<p>My folks want to know what they do on A-Day (Aug. 18, right?) and if they even get to see me, or can have dinner with me or anything like that. There is a plethora of literature on R-Day, but A-Day is pretty much a mystery to us... who can give me the information that will make them stop bugging me?</p>
<p>A-day is awesome. You might have an inspection or something first thing in the morning, then you'll parade around 9ish, and after the Parade you're released until TAPS that night. During that time, you can go anywhere within Walking Privileges (which is basically Highland Falls). From after the parade until TAPS, you can see your parents or do whatever your heart desires.</p>
<p>Your parents' jobs on A-Day consist of:<br>
a) Bringing food. LOTS of food.<br>
b) Feeding you and any other strays you pick up. Don't leave your buddy in the barracks.
c) Letting you be. If you want to talk about Beast, nothing is going to shut you up. If you want to just be with your family, they shouldn't push for details.
d) Running you up to the PX, if necessary, for any last odds or ends you need for school, and to the Commissary, so you can stock your room with munchies.
e) Celebrating the fact that you made it!</p>
<p>I was under the impression that it was a weekend long event. Is there any free time given the following day too?</p>
<p>Yes, you're free on Saturday and Sunday (you still have to be back to sleep in the barracks). You'll have homework for Monday, though, so you'll want to reserve some time for that.</p>
<p>Actually you will find that the percentage of parents who attend A-Day is fairly small. The cadet time is pretty limited for parents who have to spend lots of $$$ and time to travel. It is easier is you live closer to WP. </p>
<p>It is a really nice experience, but be aware that WP does 'not' consider this a special parent occasion. Many plebes will be released within 2 hours after the parade, but some companies will hold them longer. They have to pass an inspection that day (SAMI - Saturday AM Inspection) and may have to re-clean their room in order to pass and be released. </p>
<p>If you decide to attend expect your plebe to fall asleep frequently. Just feed them and let them sleep. If you cannot attend, do not worry. Your cadet will be adopted by another family and also get some down time. </p>
<p>As noted earlier, they will have homework that is due on Monday, their first day of class. So they have homework to do and likely some plebe duties by early to mid Sunday afternoon.</p>
<p>Actually, I totally disagree. A large number of families were in attendance and the bleachers were packed for the parade. Many folks came great distances for the chance to be with their new plebe and revel with them in their success at having completed Beast. We have attended A-Day twice with our two cadets, and both were grateful to us there (along with the favorite foods we brought along). Great Beast stories, fresh in their minds, just spilled out. The opportunity to go off post, to be with folks who loved them, and to nap peacefully was precious and seemed to help them rejuvenate for the academic year. Though the time was short, it was an experience we wouldn't have missed.</p>
<p>A Day was absolutely awesome. And the cadets - and certainly the parents also - are so happy to spend some time together. Yes, it's expensive and the time is limited. It was standing room only in the bleachers, so I think there were a lot of families. I wouldn't trade the memories for anything.</p>
<p>That being said, if parents are limited by cost, time, or travel, then the absolutely best time to visit would be Plebe Parent Weekend. You'll have more time, cadets have more than walking privileges, and there are lots of planned activities. </p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>Anyone know where I can find the dates of these events?</p>
<p>Check out the master calendar on the USMA website:
<a href="http://www.dean.usma.edu/sebpublic/usmacalendars/default.cfm?usr_actn=search%5B/url%5D">http://www.dean.usma.edu/sebpublic/usmacalendars/default.cfm?usr_actn=search</a></p>
<p>According the the USMA Calendar, the Acceptance Day Parade is scheduled for 10 AM on Saturday August 18, 2007. The Parade lasts until almost 11.</p>
<p>Our experience was that most Cadets completed their required inspections and were released between noon and 1 pm. They were allowed to be out (in the Walking Privileges area, Highland Falls) until late on Saturday night, although the time varied with the company. Ours had to be back by midnight. </p>
<p>They were released again early Sunday morning and had the day free until about 5. Many want to get back to their rooms in the mid-afternoon, because they know they will be getting emails with assignments due on their first day of class, which is the next day.</p>
<p>Families who plan to attend should get their room reservations NOW, because the hotels within walking privileges fill up. If you stay outside of the walking privileges area, the cadets cannot come back to your room with you. You basically need to hang out on post or in town. Lots of folks end up doing that, and there are lots of grassy spots on post acceptable for picnic blankets, coolers and cadet naps.</p>
<p>Here's a couple of observations/recollections about my visit to West Point on Acceptance Day 2005 that I wrote shortly after my visit. I attended R-Day, A-Day and Parents Weekend. If I had to rank them, I would pick Parents Weekend first, R-Day second and A-Day third. A-Day has a special place in my memory since the pride and joy on the faces of the new cadets just completing Beast will always stay with me.</p>
<p>Here's my notes:</p>
