R Day for Class of 2024

From what I've read on here, families arrive on Sunday evening and then R-day starts very early on Monday for the quick good-bye. The rest of the family then attends various activities during the day until the parade on Monday evening. Families would depart on Tuesday morning if they overnighted again. Is this correct?

I'm leaning a bit far forward here, but with a new year comes a new calendar, and my other kids' activities are starting to fill it for the summer. Trying to figure out who should be available to attend what "should" an appointment be offered. Would siblings enjoy R-day or is this primarily geared toward parents?

Also, is it published anywhere that R-day is indeed June 29th?
 
From what I've read on here, families arrive on Sunday evening and then R-day starts very early on Monday for the quick good-bye. The rest of the family then attends various activities during the day until the parade on Monday evening. Families would depart on Tuesday morning if they overnighted again. Is this correct?

I'm leaning a bit far forward here, but with a new year comes a new calendar, and my other kids' activities are starting to fill it for the summer. Trying to figure out who should be available to attend what "should" an appointment be offered. Would siblings enjoy R-day or is this primarily geared toward parents?

Also, is it published anywhere that R-day is indeed June 29th?

You are correct in that you would start heading home Tuesday if you decided to stay overnight on Monday. Your new cadet will be given a show time on Monday of 6, 7, or 8am.

I know a couple families who did stay overnight on Monday because the Thayer Hotel had a 2 might minimum. For those families, it would have made sense to go home right after the oath ceremony at 6pm, but they decided to stay another night since they had to pay for it.

We headed home right after the ceremony. We weren’t really in the mood to enjoy anything else. The whole day is an emotional roller coaster.

Many parents will arrange to meet up a the restaurant/bar at the Thayer right after the oath ceremony so that’s something you can plan to do.

Almost all families arrive NLT Sunday evening. There are get-togethers that day and an ice cream social hosted by the WPAOG. We arrived in the mid-afternoon to get last minute stuff at the PX.

I’m on the FB page for WP parents. They haven’t published the next academic year schedule yet in that forum. When they do, I’ll get back to let you know the dates.
 
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You are correct in that you would start heading home Tuesday if you decided to stay overnight on Monday. Your new cadet will be given a show time on Monday of 6, 7, or 8am.

I know a couple families who did stay overnight on Monday because the Thayer Hotel had a 2 might minimum. For those families, it would have made sense to go home right after the oath ceremony at 6pm, but they decided to stay another night since they had to pay for it.

We headed home right after the ceremony. We weren’t really in the mood to enjoy anything else. The whole day is an emotional roller coaster.

Many parents will arrange to meet up a the restaurant/bar at the Thayer right after the oath ceremony so that’s something you can plan to do.

Almost all families arrive NLT Sunday evening. There are get-togethers that day and an ice cream social hosted by the WPAOG. We arrived in the mid-afternoon to get last minute stuff at the PX.

I’m on the FB page for WP parents. They haven’t published the next academic year schedule yet in that forum. When they do, I’ll get back to let you know the dates.
Thanks for this great overview @GoCubbies. Would you say that there is enough going on to keep younger siblings (age 9 and up) entertained or would they be hot, bored, and tired? :)
 
Starts early, ends late, and is a roller coaster. If kids can handle that and your New Cadet wants them there, then bring them.
 
Thanks for this great overview @GoCubbies. Would you say that there is enough going on to keep younger siblings (age 9 and up) entertained or would they be hot, bored, and tired? :)

I don’t think there is much for them to do really.

My 14yo was bored but he kept himself busy with his iPhone and Nintendo DS the whole time.

If the weather is hot (it wasn’t bad at all for this past R-day), then the kids will tire easy.

As people have said many times, if you have a choice to bring extended family and friends to R-day or A-day, then I would bring them to A-day for sure.

However, if it’s a big deal for the younger siblings to be there for when big brother/sister get dropped off to college, then by all means bring them.
 
My older DS entered WP on July 1st, 2013 and the 90 second goodbye overwhelmed my 12 year old son into a total mess. He is super close to his brother and the magnitude and reality of the separation started him crying and he didn’t stop for 2 hours! We live only a hundred miles or so from WP so we went home and had him relax and have lunch, he calmed down and realized how proud he was of his brother and insisted that he wanted to go back with his mom and I for the Oath Ceremony which was terrific. Although when the Firsties in their India Whites slammed those big doors on Washington Hall that’s when it hit me and I got pretty emotional. The Oath Ceremony is a must see, especially for those of us with no experience in the ways of the Army. It is AMAZING how the cadre get these new recruits to march so well in just a few hours. Fast forward 7 years and that whimpy 12 year old is a smart chiseled beast, 3Q with a nom, attempting to join his brother as a member of the Long Gray Line with the class of 2024! (Knocking wood). Good luck to all of you candidates keep pushing forward!
 
