R day arrival

Kentucky9

Kentucky9

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Feb 20, 2023
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402
To be early to is be on time is the culture of my sons hs wrestling and football teams. To those who have experienced R day any suggestions as how early one should arrive prior to designated time to insure early or at least on time?
 
If your report time is 8:00 AM (for example), then you need to backwards plan from that point. You should plan to be at Ike Hall for the final goodbye at 8:00 AM, which means allowing 15-20 minutes for the bus ride from Buffalo Soldier Field, plus some extra time to get through Thayer Gate. You should plan to be hitting the gate at least 30 minutes prior to his scheduled report time.
 
Kentucky9 said:
To be early to is be on time is the culture of my sons hs wrestling and football teams. To those who have experienced R day any suggestions as how early one should arrive prior to designated time to insure early or at least on time?
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Last summer we arrived 75 minutes early at security gate. Michie parking was full, so we were pointed and waved down to Buffalo parking. After bus ride from Buffalo up to Michie stadium, we stood in line under the stadium for nearly an hour prior to obtaining his ID. Few minutes later they scanned his ID, which was, I'm sure, his official recorded arrival and check in time. By then he was still a couple minutes "early". Then waited in line 20+ more minutes for the final bus ride to Ike hall. Once at Ike they were directed to a "mandatory" latrine break, while we waited a few minutes. Then ushered through a pathway to inside Ike for about 5-10 more minutes. Once seated with our small group, the introduction speaches and our goodbyes took 5 minutes.
Arrival times were alphabetically and we are "R" so somewhat past middle of day and definitely a crowded time.
I'm certain that many showed up 15 minutes early and were then an hour "late" by the time they got scanned in. Point is, it's set up for just processing them through in an orderly fashion. The time you actually got there and started standing in line was not tracked. Therefore not actually critically important. If you get lost and end up being 20 minutes late nobody is going to know or care.
If your last name is "A" or "C" it might be more noticeable if your late, but also it'll obviously be quicker processing.
If we were doing it again, I'd do it exactly the same ...shoot for hour and 15 minutes early. If my last name was "B" I'd get there at gate 30-40 minutes early. But it's all gonna work out just fine! They're obviously very well practiced at this.
I'ts an emotional day for sure! Good Luck!
 
We were the first group to report. I don’t recall how early we got on the bus at Buffalo Soldier field, but we got right up to Ike hall for the quick brief and goodbye. We then went through all of the vendor booths outside the auditorium and watched the next groups exit the auditorium distraught from their goodbye's.
Once outside you could hear the Cadre hollering at the Cadet candidates who were just out of sight.
All of the following groups we saw the rest of the day were in Long lines and looked exhausted already.
So I don’t think being “early “ is as critical for later reporting times, but on time will be good.
Hurry up and wait….
 
Because we're staying at the Thayer, we can simply walk down to Buffalo Soldier field and get on the bus...correct? It was incredibly easy for SLE (albeit less stressful)
 
JackRussellRacing said:
Because we're staying at the Thayer, we can simply walk down to Buffalo Soldier field and get on the bus...correct? It was incredibly easy for SLE (albeit less stressful)
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Correct, no need to drive, just walk to Buffalo Soldier from Thayer. And its only a mile (up a little bit of a hill) from Thayer to Michie stadium if you wanted to walk.
 
Thanks for this post. My daughter is in the first reporting group. Coming from Texas, so that wake-up call will be tough on all of us for her 6 a.m. report time.
 
