If I become a cadet, what is it like at West Point? What happens to my enlisted pay, and will I have to attend their initiation?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:21:43 -0500

I’m thinking about applying to West Point. My grades from high school and my sat score put me above average, but before I apply I have some questions that I haven’t been able to find answers to.
The first is what happens to my pay? If I become a cadet do I still receive my active duty paycheck?
I’ve seen that there’s an 8 week basic training like initiation into West Point run by cadets, is it true that active duty still has to attend this?
For anyone who’s been to west point with or as prior-enlisted, what was it like? What are the pros and cons for soldiers coming from the regular army?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 11 at 2019 6:34 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:34:56 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member contact the WP folks. I believe they an office for prior service .

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 6:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:42:02 -0500

First off, it’s a great opportunity that you should take. I transitioned from Enlisted to Cadet in 2009 as an E-4. Best choice of my career. To answer your questions: 1) If you attend West Point Prep, you will continue to receive active duty pay in your grade and accrue time in service. 2) Once you begin your freshman (Plebe) year, you are a cadet, you will be paid as and go through all training events that your classmates do including Basic Training (Beast). Additionally, you will stop accruing active duty time. Cadet pay is little to nothing growing each year but capping out about $500 during your senior (Firstie) year.

Pros:
-A world-class college education that is free to you

-You’re not quite as naive about the military or life in general as your peers.

-You’ve already completed basic training so you know how to play the game

-Once you do graduate, you will have a new perspective on the Army and how to lead soldiers (and a much bigger paycheck)

-Long term: the Long Gray is a network recognized worldwide

Cons:
-The people yelling at you will probably have no real Army experience and be your age or maybe even younger than you

-Cadet life is not Army life...you will have little to no freedom for the entirety of your time

-Marriage is a no-go

-Being a plebe is worse than being a private. Don’t expect to walk in the middle of a hallway, speak outside, etc. The list goes on.

-It is difficult. Your day is scheduled from sunup to sundown.

There’s a lot more that could be said but hopefully that answers your question. Send me a direct message if you need clarification.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 11 at 2019 7:32 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:32:27 -0500

I thought you had to have a Congressional recommendation.. As for myself I never got along with Westpointers.. Told a LT to go F himself... once... I was a big hero to his troops... He had never taught about older Reservists... They made me do one day of KP...

Response by SGT Rodrigo Contreras made Dec 11 at 2019 9:55 PM

SGT Rodrigo Contreras — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 21:55:13 -0500

To answer your questions you receive pay as a Cadet but it is a specific rate... your previous enlisted grade will not apply. Yes you will have to go through Beast Barracks.
Also if you don’t get in as a direct applicant... apply to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School.... it is a 10 month program designed to help enlisted soldiers prepare for transition to the Academy. I can tell you academics are a real challenge. USMAPS will boost you math and writing skills in addition to providing you a second chance to take the SAT exam for a higher score. I went from a 1030 to a 1350. Feel free to message me if you want more insight.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Dec 11 at 2019 10:27 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:27:56 -0500

It's been many years, so I'm sure the rules have changed. I went from Seaman (E-3) to Cadet at USCGA. First your enlisted contract will be placed on hold. You will be given an appointment to the office of a Cadet. You will serve at the pleasure of the President. There is no fixed service stop date. When you graduate, you will be offered an appointment as a commissioned officer with an indefinite end date. You will be an officer until you retire, resign, or given a "your service is no longer needed" letter.

Yes, you will have to fully participate in the "boot camp" training before the academic year. Remember, you spent about two months learning how to be a entry level enlistedman. Academies spend four years trying to turn you into an officer. First summer is "Boot Camp". Second summer is the non-rate, junior NCO training. Third summer programs will place you in mid level NCO positions. Fourth summer will be spent as a junior officer roll. The point of this escalating training is to expose cadets how officers carry out their duties and how they relate to enlisted ranks and senior officers. You will discover that officers spend most of their time on paperwork and in meetings. You may not like it. Going to West Point is a nine year commitment. I had a few classmates that resigned first semester of their last year. They just didn't want to be an officer. It's not suited for everyone.

Please read the small print on your Cadet appointment. As I said, your existing enlisted contract will be placed on hold. The longer you stay at West Point, your enlisted obligation grows if you happen to decide to resign your office. The taxpayer will spend about $260k on your four years at USMA. Air Force Academy costs about $410k/cadet due to flight training. Coast Guard and Navy costs about $310k/person due to the underway time aboard ships.

All academy cadets/midshipmen receive a stipend that will cover books, uniforms, nickel/dime fees, and a monthly cash allotment. When I was a Cadet, I was "paid" $5,000/year. At the end of four years I had about $1,400 in the bank which I spent on my 30 days vacation and expenses to get to my first duty station. As an officer, you will pay for your own uniforms and chow.

As a cadet/midshipman, your time at the academy will be 100% active duty (Green Card). Unlike ROTC where only drill time if considered as active duty. But, cadet time will not count towards retirement. Your enlisted and commissioned time will count towards retirement. The academy active duty time comes with the full force of the UCMJ. What you do as a cadet is subject to all the laws relating to an officer 24/7/365. You seriously misbehave as a cadet, you can go to federal prison. Drink a lot of water, I had to take pee tests quite a lot at a moments notice.

Good luck to you. Every person has to make their own adventure. No two people will have the same experience.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 11:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 23:25:04 -0500

It looks like most of your questions have already been answered, and well. If you feel like talking to a current Cadet who was an enlisted Soldier, feel free to reach out to me. I'm in my second year now.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 12 at 2019 12:19 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 00:19:25 -0500

LTC Stephen F. How much info/guidance can you provide this young Soldier?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 12 at 2019 2:12 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 02:12:01 -0500

If you are accepted into the Corps of cadets at West Point SPC Private RallyPoint Member your monthly salary will be 50 percent or so of the salary of a second lieutenant from some point in the recent past. As a plebe you will get paid a salary [in 1976 we received $50 per month which actually went along way since meals, room and board are paid for]. The bulk of the funds are placed into a cadet account for each cadet. Uniforms, hair cuts, books are paid for out of the cadet account at cost. At the end of Plebe Year, [after some leave time] there will be an introduction to the branches of the US Army from Camp Buckner. As a sophomore [called yearling] you will have a bump up in your monthly "salary which is disbursed to you."
Your enlisted service prior to being a cadet will not affect your pay as a cadet. However if you served two years enlisted prior to being a cadet, you will begin your second lieutenant [upon graduation] with two years of service credited for pay.
Thank you, my friend CSM Charles Hayden for mentioning me.

Response by SP5 Norman Carrio made Dec 12 at 2019 1:14 PM

SP5 Norman Carrio — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 13:14:07 -0500

IF YOU ARE ENLISTED PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE INTO WEST POINT, THEN YOU WILL STILL DRAW YOUR EM PAY. WP PAYS CADETS AT E-5 GRADE.