The Beast is Slain

Colleges and Universities A-Z Military Academy - West Point
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<p>This is just sort of a dumbo message ... but </p>

<p>It's so wonderful to me to see, for example, our old friends "peteflow" and "hooyahmicah", back on the board now that they are really at USMA. And it's great to see comments from the parents who have been able to attend the A-Day ceremonies and see their s/d's after they've "Slain The Beast". </p>

<p>Having said that, seeing all the advice about blogging and posting, I, too, have to suggest that our beloved candidates, now Plebes, tread very carefully about splashing themselves all over the web, although I think you guys know where the lines are drawn, and won't do anything too stupid.</p>

<p>mom3boys: can you tell me why "woobie" is a word not allowed to say?</p>

<p>This is a great forum and I totally appreciate the time and effort that people who are "in the know" take to share their experiences. Many thanks!</p>

22

<p>Oops -- in my previous post, when I said "you guys, I know where the lines are drawn" ... I didn't mean just you male guys ... in my environment, "you guys" means "men and women" ... </p>

<p>"Guys" works for people my age as a male/female designation, but I know there are those who hear "guys" and automatically think "men only". Didn't mean to give that impression ...</p>

23

<p>Woobie is an Army word. Moms are not supposed to use cadet slang...we are not insiders and therefore should not try to talk like them. I can say poncho or blanket, but cannot say woobie or green girl.</p>

24

<p>And I am soooooo jealous of all the parents who got to go watch my boy in the parade!!! I have been lurking on Plebe Net looking for videos/pictures from A Day, but so far no good... ! I guess they all have a life to get back to...</p>

25

<p>"Rucked the most miles?" May want to rethink that statement! </p>

<p>The Class of 2012 was the first class to "Ride" to Buckner in a helicopter!!!</p>

26

<p>Yes, but the others didn't walk there, they went in transport vehicles, didn't they?</p>

27

<p>
[quote]
"Rucked the most miles?" May want to rethink that statement! </p>

<p>The Class of 2012 was the first class to "Ride" to Buckner in a helicopter!!!

[/quote]

Take it up with the Comm; that's just what he told us. There was plenty of marching besides the helicopter. Our knowledge book said the ruck our to Buckner was 9 miles. We flew, but we did a 10-mile ruck the week before to make up for it, FWIW.</p>

<p>I'm not competing with any other classes for who had the hardest Beast (I've got my own opinions on that), but I ran out of fingers to count the number of fallen out upperclasspersons that I passed in our second detail ruck marches.</p>

<p>On a completely related note: does anyone know if there's a chiropractor or masseuse on post? I know they had one at USNA, but no one seems to have any clue here.</p>

28

<p>Negative.. we rucked there, 2011 rucked about 10 miles.</p>

29

<p>Previous classes marched out to Buckner; on foot with rucks. They may catch some 'grief' from the upper class about it. In fact, I would be surprised if they don't. </p>

<p>Can't you hear the old grads ...... "The Corps has .....................!"</p>

30

<p>The Marchback has changed a lot over the years. Classes of 2002 and 2003 had a 15 mile ruck march from Lake Frederick back to USMA. </p>

<p>They were also done thru the woods and kicked off at about 0300. Made for a lot of banged and scratched up New Cadets.</p>

31

<p>Hooyahmicah, I sent you a private message with the contact info for a massage therapist on West Point.</p>

32

<p>I was wondering about that. I remember hearing about Lake Frederick and watching Surviving West Point (didn't they have to swim across it, too?). I was looking forward to it, but we didn't do it. </p>

<p>This year we were told we'd be getting up at 3.30 and stepping off at 4. Instead, we got to sleep in till 4.30 and left at 5.</p>

33

<p>Class of 2009 rucked that 15 miles back from Frederick as well. We were up at 0230 and marched all night and into the morning. </p>

<p>hooyahmicah, it's easy to point fingers and say "look at all those upperclassmen who fell out". You have to remember though that you're only looking at your Company. You have no IDEA how many New Cadets fell out on the March Back and on the other rucks. Just keep that in mind.</p>

34

<p>I'm sure any upperclassmen that fell out had to be exchange cadets from other academies...</p>

35

<p>I hear the last three classes had to march back through the snow, marching BACKWARDS with the cadre on their shoulders! :)</p>

36

<p>...you forgot barefoot!</p>

37

<p>Oh my gosh, shogun! You crack me up. That is really priceless.</p>

38

<p>A friend of mine who graduated back in the '70s said that then it was all uphill both ways.</p>

39

<p>As anyone who has walked around West Point will attest, that is entirely possible!!! :)</p>

40

<p>Marines,
I've got a pretty good idea of how many NC's fell out. On one rather brutal upmountain 5 mile hike we did, they tried to reroute the path or get us some transpo because the company before us had a 50% fallout rate. Some of the 10th Mtn guys marching with us said it was pretty comparable to anything they've done.</p>

<p>I'm not saying the NC's did better than the cadre or anything close to those lines. I'm not even trying to say '12 had a hard (or harder) Beast. I'm just saying that he who is without sin should be the first to cast stones. If our Beast was so easy, then every single cadre member should've been able to easily negotiate it. That's all.</p>

<p>On the march back, I had a nice talk with an Old Grad...class of 60, I believe? It sounded a lot like Shogun's scenario. At one point, we were discussing his Beast and the Corpshas-ers among his cadre. They marched uphill both ways, 27 miles, with heavier rucks, in the blazing sun with snow up to their knees, barefooted, with no water...it was quite entertaining. He was a good sport.</p>