Questions about Class of 2021's Beast (Summer 2017)

[cajunrouge2021]

I'm a member of the class of 2021. The only thing I've done so far at the Academy is complete CBT and survive my first few weeks of academics (particular verbs were selected for a reason there.) Some things stayed the same and some things changed this year for CBT. A lot of people have questions about the particular details of Beast before they come here since it's the first big hurdle in your cadet career. It's not really any more beneficial to know all the details before you come but if there are any particular questions about this year's Cadet Basic Training I'll answer them to the best of my ability. For example: how much socks and underwear you should bring, what's not on the packing list that is actually essential, mailing things. I'll even answer personal questions like my favorite or worst part of Beast.

This site helped me a lot before I came here and I know I would have appreciated it if someone did this for me. Of course, the schedule of a cadet is busy so I might have to wait until the questions accumulate before I can answer them all. Fire away!

 

[cama93]

Can you elaborate on the two things you included in your original post (the socks thing and the non-packing-list-essentials thing)? Those seem important.
I'm still a candidate with no packing list or supplementary material upon which to formulate questions though... in other words, I don't know what I don't know (yet).

 

[cajunrouge2021]

If you receive an appointment you will get packing lists ranked by priority from USMA. Red light is decently low on their list but it is an essential otherwise you'll be stumbling around in the dark trying to conduct hygiene. Pack socks and underwear until you don't think it would be physically possible for you to carry them all on your back for 5 hours. You might hate yourself on R-Day but you'll appreciate it throughout all of Beast. Pack paper and pens. Bring a small notebook.

Remember that they are going to give you issued items on R-Day that will have to fit in your flight bag along with anything else you brought. Heed the advice here and put your stuff in plastic bags for quick transfer and compression.

 

[Cerberi]

Why are you suggesting an incoming appointee should pack as much underwear and socks as they can physically carry? Or for that matter why they should bring paper, pens and a small notebook?

Those are all issue items at USAFA and USNA. Are they not USMA issue items?

I get why many bring additional compression shorts and even specific socks that might help to prevent blisters, but my experience as a cadet and a parent of a Mid is to bring as close to nothing on I Day as possible and have any additional items sent in the first few care packages.

I am not suggesting you are wrong, I was just curious why if USMA considers it important that it's not part of the issue items.

If anything, my DD was over issued items for Plebe Summer (by over issue - many items weren't needed until Plebe Summer ended.

 

[another13mom]

^^^ After seeing changing procedures in the past few years, mail is pretty iffy for the first week to ten days and depends on cadre and company as to whether a trip to post office occurs and when; packages were not allowed two or three years ago, this year were allowed, but only for things on the list and, again, only received if company went to the post office. Send all necessities with new cadets.

 

[USMA 1994]

Why are you suggesting an incoming appointee should pack as much underwear and socks as they can physically carry? Or for that matter why they should bring paper, pens and a small notebook?

Those are all issue items at USAFA and USNA. Are they not USMA issue items?

I get why many bring additional compression shorts and even specific socks that might help to prevent blisters, but my experience as a cadet and a parent of a Mid is to bring as close to nothing on I Day as possible and have any additional items sent in the first few care packages.

I am not suggesting you are wrong, I was just curious why if USMA considers it important that it's not part of the issue items.

If anything, my DD was over issued items for Plebe Summer (by over issue - many items weren't needed until Plebe Summer ended.

I just lived through this as a parent this year and while they are issued many things, the socks and underwear are on the cheap side. Laundry service was also spotty based on New Cadets understanding the process and the amount of time the they spent in the field. My DD brought a dozen pair of athletic socks, a dozen pair of boot socks and a dozen pair of dress socks. She also brought 6 pairs of compression shorts and 6 sports bras and we sent more during the middle of Beast. Female cadets also must bring their own underwear. That pretty much kept her in clean underwear and socks the six weeks.

Her grandmother also sent her extra pack of white underwear at the mid-point of Beast and her two roommates ended up using them as they both had lost laundry.

We pretty much followed the packing list and while the bag was pretty heavy, I do not think she brought anything that she regretted.

I also showed up with the clothes on my back but technology has changed a bit and good socks and underwear really do make a difference. I did not even bring running shoes or really know what a good pair of running shoes was at the time.

 

[MidwestDad]

DS did not complain about having too much underwear or socks this summer. Cheap, light, and well worth it. You will do laundry in the shower and drifit compression shorts air dry quickly. Heed the good advice above.

 

[cajunrouge2021]

Why are you suggesting an incoming appointee should pack as much underwear and socks as they can physically carry? Or for that matter why they should bring paper, pens and a small notebook?

Those are all issue items at USAFA and USNA. Are they not USMA issue items?

I get why many bring additional compression shorts and even specific socks that might help to prevent blisters, but my experience as a cadet and a parent of a Mid is to bring as close to nothing on I Day as possible and have any additional items sent in the first few care packages.

