R-Day 2021 Tips

[Wahoo Fan]

Any tips for getting ready for R-Day would be greatly appreciated!
DS just got news of his appointment about 10 days ago and accepted. He is working through the new checklist on the portal.
One of our friends who serves in the Army offered to take him to the local uniform store to try on boots and low quarters. He said the low quarters are a little difficult to size with online ordering, so trying them on at the store is easier.
That is the best tip I have to offer so far, except that all needed dental work including wisdom tooth extraction (if needed), dental exam form, bite wing X-rays, and Panorex need to be done and uploaded on the portal soon. So get that stuff scheduled quickly!

 

[Foodisgreat]

-Pack all clothing/items for R-day in 1-3 large ziplock bags. This makes transferring process(civ bag to army bag) much less stressful.
--Extra underwear and socks is nice(my parents had to ship me extra underwear)
-Break in the boots(the garmonts don't really need that much break in)
-Get an alarm watch and make sure DS knows how to use it.
-Give DS some money for Beast(incase he needs to buy anything)
-Run
-Enjoy life. (Do not pre memorize anything, you'll have plenty of time to do that later).
-Run

 

[Wahoo Fan]

Parents can request to join the Facebook page called West Point Class of 2025 Parents.
Lots of helpful info there!

 

[Foodisgreat]

Write your DS letters throughout Beast. If you have a family pet print out an image of it (nothing fancy) and mail it.

It means the world to them.

 

[DrMom]

Did anyone describe using the gallon & 2 gallon ZipLock bags? So, there will be a moment when you are in a room--and you have your stuff in your bag from home (a duffle bag w/ shoulder strap--NOT a wheelie suitcase)--and then you will be told to move your belongings from your civilian bag into the Army green duffle bag. Here is the secret...you will be under time pressure to do this--it may be unpleasant for you--to make this smooth and easy, pack all of your stuff into big ZipLock bags and then into your civilian duffle. ALL OF IT. Have your phone and charger in its own ZipLock w/ your name on a piece of paper in it (sandwich sized bag). The use of the Ziplock bags will make this task quick and easy for you. You will thank me later...as did both of my cadets.

 

[hchen5041]

Pack light and be ready to be on your feet for long periods of time. Climb lots of stairs. There’s an ungodly number of stairs at West Point and of course, no elevators during Beast. Learn names quickly, don’t drink too many electrolyte drinks since they’ll offer them at every meal and every physical activity in-between. There’s this thing called prickly heat that’s really unpleasant when you have too much sodium. Anticipate bad humidity. Don’t take it too seriously, it’s like miserable high-stress summer camp where you get to do a couple cool things like gas chamber, some combat and medical drills, repelling from a cliff, and throwing a grenade but it’s not graded or anything. On R-day, it’s just a blood draw, signing some stuff, walking all over campus, getting issued stuff, getting yelled at, going to your barracks, facing maneuvers, haircut, and that’s about it.

 

[ParadiseMom3]

Make sure you are walking around with your own bag. Funny story (not so much when my son was going through it)...without knowing, he and a female cadets switched bags after going through the different issue points. He was walking around with PT shirts and shorts that were too small.

 

[Skip2020]

I keep reading things that say to pack plenty of underwear and socks for CBT. What is plenty?

 

[asgusma]

Does anyone have any tips about what I should do with my hair on R-day as a female? My hair is not quite long enough to do a low bun, so I'm wondering if I might have to cut it. Also, if I cut it, would they be able to cut it on R-day, or is it better to go before R-day to have it cut?

 

[Casey]

Does anyone have any tips about what I should do with my hair on R-day as a female? My hair is not quite long enough to do a low bun, so I'm wondering if I might have to cut it. Also, if I cut it, would they be able to cut it on R-day, or is it better to go before R-day to have it cut?

10000% if you are going to get it cut, do it before R-day. The barbers that do the haircuts on R Day are not exactly the most practiced in cutting a decent female style even when they are spending more than five minutes buzzing dudes’ hair to give them the awesome New Cadet look. You will then spend at least seven weeks until you have the earliest opportunity to get it fixed.

I’m not saying you won’t want a practical haircut. Low maintenance style is definitely the way to go during CBT and any summer training you’re doing because you’ll be out in the field, but you also don’t want to hate your hair and waiting for it to grow back in to salvage it.

For options for shorter hairstyles, it can be tougher if you’re looking at mid length hairstyles to be presentable in uniform that are also low maintenance. I had my hair pretty short most of my time at the Academy (like almost pixie type cut for a while) and only grew it back out longer recently. A lot of people don’t like hair that short but I loved it at the time. Super low maintenance, out of my face, and really easy in the field and playing sports. I really only grew it back out to be long enough to put in a bun because COVID shutting down salons for a while and now I’m too lazy to do something different.

