Helpful Information
Reception Day (R-Day)
If it’s
feasible, try to attend Reception Day. It
will help you better understand the academy and what your new cadet will experience during
CBT. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. The weather can be hot and humid.
Activities/conveniences for parents:
-
Initial briefing and farewell (with your
- Shuttle bus
service and guided bus tours around West Point;
- Parents
Reception Center;
- Afternoon
briefing by the
- New
cadet Swearing-In Ceremony.
Handy Items for Cadets to
Bring:
- Inexpensive watch;
- Small overnight bag;
- Stamped, pre-addressed envelopes to family and friends.
Communicating
with your Cadet
Mail to Cadets
Individual post
office box numbers are sent to new cadets as part of a mailing from the Director of
Admissions. These new cadet mailing addresses will also be available during R-Day. Cadets
can send their address within a day or two to parents who are unable to attend R-Day.
Suggestions
for parents:
- Bring
a stamped envelope/card with you, place your cadet’s new address on it, and drop it
in the mailbox before leaving West Point. Your cadet will enjoy having mail right away.
-
Try to write your cadet encouraging words as frequently as possible.
-
Emphasize taking one day at a time and keeping a sense of humor.
- Send hometown
news, cartoons, inspirational cards and a few pre-addressed and stamped post cards to your
new cadet.
The academy is often a
cadet’s first introduction to a military environment.
TAC
teams are instrumental in the cadet’s transition to the military lifestyle. A Company TAC Team is composed of an active duty
officer and senior NCO. TACs are the “Program Integrators” of the Academy. They are experienced Officers and NCOs with the
requisite military and civilian education and experiences which facilitate their ability
to lead, coach and mentor cadets, ensuring an easy and thorough integration into the Corps
of Cadets.
If
you have any questions or concerns about any programs, events or your cadet, the
“TAC” or “TAC NCO” would be your initial contact point. If you are unable to contact the TAC Team, you can
call the BTD HQ (845-938-6005) and they will coordinate the connection/contact.
West Point has long realized that it is
good for cadets to use electronic mail for both official and personal correspondence. This
fits the needs of the Army for officers must be capable and comfortable with electronic
communications. E-mail is also a simple and inexpensive way to support the morale and
welfare of cadets and their families. Cadets are prohibited from using the government
computer network for profit-making activities. Cadets receive their personal computers
during Reorganization Week which is Aug. 12-18. The simplest way to initiate an e-mail
conversation is to have your cadet send an e-mail
to your address. E-mail is not possible for new cadets during Cadet Basic Training. The
U.S. Military Academy is on the worldwide web. The address is: http://www.usma.edu.
Packages and "Boodle Boxes"
- Unless
it’s an emergency item (for example, eyeglasses), packages are not to be sent to new
cadets during Cadet Basic Training.
-
“Boodle” is the cadets’ expression for goodies from home, and it’s a
very effective morale-booster after CBT. Do
not send boodle during CBT.
- When you send
boodle, use an airtight container that will provide storage for future mailings.
- Most
commercial mail delivery services (UPS, FEDEX, etc.) deliver packages to the cadet Central
Guard Room. - Include the cadet’s name
and company, and address it as follows:
Cadet John
Smith, Company C4,
c/o Cadet Central Guard Room
Building 745C
West Point, New York 10996
(The zip code 10997 is used exclusively for mail
delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to the cadet’s mailbox.) The cadet-in-charge of
quarters takes the package to the recipient’s company area, and it is picked up
there.
Telephone
Calls
Most new cadets will not be able to
call home for 2-3 weeks, although this changes from year to year. There are pay phones in
all cadet barracks and new cadets will be allowed to use these phones to call home, time
permitting. During Reorganization Week (Aug 16-19), all new cadets will be issued their
personal phones.
Cadet Home
Address
If you move while your cadet is at the
academy, the cadet must go to the Cadet Personnel Office to fill out a change of address
form. The cadet is the only person authorized
to do this).
