<p>Just a thread for everyone’s common questions for plebe year.</p>
<p>Does the pressure stop after beast or does it not really end until yuk or cow year?</p>
<p>what are the classes for a plebe hoping to pursue a humanities degree?</p>
<p>The pressure and stuff depends on a cadet’s company. Some companies basically cool off after Christmas, but in other companies, plebes are plebes until May. There is still a lot of pressure after that, but not the same kind of pressure. Also, one’s chain of command could add more pressure to do well for all classes. Every plebe takes the same classes unless a plebe tests out of the required classes. There is almost no choice for a plebe in regards to their schedule.</p>
<p>assuming one doesn’t test out of the required classes, could you list all of the plebe required classes?</p>
<p>2 semesters each of Chemistry, Calculus, History(US or World), 1 semester each of Literature, Composition, Information technology, and psychology. Half a semester each of gymnastics, boxing(combatives for females), and swimming. Also, there’s a military science class that as of now meets every 4th day all year long, but they are considering changes for that. It is a pretty full load. Much more than many people take at other schools.</p>
<p>As per the “Gymnastics” class, it has been renamed Military Movement. (you’re not getting away from Gymnastics, haha!)</p>
<p>SPOILER WARNING: If you didn’t know, the swimming (more like plebe drowning) class supposedly involves the new wave pool which can simulate storm conditions (realistic rain, thunder, choppy water and visual representation of lightening).</p>
<p>'If you didn’t know, the swimming (more like plebe drowning) class supposedly involves the new wave pool which can simulate storm conditions (realistic rain, thunder, choppy water and visual representation of lightening)."</p>
<p>YUP—plebe drowning.</p>
<p>There’s really a wave pool that can do that?</p>
<p>Oh yeah…</p>
<p>As much as people call it plebe drowning, instructors will get you to pass and be confident doing whatever, as long as you are putting in the effort. All instructos are very accessible and are always willing to give additional instruction to any student whether you want to go from an F to at least a C-, or if you want to pull your A- up to an A.</p>
<p>Why is it called plebe drowning…</p>
<p>Instructors will push you to your limits, but not let you fail. You have to let yourself fail. Some parts of the class involve jumping in the water with boots, Army Combat Uniform, a rubber rifle, and load bearing equipment. They will let you struggle, but they won’t let you drown. Many people claim they felt like they were going to drown, but the instructors know what they are doing, and know when to pull you out. They jsut take you outside of your comfort zone.</p>
<p>plebe drowning sounds wild! can’t wait … 
it begs the question, what’s a soldier doing in the middle of the ocean?</p>
<p>when I visited my plebe said that academics were actually easier first term because of all the hazing… and he said his superiors got pretty tired of hazing by second term and laid off.</p>
<p>A lot of soldiers died by drowning at Normandy. Also, you don’t want a soldier falling in a river and not making it out.</p>
<p>A few tanks have gone off roads and bridges into the river in Iraq----and in several of thoses cases, not a good outcome.</p>
<p>good anwers!</p>
<p>Plebe Swimming is mostly to build confidence. I was on the swim team in highschool and always considered myself a good swimmer…but I had a few moments of fear over the course. It’s also a chance to challenge yourself and push your limits - like jumping off the 10m platform, then swimming the length of the pool, underwater, in ACUs and boots. Here’s a link to the grading assessments. <a href=“http://www.usma.edu/dpe/courses/Swimming/swassessment.htm[/url]”>http://www.usma.edu/dpe/courses/Swimming/swassessment.htm</a></p>
<p>The new wave pool is awesome, I watched a few classes go through the combat water problem with the waves, rain, lightning, and sound track. Pretty cool!</p>
<p>You don’t really jump off the platform…it’s more like stepping off. Do they blindfold ya or leave the room dark? I know the wave pool room is pretty dark when they want it to be.</p>
<p>They used blindfolds (at least they did last year).</p>
<p>how difficult are the academics for plebe year?</p>