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July 1, 2005 |
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July 1, 2005 |
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R-Day Rehearsal
Story
and photos by Spc. Benjamin Gruver
Staff Writer
New
cadets were not the only ones to experience Reception Day at the U.S. Military
Academy as approximately 350 civilians, retirees and others became cadets for a
day by participating in an R-Day rehearsal June 24.
During
the rehearsal the 260 cadet cadre members moved the participants along through
each point of in-processing in preparation for the arrival of the class of 2009
who came in Monday.
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| USMA Athletic Director Kevin Anderson takes part in R-Day rehearsal. |
“R-Day
is a huge, complex operation, the only way we can insure it runs smoothly
is to rehearse thoroughly,” said Cadet 1st Class Jonathan Bate, the first
detail commander for Cadet Basic Training. “We want the new cadets’ first
impression of
Before
new cadets march out to take the Oath of Allegiance at Trophy Point, Bate
explained, the cadet cadre will have to insure that each new cadet completes
administrative in-processing, medical and physical evaluations, get hair cuts,
be issued trousers that fit along with other military clothing, receive drill
instruction and eat lunch.
On
top of completing each of the necessary tasks the cadet cadre are expected to
begin teaching military courtesy and discipline to the new cadets coming in,
which for the rehearsal participants becomes an experience many will not soon
forget.
One
“I
survived,” said John De Angelis, a travel clerk with the Defense Military Pay
Office here. “I know that if I were a cadet I would probably be leaving today.
It is not for me. I tell all the active duty Soldiers that come in the office
that I like being on this side of the fence and supporting the Soldiers, but I
could never do what they do. You have to be cut out for it.”
As
much as De Angelis learned he was not cut out to be a cadet, he explained that
it was a very valuable experience and would like to do it again.
 |
| Kevin Anderson reports to a member of the cadet cadre. |
“I
think that a lot of the employees here should go through it because it is just
awesome,” De Angelis said, who has worked here for six years. “Now I can
literally speak for other people when they ask me about the cadets and what they
go through on the first day. I have a little bit of insight I never knew
before.”
Retired
Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Schlossler said going through the rehearsal reminded him
of basic training, going through all the military procedures.
“It
was a fun day and a learning experience for those parents that haven’t been in
the military,” Schlossler said. “They got to see what they actually do.”
For
the cadets the roughly three-hour rehearsal was a way to perfect the process and
get out their own jitters before the new class enters
“I
think it is important because it is always different when you start to talk in
front of someone and when you have people coming through you kind of get to work
out the kinks and figure out exactly how it is going to work on R-Day,” Cadet
2nd Class Veronica Lauzon, a cadet sergeant and squad leader for CBT’s Alpha
Company. “When you get to R-Day it has to be boom, boom, boom, you have to get
it right the first time because it is the first impression you are going to make
on the candidates when they get here. With the civilians coming in we get to
work out the kinks and practice what we are going to do, how we are going to act
and it is a run through of exactly how it is going to go.”
Lauzon,
a native of
“I
just try to remember that how stone-cold faced they were when I came through on
the first day,” Lauzon said.
When
the rehearsal was all over participants and the cadet cadre mingled with juice
and cookies on the steps of Washington Hall and, for the first time,
participants saw smiles on many of the cadre’s faces.
“Overall, I
was happy,” said Bate. “It went very well, except for a few glitches.”