Ann

Champs06: "but i still want to make sure i take it 100% serious. what would you recommend as far as attitude goes when going in?"

My 2c:
1. Go in with the attitude that you will not quit during Beast. If you make an informed decision to leave down the road so be it, but do not quit during Beast.
2. Understand that your decisions affect your team. Have a positive attitude and help your team mates out where you can.
3. The upperclassmen want you to succeed. If you are being corrected, learn from it and move on. Having a sense of humor will help - laughing out loud when you are being yelled at will not....
4. Understand that you need to pass the APFT at the end of Beast. Much of the “correction” you receive has this aim in mind.
5. As others have said, the joy of completing Beast can be “dampened” by re-orgy week. It is a shortened week this year, but be mentally prepared for a stressful week. It is the first time the new cadets are vastly outnumbered by upperclassmen.
6. Join a club and find some time to decompress during plebe year, but remember that plebe company duties still have to be done by somebody. Don't be the plebe who joins so many clubs that there is no time in your schedule to do duties (somebody else will have to pick up your slack - see point no 2).
7. Know that you have been given a wonderful opportunity - make the most of it!

momoftwins

During the first few days of Beast you'll have an opportunity to attend "Chaplain's Hour". (I think that's what it's called.) You will want to take advantage of this opportunity to decompress, feel a bit normal, and get some extra food. I highly recommend taking advantage of this. If your religious denomination isn't represented, visit others. If you're an atheist, Beast just may give you religion.

Champs06

Thanks for your wisdom momoftwins, ann, wpmom2011, and BGregory

Champs06

I appreciate all the advise

ElyseD

It's all about attitude. As long as you keep a serious look on your face you'll be able to fool anyone. Definatly attend Chaplain's Time (and if you think you can get away with it sneak candy back by putting it inside the flask of your camelbak!) Honestly (minize R-day) I thought Beast was fun, at least at times. Take each meal at a time and vent through letters. Parents and friends have probably heard this a thousand times, but new cadets really do live off mail. It's heartbreaking to open an empty mailbox.

Champs06

Thanks ElyseD...I assume you are a cadet...when i was at the USNA summer seminar they mentioned sponser families, but i forgot to ask on my overnight visit to USMA about them. Does west point do the sponsor families? if so, how does that work and does it apply to plebes?

ElyseD

ya i'm a plebe and all the service academies i believe have a sponsor programs. every cadet here is paired a sponsor family based on interests/ hobbies. i know some sponsors invite their cadets out everyweekend, or some, like mine, have young kids and rarely communicate.

frijoles

Ping?

anyways she is right, we do in fact have them but I share a similar experience with Elyse, and my sponsor never even contacted/responded to me. That being said if you get a good sponsor it is not uncommon for them to lend cars, take you to dinner etc...

ElyseD

ya, who's this?

frijoles

ha

dr. bonds...its been a while

KateMac

My cadet has an AWESOME sponsor family, and I truly believe that the reason they all have such a good relationship falls on both sides. I know some of the cadets they sponsor rarely see them or go to their house (except during those times when the sponsors put out an "all call" like for a Super Bowl party and I believe they try to do some sort of everybody get together every couple of months), but they made it clear to my daughter that she was welcome to call whenever she wanted to come over and she is of the personality that she took them at their word. In my opinion, that helps the relationship; cadets cannot always wait for the sponsor to make the move. If they are busy, they tell her so and she knows it isn't because they don't like her, it's because they are busy and they come up with an alternative that works for all concerned.

Anyway, they have taken her to the city a couple of times to see some shows, she goes over there to do laundry and hang out, she has eaten numerous lunches and dinners at their family table, they have taken her to the airport, cooked her favorite meals for her from time to time, nursed her when she was sick, and truly become surrogate parents. They even took our extended family on a "backstage" tour of West Point during PPW and have invited us to stay at their house when we are in town. On the flip side, my daughter is interested in their children, truly likes them, spends time with them, helps out when she is visiting, is (probably) on her best behavior, asks their advice and respects their opinions.

So, when you get the chance to meet your potential sponsor family during the change of detail during Beast, put your best foot forward. Be personable, ask them questions, and try to get to know them. They can be key to your "survival" during plebe year. As a parent, I like knowing there is another "mom" who will step in when necessary. Although she and I communicate infrequently, there have been a couple of times phone calls have been made regarding one thing or another, and it's nice for me to know someone is watching out for my kid. They have given so much already and have made my daughter's life much more bearable this past year. I just wish there was something I could do for them in return.

ElyseD

bonds! aww i miss having english with you

frijoles

haha I miss you too! its just not the same any more...

momoftwins

My daughter's sponsor family is fabulous. The experience is similar to KateMac's daugher's. Our daughter is practically a part of the family. During plebe year, they taped her favorite shows so she could watch them on the weekend. They've taken her to many dinners and included her in many of their activities. They send me gifts and pictures. It's not one-sided give and take, though. She spends time with their teenager - running, shopping, going to movies, out to eat, etc. When we're in town, we try to take them to dinner. We send them special occasion and thank you gifts (which they do not expect).

This was not the same sponsor she was paired with during the Beast ice cream social. It's important to know that if a cadet and sponsor do not "bond" you can switch. Also, cadets often bring their friends over to a sponsor's house and voila! a cadet has a new sponsor. If the relationship is not one-sided and is a good one, it will most definitely make the entire West Point experience a better one.

My best advice is:
1) Don't forget to send thank you cards/letters.
2) And if you're invited to an event by your sponsor, PLEASE RSVP. They are going to the expense of buying food and spending time preparing it. Remember that they are volunteers and respect what they are doing for you.

landsy

It is luck of the draw if you do not know anyone. My sponsor's wife had a kid midway through my plebe year, and since then I have not really talked to him. It is an understandable circumstance and I am really busy most of the time anyway.