WPPC St Louis Home >> New Parents Info >> Notes On R-Day

Food on R-Day

It will be a long day, so make sure you all get something that morning. You probably should go ahead and provide some sort of meal for your son/daughter before they check in. Remember they will have a lot of nervous energy and could use the food (or not). Use your hotels restaurant, McDonalds, or the Cafeteria in Eisenhower Hall is fairly large and will open at 6:00am. However if a 1/3 of the class (400) checks in at 6:30 am; that means up to 1,200 people could be in the cafeteria and you probably won’t be able to be served! Services (all kinds, not just food service) in and around the Academy are generally less than what they might be -- especially with an influx the size of R-Day, so be prepared.

Not sure whether we addressed a Noon meal at any time. Grant Hall (the "old" Cadet Mess Hall near the Barracks Area) and I believe Eisenhower Hall (where you will bid farewell and will be sure to visit the upstairs area for the various displays and Class of 2011 items) will both have food service during the day. We suggest that you consider taking the Noon meal at a time a little outside the "norm" - say 1100 or 1300.

Last Time you will be able to visit with your son/daughter

Your son/daughter’s check in time will be the last time you can say anything to him/her and you have 90 seconds after they call their group!

If you are prepared and have a positive mindset, everything will be OK (we promise!!!!). Your "New Cadets" are going off to stand in line (not on the line); to get a haircut; to get a lot of new clothes and to learn how to march!

During the day you might catch a glimpse of him/her but you will be 400 feet away from the central area (behind the Sally Ports) which is restricted.

At 5:30 pm they will march to trophy point in their white shirt over grey pants uniform; they will all look the same; it will be very difficult to find him/her. Then they will take the oath; you might be able to find him/her in the crowd. If it’s raining they will still march to the point but they will have on their ponchos w/hoods; so take an umbrella. If the weather is severe with lightning they will swear-in at Ike Hall; use your 2 tickets.

Trophy point is an open area; you will be able to move around to see him/her but it will take time; it is like going to music concert where 3,000 people are gathered.

It’s a tough way to say goodbye because for the rest of the day you will just feel bad; even when the superintendent says that your son/daughter is in good hands and they have a vested interest in him/her – it really won’t matter. They only good point about this day is that you will meet a lot of new friends from all over America who feel the same way; you will see these people from time to time over the next four years as you attend the various West Point events.

Note the Parking & Shoes

It is a "looooooong" (and uphill) walk from Michie Stadium to the Cadet areas. So, your first farewell of the day will be to your vehicle! Don’t forget those comfortable shoes! As we mentioned in our Program, you really need to be prepared for the "90 second" Farewell. It comes before you know it.