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
Covering Cadets, Midshipmen, the Military and Veterans Proudly Since 2008.

[@DomLysandru]

"Sir, The Law. This is the Valley of Pain. We are not Men, we are beasts, and you have made us beasts....""

[@fidesetratio3478]

Thank you for your service

[@Big-4]

Congratulations to the class of 2027 at West Point. My son is a swab at the Coast Guard Academy and they started June 26 on their 200 week journey. CGA is only 300 cadets so it affords more access to the swabs on R day. We actually got 15 minutes in the afternoon after they were sworn in on the parade field which is much better than 90 seconds in an auditorium. Go Bears… beat MMA

[@BuhayBuhaysaAmerika]

GREAT JOB

[@SandNSurf]

So exciting! Future Officers and Leaders in the United States Army 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸

[@worldwidespy7178]

All the best!

[@Erikcasas64]

How much are the haircuts there? Are there courses for the topic?

[@Erikcasas64]

Im the symbolic green pastures"the great seal" soldier Hispanic mexican american jew, tribe of judah!

[@kmbbmj5857]

Cannot believe it's been five years since we dropped our son off. He graduated Class of 2022. Parents, it goes by so fast.

[@charliegruchy530]

Schooling and service, and sports, opportunites ❤

[@curtekstrom9531]

Over 1,200 will Enter Day one of a Miltary Academy. However 950 will actually make it to Graduation in 4 years.

[@CurlyWoof]

We graduated with fewer than 800.

[@kevinpiacente3456]

How many have quit already?

[@Stonewallgaston]

Yakima ❤

[@donnatran6228]

Is it class of 2027?

[@sunnykundi2479]

Yes

[@jrt3046]

Go Class of 2027!

[@billywilds1779]

Once again men and women are not equal. Why are men still getting buzz cuts? Women. Oh, you can do this or that or even this and that, remember don't lift anything heavy, that's why we let men into the academy.

[@Big-4]

Hopefully the removal of affirmative action will change some of this and they will only select the best candidates and not the best candidates to check a box. It’s ridiculous how watered down the final list of cadets really is

[@yanhaixing8951]

@@Big-4 Affirmative action is not removed from SAs. only normal colleges

[@charliegruchy530]

They lose 250 by graduation.... high standards .. not all can make it

[@falconalley7228]

Congratulations….. GO ARMY BUT DON’T GO WOKE like your joint chiefs if staff. You can’t fight with your pants down.

[@tonyrowland9216]

sadly for some their dream will end before Thanksgiving .

[@johnwachter6369]

BEAT ARMY !!! USNA '81