<p>Thought you might like a report on Beast II.</p>
<p>I spoke with our firstie son yesterday. He is a platoon leader for the second half of Beast which started this week. His platoon (about 25 cadets) had just completed a ten mile ruck march earlier that day and he was calling about a package that was going to be mailed to our house since it couldn't be mailed to a P.O. box. You didn't think my son would call to just chat did you?</p>
<p>Good news! He reported that the dropout rate for new cadets continues to be low. Equally important he said he was pleased with the quality of the new cadets. He said most of them were getting 'squared away' (that's good) and that none of his platoon had dropped out of the 10 mile march thanks to the mandatory hydration and relatively pleasant (80 degree) temps.</p>
<p>This comment is impressive since usually the firsties think most of the new cadets are too soft and won't ever learn their cadet knowledge/protocols. He said the new cadets have a great attitude about being at Beast and that, other than a few instances of forgetfulness, his platoon was in good shape.</p>
<p>I don't know if you know it, but each new cadet will be graded for his Beast performance. In this regard, my son told me that when the platoon leader of the first detail for Beast asked if he wanted his evaluation of the new cadets in his platoon, he told the cadet 'no'. He said he wanted the new cadets to have a fresh start if they needed one and that he wanted to evaluate their Beast II performance separate from whatever they did during the first half of Beast. </p>
<p>He went on to tell me that his assignment is also giving him a better appreciation for what the upperclass cadets went through during his Beast three years ago. While he thought the days were long as a new cadet, he said the cadet leader's day is even longer. Usually ending around midnight and starting about 4:30am.</p>
<p>Although he didn't know it, I was beaming with parental pride when the call ended. The kid I dropped off at Eisenhower Hall 3 years ago has grown in more ways than he, or I, could have imagined.</p>
<p>New parents. Be ready to see some great changes in your son's/daughter's maturity as they progress through the West Point experience. West Point will draw more out of your cadet's potential than pretty much any other leadership program in the world.</p>
<p>Although I am biased, believe me when I tell you your cadet is in great hands this summer.</p>