Information for all of us newbies! USMA Class of 2021

M

MamaBear4

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
700
Stumbled across this today and wanted to share just in case:

http://www.usma.edu/parents/SiteAssets/Info-4-New-Cadets_Class-of-19.pdf

Although it was information for the Class of 2019, gave lots of information for some of the questions swirling around in my head. Doesn't answer all of them but I am still in the newly appointed to USMA mother happyland.

***Legal disclaimer***
This is no way a transition to helicopter parenting. Just happy parenting. :bounce1:
 
Just an FYI, if you want more info, I can highly recommend two sources.

1. West Point's website has a page of information for parents. The calendar is here, information on how to get on post ( what ID is needed) and many other things.

2. If you like Facebook, then you may want to consider joining the West Point Moms page. Lots of good info can be found there - especially if you look at the files section of the page.

3. Ok, one last source. Pick up a copy of The Mom's Guide To Surviving West Point.
 
Love4monsters said:
Stumbled across this today and wanted to share just in case:

http://www.usma.edu/parents/SiteAssets/Info-4-New-Cadets_Class-of-19.pdf

Although it was information for the Class of 2019, gave lots of information for some of the questions swirling around in my head. Doesn't answer all of them but I am still in the newly appointed to USMA mother happyland.

***Legal disclaimer***
This is no way a transition to helicopter parenting. Just happy parenting. :bounce1:
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, Love4Monsters, very helpful!!!
 
If your appointee has accepted the appointment, you can join the mom's page...and there is a class specific page for 2021 parents as well.
 
Definitely join the WP Moms page on FB--and then join the class of 2021 page. Definitely buy the Mom's Guide to Surviving West Point!
It is not being a helicopter mom...it is learning to speak a new language. Even though you could probably send your kid naked and he would be fine, it is so helpful to have a clue as to what is going on, what little tricks can make life better/easier, and really did you have to buy so many compression shorts and what is Monkey Butt Powder? I worried that my #1 would never be able to find his way home for the holidays. (He did--on a direct bus run by the WP parents club in our area--but sure enough...he was in the same shorts and t-shirt that I had dropped him off in--like in July!--and it was snowing.) Really, buy the book--and when you get a chance to get on the official West Point parents' list serve--do that too...but never write back, it is a one way stream of communications.
 
Last edited:
Definitely keep yourself in the loop on all of the appropriate WP Pages on Facebook! Network, network, network (with new and existing parents) as they (and your soon-to-be cadet) will be your best resources for the true "need to know's."

When looking for places to stay, definitely check out The Thayer Hotel. They are ON the grounds of West Point and are walking distance to practically everything, making getting to and from any events a breeze. They also have wonderful remote options for events such as graduation (they have a Satellite dinner which is perfect because cadets are only given a limited number of tickets to graduation activities). Note: they book WAY in advance and are completely booked out of graduation 2017/2018/2019 AND 2020, so if you are a 2021 parent (congratulations!) be sure to look at their graduation information now before they book up (usually by R-Day in July!): http://www.thethayerhotel.com/USMA-Class-of-2021
 
HEATHER! Is that you from the Thayer? I did not realize the glories of staying at the Thayer when we booked a room for R-Day (we were coming from overseas--and I did not have my act together--so we stayed at the lovely Hampton Inn in Central Valley)--which did a special early hot breakfast for our nervous cadets at like 4 a.m. However, the Thayer, while a bit more expensive, is right there on post--so you start your day INSIDE of the gate. This is a huge, huge difference. Also, after driving back to Central Valley in the dark on R-Day, I made the decision to always stay at the Thayer (still cheaper than paying for four years of college)--and booked a couple of rooms for Graduation Week on my #1's R-Day. No regrets. You can also tell your in-laws to book for Graduation week if they want to be inside the gate for graduation. Also, it is great to stay there for A-Day, Plebe Parent Weekend (usually in March of plebe year) and of course Ring Weekend. Home away from home--and if things are booked when you call, ask to be on the waiting list.
 
I had to laugh at this. "West Point military police will pull you over." Yes they will. And the speed limits are quite low. At no time on West Point should your speed be over 25 MPH. Going down Stony Lonesome (a long, steep hill), it's 25 MPH and they love to hang out half way down. If it says 25, they mean 25, not 30. If you make a wrong turn into a subdivision, it's going to be 10 or 15 MPH.
Also, come to a FULL STOP at all stop signs.
If pedestrians are approaching a crosswalk, you stop and let them cross.
 
In my observation and experience, if you are coming out of NY, NJ, CT, PA, OH...etc, prepping for WP and life at WP for cadets is different from those out of ND, WY, NM, ID...etc. Everything is just a bit more challenging from the remote lands due to many factors. Factor that in, I recommend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top