Top Tips For West Point R-Day Planning
By a Grad, Plebe Parent, Sponsor Mom, and Hotel General Manager (and the insight she has gotten from other moms)
1. Check your Emails!
Especially since 2020, emails from The Thayer Hotel, the USMA Parent Liaison, and communication forwarded from your cadet candidate will contain useful information that may help you plan or adjust planning. Often, there are limited tickets or reservations to things, so checking your email frequently will ensure you get the information quickly and are the early bird on securing any reservations you may want to get. The Thayer Hotel will continue to send you updates and information up until the week of your arrival (with weather, any information we have gotten from West Point, and other pro-tips as R-Day, A-Day, Plebe Parent Weekend, and Graduation approach).
2. Sign Up for Emails from the West Point Association of Graduates (AOG) for Parents
West Point’s AOG provides invaluable services to the Corps of Cadets. In addition to supporting cadets, they have events and information for Cadet Parents: e.g., offer opportunities (like the pre R-Day Ice Cream Social and Lunch BBQ with information sessions). You can get added by filling this form out:
By a Grad, Plebe Parent, Sponsor Mom, and Hotel General Manager (and the insight she has gotten from other moms)
1. Check your Emails!
Especially since 2020, emails from The Thayer Hotel, the USMA Parent Liaison, and communication forwarded from your cadet candidate will contain useful information that may help you plan or adjust planning. Often, there are limited tickets or reservations to things, so checking your email frequently will ensure you get the information quickly and are the early bird on securing any reservations you may want to get. The Thayer Hotel will continue to send you updates and information up until the week of your arrival (with weather, any information we have gotten from West Point, and other pro-tips as R-Day, A-Day, Plebe Parent Weekend, and Graduation approach).
2. Sign Up for Emails from the West Point Association of Graduates (AOG) for Parents
West Point’s AOG provides invaluable services to the Corps of Cadets. In addition to supporting cadets, they have events and information for Cadet Parents: e.g., offer opportunities (like the pre R-Day Ice Cream Social and Lunch BBQ with information sessions). You can get added by filling this form out:
3. Attire.
Ladies and gentlemen, our number 1 tip is to wear comfortable walking shoes, and if you want something fancier for pictures, bring a cute tote to put those in. Wear layers and bring sunscreen. There is no dress code, but we recommend comfortable modest clothing. The Thayer Hotel has ponchos to sell in the event of inclement weather, but we always recommend bringing a few small umbrellas, because the forecast can change over the few days that you are here.
4. Dining Reservations.
Regardless of where you plan to dine, make reservations and a plan, because there are limited dining options in and around West Point on this busy time. You do not need additional stress of not knowing where to go or needing to wait a long time to eat. Good news: if you have an Air BNB that is easy to make plans to eat at home. The Thayer Hotel’s guide to all meal periods that have reservations and menus that you can find by clicking here:
Ladies and gentlemen, our number 1 tip is to wear comfortable walking shoes, and if you want something fancier for pictures, bring a cute tote to put those in. Wear layers and bring sunscreen. There is no dress code, but we recommend comfortable modest clothing. The Thayer Hotel has ponchos to sell in the event of inclement weather, but we always recommend bringing a few small umbrellas, because the forecast can change over the few days that you are here.
4. Dining Reservations.
Regardless of where you plan to dine, make reservations and a plan, because there are limited dining options in and around West Point on this busy time. You do not need additional stress of not knowing where to go or needing to wait a long time to eat. Good news: if you have an Air BNB that is easy to make plans to eat at home. The Thayer Hotel’s guide to all meal periods that have reservations and menus that you can find by clicking here:
5. Pick Up Your Parents Pass Early
If you do not have a current DoD Identification card, you will need a Local Area Credential Pass (known as “The Parents Pass” that is good for 4 years) or temporary pass to have access to West Point around R-Day and in the future. Anyone over 18 will need this. Your cadet candidate has received an email about how to get the temporary pass for R-Day by filling out a manifest. Here is the link to Fill Out The Parent Pass Form, that you can email in to usarmy.westpoint.id-training.list.west-point-vcc@army.mil prior to R-Day (we recommend now). You can pick up your pass any time that the visitor center is open prior to R-Day (you can go on R-Day too, but we recommend going before if you can, and the more that go ahead of time, the easier it is for parents whose travel plans preclude them from getting it before R-Day). Click here for Visitor Center hours, currently 6 am – 10 pm. Click here for all of the security rules/pass information: Visiting West Point.
6. Say the Hard Goodbye Before Actual R-Day
You will have 60 or 90 seconds (it has changed from year to year) to say “goodbye” to your cadet in Eisenhower (Ike) Hall. In our experience, the parents who make this a more transactional “see you soon” goodbye in Ike Hall have it easier, and have shared all of the love, prayers, emotional “good bye” and most of the tears the night or days before.