If it doesn’t touch the top of your collar and looks neat with headgear, you’re probably good to have it down. Just remember you won’t be able to get it trimmed if you’re close to touching your collar really during CBT so whatever hairstyle you’re going for, I would recommend be something that’ll keep you in regs until the academic year.

 

[asgusma]

10000% if you are going to get it cut, do it before R-day. The barbers that do the haircuts on R Day are not exactly the most practiced in cutting a decent female style even when they are spending more than five minutes buzzing dudes’ hair to give them the awesome New Cadet look. You will then spend at least seven weeks until you have the earliest opportunity to get it fixed.

I’m not saying you won’t want a practical haircut. Low maintenance style is definitely the way to go during CBT and any summer training you’re doing because you’ll be out in the field, but you also don’t want to hate your hair and waiting for it to grow back in to salvage it.

For options for shorter hairstyles, it can be tougher if you’re looking at mid length hairstyles to be presentable in uniform that are also low maintenance. I had my hair pretty short most of my time at the Academy (like almost pixie type cut for a while) and only grew it back out longer recently. A lot of people don’t like hair that short but I loved it at the time. Super low maintenance, out of my face, and really easy in the field and playing sports. I really only grew it back out to be long enough to put in a bun because COVID shutting down salons for a while and now I’m too lazy to do something different.

If it doesn’t touch the top of your collar and looks neat with headgear, you’re probably good to have it down. Just remember you won’t be able to get it trimmed if you’re close to touching your collar really during CBT so whatever hairstyle you’re going for, I would recommend be something that’ll keep you in regs until the academic year.

This was very informative and helpful, thank you!

 

[Capt MJ]

Does anyone have any tips about what I should do with my hair on R-day as a female? My hair is not quite long enough to do a low bun, so I'm wondering if I might have to cut it. Also, if I cut it, would they be able to cut it on R-day, or is it better to go before R-day to have it cut?

What @Casey said.

For further research.

Do some searches here on SAF. There are hair threads every year, scattered across the SA forums. There are also YouTube videos on buns and braids. Just add “military “ into your search string.

From input from our USNA sponsor family, that in-between stage of short hair and bunnable hair is the most difficult. Very hard to put it up cleanly or wear it down without breaking grooming regs. They say the best time to let it grow into that awkward stage is over the summer, where a leave block and moving through training blocks outside of the everyday scrutiny of the academic year helps.

Finally, here is my annual recommendation for Capezio Bunhead bun pins, the long ones, available on Amazon and dance wear stores and sites. They were my go-to for 26 years and beyond, a piece of advice from a senior officer when I was starting out.

 

[Skip2020]

Did anyone describe using the gallon & 2 gallon ZipLock bags? So, there will be a moment when you are in a room--and you have your stuff in your bag from home (a duffle bag w/ shoulder strap--NOT a wheelie suitcase)--and then you will be told to move your belongings from your civilian bag into the Army green duffle bag. Here is the secret...you will be under time pressure to do this--it may be unpleasant for you--to make this smooth and easy, pack all of your stuff into big ZipLock bags and then into your civilian duffle. ALL OF IT. Have your phone and charger in its own ZipLock w/ your name on a piece of paper in it (sandwich sized bag). The use of the Ziplock bags will make this task quick and easy for you. You will thank me later...as did both of my cadets.

Can they bring everything with them except electronics for CBT? Or do they take certain things out they do not want you to have?

 

[asgusma]

What @Casey said.

For further research.

Do some searches here on SAF. There are hair threads every year, scattered across the SA forums. There are also YouTube videos on buns and braids. Just add “military “ into your search string.

From input from our USNA sponsor family, that in-between stage of short hair and bunnable hair is the most difficult. Very hard to put it up cleanly or wear it down without breaking grooming regs. They say the best time to let it grow into that awkward stage is over the summer, where a leave block and moving through training blocks outside of the everyday scrutiny of the academic year helps.

Finally, here is my annual recommendation for Capezio Bunhead bun pins, the long ones, available on Amazon and dance wear stores and sites. They were my go-to for 26 years and beyond, a piece of advice from a senior officer when I was starting out. View attachment 9002

Thank you very much, I'll do some more research and look into those bun pins! Thanks for your recommendations

 

[DrMom]

Can they bring everything with them except electronics for CBT? Or do they take certain things out they do not want you to have?

The packing list for R-Day is really comprehensive and has all the things they need--and that they have to carry. So, they should bring what is on the packing list. They should not have things that are not on the packing list. I know that might seem overly simplistic, but they will get what they need and not have space for extra. However, things will relax after A-Day (after CBT, actually) so then you can have a other electronics and a guitar and skis and all sorts of things.