<p>Little sister is thinking about following in her big brother's footsteps to USNA. She is just finishing her sophomore year, about the same time her brother started seriously working toward his appointment. </p>
<p>I have gleaned that it is not so unusual for siblings to attend the same academy and I am interested in hearing from others who have first-hand experience with this - to understand both the good points and the bad points. I don't really want to influence her decision one way or another - just be prepared for it.</p>
<p>Anybody know anyone with siblings at the same academy? I'd like to hear any stories, anecdotes, advice, whatever. I'm particularly interested in opposite gender siblings, but I'm sure many of the same issues prevail with those of the same gender.</p>
<p>A close friend of mine is a plebe at USMA. Her older brother is a firstie. I haven't heard of any negatives, and I gather that they have a real good relationship there. We usually call each other once or twice a week to talk.</p>
<p>During Beast, he did the ruck humps with her and oversaw some of her other training evolutions, but didn't give her any special attention. Just advice.</p>
<p>I believe she's fourth generation West Point in her family. Her grandfather is the oldest living alumnus.</p>
<p>I can't think of any real downside. They will almost certainly NOT be placed in the same company for obvious reasons.</p>
<p>Sure, she'll get some, "I wonder how your brother will feel when I tell him how screwed up his little sister is?", but big whoop. She'll hear worse than that with or without him there, so don't sweat it.</p>
<p>While not there at the same time, my brother is headed with 2010. When I was there we had twins on the softbal team with me who had an older brother there and a younger brother that also came when they were there. Another player's brother came when she was there. There was at least one other set of twins, and I can think of at least 5-8 other people who had sibilings, older and younger, while at USMA. I never saw any major issues that would be distracting to the purpose of USMA...a lot of it dependend on the relationship between the siblings too.</p>
<p>Last year there was a pair of twins (class of '05) on the lax team at WP. This year there will be a twin brother of a current plebe. He went to a civilian college for a year and will attend West Point. I also know a plebe with 2 older sisters who attended WP. I'm sure there are many more.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have the right attitude about it. "I don't really want to influence her decision one way or another - just be prepared for it." I would think the "too hooah parent" may try to influence a child. As we know this can lead to disastrous results.</p>
<p>Sacto Mom - The Parents club that we belong to (USMA - Long Island) has several families that have multiple children attending or graduated from service academies. I spoke to one mother recently who has a son USMA - 2008, and a son USMMA - 2007. I will be attending a graduation party May 27 for a USMA cadet who has a brother that graduated (I believe USMA 02). There are currently 2 brothers (I believe are twins) from LI on the football team. I met a USMA cadet that graduated last year who has a sister currently in the USAFA. The former president of our club has 2 sons that graduated from the USMA. On Sunday I took the ride up to West Point after work to take my son out to dinner with one of his class mates (WP-2008). This other cadet had a brother and 2 sisters that graduated from the USMA. Interesting that the father was a graduate of the USAFA. He had no explanation for this. </p>
<p>I also have an opinion (no evidence-just an opinion) that having a sibling or parent in a service academy or graduate is a factor for determing admissions.</p>
<p>Something just occurred to me, and it might be completely out in left field, but I'll ask anyway...</p>
<p>Sacto Mom, do your two kids get along well with each other?</p>
<p>If so, great! No problem. If not, then I wonder if that should be taken into account?</p>
<p>Some brothers and sisters don't play well together, and I don't think having one as a plebe and another as an upperclassman would be a good mix. That's the ONLY situation I can think of where it could be an issue.</p>
<p>One of the moderators of the USNA Parents listserv has had 3 children inducted into USNA -- an '05 grad and current '07 and 09 midshipmen. Two boys, one girl. (There are 2 more younger kids at home -- so who knows!) </p>
<p>She is a great resource to all the parents -- especially plebe parents -- and appears more than willing to exchange personal emails with parents on specific topics. SactoMom: you might want to join the list if you haven't already and ask her this question. </p>
<p>Fortunately, they are very close and always have been. She really looks up to him and that has worked out well because he has (almost) always been the model big brother: thoughtful, patient, and fun to be around. They've been at the same high school together for the past two years and I think it has been positive for both of them.</p>
<p>I guess my reason for asking is that my sense is that the Service Academy environment is so different from high school - with the indoc and the rigidity, I don't have a frame of reference for how it would affect their relationship.</p>
<p>But based on the responses so far, it sounds like those who have experienced it have had a generally positive experience. And it is amazing how this "runs" in families!</p>
<p>plebes = freshman
yuk or yearling = sophomore
cow = junior
firstie = senior</p>
<p>Cows got their name because in the old days cadets were not allowed to leave West Point until junior year. The line is something like: cadets don't leave until the cows go home. The name stuck.</p>
<p>I have heard that it is not proper for a non-Cadet (even a parent) to use the term yuk. This is because non-Cadets have not earned the right to do so.</p>
<p>The cow story goes like this. In days gone by, Cadets were not allowed to leave until the summer prior to the Junior year. As travel was not as efficient as it is now and the primary mode of transportation to West Point was by train, the Cadets would return via the train station by the Hudson River down hill from the Plain. At that time, Cadets were required to travel in their uniforms. Seeing as it was summer the proper dress of the day was the white summer uniform. As the Cadets returned or wandered in over a period of days, they must have looked like cows coming over the hill and across the Plain to the barracks in their white uniforms. Hence, the nickname of Cow.</p>