7. Your Cadet Will Always Have the Best Information
Get the Most Up To Date Information from your cadet or the official West Point Parents website: https://www.westpoint.edu/parents
8. Be Like Gumby
Be flexible. Things are going to happen that make plans change. And since 2020, West Point often changes things or puts out last minute information due to military requirements. Knowing this and being prepared for changes will help you to be flexible and cause less stress for you and your family.
9. Use West Point Transportation Once Here.
Once on campus, do not try to drive around West Point and find additional parking. Either walk or use the West Point Bus system; you can use this link (favorite it!!) to track the buses around West Point anytime that you visit to know what your wait times will be at the stops.
PS. If you have a handicap parking pass, bring it with you, there are designated parking areas, but, these are limited. West Point will put out more information about this special parking.
10. "See" Your New Cadet
Try to find pictures of your new cadet on social media by following: West Point FLICKR page (https://www.flickr.com/photos/west_point/), on IG: westpointadmissions, westpointsuperintendent, westpoint_usma
11. Use these planning guides to print out and help you keep all of the information in one place while you’re traveling!
Our West Point R-Day Planning Guide will help you stay organized!
Thayer Hotel’s R-Day Quick Info Sheet
12. If you forgot something that your cadet needs for BEAST, don’t freak out.
First, one of their company-mates will likely have extras, and they are teammates. And they will be surrounded by squad leaders and teammates who will be helping them. Second, before dropping them off, you can buy almost anything you need for your cadet’s packing list at Target or Walmart in Central Valley (about 15-20 minutes from West Point). Your cadet can also access the West Point Post Exchange (PX) for the boots/shoes with the memo should those get left behind (it has happened before where those have been left home).
We hope that you have a wonderful time planning. As much as your cadet’s childhood flew by, the time between now and Graduation will as well. We are here to support you, to answer questions, and to be the backdrop for the incredible memories you will make during your Cadet’s R-Day and Four Year Experience. Congratulations!
Beat Navy!
Carly
If you do not have a current DoD Identification card, you will need a Local Area Credential Pass (known as “The Parents Pass” that is good for 4 years) or temporary pass to have access to West Point around R-Day and in the future. Anyone over 18 will need this. Your cadet candidate has received an email about how to get the temporary pass for R-Day by filling out a manifest. Here is the link to Fill Out The Parent Pass Form, that you can email in to usarmy.westpoint.id-training.list.west-point-vcc@army.mil prior to R-Day (we recommend now). You can pick up your pass any time that the visitor center is open prior to R-Day (you can go on R-Day too, but we recommend going before if you can, and the more that go ahead of time, the easier it is for parents whose travel plans preclude them from getting it before R-Day). Click here for Visitor Center hours, currently 6 am – 10 pm. Click here for all of the security rules/pass information: Visiting West Point.
6. Say the Hard Goodbye Before Actual R-Day
You will have 60 or 90 seconds (it has changed from year to year) to say “goodbye” to your cadet in Eisenhower (Ike) Hall. In our experience, the parents who make this a more transactional “see you soon” goodbye in Ike Hall have it easier, and have shared all of the love, prayers, emotional “good bye” and most of the tears the night or days before.
7. Your Cadet Will Always Have the Best Information
Get the Most Up To Date Information from your cadet or the official West Point Parents website: https://www.westpoint.edu/parents
8. Be Like Gumby
Be flexible. Things are going to happen that make plans change. And since 2020, West Point often changes things or puts out last minute information due to military requirements. Knowing this and being prepared for changes will help you to be flexible and cause less stress for you and your family.
9. Use West Point Transportation Once Here.
Once on campus, do not try to drive around West Point and find additional parking. Either walk or use the West Point Bus system; you can use this link (favorite it!!) to track the buses around West Point anytime that you visit to know what your wait times will be at the stops.
PS. If you have a handicap parking pass, bring it with you, there are designated parking areas, but, these are limited. West Point will put out more information about this special parking.
10. "See" Your New Cadet
Try to find pictures of your new cadet on social media by following: West Point FLICKR page (https://www.flickr.com/photos/west_point/), on IG: westpointadmissions, westpointsuperintendent, westpoint_usma
11. Use these planning guides to print out and help you keep all of the information in one place while you’re traveling!
Our West Point R-Day Planning Guide will help you stay organized!
Thayer Hotel’s R-Day Quick Info Sheet
12. If you forgot something that your cadet needs for BEAST, don’t freak out.
First, one of their company-mates will likely have extras, and they are teammates. And they will be surrounded by squad leaders and teammates who will be helping them. Second, before dropping them off, you can buy almost anything you need for your cadet’s packing list at Target or Walmart in Central Valley (about 15-20 minutes from West Point). Your cadet can also access the West Point Post Exchange (PX) for the boots/shoes with the memo should those get left behind (it has happened before where those have been left home).
We hope that you have a wonderful time planning. As much as your cadet’s childhood flew by, the time between now and Graduation will as well. We are here to support you, to answer questions, and to be the backdrop for the incredible memories you will make during your Cadet’s R-Day and Four Year Experience. Congratulations!
Beat Navy!
Carly