WEST POINT – The US Military Academy welcomed some 1,190 members of the class of 2023 on Monday during R-Day – Reception Day.
This year’s cadets were selected from over 12,300 applicants and included 16 international cadets from 13 countries, 285 women, 400 minorities and 17 combat veterans.
R-Day for most of the incoming cadets’ is their first taste of military life.
The day starts with the last moments of civilian life. After waiting outside in a tremendously long line, groups are brought in with their families for orientation. Following orientation, 60 seconds are allowed for each group to say their goodbyes to their loved ones. At that point, they are considered incoming cadets.
Groups of candidates are then brought to various stations to receive their equipment for basic training, get measured for uniforms, receive physical and medical examinations, as well as the traditional haircut for male cadets.
After completing that stage, cadets must report to the ‘Cadet in the Red Sash.’ There is a cadre of Red Sash cadets, all of whom are seniors at the academy. The incoming cadets then have an intense encounter with the cadet to whom they are assigned and can be asked to recite any number of factoids from their Bugle Notes, a common one being “How is the cow?” (She walks, she talks, she’s full of chalk, the lacteal fluid extracted from the female of the bovine species is highly prolific to the nth degree.)
Cadet Basic Training Commander Cadet Alex Albright said there are four days of preparation that go into R-Day and consist of many moving parts. Looking back at his own R Day experience, before he was a Red Sash Cadet, said he now appreciates what it takes to have a successful R Day.
“As a new cadet, I didn’t really know what the Cadre did up to R-Day,” said Albright. “I didn’t realize there was four days to prepare. I didn’t realize the time and effort, the sweat that went into ensuring this day flows smoothly. I just came in as a new cadet and was like, ‘Wow, this was pretty efficient.’ I got in and got out and got ready to go for the Oath Ceremony this evening. Now, I realize and appreciate the effort that went into this and how many individuals contribute to a successful day,” he said.
After their Oath Ceremony Monday evening, cadets will leave for Camp Buckner for six weeks of grueling military basic training, previously referred to as “Beast Barracks,” before being received back to the campus on August 17.