Jetbill said:
Last summer we arrived 75 minutes early at security gate. Michie parking was full, so we were pointed and waved down to Buffalo parking. After bus ride from Buffalo up to Michie stadium, we stood in line under the stadium for nearly an hour prior to obtaining his ID. Few minutes later they scanned his ID, which was, I'm sure, his official recorded arrival and check in time. By then he was still a couple minutes "early". Then waited in line 20+ more minutes for the final bus ride to Ike hall. Once at Ike they were directed to a "mandatory" latrine break, while we waited a few minutes. Then ushered through a pathway to inside Ike for about 5-10 more minutes. Once seated with our small group, the introduction speaches and our goodbyes took 5 minutes.
Arrival times were alphabetically and we are "R" so somewhat past middle of day and definitely a crowded time.
I'm certain that many showed up 15 minutes early and were then an hour "late" by the time they got scanned in. Point is, it's set up for just processing them through in an orderly fashion. The time you actually got there and started standing in line was not tracked. Therefore not actually critically important. If you get lost and end up being 20 minutes late nobody is going to know or care.
If your last name is "A" or "C" it might be more noticeable if your late, but also it'll obviously be quicker processing.
If we were doing it again, I'd do it exactly the same ...shoot for hour and 15 minutes early. If my last name was "B" I'd get there at gate 30-40 minutes early. But it's all gonna work out just fine! They're obviously very well practiced at this.
I'ts an emotional day for sure! Good Luck!
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We are coming from DoubleTree Hilton which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes, what do you recommend for my DS to do- catch a ride with me and go to West Point or wait for the bus that would pick him up and the rest of the cadets?
 
@Wave2016 Why are you staying so far away? No your kid should not catch the bus. Go together and stand in line together. Do not be separated. Enjoy this time. Switch hotels to something closer to West Point. Seriously you will want to go to events on Sunday afternoon together, why drive around for hours? If everything is full try the Hampton Inn Woodbury Common. If you are going, go together. That is the point.
 
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DrMom said:
@Wave2016 Why are you staying so far away? No your kid should not catch the bus. Go together and stand in line together. Do not be separated. Enjoy this time. Switch hotels to something closer to West Point. Seriously you will want to go to events on Sunday afternoon together, why drive around for hours? If everything is full try the Hampton Inn Woodbury Common. If you are going, go together. That is the point.
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This is what West Point provided and our first time so I don’t really know any better! So I figured it will work out ok! It’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes! I wanted to send him by himself but no one could check him in so O decided to book a ticket!! It is a learning process really and people have been really helpful. For A- Day we are staying closer!
 
DrMom said:
@Wave2016 Why are you staying so far away? No your kid should not catch the bus. Go together and stand in line together. Do not be separated. Enjoy this time. Switch hotels to something closer to West Point. Seriously you will want to go to events on Sunday afternoon together, why drive around for hours? If everything is full try the Hampton Inn Woodbury Common. If you are going, go together. That is the point.
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@DrMom We followed the portal and the instructions. The Double Tree Hilton is what they are providing. I managed to book someone to pick me up from Double Tree in the morning of July 1st, what time do you suggest we leave? 4:00am? Or earlier than that? I know the gate for passes opens at 6:00am! Thank you!
 
Wave2016 said:
@DrMom We followed the portal and the instructions. The Double Tree Hilton is what they are providing. I managed to book someone to pick me up from Double Tree in the morning of July 1st, what time do you suggest we leave? 4:00am? Or earlier than that? I know the gate for passes opens at 6:00am! Thank you!
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That’s for the kids who come alone. You can stay wherever. He will be reimbursed. Give him the receipt.
 
I second the Hampton in Woodbury. We stayed there for RDay, as do MANY USMA families. After a quick look, the Hampton in Woodbury is sold out, however, there still is room at the Hampton in Newburgh, which is about the same distance as the Woodbury location.
 
TXMomof3 said:
Thanks for this post. My daughter is in the first reporting group. Coming from Texas, so that wake-up call will be tough on all of us for her 6 a.m. report time.
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You probably won't get too much sleep that night so the early up shouldn't be much of a problem.
 
If your son gets on the bus with the rest of the cadet candidates, you will not see him in person again until A-Day. The new cadets that report as a group because they are picked up on the bus will not be free to connect with anyone they may know once they arrive at West Point that morning. If you want to see your son for the goodbye, you need to ride together.
 
USMAZoo98 said:
If your son gets on the bus with the rest of the cadet candidates, you will not see him in person again until A-Day. The new cadets that report as a group because they are picked up on the bus will not be free to connect with anyone they may know once they arrive at West Point that morning. If you want to see your son for the goodbye, you need to ride together.
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Ok thank you! I just made adjustments to my flight and hotel reservation!
 
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