2023 West Point R-Day Highlights, 90 Sec Goodbyes, Haircuts, Reporting to the Cadet in Red Sash

2023 West Point R-Day Highlights, 90 Sec Goodbyes, Haircuts, Reporting to the Cadet in Red Sash.

Candidates as they are initially known arrived in groups of 40 with their families to the Eisenhower Hall auditorium, receive a welcome, brief instructions then we're told,

"You have 90 seconds to say Goodbye"

Then the Cadet Candidates were directed to walk through a side door, immediately receive loudly delivered directions, their lives never to be the same.

The day continued with changing to gym clothes and black shoes, picking up a prepackaged ruck sack, Army term for a large duffle bag filled wit equipment and their uniforms, and for the men a haircut.

Members of the Cadet upper classes instruct during the day with assistance of Army drill sergeants brought in for the training period. New cadets are taught how to stand, salute, march and turn. Throughout the day the cadets stand in formations and read to memorize a book of West Point facts. They each wear a water filled bladder like container with a straw and are directed to keep hydrated.

An unforgettable high stress moment of West Point R-Day tradition is to,

"Report to Cadet in the Red Sash"

These are senior cadets who wear a belt like Red Sash a symbol of leadership and authority who direct each new cadet,

"To Step Up To My Line, Not On My Line"

and deliver a short specific statement under demanding glare of the upperclassman.

"New Cadet (Name) reports to Cadet in Red Sash..."

So begins the first day at West Point for another class of future Army officers and leaders. The designated "New Cadets" will now undergo six weeks of Basic Training known as "Beast Barracks" during which they are away from parents and friends with letters the recommended means of communications to the outside world.

The summer Cadet Basic Training culminates in a 15 mile full pack "March Back" in early August from the Training Center at Fort Buckner to the Superintendent's House near the main building.

The Class of 2027 will be formally accepted into the U. S. Corps of Cadets during the Acceptance Day Parade at 10 AM on Saturday August 12th.

Thank you to Army Head football coach Jeff Monken, Associate Admissions Director Col. Tom Tolman, Col. George Mitroka from the 50th Anniversary Class, Cadet Basic Training Commander Isabella Sullivan, Cadet Instructors and of course the New Cadets.

Video by Ken Kraetzer for #CaMMVetsMedia LLC

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