End of Beast

Howdy!

Cadet Basic Training (aka Beast) ended with about a 12-mile ruck march back to garrison on Monday 9 August. Beast was six long, full weeks. The first three weeks (first detail) were rather boring and consisted of mainly waiting in issue lines, sitting in briefings, and PT. The most exciting part of the first three weeks was Land Navigation upon which we spent three days. My company earned Best Company for the first detail which additionally awarded those in my company an extra performance pass for the first semester.

The second half was primarily field training and was considerably more exciting. We spent five days at the rifle range firing our M4 rifles and qualifying as marksmen on the last day. We conducted fire team live fire exercises which were incredibly exciting in addition to being wonderful training. We spent a day at the range learning how to use crew-served weapons. I was able to fire the M240B and M249 automatic machine guns, the M203 grenade launcher, and tracer rounds for the AT4 anti-tank weapon. We spent several days learning Soldier First Responder (SFR) which is a part of Tactical Combat Casualty Care. It’s essentially first aid in a combat environment. The culminating event of Beast was the Hyde Challenge which was nearly a 24-hour mission. We worked as squads to complete challenges and missions requiring us to apply most of what we had learned during Beast. It was difficult and challenging, but it was an incredible experience.

The Sunday night before the march back was a talent show put on entirely by the New Cadets. It was a fun time and a chance to relax before our final event the next morning. We arose early Monday morning to make our 12-mile ruck march back to garrison. Old graduates of the Academy, most notably those in the 50-year affiliation class, completed the entire march back with us. The final few miles were a march through the gate to West Point and down a long street back to our barracks. Both sides of the street were lined with hundreds of supporters cheering us on to our victory over the Beast.

That afternoon, we joined our academic year companies and began Reorganization Week. I met my Team Leader (a sophomore assigned to me for the semester) who escorted me around for the remainder of the week. During that week, both of my brothers made a point to come see me and spend time with me. The main events for the week were Military ID, phone, computer, and book issue, and drill practice for our Acceptance Day Parade which took place on Saturday 14 August. The Acceptance Day Parade is when the New Cadets join the upper classes and officially become part of the United States Corps of Cadets. It marks the transition from New Cadets to Plebes – or the transition from the lowest of the low to a step above the lowest of the low. We were given extended walking privileges for the weekend and were able to spend time off-post with our families. I spent the weekend with my brothers and a few of their friends. I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to relax, use my cell phone, and watch a movie for the first time in 7 weeks.

Monday 16 August was my first day of classes and the beginning of the academic year. I have a pretty full schedule, but I have good classes. My first week of school went well, and I look forward to a great semester.

It’s hard to believe that just over two months ago I was graduating from high school and now I am a cadet at the United States Military Academy. It is a great honor and privilege to be here, and I am incredibly excited for the wonderful things God will do through me and in me during my four years at the Academy.


Blessings,
Andy