Questions Thread

Hello. I've been following these forums for quite a while, reading all the questions and advice given on these forums. I gotta say, this sure is an informative place, answering most of the questions that come to mind. (Thanks Chockstock! for asking such detailed questions, hahah)
However, there is two questions of my own, which come to mind, and I haven't seen mentioned on this site, and I figured, now is the perfect time to join this community!
Anyways, the two minor questions I currently have, (since most others have been answered) relate to Cadet life.

1) I know there is a list of allowed electronic devices/appliances, that AF mentioned. Are boomboxes/radios/iHomes (something to hook up an iPod to, pretty much) allowed on said list?

2) I know that all cadets are assigned the same laptop and computer equipment, to mainstream everything and keep the whole electronic system more efficient. Now, would I be allowed to bring in my Macbook, a personal one, which I wouldn't use for school use, but for my own personal use? (If I could ever find time for my own personal use, that is, haha)
 
x-ImPuLse-PL- said:
Hello. I've been following these forums for quite a while, reading all the questions and advice given on these forums. I gotta say, this sure is an informative place, answering most of the questions that come to mind. (Thanks Chockstock! for asking such detailed questions, hahah)
However, there is two questions of my own, which come to mind, and I haven't seen mentioned on this site, and I figured, now is the perfect time to join this community!
Anyways, the two minor questions I currently have, (since most others have been answered) relate to Cadet life.

1) I know there is a list of allowed electronic devices/appliances, that AF mentioned. Are boomboxes/radios/iHomes (something to hook up an iPod to, pretty much) allowed on said list?

2) I know that all cadets are assigned the same laptop and computer equipment, to mainstream everything and keep the whole electronic system more efficient. Now, would I be allowed to bring in my Macbook, a personal one, which I wouldn't use for school use, but for my own personal use? (If I could ever find time for my own personal use, that is, haha)
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1) While the the policy on music depends on your company, I have yet to hear of a company which allows Plebes to play music on speakers. The most common policy is Plebes are only allowed to listen to music using headphones. Once you are a yearling, you can have speakers and such. I have played music on my computer speakers a few times (on weekends) but low enough to where nobody outside my room can hear.

2) Yes, you can bring your own laptop for personal use. Just remember that while on the USMA network, you must still abide by the rules such as no peer to peer software.
 
America's Finest said:
1) While the the policy on music depends on your company, I have yet to hear of a company which allows Plebes to play music on speakers. The most common policy is Plebes are only allowed to listen to music using headphones. Once you are a yearling, you can have speakers and such. I have played music on my computer speakers a few times (on weekends) but low enough to where nobody outside my room can hear.

2) Yes, you can bring your own laptop for personal use. Just remember that while on the USMA network, you must still abide by the rules such as no peer to peer software.
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Ah, that definitely clears things up for me. I'm very glad to hear that I can bring my own Macbook for personal use. I wouldn't use it for malicious things, or going against the USMA policy. It would be mostly for video chat with a friend, while she's at another regular college, and to also have the other computer spectra available to me, from a Mac OS.

As for the music, that is good to know, since I wasn't sure on that policy. So at least I can still listen to it (through headphones) while I do work in the barracks.

Now another question, which just came to me. Is it possible for cadets to possess a safe, or a personal deposit box in their barracks? (Just some type relatively safe container with a lock on it) So that way I could hold any private information, money, or small trinkets in safety. Is this allowed?
 
America's Finest said:
1)
2) Yes, you can bring your own laptop for personal use. Just remember that while on the USMA network, you must still abide by the rules such as no peer to peer software.
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I thought the SA's issued laptops as part of the student supplies.
 
The Cadets are issued lock boxes. They are about the size of a cash box.
 
x-ImPuLse-PL- said:
Ah, that definitely clears things up for me. I'm very glad to hear that I can bring my own Macbook for personal use. I wouldn't use it for malicious things, or going against the USMA policy. It would be mostly for video chat with a friend, while she's at another regular college, and to also have the other computer spectra available to me, from a Mac OS.

As for the music, that is good to know, since I wasn't sure on that policy. So at least I can still listen to it (through headphones) while I do work in the barracks.

Now another question, which just came to me. Is it possible for cadets to possess a safe, or a personal deposit box in their barracks? (Just some type relatively safe container with a lock on it) So that way I could hold any private information, money, or small trinkets in safety. Is this allowed?
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You will have a lockbox in your room just like you described so you do not need to bring one. If you still feel the need you can as long as its not huge.

11BRAVO said:
I thought the SA's issued laptops as part of the student supplies.
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Yes, you are but he asked if you can bring your personal one IN ADDITION to having the issued one. He wanted to know if you can bring your own for personal use.
 
Chockstock said:
'
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An adjutant is the S1 which is a staff position in the Army. The S1 is in charge of personnel administration. There are cadets who fill this position in the corps.

