Parents on R-Day

[SupportiveDad]

R-Day - Parent Deciding Whether to Attend or Not

Can anyone venture a guess of the new cadets reporting for R-Day, what percentage travel alone via the West Point travel/hotel package and what show up with their parents? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[CPT_Claw]

Consider attending R Day Dress Rehearsal

If you have the means, and the extra time, Dad should try and come in a few days early and go through the R Day Dress Rehearsal. Then he can get a true 'sense' of what the Cadet Candidate will experience during the actual R Day. The upperclassmen responsible for running R Day conduct a dry run on the Friday prior to R Day and need Stand-in Cadet Candidates on whom to hone their skills. It's a bit gruelling and very enlightening, and does provide you the opportunity to ask questions of the Rising Cows and Firsties who will be in charge of your DS/DD in the weeks and months ahead; and you probably get a free lunch out of it.

It will provide you with some insight on what your Cadet Candidate is experiencing on that very long and trying day. It goes without saying, but the Cadet Candidate can not attend, but a HS or college sibling, parent, etc have always been welcome in the past. Just make sure you don't share the details of the experience with your Cadet Candidate over the weekend ... you don't want to ruin the surprise and enjoyment of their first hand experience. You even get to report to the Cadet in the Red Sash ... multiple times in most cases - until you get it right.

Information about prior years' calls for volunteers can be found at: http://www.usma.edu/dcomm/club/rday_volunteers_needed.html

Don't know if the contact information on the page above is still valid, but it gives an idea of what to expect.

 

[bpu]

Every plebe event is different for every family

My guess was the %/# of plebes who had a family member with them at R day was high, my guess 75%. Many came with large families a day or two early to see WP or NYC; a "last family vacation" sort of thing. Our son wanted none of that. He wanted time at home and we drove up early on R day without mom or siblings. Stood in line for 30 minutes, chit chat with families in front of and behind us. NONE of the new cadets were interested in engaging in conversation. I did chit chat with my son; even he didn't want that. Finally asked him the big question (are you ready, nervous, excited, etc) and he replied matter of fact "he wanted it over" and wanted on that bus to end the 30 minutes of waiting, 30 days of waiting, months of waiting. I left R day early before the oath, I just wanted to get home and knew he wouldn't know if I was there or not.

Folks have said here A day had no real events for families, which was true. However, your child will not mind being with family and relatives and you will not mind just watching TV in a hotel room with your child either. The lunch on Sat away from West Point is huge for them. However, be prepared that your cadet may sleep in your hotel room as you go out for meals Sat night and Sunday.

I was surprised posters mentioned PPW was a disappointment since plebes are just counting the hours until they leave for spring break. That is entirely true but the chance to meet your plebe's friends and their families is worthwhile; not to mention their professors, the banquet, uniform factory, etc.

Would clearly rank A Day first, then PPW (you have time to decide since this is Feb), R Day, and tossing in a football weekend if you can, perhaps ahead of R Day even. Your mileage will vary, however!!!