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...and Coast Guardsmen.
The Life of a USMA Plebe
- Thread starter 11BRAVO
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...and Coast Guardsmen.
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Just_A_Mom
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They don't have "Liberty" on Thursday nights. The club is on post.
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Ah, ok so they can drink on post every Thursday?
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I am slightly taken aback that you seem to be surprised that some people choose to enroll at USMA for that reason. I think that is a very genuine and good reason to try and seek an appointment. Its certainly one of the reasons why I want to go. My high school academic life wasn't the most glamorous and I feel that WP can change that. I highly doubt people who go for such a reason are simply trying to "avoid failure" but to succeed as well. Its unfair to describe them as weak people who can't get anything done without a degree of control in their life. And to top it off, you make the claim that such people will fail at West Point and in life. Funny that you've never met me and you know for sure what my life will look like.
I'd have to disagree with that statement as well...compared to a regular college kid, I think cadets definitely do sacrifice more. From what I've learned about the academy from browsing these forums, cadets get less days on break, are generally thousands of miles away from home, have a dress code, have much higher standards (academic AND physical) to live up to, have greatly reduced personal freedom, and (if you're a guy) give up many chances to enjoy time with more girls. From the standpoint of someone who graduates from high school, sees his/her friends running off and having more "fun" in college, and is also looking forward to a more "fun" and normal college experience but instead chooses to attend the academy...you can probably see what he/she is forsaking. Like I said, I can't speak from experience as a cadet, but even as just an observer, I can sympathize with cadets' possible complaints.
I know 11BRAVO is not a cadet or alumni, but can someone verify his statement? I'm not in denial and I know WP will certainly be a rougher experience than college, but 11BRAVO makes it sound kind of scary...to me, anyone subjected to that kind of lifestyle for four years would grow white hair and look 10 years older than he/she really is. I'm kind of confused here...I know I want to attend WP, but I want to do it without great hazard to my health/sanity...11BRAVO what you said is throwing me off. Unless you're exaggerating, if your description of when cadets sleep and wake up is true, cadets would be getting only 4 or 5 hours of sleep each day and that is definitely not appealing...or good for you
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5 hours unappealing? I get 5-6 hours of sleep daily (less at certain points). Everyone else is just about the same. Its something you get used to. If you want something that won't hurt your health or sanity then I don't recommend the military because that is exactly what will be tested during deployments. A lot of the training is "unappealing" but its not all about you. The more you train, the better the people under your command will be. And if over 200 classes have graduated from here, obviously the daily life is doable so long as you have the commitment.
He may have exaggerated by calling it "anguish" but there certainly is a lot of sucky times ("embrace the suck" is something commonly heard).
Oh yes, I have heard that one from my son many times!
Chockstock, you will get used to functioning on less sleep. Last semester my son was a platoon sgt. in his company, had 5 academic classes, 1/2 semester PE class and the usual MS class. He was getting about 3-4 hours of sleep per night...and he is not an engineering major.
Weekends are 'usually' free (however they did have classes this past weekend 
). But basically, you are on your own. You can catch up on sleep, have down time, work out, go to the movies, play video games, hit the exciting town of Highland Falls and of course do homework, projects, papers.... 
). But basically, you are on your own. You can catch up on sleep, have down time, work out, go to the movies, play video games, hit the exciting town of Highland Falls and of course do homework, projects, papers....
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I was going to add that about deployments. I know at WP we didn't get a ton of sleep daily, but people used weekends to catch up and sleep 12 hours straight.
However, I know when I was in Saudi during the first Gulf War, one of my big learning points was that "you don't actually need to sleep EVERY night!"
We were frequently told that all the Army owed us (by regulation) was a 4 hour period for sleep (including getting ready for sleep and getting ready for wherever you had to be next). And to be honest, we were supposed to make sure our soldiers got that 4 hours, but no one really checked to make sure the officers always did as well!
However, I know when I was in Saudi during the first Gulf War, one of my big learning points was that "you don't actually need to sleep EVERY night!"
We were frequently told that all the Army owed us (by regulation) was a 4 hour period for sleep (including getting ready for sleep and getting ready for wherever you had to be next). And to be honest, we were supposed to make sure our soldiers got that 4 hours, but no one really checked to make sure the officers always did as well!"Surviving West Point"
We recently watched the DVD from National Geographic called "Surviving West Point"... do those of you with experience think that this video series is a fair and honest representation of "the West Point experience"?
