Questions Thread

SLS Military training

What kind of guns and weapons do we get to use while at SLS?
 
SAshey said:
What kind of guns and weapons do we get to use while at SLS?
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Big 16 inch guns that were removed from navy battleships when they were mothballed. :biggrin: I actually don't know but if I were to guess the answer is none.
 
SAshey, the only weapons you use are either refitted M4s and M16s of solid metal or laser sensor for the virtual range and hold a bunch of unloaded weapons and take pictures with them on Military Day
 
Does anybody know how long it takes for the SLS portal to update? It's been a little more than 2 wks now since I've been offered a slot and sent in the acceptance package. The portal still says my forms haven't been received :confused: I've tried e-mailing some people at admissions, but none of them have gotten back to me yet:frown: Anybody know what I should do? I'm getting a little bit worried the paper never got there :redface:
 
quick question for service related candidates.

i've been accepted, how long does it take to process the orders, and is it a PCS or ETS. i've been given both answers. Also, the boots, e-QUIP, medical processing, and all that other stuff i've had done for years because i'm in the army, do i actually need to worry about it? i have like 10 pairs of boots, a clearance, i'm already in tricare and the army's medical system, as well as dental.

and if its a PCS, will the travel office book all my travel/lodging? or will i have to submit a travel voucher when i get there?
 
hawk said:
Hopefully a 2015 cadet will answer, but here's what I remember from DS's comments:

- First half (CBT 1) will mostly be sleeping in typical plebe barracks, two to a room. You have 1-2 overnights, usually associated with field medical training, etc. Initially CBT1 is nearly all garrison training. But field increases.
- 2nd half (CBT 2) you will do much more field training, ultimately ending up at Camp Buckner and will stay there pretty much till marchback (monday of A-week)

When in the field you may be in bivy sacks, field expedient shelters, shelter halves (think pup tent), and possibly occasionally rough barracks at Buckner (I'm fuzzy on that one). But your stint will definitely be in the field, and depending on weather may be soggy. Certainly smelly! :)

Hope this helps until a 2015 cadet can add color. But remember, your experience could be different, and while the general flow is the same, there may be variance by company/squad just due to scheduling issues, etc.
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Hawk pretty much covered it. The only things I would add as a 2015 Cadet are that when you're in the field (most of 2nd detail) you'll be sleeping on the ground with a bivy sack. No one really made hooches with ponchos except for the one night they made us so that we could prove we knew how to. If it rains you throw your poncho over your gear and you zip yourself up; you'll stay dry.

Once you get to the bays at Buckner it will feel like a hotel after being in the field and being subjected to five and a half weeks of Beast. Buckner is still Beast but the atmosphere becomes a bit more relaxed and you get to have a little more fun (the term fun is relative in this situation haha)

Just because this was my Beast doesn't mean yours will be this way. It's always subject to change.
 
Random question, do the cadets travel to away football games? If so, how are they chosen... I know all are required to attend home games and the Navy game... Just wondering.

Thanks
 
CandidateDad16 said:
Random question, do the cadets travel to away football games? If so, how are they chosen... I know all are required to attend home games and the Navy game... Just wondering.

Thanks
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Yes, cadets can travel to away football games on trip section or spirit pass. Some go because they actually have a interest in the game, some go because they have nothing else to do that weekend, and some go if the game is in their home state so they can get some extra time with family and friends..

Sometimes, cadets are required to travel to away games. Last semester, pretty well the entire Corps was required to attend the game against Rutgers at Yankee Stadium.. on the Saturday of a three-day weekend. You can imagine how happy everyone was about that.
 
CandidateDad16 said:
Random question, do the cadets travel to away football games? If so, how are they chosen... I know all are required to attend home games and the Navy game... Just wondering.

Thanks
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You provide your own transportation and are free for the entire weekend (except you must attend the game). A few high profile games provide transportation and lodging (mostly Navy and Air Force games).
 
djjon22 said:
Can someone explain to me why laundry duties are so bad
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Your experience with it may vary and companies choose to run them as they wish. Those who say they are bad are likely made to stand against the wall and recite knowledge, conduct physical training, and scrutinized on every deficiency in their uniforms. It may last anywhere from 15 minutes to well over an hour depending on your company and the level of proficiency your class displays to the upperclassmen.
 
If you read "Diary of a West Point Cadet", he actually tells how the plebes in his company "solved" the laundry problem... I won't say but I recommend reading about it!
 
USMA2016, be careful thinking that because you read something in a book, that's the end all solution to how laundry duties will be run in the future. All companies run them a bit differently as America's Finest said, and what will work in one company with one set of upperclassmen won't necessarily work in another. Heck, my company "solved" the laundry duties issue one week, and the upper classmen "fixed" it so that we had to figure out a new way to work together the next. Those books are great to get an idea, but they're really only that - an idea.
 