I am not suggesting you are wrong, I was just curious why if USMA considers it important that it's not part of the issue items.

If anything, my DD was over issued items for Plebe Summer (by over issue - many items weren't needed until Plebe Summer ended.

Others have explained it but yes while these are issued items you are going to want more than just what they give you not to mention the quality is usually poor. If I ever used the issued underwear or socks it was for shining my shoes or things had gotten bad because those were my last resort. As someone mentioned, laundry can be unreliable sometimes. The caveat to this is that you will be carrying quite a bit of weight on R-Day but you'll survive and it's worth it. Relying on the mail is taking a risk.

We got one small notebook and two mechanical pencils. I only knew one person who kept up with an issued pencil throughout all of Beast and it was notable. I ran out of paper in my notebook about halfway through so that's why I recommend bringing another small notebook and some pencils/pen along with more envelopes and plenty stamps.

I have heard people say its best to show up with nothing on I-Day and I know someone who did. They seem to have turned out fine. I don't know any of the specifics of Plebe Summer, of course, so perhaps that's true.

 

[MamaBear4]

Son packed a decent amount of undies and boot socks and made it through Beast with no blisters! He carried the bag on R Day with no problems and did not regret packing the amount he did. He is now washing his own undies/socks as the laundry shrank his size 13 boot socks to much smaller socks. They were able to be saved but he has to do laundry every few weeks. He was one of the rare few who didn't lose items to the laundry over the summer - knock on wood!

 

[MidwestDad]

BTW DS packed a good sized gym duffle with shoulder strap; R Day stinks no matter what but if you can sling your bag over your shoulder its a help.
There were pix of poor guys lugging big wheeled semi hardside 'carry on' bags with no straps. Bad idea.

 

[scrose]

DS said he tried to shine his shoes with issued underwear and they weren't even good for that. He took 8 or so pairs of underwear and a dozen pair of socks. He asked for more underwear and I sent some mid beast. I sent him with lots of stamped preaddressed envelopes, which he appreciated as it was a timesaver. After beast he wanted all new underwear, socks and tee shirts. He said govt issued underclothes would never touch his skin again.

 

[MidwestDad]

Yes on A day we had to bring his whole underwear drawer from home so he could resupply.

 

[pallen92x]

BTW DS packed a good sized gym duffle with shoulder strap; R Day stinks no matter what but if you can sling your bag over your shoulder its a help. There were pix of poor guys lugging big wheeled semi hardside 'carry on' bags with no straps. Bad idea.

I like how the Navel Academy solved this issue...What a sight...

 

[Capt MJ]

DS said he tried to shine his shoes with issued underwear and they weren't even good for that. He took 8 or so pairs of underwear and a dozen pair of socks. He asked for more underwear and I sent some mid beast. I sent him with lots of stamped preaddressed envelopes, which he appreciated as it was a timesaver. After beast he wanted all new underwear, socks and tee shirts. He said govt issued underclothes would never touch his skin again.

Good thing he didn't go Navy. There is nothing like boiled underwear from the ship's laundry using de-salinated seawater. Uniformly gray and stiff, with a light whiff of fuel or lube grease aroma, uncannily designed to itch everything it touches.

 

[kittkatt]

BTW DS packed a good sized gym duffle with shoulder strap; R Day stinks no matter what but if you can sling your bag over your shoulder its a help. There were pix of poor guys lugging big wheeled semi hardside 'carry on' bags with no straps. Bad idea.

I like how the Navel Academy solved this issue...What a sight...

Whoa -- is this what our US Navy looks like? Seriously? Doesn't anyone there aspire to the USMC? Not a good look at all.

 

[pallen92x]

Whoa -- is this what our US Navy looks like? Seriously? Doesn't anyone there aspire to the USMC? Not a good look at all.

Kittkatt...not to bust your bubble, but whether you aspired to go USMC or Navy, you'd still be prancing around with that cute little dolly/hand-cart...at the Navel Academy...

 

[jl123]

Don't knock the wheeled bags. They are just training to be Navy Seals (or at least actors playing Navy Seals).

 

[usma2021]

BTW DS packed a good sized gym duffle with shoulder strap; R Day stinks no matter what but if you can sling your bag over your shoulder its a help. There were pix of poor guys lugging big wheeled semi hardside 'carry on' bags with no straps. Bad idea.

I like how the Navel Academy solved this issue...What a sight...

Whoa -- is this what our US Navy looks like? Seriously? Doesn't anyone there aspire to the USMC? Not a good look at all.

This make me think of USNA cadets, they all have earmuffs and scarf at the Army Navy football game last December

 

[DrMom]

Are we having a conversation about purchasing extra socks for Beast? West Point Moms LOVE to talk about buying socks (which ones, which color, what if there is a logo, where they can be ordered, is there a sale or best price, etc.). It is edifying to read feedback from a cadet who was the beneficiary of extra socks and ziplock bags for packing! Thanks Cadet. Good luck this year.