You didn't put it in context so I can only guess that is what you were talking about.
 
America's Finest said:
An adjutant is the S1 which is a staff position in the Army. The S1 is in charge of personnel administration. There are cadets who fill this position in the corps.

You didn't put it in context so I can only guess that is what you were talking about.
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Oh. I assumed it was strictly USMA-related. I just read something about a cadet becoming a 'cadet adjutant' but I couldnt find any info on what it was or how you become one, so I guess it would be better to ask what a cadet adjutant is at WP?
 
Chockstock said:
Oh. I assumed it was strictly USMA-related. I just read something about a cadet becoming a 'cadet adjutant' but I couldnt find any info on what it was or how you become one, so I guess it would be better to ask what a cadet adjutant is at WP?
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USMA is modeled like the Army so the cadet Adjutant does the same thing as one in the army. They handle files and records on everyone.
 
America's Finest said:
You will have a lockbox in your room just like you described so you do not need to bring one. If you still feel the need you can as long as its not huge.
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That's perfect, just what I needed to know. Because I wouldn't want any important or valuable documents and money just lying out in the open or in a folder somewhere.

Thank you AF.
 
Is it true that the biggest reason why the graduation rate for cadets is lower than most civilian colleges is because many cadets are kicked out for lying?
 
That doesn't sound right. Most separations are probably from cadets who leave themselves. Even at that, west points grad rate in 4 years is much better than many civilian schools
 
1. Where do you get this information?
2. Where do you come up with your questions?
3. Have you read books on USMA?
4. Have you received an appointment yet?
5. At Christmas, do you try to figure out everything ahead of time so you have no surprises at all?
 
Yeah some of these questions seem rather trivial, maybe time would be better spent elsewhere
 
mom3boys said:
1. Where do you get this information?
2. Where do you come up with your questions?
3. Have you read books on USMA?
4. Have you received an appointment yet?
5. At Christmas, do you try to figure out everything ahead of time so you have no surprises at all?
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+1 :thumb:

I do think some of these questions are interesting. But I think Chockstock said he wanted to learn as much as possible before he makes his decision... I guess he really wants to know EVERYTHING! Nothing wrong with that Chockstock, its just that some of these questions (not all) seem trivial and not a deal breaker. :biggrin:
 
Some are worthwile, some trivial. For many of these, the answers can be found either by looking at the West Point website or at prior posts (e.g., the Lasik as a disqualifier). To the extent the questions/answers can be useful to someone else trying to do research rather than just asking again, I'd prefer to find them separated into general topics and labelled by threads -- preferably at the end of prior threads on the same subject. As it is, I find myself wanting to use the "ignore" button on an undifferentiated mass of queries -the equivalent of a file cabinet turned upside down and dumped on the floor- when I'm sure the original poster is well-intentioned.
 
I kind of felt the other way. Although he has a zillion questions, I really appreciated that he'd just set one thread aside for them rather than cluttering the front page up with 10 questions a day so that other people who have a question end up with it getting lost in the shuffle. I think that most people who have the ability/interest to answer the questions are reading this thread already so that he doesn't need to call it out to everyone. And since he seems to assign the same level of urgency to the trivial and worthwhile questions (or his opinion may vary from some of ours), it just seems easier to have them all consolidated.

And personally, I hate it when people bump up a thread that's 6 months old or so to try to tack on to it. I always feel like the info may have changed since the original thread, many of the original posters are no longer there, and it just ends up feeling disjointed. I wonder why they just didn't start a new thread rather than confusing someone who starts at the beginning and then realizes they're reading old news. Especially confusing when the timeline in the thread matters (I just read one talking about something you should have already done by the end of Feb and was very confused since it's NOT Feb yet, then realized it was bumped up from last year).

Really, I'm not trying to be critical/judgmental here :redface: but just show that the OP can never make everyone happy!
 
Marciemi, no offense meant or taken. My personal preference would be able to read what's interesting to me, know when to skip what's not (while recognizing that it may be useful to others) but I'm certainly happy to defer to those,like you, who have been so helpful and around on this forum a lot longer than I have.

:smile:
 
Um, wow, me neither! I wasn't at all trying to be critical, but was worried that you'd take it the wrong way! I know tone/intentions are hard to get across on a message board.

I enjoy reading all his questions and even more appreciate America's Finest attempts at answering them all! :thumb: As my husband and I prepare to meet with some of our first candidates as MALO's, I figure anything I can learn about WP can only help me in the future. Yes, I know a lot (or did!...or thought I did! :wink: ), but much of that is 20 years out of date so much of this is interesting to me! And I certainly don't consider myself an expert - funny because I have other boards (not military related) I've been on for over a decade and I still feel like a "newbie" here! And I've been on boards where bumping was a major no-no :shake: so that's probably why it bothers me.

So no problem - I'll continue to try to learn and help wherever I can until I start to drive people crazy! Thanks!!
 
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