Casey said:
USMA2016, be careful thinking that because you read something in a book, that's the end all solution to how laundry duties will be run in the future. All companies run them a bit differently as America's Finest said, and what will work in one company with one set of upperclassmen won't necessarily work in another. Heck, my company "solved" the laundry duties issue one week, and the upper classmen "fixed" it so that we had to figure out a new way to work together the next. Those books are great to get an idea, but they're really only that - an idea.
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Oh, I know... I just thought it was an interesting story and a great example of how laundry duties are bad.
 
Casey said:
USMA2016, be careful thinking that because you read something in a book, that's the end all solution to how laundry duties will be run in the future. All companies run them a bit differently as America's Finest said, and what will work in one company with one set of upperclassmen won't necessarily work in another. Heck, my company "solved" the laundry duties issue one week, and the upper classmen "fixed" it so that we had to figure out a new way to work together the next. Those books are great to get an idea, but they're really only that - an idea.
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That has been DS's experience. Done right by the upperclassmen, Laundry duties become a Leadership Puzzle that teaches how to develop plans, and adopt new plans as situations change.

DS's company's general approach:

- A military topic is provided a couple of days in advance
- CIC (Cadet in Command) works up a briefing on the briefing and starts planning. Also usually selects an assistant
- The briefing is given to the plebes
- The plebens start executing the plan. General theme- Laundry must be delivered in rank (Class??) order. One delivery at a time. Plebes must know the name & rank of the delivery, as well as their roomate(s).
- Upperclassmen intercept the deliveries, and grill them on knowledge (the topic) they were briefed on. If they do not know it, much smoke ensues
- When getting smoked, everything comes under scrutiny, uniforms, etc
- While getting smoked, deliveries have to continue. IE: you are interrupted, but have to recover and get going under much increased scrutiny
- If things are going too smoothly they will change the rules. At will. You have to adapt. Some examples: cheat sheets and written plans will be removed.... You'll be told the CIC and ACIC cannot speak, etc. Your plan will be completely derailed, and the smoke will fly. Then you adopt, and get it done anyway

In DS's company it has become a game, a challenge for the plebes. Of course, they'd rather not do it. But most have gotten in the spirit of things, including the upperclassmen.

Along the way, all the plebes have:
- Become better at doing briefings.... presentations take on a whole new context when you know you'll be punished if you don't brief well, or listen well
- Have learned to adopt when their plan is derailed
- Have learned it matters less that a negative thing occurred, then how you handled it as a team

Some plebes figure this out and run with it. As DS and friend puts it, there are very few opportunities as a plebe to lead & plan. Laundry duties, however mundane, are one of those opportunities.

Others decide its just hazing, grumble, and probably suffer lower military grades accordingly. And incur the ill-will of their teammates by getting smoked unnecessarily. (But you will get smoked some no matter what)

All that said, YMMV, it can vary by company, and by individual leaders in the company. Which change every semester.
 
to those concerned with laundry duties-

Honestly, as much as I respect your interest, RELAX. I promise you will regret wasting your last couple months of freedom worrying about laundry duties and not enjoying yourself.

I was in an extremely tough company last year in terms of laundry duties. Still, there was never a point where I thought, "Gee, this is hard. I'm not sure I can handle this. I wish I would've prepared more." They're simply not that bad. They may have been tough 30 years ago, but they're just not anymore.

I promise that you should only concern yourself with your physical fitness and enjoy your last year being carefree.
 
titan2010 said:
to those concerned with laundry duties-

Honestly, as much as I respect your interest, RELAX. I promise you will regret wasting your last couple months of freedom worrying about laundry duties and not enjoying yourself.

I was in an extremely tough company last year in terms of laundry duties. Still, there was never a point where I thought, "Gee, this is hard. I'm not sure I can handle this. I wish I would've prepared more." They're simply not that bad. They may have been tough 30 years ago, but they're just not anymore.

I promise that you should only concern yourself with your physical fitness and enjoy your last year being carefree.
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I know I am only a prospective candidate for 2017, but almost every cadet I have talked to has said the same thing. They all wished they had enjoyed themselves the last few months before going to a service academy, instead of fretting over small things.
To go with that though, most also said they wished they had done more preparation for the physical part of Beast, and all of them were athletes. That just goes to show that it is a different deal with everything else you have to do and all the stress.
So, enjoy yourself, but don't do anything stupid, and work your run, push-ups, etc...
 
Personal experience from enlist basic. Hardest part was being on my feet from 0500 to 2130 everyday. And I had been working construction for two years prior.

Coming from 8 hour school days sitting at a desk then going to on your feet all day would be hard. Plus boots are heavier than normal shoes.
 
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