<p>My "new cadet" (at USMA they don't get to be called a plebe until they finish basic training) gets his first phone call this weekend. I am afraid to leave the house because I know, the minute I do, he'll call!</p>
<p>We are with you on that WAMom!! USNA Call is scheduled for sunday also... just no idea of time.</p>
<p>We will all have lots of stories to share here on CC Sunday evening after our calls!</p>
<p>DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FALL APART AND START CRYING ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR MID!!</p>
<p>It WON'T help him. You need to shut up and listen more than gush. LISTEN first, then tell him you're proud; tell him he CAN make it; tell him you love him. Then LISTEN again.</p>
<p>Just LISTEN and DON'T SHOW ANY WEAKNESS!</p>
<p>Sorry, but I didn't know how else to say it...</p>
<p>just say "enjoy...every second of it!"</p>
<p>It will be easy call for me.. my daughter is a talker and I am going to let her ramble with excitement for her 3 minutes! Wish I had a way to tape record it. CANT WAIT!</p>
<p>I Got A Letter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One Puny Page, But It's A Letter!!!!!!!!!!!:D</p>
<p>Right now, I'm in the hospital for a (minor) surgery and am freaking out that I won't get released in time to get home for the call. Come he** or high water, I'm checking out tomorrow!</p>
<p>I'd break you out, Spidermom, were I there! You, M2L, Me!</p>
<p>Spidermom,</p>
<p>Feel good fast!</p>
<p>Call forwarding?</p>
<p>I second Z's post...it's okay for them to cry (not out loud, the cadre are standing right there...just a few sniffles) but not you. This is the best gift you can give your plebe. </p>
<p>Good luck to all the 2011 parents this afternoon! Keep a stiff upper lip!</p>
<p>SPIDERMOM! FEEL BETTER SOON!! :)</p>
<p>NP.. I wanna hear about your Letter. Got another Letter from Lola yesterday. Very Funny. Whoever the HONEYBEAR is Facing has to drink the PickleJuice at Meal Time! :)</p>
<p>I know I'm in the minority here because I am a USMA parent, but I just have to say...I got the first phone call! Son sounds tired but very positive. Now I can relax a bit.</p>
<p>I hope all of you are getting those phone calls too.</p>
<p>WAMOM! THAT IS GREAT! How long was his call? When is Parents Weekend for you guys? </p>
<p>Lola only had 2 min. Fastest 2 min in history. </p>
<p>When I think plebe(?) summer at West Point (what do they call it again?) I think about having to report to the cadet with the red sash.. .(Did you read Absolutely American? I think that is what he was called.) and I saw it on the Mil channel special about the the First Summer at the Service Academies... Actually saw a cadet with Red sash that they had to report too! and felt so sorry for that girl who could not say it correctly! :)</p>
<p>Had a good one. Here's what it entailed:</p>
<p>It's fine.
It's like the summer camp from hell.
My squad leader is good.
My roommates pull their weight.
There are a couple of goof offs in my platoon.
I have "hack."
I've lost a pound.
I made the company soccer team.
Send cleats & shinnies.
I have 30 seconds.
I love you all.</p>
<p>Nurseypoo, send hard candies for your plebe to suck on, it seems to help with "hack".</p>
<p>
[quote]
WAMOM! THAT IS GREAT! How long was his call? When is Parents Weekend for you guys? </p>
<p>Lola only had 2 min. Fastest 2 min in history. </p>
<p>When I think plebe(?) summer at West Point (what do they call it again?) I think about having to report to the cadet with the red sash.. .(Did you read Absolutely American? I think that is what he was called.) and I saw it on the Mil channel special about the the First Summer at the Service Academies... Actually saw a cadet with Red sash that they had to report too! and felt so sorry for that girl who could not say it correctly!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The call was supposed to be 10 minutes, but I'm not sure we got the full 10. It went by so fast! Parents Weekend isn't until Oct 12-14, which we are going to, and we will be going back to see him for Acceptance Day on Aug. 18th. </p>
<p>At West Point "plebe summer" is called Cadet Basic Training (CBT) but also known as "Beast". On the first day they do report to the Cadet in the Red Sash who is a Firstie. My son had a good story about it. He said he was reporting and got it right the second time through (first one in his group to get through it). At the time he didn't realize the Firstie was a guy who graduated from the same high school as my son. The Firstie recognized my son so when he was done reporting and got it right, the Firstie said "Go Blazers!" (that is their high school mascot). My son thought "how did he know I was a blazer?", then he realized who the Firstie was. Later the Firstie came to my son's room and told him that it threw him a little when he recognized my son from high school.</p>
<p>Other highlights from the call:
-Got put in the fastest running group because he did 2 miles in 13:02. Said he will "get smoked" this next week being in that group.
-Good food but not enough time to eat as much as he wants.
-He's tired.
-USMA Band Concert and fireworks Sat. night was excellent, best fireworks he has ever seen.
-his cadre are tough on knowledge but not jerks.
-asked if we had received his letter. We haven't but now I have that to look forward to.
-One roommate from Spokane (which is in eastern part of our state) and other is from Virginia.</p>
<p>I have read Absolutely American three times! I love that book.</p>
<p>Awesome news WAMom! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING! Sounds like he is doing as well as can be!! GO BLAZERS!! (I dare not say Go AR**.. haha!</p>
<p>WAMom,</p>
<p>I hear through the grapevine that the cadet chain of command is averaging 3 hours sleep a night. They're working hard to make sure the new cadets learn the skills they need to know to progress. Also, they need to be sure that the new cadets are eating, sleeping, and not hurting.</p>
<p>I read the book a couple times during the first Beast. And I kept watching Surviving West Point and thinking "this is what they're doing now". I'm certainly a lot more relaxed this time around.</p>
<p>atrmom-</p>
<p>I had him pick out the cough drops he likes before he left, and I did send them to him. </p>
<p>U R the best! I think I will send him hard candies!</p>
<p>Love, </p>
<p>NP</p>