Just wondering, the videos certainly helped this mom visualize it a bit more...
Proudmama
We recently watched the DVD from National Geographic called "Surviving West Point"... do those of you with experience think that this video series is a fair and honest representation of "the West Point experience"?
Just wondering, the videos certainly helped this mom visualize it a bit more...
Proudmama
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It's been years since I've seen that so I can't say completely (need to find it again and watch it!). I don't recall when I saw it feeling like anything was totally off base, so I'm sure it's pretty realistic. Hopefully AF has seen it and can chime in here!
There is also a History Channel - Modern Marvels: West Point DVD that we watched and is pretty good. Less of a focus on cadet life per se, but still great just for seeing the place. You may be able to catch it on the History Channel if you watch and DVR it (which I did once after already buying and opening it!).
Thanks
Thanks, I will look for that program about WP too.
We go to visit West Point next week (son has his overnight on Tuesday-Wednesday)... we are eager to see the place firsthand....
Next step, waiting for the "big envelope" - he has nom, loa, is medically qualified, and has a good cfa in so now we visit and then wait... they won't tell him when he is there rather send the big envelope will they?
Proudmama
Thanks, I will look for that program about WP too.
We go to visit West Point next week (son has his overnight on Tuesday-Wednesday)... we are eager to see the place firsthand....
Next step, waiting for the "big envelope" - he has nom, loa, is medically qualified, and has a good cfa in so now we visit and then wait... they won't tell him when he is there rather send the big envelope will they?
Proudmama
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Unfortunately, I haven't seen it.
proudmama, your son will be going there next week so he will be able to tell you a bit of what its like. Or if you want you can PM me a summary of what you saw and I can tell you how accurate it is.
I might see your son next week as well.
I bought the DVDs. I find the footage of training and classes informative, but it is over dramatized. Every five minutes or so it pretty much says "they could have gone to...". But most of the DVD set is worth it. The episode filmed during 9/11 is intense.
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Oh dear...that really isn't good. You can call me a health freak, but its plain fact that until your mid-20s, men and women continue to grow. Your brains aren't done growing until you're like 30. Unless you get 7 or 8 solid hours of sleep, you can screw up the internal cycle in your body and prevent release of special hormones that "recharges" and heals your body (as well as make you grow - studies show people who sleep longer grow taller). But oooooooooh man what I would be giving up if I got accepted (and enrolled)
11BRAVO
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America's Finest, I thank you for keeping it real. I have read Chockstock's posts and I would guess that there are many out there with the same questions. Chock is just the one asking the tough questions and he should be commended for his inquiries. However, WP or any SA, or military life in general is no picnic. If anyone out there is worried abour beauty sleep, as they say in Joy-z, "feggitabahdit." I also heard some #*&@ about army regs and minimum sleep for troops...never saw that reg implemented. In a field environment you will get very little sleep and probably not eat regularly unless you're in a rear unit. So it's not just four years at WP it's 5 more in an even more intense world...and yes, you will be deployed and probably within 18 months. You will be in command of people, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, people with moms and dads back home and your job will be to complete your missions and provide for the health and welfare of your troops. So life at West Point is only the half of it. You will need to think beyond WP because the army has your butt for 5 years and life as an army officer is a very real and very dangerous job. I am not trying to scare anyone, just enlighten with a strong sense of reality. Believe me, I saw guys in basic training who freaked out when they found out we had to sleep on the ground during FTX. What did they think they were getting into anyway? However, by attending WP you will be trained and ready to lead. The question is, do you want to lead?
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Kiss 7-8 hours sleep good bye.
On a ship, max I was getting was 5 hours. Maybe a lucky 6 hours now and then....op tempo was just too "crazy"....go on watch...get off watch, interdict migrants, work out, eat, sleep, interdict migrants shortly after closing eyes, go on watch....do paper work....
On a ship, max I was getting was 5 hours. Maybe a lucky 6 hours now and then....op tempo was just too "crazy"....go on watch...get off watch, interdict migrants, work out, eat, sleep, interdict migrants shortly after closing eyes, go on watch....do paper work....