What are prep steps between acceptance and R-day

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Kirby

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My family is very blessed, first to have an incredible young man as a son, and second because he has received his official appointment to USMAWP. I understand that R-day is 6/28/21, and his graduation is 5/30 22. Leaving the last week prior to R-day open to be at home and prep, we’re currently thinking about an extended family vacation around early~mid May to celebrate and spend some solid time together as a family before he departs. This got me to wondering, what types of mandatory actions/activities might be required of our DS during May. We’re assuming at some point we’ll get a list of required steps/actions, but I thought it would be beneficial to ask here since this site has been an overwhelming positive reservoir of informed, experienced information. Any thoughts, recommendations, and especially specifics would be greatly appreciated. I would hate to lay out a bunch of non-refundable deposits only to find out that our DS had to do X, Y and Z during the time we would be traveling away from home.
Go Army! Beat Navy!
 
One resource is your nearest West Point Parents Club. Many of the SA Parents Clubs give “new plebe welcome events” in the month prior R-Day (pre-pandemic). Experienced parents can be a great resource. Not an expected thing for parents, and it’s up to you how much or how little you participate.
Given they are private organizations, I don’t believe they are given an incoming class list for Privacy Act reasons. They will be happy if you contact them.

Someone will likely post a link or a description of the “To Do” packet from a previous year as an example. They usually don’t change much year to year, but it’s useful as an example. I am familiar with the USNA Permit To Report packet, but can’t recall the USMA version name. It’s all the forms and To Do actions.

Browse threads in the USMA forum in the Mar-May time frame. There will be discussions on:

- the annual boot choices
- required vaccinations
- getting a passport
- getting the background check done
- reviewing the list of “to bring” items
- required paperwork to bring, such as birth certificate
- bank selection
- applying any eligible scholarship funds to initial required deposit/purchases

Given the current pandemic, and this will be a gathering of 1200+ plebes from all over the country, I would be prepared for some kind of guidance and suggestions about limiting travel and exposure in the weeks leading up to reporting in. I can only speculate about any other COVID-related precautions.
 
Capt MJ said:
Given the current pandemic, and this will be a gathering of 1200+ plebes from all over the country, I would be prepared for some kind of guidance and suggestions about limiting travel and exposure in the weeks leading up to reporting in. I can only speculate about any other COVID-related precautions.
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Capt MJ has given you a great lead in to the prep "stuff" that we've seen in the past and its a pretty good list. As for the current pandemic, we're months away from this and its impossible to say but I'd weigh your vacation plans VERY carefully, not in terms of lost deposits but in terms of your son reporting in on 6/28 in a fully virus-free state. Personally, I wouldn't be planning a pre USMA vacation for the weeks leading up to reporting and that is based on having been a midshipman AND having been the parent of midshipman.
 
USMA is in NY. I would also look into the COVID guidelines NY has in place if you arriving from out of state. I will be attending USMMA (also in NY) and my report date falls just after July 4th. According to NY guidelines today, I need a negative COVID test within 48-72 hours prior to my arrival which may be challenging since Monday July 5th testing sites here in FL will probably be closed in honor of the holiday. It's my understanding flights to NY will not let you board if you do not have proof of a negative test. But I could be wrong there.
Again, that is just based on TODAY, not July. Although at some point I will need to purchase my flight ticket.
 
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Kirby said:
My family is very blessed, first to have an incredible young man as a son, and second because he has received his official appointment to USMAWP. I understand that R-day is 6/28/21, and his graduation is 5/30 22. Leaving the last week prior to R-day open to be at home and prep, we’re currently thinking about an extended family vacation around early~mid May to celebrate and spend some solid time together as a family before he departs. This got me to wondering, what types of mandatory actions/activities might be required of our DS during May. We’re assuming at some point we’ll get a list of required steps/actions, but I thought it would be beneficial to ask here since this site has been an overwhelming positive reservoir of informed, experienced information. Any thoughts, recommendations, and especially specifics would be greatly appreciated. I would hate to lay out a bunch of non-refundable deposits only to find out that our DS had to do X, Y and Z during the time we would be traveling away from home.
Go Army! Beat Navy!
Click to expand...
this May will be the last month you have with your son, take a huge vacation. Don't worry about anything. buy boots, fingerprint, punch away at equip, it's all simple. Worst thing to happen is he comes up positive and segregates with other quarantined plebes.
 
Where is the best place to order patches for uniforms- name, flag?
 
Get a POA so you can take care of anything which comes up such as signatures at a bank, medical records, and who knows what else when he is unavailable. Banks need a specific type of POA which I don't understand - DW took care of that. Even if it's just one instance over 4 yrs it is really nice to have.
 
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