WEST POINT – Approximately 1,300 cadet candidates reported to the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Monday, Reception Day, where the
Class of 2020 began their rapid, yet smooth transition into military life.
“So far the Class of 2020 is doing a really great job of moving
in,” said Cadet Adam Kratch, Cadet Basic Training Commander who
is from Long Valley, NJ. “The biggest focus today is making sure
that the Class of 2020 learns how to conduct themselves in a military
manner, and learns the basic aspects of military discipline so when we
march them out for the Oath Ceremony they look good for their parents.”
Known on-campus as “R-Day,” the day-long induction is organized
and conducted by the college’s upper classmen, seniors and juniors,
giving them the invaluable opportunity to practice and build on the leadership
skills that the 214-year old institution is famous for instilling.
Upperclassman marches alongside new cadets
Cadet candidate Devin Dye of Delton, Alabama, whose father and grandfather
graduated West Point, said he grew up with the Army and it’s all
he’s ever known. Although he was “definitely ready”
to start his college and army career in the beautiful Hudson Valley, but
he didn’t know if he was ready to lose his hair.
Early in the morning, cadet candidates, still wearing civilian clothes
and hair styled the way they liked and carrying all of their personal
belongings, stood in line with their families waiting for their turn to
enter Eisenhower Hall for a briefing on the big day.
Mark Olsen of La Crosse, Wisconsin said that the “60 second good-bye,”
which is the last opportunity parents, friends and relatives have to hug
and kiss their loved ones, “was very emotional, and that he had
tears in his eyes” as he left his daughter Kirsten behind.
Candidates then went to Thayer Hall for “in-processing.” Here
six tailors would measure the entire class, by noon, for their initial
military clothing. The new class also received government issued clothing,
which included socks and underwear. The barbershop began cutting candidates’
hair at 7 a.m., and planned to continue until 4 p.m., when they would
weigh the cuttings that in years’ past amounted to approximately
40 pounds.
Cutting hair at West Point for 10 years, cadet barber Antonia Mazzola
said that the most important thing was to make the cadets feel relaxed
when they sit in her chair. She said that many come in very tense from
the day’s events, which could result in a poor cut.
Looking now like military cadets, the candidates file into small classrooms
where they review a formal contract, which states the terms of their service,
including completing coursework at the college, service expected thereafter,
remaining unmarried with no children to support while a cadet, separation
of service, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
After reading the document completely, the group stands and raises their
right hand and repeats the Oath of Allegiance stating they support the
U.S. Constitution and the national government, giving up any previous
allegiances to a state or country. Only then do the candidates sign the
contract, after which, the attorney who administers the oath and witnesses
their signatures welcomes them to the army.
Outdoors, in the Cadet Central Area, cadets receive manuals and other
paperwork, as well as instruction on how to march, stand and salute. Skills
that they will showcase later to families and friends when the entire
Class of 2020 parades on the Plain to take the – now ceremonial
– Oath of Allegiance from the U.S. Military Academy Commandant of
Cadets, Brig. Gen. Diana Holland.
The next step for the new cadets is six weeks of Cadet Basic Training
where they will learn the basic skills of a solider before classes begin
in the fall.
