new cadets in a parade cere- - Voice for the Army · 32 ARMY September 2008 ... new cadets in a...
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32 ARMY ■ September 2008 three times that number of family members who have come to say farewell, line up at Eisenhower Hall: It is Re- ception Day (better known at the academy as R-Day), a ma- chinelike in-processing ritual that in eight hours will hew the haphazard line of incoming teenagers into a formation of he spectacle of a perfect summer morning on the Hudson River, the awe-inspiring majesty of the solid stone work of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and the ner- vous shuffling of the class of 2012 as more than 1,100 young men and women, and perhaps new cadets in a parade cere- mony. R-Day is not unlike any reception process in the Army. There’s the necessary incoming personnel station, paperwork signing, medical review, new gear and clothing shoveled into a duffle bag, hair- cuts, quarters assignment, haranguing and hurry. It is a shock-and-awe ritual that cuts the lines to adolescence and
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Transcript of new cadets in a parade cere- - Voice for the Army · 32 ARMY September 2008 ... new cadets in a...
32 ARMY n September 2008
three times thatnumber of familymembers whohave come to say farewell, lineup at Eisenhower Hall: It is Re-ception Day (better known atthe academy as R-Day), a ma-chinelike in-processing ritualthat in eight hours will hew thehaphazard line of incomingteenagers into a formation of
he spectacleof a perfect
summer morningon the Hudson
River, the awe-inspiringmajesty of the solid stone workof the U.S. Military Academy,West Point, N.Y., and the ner-vous shuffling of the class of2012 as more than 1,100 youngmen and women, and perhaps
new cadets in a parade cere-mony.
R-Day is not unlike anyreception process in the
Army. There’s the necessary incoming personnel station, paperwork signing, medical review, new gear and clothingshoveled into a duffle bag, hair-cuts, quarters assignment, haranguing and hurry. It is ashock-and-awe ritual that cutsthe lines to adolescence and
September 2008 n ARMY 33
civilian lifeand beginsthe shaping ofsoldiers. The added wrinkle atWest Point is that before sunsetthat first day the new cadetswill march before their parentsand well-wishers in tailoredgray and white uniforms—hav-ing been dazed, dazzled anddrilled—and raise their handsin a formal oath ceremony atTrophy Point, symbolic of their
transformation and staged forthe benefit of their families.(The official oath was takenhours earlier in a drab class-room, administered by an Armylawyer who oversees the read-ing and signing of a multipagecontract.)
The morning line at Eisen-hower Hall, the first stage ofthe process, is divided intogroups that are sized by thenumber of incoming students
Photographs by Dennis Steele
who can fit on a single shuttlebus. There, the families and in-coming cadets are welcomed,congratulated on their accom-plishments to achieve accep-tance at the academy and givenprecisely 30 seconds to saygood-bye. The busload groupof incoming cadets moves out,the families funnel away andthe process begins.
Corps of Cadets leaders march the classof 2012 to its formal oath ceremony toconclude Reception Day (R-Day) events.R-Day activities prepare the new cadetsfor the ceremony, which marks their single-day transition from civilian life.
Cadet Joe Schafer moni-tors the line of incomingstudents and their fami-lies at Eisenhower Hall.
Above, new cadets and their families arewelcomed in the Eisenhower Hall auditorium.Left, at the conclusion of the welcomespeech, students and families are given 30seconds to say good-bye, and, below,members of the class of 2012 file out to begin R-Day processing.
Left, Cadet Thomas Comer issues strict instructions to abusload of new cadets as they arrive from Eisenhower Hall.Below, a new cadet exits the bus to begin the machinelikeprocess of R-Day.
34 ARMY n September 2008
36 ARMY n September 2008
Above, Cadet Christopher Rice addresses a formation of new cadets, outliningthe R-Day steps. Right, Jane Ludwig, a seamstress at West Point’s uniform fac-
tory, takes measurements. Tailored uniforms will be issued to each new cadetwithin hours of the initial measurement. Below left, new cadets hold open their
bags as they move down the line for clothing issue.
Left, Spc. JenniferMacDonald admin-isters inoculations.
Below, PennyGlackin overseesacceptance of contract paperworkpackets.
Above, optometrist Maj. James Truong issuesmilitary glasses to meet a student’s prescription.
Right, the “Beat Navy” slogan is reinforced atevery R-Day station.
After new cadets sign their U.S.Military Academy contracts, StaffJudge Advocate officer Capt. LevJacoby administers the officialoath ceremony.
Cadet Nadi Kassim goesover the list of authorizedpersonal items that a newcadet can keep whileattending cadet basictraining.
Above, Cadet Casey Astrup staresdown a new cadet in line to reportto his assigned West Pointcompany.
Cadet ArthurMiddlebrookscorrects a newcadet’s attitude.
The possessionsthat new cadetshave brought to theacademy—andwhich are notauthorized to bekept during basictraining—is storedfor them and will bereturned at theprescribed time.
Below, an upperclassman checkshis watch: The R-Day schedule
must be maintained.
38 ARMY n September 2008
40 ARMY n September 2008
A group of new cadetsmarches to the next R-Daystation as they make thecrossing from civilian life.
Above,wearing new lowquarters, incoming cadets lug theirissued equipment across campus. Right,at the barber shop, Stacey Wilson shearsa new cadet. At the end of R-Day, barbersweigh the take. The class of 2012 lost 38pounds of hair.
September 2008 n ARMY 41
Tailors DomenicoDiMarzo (fore-ground) and Anthony Tornatoreperform finalfittings. Both nowretired, the twotailors volunteeredto return to WestPoint to help meetthe R-Day rush.
Bottom left, racksof West Pointbathrobes will soonbe issued. Bottomright, Angela Pen-zato performs finalstitching.
When their attention is not specifically required,new cadets must use waiting time to read theirNew Cadet Handbook. In the surroundingphotographs, that function is being performed invarious settings.
Cadet JessieRamirez squares
away a new cadet.
42 ARMY n September 2008
New cadets comein all sizes, but the load is not
proportional.
New cadets aretagged with neces-
sary information.
Cadet ClintonRoberts demon-strates a proper
salute to newcadets.
Cadet Andres Pazmin—who spent priorenlisted service with Headquarters andHeadquarters Company, 3rd Brigade,82nd Airborne Division, before selectionfor the U.S. Military Academy—issues instructions as he teaches basic drill andceremony to a group of new cadets.
Cadet Katrina Kamel points out deficiencies.
44 ARMY n September 2008
46 ARMY n September 2008
At left and right, CadetCapt. MatthewRosebaugh, a WestPoint senior andCompany G com-mander, looks over thecrop of new cadetsassigned to his com-pany. His prior enlistedservice was with the2nd Battalion, 319thField Artillery, 82ndAirborne Division.
Cadet Jamie DeSpain correctsa new cadet’s salute.
New cadets must achieve acceptable skill levels in drilland ceremony and understanding commands on theirfirst day, preparing for the Trophy Point oath ceremony.
48 ARMY n September 2008
The very interested mother of anew cadet tries to spot her child.
The class of 2012—shorn and uniformed—marches toTrophy Point and the R-Day-ending oath ceremony.
New cadets raise their handsto take the oath.
New cadets rendersalutes to end theR-Day Trophy Pointceremony.
A well-wisher holdsa sign aloft as theformation of newcadets marchesaway.