<p>Aceeptance Day, the day on which the new cadets are formally accepted in the Corps of Cadets. The plebes are beaming with pride - and so are their parents.</p>
<p>The time-tested choreography that has the formations of New Cadets cross the hallowed Plain and blend into their respective Regiments is still a symbolic masterpiece. The parade starts at 10am with the new cadets marching with bayoneted rifles and forming into 32 company units on the East side of the Plain. The remainder of the Corps of Cadets forms by regiment on the West side of the Plain. After a brief ceremony, the new cadets march across the Plain and join their new companies/regiments - no longer new cadets but Cadets. To the sound of the Corps Band, the entire Corps of Cadets then parades past the viewing area and returns to their respective barracks. The entire parade takes about 45-60 minutes. Not many dry eyes in the place.</p>
<p>The cadets were released with "walking privileges" about noon and were free to roam the Highland Falls area. Cadets without visiting parents were adopted for the weekend.</p>
<p>I met up with my son and a couple of his company cohorts and headed out to lunch. He could not wait to share his basic training stories with me and the other cadets( this was a pleasant surprise since he is normally pretty reserved in his parental conversations). The presence of his fellow cadets helped expand the number, variety and candor of the "stories". </p>
<p>His first request was to find a place to eat and just sit down. He says sitting was a scarce commodity during CBT. We had a leisurely 2-3 hour lunch during which I mostly listened. Finally one of the cadets asked what's been happening during the last 6 weeks. The only news the cadets had heard about was the London bombing. They were uniformly appalled at the price of gas. This surprised me since they weren't likely to buy gas anytime soon.</p>
<p>The cadets proudly strode though Highlands Falls wearing their "white over grey" uniforms and their new white hats. I don't know why but they love their new white hats (these replaced the grey hats issued earlier). It may have to do with being a symbol of completing CBT. As I walked, it struck me that the local and visiting young men in their drooping pants/shorts looked out of place.</p>
<p>It was impressive watching the cadets instinctively take off their hats when entering a building. I heard a mantra of "Yes, Sir or Yes, Mam" to the inquiries of parents and waiters.</p>
<p>Hardly any cadets wore the army-issue glasses. A-Day was the day of freedom when the cadets could choose their own eyewear and underwear. You may not want to know it, but a lot of new cadets had been "going comando" rather than wear the whitey-tighties.</p>
<p>I asked the cadets about their summer and they all agreed that high school graduation day seems like a distant memory. They commented that "the days are long but the weeks are short" at West Point.</p>
<p>I could sense the camaraderie between the Cadets as they took turns sharing their "stories" about CBT and their new company assignments. The tight bonds that will connect the cadets throughout their lives are already forming. All the cadets were given new roommates during the previous week and most are sharing the room with 2 other cadets. </p>
<p>Each company has a reputation. Some for being harsh on plebes, others more lenient. H3 is regarded as the harshest company in the Corps for plebes. It is nicknamed "Hitler's 3rd Reich" and "Haze 3". Plebes assigned this company were universally pitied by the other cadets. My son is assigned to C2. 2nd Regiment, Charlie Company. The Regimental Moto is "Second to None".</p>
<p>Cadets were allowed to sleep in as long as they wanted on Sunday. My cadet was looking forward to a long slumber. However, when I met him for lunch Sunday, he dejectedly admitted that he had awaken early and couldn't sleep in. He was genuinely concerned that he had lost his "gift" for sleeping 12-14 hours. He blamed the hot barracks and promised to prove he still had the gift when he visits at Thanksgiving. The term "visit" was his. Most of the cadets rightfully view West Point as home and that trips "home" are truly visits. It hurt to hear it, but that's the way it is.</p>
<p>When I left him and his fellow cadets Sunday, all were headed back to the barracks to get their rooms "squared away" after receiving the barrage of packages over the weekend. Space is a scarce commodity in the cadets' rooms and everything has to be in its proper spot. Although classes started on Monday, the cadets didn't seem too concerned about them. Hope they're not in for a rude awakening.</p>
<p>The cadets think their new computers are "sweet" and have already found ways to pick up TV via the computers. Although they aren't allowed to watch TV or listen to music as Plebes, they are hoping some exceptions will be given and they plan to be ready to exploit the opportunity.</p>
<p>I left West Point teary-eyed but with a sense that CBT has helped transform my son and his fellow cadets into a corps of very special young men and women. They should take pride in knowing that only a few are invited to participate in summer training at the academies and even fewer complete the training.</p>
<p>And speaking of teary-eyed...The memories of our A-Day came rushing back. A-Day is an amazing event, even if it's 3 on the list of parental visit choices. Thanks, aspen.</p>
<p>Speaking of the time honored choreography.... A-Day is the graduation parade in reverse. On A-Day, the new cadets march to the Corps and are accepted as cadets. At the Graduation Parade, the firsties march away from the Corps, and towards their new roll as officers. It's an amazing feeling, marching with your companymates, towards your family, knowing that you're only a day away from GRADUATING.</p>