At the end of June, the United States Military Academy, better known as West Point hosts the annual Reception Day or “R” Day when approximately 1,000 new cadet candidates enter West Point for a college and military education. However, there is a price. Those admitted to West Point must commit to five years of service in exchange for an undergraduate degree and to be admitted, they must literally have congressional approval from their local representative.

Some young men and women make it through the four years, but a good ten percent drop out usually during cadet basic training, known as ‘Beast Barracks’ or shortly after.

Those who stick to the grueling educational, military, sports, and the ever-present volunteer duties for a multitude of activities from donating blood to working with children, are rewarded at the end of four years with the presentation of a degree and second lieutenant bars.

Once admitted, the new cadet candidates begin R-Day by attending a short briefing at Eisenhower Hall with parents, family, and friends. After the briefing, the candidates have 90 seconds to say tearful good-byes and begin marching to buses, in silence. They drive a short distance to Thayer Hall, where they will change from their street clothes into black shorts and gray T-shirts, be admitted to their cadet company, issued underwear, tote bags, shoes, be measured for uniforms and take the Army oath, all in a kind of orderly chaos.

From there, the Senior cadet marches the cadet candidates to the area behind the barracks and instruct them in saluting, marching and the proper military way of answering questions, follow orders and begin to teach the new cadet candidates how to live life as a West Point cadet. The recruits are referred to as new cadet candidates until they complete the basic training, usually lasting six weeks. R-Day is the beginning of basic training.

Some have come from military families while others dream of becoming a military officer. The Summer Leaders Seminar mimics cadet basic training and teaches them what cadet life is really like; that they need to work hard and their first year will be especially difficult.

I want to give a shout out to Elizabeth and Mark Rodriguez whose son Matt Rodriguez has just entered West Point as a cadet candidate; a dream he has had since the 3rd grade. God Speed and the best to Matt.