There is usually a reception or two on Sunday afternoon. The sports teams, some of the clubs, and always the Assoc of Graduates (open to all cadet candidates and their families). Monday morning the reporting times are by hour by last/first digit of the SSN so you report in 6, 7, or 8. However, the earlier, the better because of less waiting in line. If you think you and your cadet are sleeping Sunday night--you may be mistaken--your kid will be sooooo nervous (have done this a couple of times and it is painful to watch them)--and you must get them up early enough to get food & water into their bellies before you go park, take the shuttle bus, & stand in line at USMA (carry water & snack, make sure your kid goes to the bathroom before you get too close). Then, you have to fill your day--there are tables set up w/ information & USMA vendors for a couple of hours, there are briefings from USMA leadership, and then there is the big swearing in ceremony. The ceremony may not end until close to 7 p.m. and then you have to get back to your car.

So, there you are: do you drive home or do you stay at USMA? Both times I have been exhausted, the first time I stayed that second night in area of USMA and the second time I started to drive back home--and only made it two hours down the road.

Alternatively, you could talk to your cadet candidate. Does he/she even want you there? Would he/she rather fly in alone, meet other candidates, and travel with the herd? Could one parent or both parents do drop off and leave the others at home for R-Day? (Your kid may really want to be 'head in the game' the day before R-Day.) Then the family and entourage can focus on A-Day weekend, which is truly a celebration that involves your cadet. R-Day is sort of a bummer--you kiss your kid good-bye and they walk away and you don't get to see them again--until A-Day.
 
As to your question on taking kids, our experience was positive. Our then 12 year old came with us to R Day and we had his best friend from home (Western state) join. We spent a few days at the Jersey Shore (LBI) and drove up to WP on Sunday morning. DS had an early report time for R Day. We stayed in Newburgh and did a practice run on Sunday to Thayer Gate. About 25 minutes but left room for an hour given the traffic. We all went to the West Point Museum and the West Point Visitors Center on Sunday. The two 12 year olds very much enjoyed the museum and visitor's center. We went back to Newburgh and had a big meal next to Orange County Choppers -- yep, Pauly . . . . The 12 year olds loved looking at OCC. On R Day itself, after the short goodbye, the boys and I spent a fantastic day around the Garrison. Army brought out a bunch of equipment and the boys got to climb in and on Humvees, Stryker, and generally have a nice time. It was hot and humid so we made an escape to the ice rink for relief. We continued a great walk and tour. The boys never tired. Made it through to the parade at the end of the day. Went back to the hotel and wrote DS his first letter.

As to whether or not to come to R Day. If you can swing it financially go to both. But, know the R Day goodbye is brief and it will be very hard to pick out your Waldo at the parade. As mentioned by the ever wise Dr. Mom, A Day is the celebration. If you must choose, my opinion is choose A Day. As to R day, DS and I had many, many talks before that morning. So the goodbye was a bear hug and "get after it." I'll never forget the Cadet Candidate next to him was so nervous, he had the strap of his backpack in his mouth chewing harder than a cow in a long winter with fresh grass. No matter how much you look at stuff online and read, my DS view is that nothing prepares you for the actual day. Forward to 1.5 years later and he says it is still the single worst day at WP. Borrowing a saying from that other branch though, "Time and Tide wait for no man." Some things you just get through. After R Day, DS actually saw CBT as "not bad, and sometimes kinda fun." Good luck.
 
My older DS entered WP on July 1st, 2013 and the 90 second goodbye overwhelmed my 12 year old son into a total mess. He is super close to his brother and the magnitude and reality of the separation started him crying and he didn’t stop for 2 hours! We live only a hundred miles or so from WP so we went home and had him relax and have lunch, he calmed down and realized how proud he was of his brother and insisted that he wanted to go back with his mom and I for the Oath Ceremony which was terrific. Although when the Firsties in their India Whites slammed those big doors on Washington Hall that’s when it hit me and I got pretty emotional. The Oath Ceremony is a must see, especially for those of us with no experience in the ways of the Army. It is AMAZING how the cadre get these new recruits to march so well in just a few hours. Fast forward 7 years and that whimpy 12 year old is a smart chiseled beast, 3Q with a nom, attempting to join his brother as a member of the Long Gray Line with the class of 2024! (Knocking wood). Good luck to all of you candidates keep pushing forward!
That's a great story! Good luck to younger DS in getting to make his own own R-day memories!
 
As to your question on taking kids, our experience was positive. Our then 12 year old came with us to R Day and we had his best friend from home (Western state) join. We spent a few days at the Jersey Shore (LBI) and drove up to WP on Sunday morning. DS had an early report time for R Day. We stayed in Newburgh and did a practice run on Sunday to Thayer Gate. About 25 minutes but left room for an hour given the traffic. We all went to the West Point Museum and the West Point Visitors Center on Sunday. The two 12 year olds very much enjoyed the museum and visitor's center. We went back to Newburgh and had a big meal next to Orange County Choppers -- yep, Pauly . . . . The 12 year olds loved looking at OCC. On R Day itself, after the short goodbye, the boys and I spent a fantastic day around the Garrison. Army brought out a bunch of equipment and the boys got to climb in and on Humvees, Stryker, and generally have a nice time. It was hot and humid so we made an escape to the ice rink for relief. We continued a great walk and tour. The boys never tired. Made it through to the parade at the end of the day. Went back to the hotel and wrote DS his first letter.

