<p>I know that some of the parents asked us to update them with how us New Cadets are handeling Beast so here it goes. Its now week three and I am sitting at my sponsors house trying to relax for the first time in quite a while. These three weeks have been mind blowing. We have done everything from Land Navigation and Close Quarters Combat to the six mile ruck march up the side of the ski slope. The pase is so fast that I honestly cannot tell you which day it was that I did each of our many briefings and instruction blocks. Well at least I am proud to say that I am one of the current survivors of Echo Company 2nd Platoon. Out of the fifty new cadets who are currently outprocessing, leaving the academy, five are from my single platoon. Some of the cadets are taking the constant hazing and yelling so personally, that we have already had one kid who went AWOL and made it all the way to Newburg before being found by the cadet chain of command. Well if any other cadets or parents want to share their Beast experiences with all of the perspective cadets I guess this is the place to do so. I just want to thank all of the parents and cadets who have been posting thoughout the last year in better preparing me for what I am going though in CBT. Peace out and I'll see everybody on A-Day!</p>
<p>He made it to Newburgh? That's awesome! Normally the gate guards keep y'all at least within the fence. Peace, strength, and honor. You've got a whole new cadre and I'm sure they'll be different!</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing!</p>
<p>Got a call from the NC Brother today. He sounds like he's doing well! He's eating up all the military things though he said the SAMI was ridiculous, which of course I was glad to hear, for that's their identity! He is definitely keeping his sense of humor, and he has discovered he is loud! Granted, we've been telling him that for years, and I have no doubt that he's probably one of the loudest of the NCs...he says his 1st Detail CO would cringe/jump when he greets her in the hallway! That's definitely my brother! My sister and I wrote him letters and used some stamps we bought at the post office, paying no heed to the type. Well, they were blue birds on in it, and he has had to write a poem and a story about the blue birds, so he asked for no more blue bird stamps! But, he likes the discipline, the structure, and the motivation of everything, so I know he is thriving on the challenges of it all, and I know exactly what that's like. So, no worries about quitting with him. He's thrilled about the future ruck marches, the gas chamber, hand grenades, and rifle qual! So, sounds like 2010, well several of them anyhow, have hit the mid-mark running! Parents--the next few weeks are full of fun in the field, so don't expect as many letters, but know that they are getting to do some of the fun "real" Army stuff too! Three weeks down, three weeks to go!</p>
<p>Fifty new cadets outprocessing! Maybe I am uninformed, but that sounds like alot to me. Does anyone know what the average dropout rate is for beast?</p>
<p>I don't think that is too much off the norm. I seem to remember a similar number last year.</p>
<p>the norm is 5-8% over the duration of Beast. With 1300+ cadets, 50 is within the norm for the halfway mark.</p>
<p>Last year, 63 of the 1251 cadets separated by A-Day. </p>
<p>It's only a number unless its your cadet that has been separated. </p>
<p>I include all the cadets in my daily prayers and add a special prayer for the cadets (and their families) that separate from the academy during Beast or any time after Beast. </p>
<p>The stress of remaining a cadet is intense. I bet the stress of separation is, in some ways, even tougher.</p>
<p>My son called yesterday from his sponsor's house. So far, so good. For the most part he is enjoying himself. The physical aspects have not been as demanding as he expected - he has not had any problems with the marches, etc. The worst part for him was on R-Day, standing for hours with the unsupported bag on his bag. His four years in the Civil Air Patrol helped prepare him in many ways - marching, saluting, military knowledge, etc. He can't wait to start some of the military training - he's even looking forward to the gas chamber....maybe he's just looking forward to getting it done. His worst experience so far was he had to get on one knee and serenade a female (upperclass) cadet with a love song. The only one he could think of was some country called, "honky tonk badonkadonk". Of course everyone around had a good laugh - and now his nickname is "honky tonk"</p>
<p>Thanks for the statistics. I didn't realize the dropout rate was that high.</p>
<p>Aspen - I agree that separation from the academy must be very stressful. All the build up and excitement, and then let down and disappointment. </p>
<p>Unless my son is injured I expect him to tough it out through beast. He will have had a year in civil prep to decide West Point is really what he wants to do. If he were to quit during beast I would feel like he gave up WAY too soon.</p>
<p>I heard from my NC too. Sounds like they're doing really well. Some of the stories are soooooo funny. Keep them coming. I would really like to be a fly on some of those walls.</p>
<p>I think it's WAY too soon for anyone who gives up during 1st detail. Yes, it's extremely stressful, but it's only 3 weeks. The 2nd detail, although still highly stressful, will actually start to be fun(?) culminating with a week in the field. Academic year is tough, but certainly not like Beast. </p>
<p>I have often thought that those who leave during Beast because they think they made a mistake choosing WP, may end up thinking that they made a mistake leaving West Point. And they could be haunted by that decision for a lot longer than 6 weeks. I recall the comments from the son of Chicago's current Mayor Daley. He attended WP for 1 year then left. He then completed college and earned his MBA. Last year he enlisted in the Army (not OCS) and said that he just had not been ready for West Point. Leaving was a decision he deeply regretted.</p>
<p>Thanks for the updates.</p>
<p>yes, second the civil prep comment... if he has any doubts that is a good place to check it out ... and my NC (2010) did civil prep last year, and is 'enjoying' beast --which I suspect he would not without the prep year</p>
<p>about how many cadets give up during beast each year?</p>
<p>Roughly 5 % according to various posts.</p>
<p>FYI, The class of 2009 entered Beast with 1251 new cadets. By the end of the first acadmic term (December) there were 1164 plebes. So from Beginning of Beast to the end of the 1st academic semester the attrition was roughly 7%.</p>
<p>And I can tell you we lost a lot more second semester... Don't know the exact stats, but a lot of people leave right after Christmas--it is, without a doubt, the most depressing time of the year. </p>
<p>And to be quite honest, while Beast is more physically stressful, the Academic Year is much more stressful overall. You just deal with so much--juggling schoolwork, the need to stay physically fit, all kinds of requirements, boredom, etc. Not to say that there aren't a lot of good things--THERE ARE. Clubs were definitely the best thing to happen to me. I met so many upperclassmen and so many other people; it really helped a lot.</p>
<p>A comparitive fact - My class had about an eighty percent four year graduation rate.</p>
<p>Class of 2006 began with 1197 cadets. 861 (72%) cadets graduated in 2006. While not an exact number historically about 75-80% of each class graduates.</p>
<p>Yup, that was us. We were almost already smaller than 2005 when they were firsties and we were cows. They graduated 911.</p>