quite easy for them to get. My DS is an Old Grad, and he can't believe how many times our kid has been able to go down to NYC for weekends. Like you said TPIAD, this may be stopping with the new COMM and it could be a very rude awakening to all of them as Yuks next year.
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It depends on company a lot. I've always heard the rumors of companies who'd let their plebes take pass all the time. I had my 1 pass I used on a 3 day to visit home. NYC is too expensive for me. Even as a cow I still haven't used a pass this semester. It's easier to just go out to eat with friends nearby and be lazy in the room. We'll see how next year turns out. At this rate, my plebe year will have been easier then my firstie year with the rate things are changing haha
 
I posted this question as a separate thread, but cant get anyone form WP to respond.

My wife and I purchased football tickets for the second game of the season, Sept 10, against Rice. We did this assuming that we will be able to spend time with our plebe son Saturday afternoon, and hopefully a little on Sunday. Will he necessarily be able to go with us off campus to have dinner? any chance we will be able to take him overnight? What are the rules on this? If we do take him will that put him in a bind in terms of getting homework done? If he can leave campus and have dinner, should we tell him to invite his roommate or other buddies?

Would it be better to avoid coming for parents weekend, and thus avoid the large crowds, and just pick other weekends (football weekends) to visit? Or, are there things that occur on parents weekend that we wont want to miss, or which would make it better for our son?
 
So around what time do are you able to try out for sports? And if I want to try out for bball shoes I bring my bball shoes with me or get my parents to send them to me?
 
brovol said:
I posted this question as a separate thread, but cant get anyone form WP to respond.

My wife and I purchased football tickets for the second game of the season, Sept 10, against Rice. We did this assuming that we will be able to spend time with our plebe son Saturday afternoon, and hopefully a little on Sunday. Will he necessarily be able to go with us off campus to have dinner? any chance we will be able to take him overnight? What are the rules on this? If we do take him will that put him in a bind in terms of getting homework done? If he can leave campus and have dinner, should we tell him to invite his roommate or other buddies?

Would it be better to avoid coming for parents weekend, and thus avoid the large crowds, and just pick other weekends (football weekends) to visit? Or, are there things that occur on parents weekend that we wont want to miss, or which would make it better for our son?
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Is that Columbus Day weekend? If it is they'll have some time to go off post if they take their pass. That's how it was this pass October and as long as they aren't tasked that weekend.
 
brovol said:
I posted this question as a separate thread, but cant get anyone form WP to respond.

My wife and I purchased football tickets for the second game of the season, Sept 10, against Rice. We did this assuming that we will be able to spend time with our plebe son Saturday afternoon, and hopefully a little on Sunday. Will he necessarily be able to go with us off campus to have dinner? any chance we will be able to take him overnight? What are the rules on this? If we do take him will that put him in a bind in terms of getting homework done? If he can leave campus and have dinner, should we tell him to invite his roommate or other buddies?

Would it be better to avoid coming for parents weekend, and thus avoid the large crowds, and just pick other weekends (football weekends) to visit? Or, are there things that occur on parents weekend that we wont want to miss, or which would make it better for our son?
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So your son would be able to hang out with you on USMA grounds or in Highland Falls. He would not be allowed to leave the distance around USMA considered within walking privileges aka Highland Falls. You could have your son try and put an ETP in to take Off Post Privileges, that might get approved and allow him to leave. Alternatively he could take pass that weekend and stay with you. Only he will know how his homework load is and if he should prioritize academics. The last option is Blow Post Privileges, but those carry the risk of a board and hours so I'll leave that to your discretion.

I would suggest Parent's weekend because your son should get OPPs then and you could tour USMA cadet grounds which are typically off limits. My parents come up for parent's weekend each year and it is always a good time. There are many things that you'd enjoy on Parent's weekend: Interesting briefs, open classes, open cadet area, and you can visit the academic departments.
 
dcanderson4 said:
Can you explain what changes are rumored to be coming with the new COMM?
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I can tell you what changes have happened now.

A/C weekend training is back. For the last 3 years or so, there wasn't any training on weekends and you could leave after last duty on Friday. Now you're released Saturday midday, maybe earlier if you're company put an ETP in. Alcohol is facing a ton of scrutiny, they've been playing games with the SOP, changing the wording without notifying the corps so what used to be okay isn't. Cadets have ran into a ton of trouble over that. There's been a lot of crack down on uniforms, in the past weekends were White over Gray, then ACUs, and now they're back to White over Gray. To enforce it, officers were reporting any cadet seen in ACUs this past weekend. We used to have optional breakfasts in the morning, now we have mandatory formations instead. Club trip sections have been getting shot down much more frequently. Also, honor offenses, they've gotten really strict with them. They used to be lenient but that's no longer the case.
 
catlover2 said:
So around what time do are you able to try out for sports? And if I want to try out for bball shoes I bring my bball shoes with me or get my parents to send them to me?
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I would say bring your shoes, there might be an opportunity to walk on during beast. Your best bet would be to reach out to the team and ask if they take walk ons. They might not.
 