As to whether or not to come to R Day. If you can swing it financially go to both. But, know the R Day goodbye is brief and it will be very hard to pick out your Waldo at the parade. As mentioned by the ever wise Dr. Mom, A Day is the celebration. If you must choose, my opinion is choose A Day. As to R day, DS and I had many, many talks before that morning. So the goodbye was a bear hug and "get after it." I'll never forget the Cadet Candidate next to him was so nervous, he had the strap of his backpack in his mouth chewing harder than a cow in a long winter with fresh grass. No matter how much you look at stuff online and read, my DS view is that nothing prepares you for the actual day. Forward to 1.5 years later and he says it is still the single worst day at WP. Borrowing a saying from that other branch though, "Time and Tide wait for no man." Some things you just get through. After R Day, DS actually saw CBT as "not bad, and sometimes kinda fun." Good luck.
Thanks @DrMom and @Bill P ! Really great perspectives!
 
My older DS entered WP on July 1st, 2013 and the 90 second goodbye overwhelmed my 12 year old son into a total mess. He is super close to his brother and the magnitude and reality of the separation started him crying and he didn’t stop for 2 hours! We live only a hundred miles or so from WP so we went home and had him relax and have lunch, he calmed down and realized how proud he was of his brother and insisted that he wanted to go back with his mom and I for the Oath Ceremony which was terrific. Although when the Firsties in their India Whites slammed those big doors on Washington Hall that’s when it hit me and I got pretty emotional. The Oath Ceremony is a must see, especially for those of us with no experience in the ways of the Army. It is AMAZING how the cadre get these new recruits to march so well in just a few hours. Fast forward 7 years and that whimpy 12 year old is a smart chiseled beast, 3Q with a nom, attempting to join his brother as a member of the Long Gray Line with the class of 2024! (Knocking wood). Good luck to all of you candidates keep pushing forward!
So awesome.
 
From what I've read on here, families arrive on Sunday evening and then R-day starts very early on Monday for the quick good-bye. The rest of the family then attends various activities during the day until the parade on Monday evening. Families would depart on Tuesday morning if they overnighted again. Is this correct?

I'm leaning a bit far forward here, but with a new year comes a new calendar, and my other kids' activities are starting to fill it for the summer. Trying to figure out who should be available to attend what "should" an appointment be offered. Would siblings enjoy R-day or is this primarily geared toward parents?

Also, is it published anywhere that R-day is indeed June 29th?

My DS siblings both attended (17 & 14). The grands attended too. It is a long hot day with a lot of walking & crowds but there was no talking them out of it. In the end, it’s each family’s preference. Some kids go solo, and other go with just a parent/s.
 
Just a bit of advice from a Plebe parent here who just went thru Rday ... if they told you you are to report on 6/29 & the time..it’s a stressful 2day event till then. Don’t leave and go home that day. Our class had 17 cadets dismissed before they even got to the plain & swore in. (For various things) There are so many things I could give advice about to new plebe parent for that day that is just so overwhelming, you’ll want to remember it all. i Will also say the less people you take with you the better it is for your cadet, he/she is already going to be stressed out enough & RDay isn’t the day to be bringing every extra family member or best friend or girlfriend or boyfriend. Because once they take you guys into the Auditorium you get 60seconds to say goodbye & THAT’S IT! I promise I’m not being ugly or mean I’m saying exactly what our cadet said to us afterwards. We ended up stressing him out so much he couldn’t even relax.
also if you’ve never seen WP & you take older people there are no elevators to use, there are thousands of steps (tiny little steps), it’s lots of walking & I mean lots of walking, and you will want to be mindful of all those things.
I hope that all of our advice is helpful in some sort of way. But I wish each & every cadet the best in their future. 🇺🇸
 
R-Day is not anybody’s idea of a fun day. But, there is something quite inspiring about the oath ceremony at the day’s conclusion. The Cadet Chapel is great to visit, except the sounds of yelling carry up to it.
 
Just a bit of advice from a Plebe parent here who just went thru Rday ... if they told you you are to report on 6/29 & the time..it’s a stressful 2day event till then. Don’t leave and go home that day. Our class had 17 cadets dismissed before they even got to the plain & swore in. (For various things) There are so many things I could give advice about to new plebe parent for that day that is just so overwhelming, you’ll want to remember it all. i Will also say the less people you take with you the better it is for your cadet, he/she is already going to be stressed out enough & RDay isn’t the day to be bringing every extra family member or best friend or girlfriend or boyfriend. Because once they take you guys into the Auditorium you get 60seconds to say goodbye & THAT’S IT! I promise I’m not being ugly or mean I’m saying exactly what our cadet said to us afterwards. We ended up stressing him out so much he couldn’t even relax.
also if you’ve never seen WP & you take older people there are no elevators to use, there are thousands of steps (tiny little steps), it’s lots of walking & I mean lots of walking, and you will want to be mindful of all those things.
I hope that all of our advice is helpful in some sort of way. But I wish each & every cadet the best in their future. 🇺🇸
17 people got dismissed that day? Curious to hear the types of things that cause that!
 
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