Need Laptop and Backpack for USMA?

S

Shaka

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Do we need to get DS a laptop and backpack for West Point or are those standard issued when they arrive?
 
USMA will supply the laptop and charge his account. You will receive a list of things your DS will need to bring. Fox River Socks are a good idea.
 
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AROTC-dad said:
USMA will supply the laptop and charge his account. You will receive a list of things your DS will need to bring. Fox River Socks are a good idea.
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Coyote color or black fox river socks? Also, do they need to buy dress socks?
 
As a cadet told me couple years ago, when I was dropping off DD for SLE: “Sir, you could show up with nothing more than the clothes on your back and you’d be fine. Well, except I wouldn’t recommend the underwear.”
 
You will get a detailed shopping list of items to bring with him on R-Day. DO NOT SEND ANYTHING ELSE. Also, there is no reason to buy anything now before the list is released. There will be plenty of time to purchase what you need.
He will be told how and when to purchase a computer--through USMA--it is ID card enabled--so he does not need one from home.
Back pack---go with a shoulder strap duffel. Does not have to be huge. No wheelie suitcases.
 
R-Day is like a "door" of the great unknown in the far distance. And as the due date nears, that door becomes bigger and obscures your vision. The desire to be best prepared is really trying to lesson the shock and pain of a life changing experience. By design, it is life changing and no amount of preparation can dampen that shock. Having an attitude of adventure and desire to change, will make R-Day more palatable. As parents, we want to continue being a parent for our children. However, our children have made a very adult decision to join the Army. And that has to be treated as such. When R-Day has come and gone, parents really have no influence over their adult-children any more.

R-Day is a day of change of life and being an adult. It should be celebrated as such. Its a blessing only a very few chose to pursue.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
tug_boat said:
When R-Day has come and gone, parents really have no influence over their adult-children any more.
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Agree with all you wrote, @tugboat, except for this part. Parents can indeed have great influence on their adult children well beyond entry into SA. But the operative word is "influence" -- we can influence what they do, by coaching and guiding and encouraging. What we really cannot do any longer is direct -- as in tell or order or dictate. The former is an act of love and trust. The latter, perhaps not so much.
 
@MidCakePa
My first lesson on this subject, came at a cost........I lost years of my life worrying. I worried over my son and I had no control over "ANYTHING!" That first lesson, the agony of the first deployment in our immediate family. Nine months of silence. Yeah, sure we had a quick Skype once in awhile, but it was more of an assurance that he was "okay" (for that moment). And when our proud 68W came home. He proudly displayed his CMB on his uniform with a "combat strip" my other sons were envious and wanted their own. Yup, my wife and I had to endure the worry of more deployments.

I don't know why but this process repeated with each son who deployed. A month after their return they just wanted my ear to listen to their story on our back porch over looking our pond. Just the two of us. If mom was there, they wouldn't open up. And they did just that, opened up. I don't know if it was a confession, stress relief, blowing off steam, letting go of frustration, asking for forgiveness or maybe all of the above. The stories were incredible of sorry, pain, hope, loss, regret, triumph and we would cry. I had no more influence over them at all when they left our front door. The only influence they had were the lesson we taught them, our religious based core values of right and wrong. That was the only tools they took with them.

I know I'm a little bit further along than some on this journey of life influenced by military living. And many have their goals set for an opportunity to be accepted into an SA. But it is a marathon, at a minimum 12 years. 4 plus 5 plus 3 and made be longer for some. But the hardest lesson was "they are an adult now" and their failures and success are their own. The only thing I could offer is an ear to listen.

Push Hard, Press Forward

PS: I don't know why. But one take away from their stories. I hate Farah, Afghanistan. Im confident no one on SAF is from that area so no worry about offending anyone from there. I've never been there and never will go there. Its just too many close calls....to much pain and suffering.
 
tug_boat said:
@MidCakePa
My first lesson on this subject, came at a cost........I lost years of my life worrying. I worried over my son and I had no control over "ANYTHING!" That first lesson, the agony of the first deployment in our immediate family. Nine months of silence. Yeah, sure we had a quick Skype once in awhile, but it was more of an assurance that he was "okay" (for that moment). And when our proud 68W came home. He proudly displayed his CMB on his uniform with a "combat strip" my other sons were envious and wanted their own. Yup, my wife and I had to endure the worry of more deployments.

I don't know why but this process repeated with each son who deployed. A month after their return they just wanted my ear to listen to their story on our back porch over looking our pond. Just the two of us. If mom was there, they wouldn't open up. And they did just that, opened up. I don't know if it was a confession, stress relief, blowing off steam, letting go of frustration, asking for forgiveness or maybe all of the above. The stories were incredible of sorry, pain, hope, loss, regret, triumph and we would cry. I had no more influence over them at all when they left our front door. The only influence they had were the lesson we taught them, our religious based core values of right and wrong. That was the only tools they took with them.

I know I'm a little bit further along than some on this journey of life influenced by military living. And many have their goals set for an opportunity to be accepted into an SA. But it is a marathon, at a minimum 12 years. 4 plus 5 plus 3 and made be longer for some. But the hardest lesson was "they are an adult now" and their failures and success are their own. The only thing I could offer is an ear to listen.

Push Hard, Press Forward

PS: I don't know why. But one take away from their stories. I hate Farah, Afghanistan. Im confident no one on SAF is from that area so no worry about offending anyone from there. I've never been there and never will go there. Its just too many close calls....to much pain and suffering.
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Bless you for sharing this post and story, as well as your family’s service for our nation.
 
MidCakePa said:
Agree with all you wrote, @tugboat, except for this part. Parents can indeed have great influence on their adult children well beyond entry into SA. But the operative word is "influence" -- we can influence what they do, by coaching and guiding and encouraging. What we really cannot do any longer is direct -- as in tell or order or dictate. The former is an act of love and trust. The latter, perhaps not so much.
Click to expand...

For everyone in this thread - excellent points. As a graduate (‘84, Beat Navy!), I can personally attest to how R- Day immediately changes several factors in the Parent-Child equation. Direct control of daily lives lessen, but the need for loving influence arguably increases. Remember that you raised your son/daughter well and they have chosen this noble cause. So, while it’s sad on some levels saying farewell, your loving support and encouragement goes a LONG way toward reaching their goal. (And for full disclosure, my youngest just received an appointment to USNA, so I’m about to experience the other side of the first day experience!).
 
And for what it’s worth, my personal R-Day story. I went up solo. USMA advice was basically “come up in black shoes/grey slacks/white shirt with a typewriter for the Academic year”. So I did. And caught tons of grief for being such a geek. Ha! My opinion is that you should get in really good shape, but enjoy your short summer with friends, family prior to R-Day.
 
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