TPIAD said:
I can tell you what changes have happened now.

A/C weekend training is back. For the last 3 years or so, there wasn't any training on weekends and you could leave after last duty on Friday. Now you're released Saturday midday, maybe earlier if you're company put an ETP in. Alcohol is facing a ton of scrutiny, they've been playing games with the SOP, changing the wording without notifying the corps so what used to be okay isn't. Cadets have ran into a ton of trouble over that. There's been a lot of crack down on uniforms, in the past weekends were White over Gray, then ACUs, and now they're back to White over Gray. To enforce it, officers were reporting any cadet seen in ACUs this past weekend. We used to have optional breakfasts in the morning, now we have mandatory formations instead. Club trip sections have been getting shot down much more frequently. Also, honor offenses, they've gotten really strict with them. They used to be lenient but that's no longer the case.
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Sounds like a country club compared to when I was there..... 20+ years ago. No wonder the attrition rate is so low. The corp really has.......
 
billyb said:
Sounds like a country club compared to when I was there..... 20+ years ago. No wonder the attrition rate is so low. The corp really has.......
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I've heard this a ton, and the honest truth is yes it is easier in some aspect. Others it is just as hard. I spoke at length with my sponsor who was class of '84. His son was a recent grad and he freely admitted that academics nowadays are tougher. We also don't have alcohol for all classes, since you have to be 21 to drink it is predominantly firsties and cows who get to enjoy the firstie club. Speaking of which, the original firstie club is in disarray and won't be repaired for quite some time (mid to late 2017). There are no dances every weekend, there isn't a all girls school outside the gate. There are no old corps shenanigans. The smallest of pranks could have you receiving punitive action beyond hours. If you offend someone (i.e. birthday parties, naked men, what have you) you could face a respect/SHARP allegation which will easily destroy your cadet career, and potentially cost you your commission.

Do we face the hazing that the old corps had? No. Do we have SAMIs every week and drill every Saturday? No. In some aspects that is part of the problem. We sit around doing nothing. Periodically we get jerked around by the TACs with the SOP and mental gymnastics. There is nothing hard nor enjoyable about USMA these days. The biggest issue here is spending four years basically twiddling your thumbs and studying. People joke that USMA is a prison, and it sorta is. Your four years these days won't be mentally challenging in the sense of hard discipline. Instead you spend four years neither suffering nor enjoying anything. It becomes 4 years of empty apathy. So yes it is easier, but ya'll also had a bit of purpose to your lives. These days I just stare at the wall and count down to graduation day.
 
TPIAD said:
There is nothing hard nor enjoyable about USMA these days. The biggest issue here is spending four years basically twiddling your thumbs and studying. People joke that USMA is a prison, and it sorta is. Your four years these days won't be mentally challenging in the sense of hard discipline. Instead you spend four years neither suffering nor enjoying anything. It becomes 4 years of empty apathy. So yes it is easier, but ya'll also had a bit of purpose to your lives. These days I just stare at the wall and count down to graduation day.
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Public Service Announcement :director: - "Pillow Fight scheduled for 18:00 has been cancelled, that is all"
 
murfthesurf said:
Public Service Announcement :director: - "Pillow Fight scheduled for 18:00 has been cancelled, that is all"
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After this year's scandal there won't be any pillow fights. USMA cares about its image over everything else, we got so much bad press for that night. There were also rumors it is what led to our former BTO retiring from the Army. He took responsibility for the event and was assisted out, so the rumor mill says.
 
All, I hope I've answered your questions. I did this much longer then I initially thought, but it has come time for me to go back to greener pastures (Netflix). I'm going to leave this thread on a sort of good note. I hope everyone the best in their future endeavors, and if that brings you to USMA, good luck. I'm done for now so yah, peace.
 
TPIAD: Good work here. You've been very helpful to future new cadets. I respect your candor. 'Take big bites at dinner.'

BTW, the biggest change since I was a cadet (Class of '85) - Netflix!

Go Army, Beat Navy.
 
TPIAD said:
I would say bring your shoes, there might be an opportunity to walk on during beast. Your best bet would be to reach out to the team and ask if they take walk ons. They might not.
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I am also interested in trying out for the women's soccer team--I believe they take walk ons if they like how they play. Should I bring my cleats and shin pads?
 
ArmyAFsister said:
I am also interested in trying out for the women's soccer team--I believe they take walk ons if they like how they play. Should I bring my cleats and shin pads?
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Yes, since cleats and shin pads don't take up much space. If not, you can have your parents mail them to you because from what I remember, team tryouts did not start until a couple weeks in.
 
@PJD - My DS, currently a Yuk, took only Latin in high school (3 years) as his foreign language. It was never an issue with admissions. He is currently a double major, one of which is a language he had no previous exposure to.
 
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