If parents do not reside at the same
location, remind your cadet to provide addresses for both parents. Each parent will then receive information sent out
by the academy as authorized by the cadet.
Medical Treatment
Cadets are members of the Army on
active duty and are eligible for military medical care. The entitlement to this care
continues as long as the cadet or graduate remains on active duty.
Don’t panic if you hear your cadet is in the hospital. You may call the TAC Team at any time to get information. Cadets who have an illness that requires bed rest, such as the flu, are often hospitalized because they do not have the option of missing classes and resting in their rooms. Because of Privacy Act restrictions, the cadets are responsible for notifying their parents. If a serious injury occurs, the TAC officer will notify the parents.
Your cadet can
call you by using a telephone credit card or dialing collect from the hospital.
They can be
reached by calling the
Cadets who become ill or injured while
on leave, pass or temporary duty (TDY) should go to a military treatment facility (Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, or VA), if available within a reasonable distance.
In the event of an emergency (life,
limb, or eye saving), cadets should obtain medical care at the nearest facility (military
or civilian). All cadets are required to
carry a USMA Cadet Medical Benefits card with information on the procedures to follow.
Prior authorization is not required for emergencies, but the Region 1 contractor must be
notified at the toll free number, 888-999-5195, or 845-938-4004 within 24 hours. The
Emergency Room at Keller Army Hospital must also be notified. The phone numbers are listed
on the card provided to the cadets. If
billed, forward the statement to Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York 10996-1197.
The government will not pay for non emergency medical or pharmacy care received in a civilian medical facility; and, if prior authorization is not obtained, the bills will not be paid by the government.
Only cadets who leave the academy because of an injury or illness suffered while on active duty may apply for medical care from the Veterans Administration. Cadets who resign or are separated from the academy for reasons other than injury or illness suffered while at West Point, generally are not eligible for VA medical care.
If allowed by their health insurance
carriers, parents should maintain health insurance coverage for their cadets. Doing so will ensure that your cadet can depart
the academy for any reason with no loss in medical insurance coverage. Some insurance
carriers may not allow your cadet to remain on your policy because your cadet is a member
of the active duty military.
Leave and
Buses transport cadets to airports
during major holiday and leave periods. Announcements
about these buses are made in the Mess Hall and on the cadet computer bulletin board. Cadets need to buy bus tickets in advance.
Cadets should allow themselves at least
three hours for travel to LaGuardia, JFK, Albany and Newark airports since traffic can
cause significant delays. Travel from Stewart
Airport and Albany may be more convenient if
flights go to your home area from there.
Cadets are encouraged to make their own
arrangements. Parents must check with their cadet regarding leave dates before making
reservations.
Getting the Word Out About Cadet
Achievements
There are a number of ways for cadets
and their parents to inform their local press about cadet achievements and the U.S.
Military Academy.
The Academy’s Public Affairs
Office (PAO) sends Hometown News Release forms automatically to all new cadets at the
completion of CBT, to all senior cadets just prior to graduation, to cadets earning
academic achievement and to those who are appointed to chain of command positions.
PAO can also prepare releases for other
activities such as club sports and military training schools (e.g. airborne, air assault). However, these forms are not sent automatically
and must be initiated by the cadet either by e-mail or in person to the PAO located in
Taylor Hall (Building 600).
PAO will then send the completed
releases directly to cadet parents to submit to their hometown papers. This system has proven to be very effective.
Another opportunity offered to cadets
and their parents is during Plebe Parent Weekend. The
PAO sets up a Hometown News Release booth where photographs are taken of the Plebe with
his/her visiting guests. Shortly after the
visit, the photo and suggested news release are sent to the parents which they may then
submit to their local newspapers. This
service is provided free of charge.
Parents can also submit information
about their cadet or USMA-related events that occur in their community directly to their
local media. If something unique or
particularly newsworthy occurs, parents can inform the PAO, which may be able to interest
the media in covering the story.
Public Affairs Office
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York 10996