Behind the scenes with DOL at West Point's R-Day 2009

By Bill Latta and Carolyn Roper,West Point Directorate of LogisticsJuly 2, 2009

Behind the scenes with DOL at West Point's R-Day 2009
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

On Monday, from all across the fruited plain, 1,304 new cadets travelled to the Hudson Valley for what would be their initial indoctrination into the U.S. Military. Getting the new cadets ready to take their Oath of Allegiance did not happen by accident, but took a great deal of planning to ensure that Reception Day 2009 was nearly flawless in execution. Much of this execution fell on the shoulders of the staff of the Directorate of Logistics.

Not long after R-Day last year, planning, acquisition and manufacturing began within DOL to prepare for Monday's R-Day. Everything from head-to-toe was issued to the new class of cadet candidates within just a few hours, including a haircut. Logistics at West Point covers a wide variety of services and activities--the feeding, clothing and transporting (over ground and water) of cadets; the outfitting of new cadets with weapons and combat gear; and the cutting of their hair and doing their laundry and dry cleaning.

While most people are tracking graduation starting May 1, the DOL folks start serious planning for R-Day.

The request lists for all the equipment to be distributed to new cadets receives a complete update from the previous year. The number of personnel needed to distribute this equipment is calculated, usually near 100. So, in addition to 50 volunteers from within the Garrison, the Logistics Support Services Organization-Warehouse put a call out and got the assistance of 45 Army Reservists from Fort Bragg N.C.

The new candidates and their Families and friends get around West Point using the DOL transportation system (e.g.-shuttle busses), which includes planning the routes and staffing the candidate shuttles, which needed to remain separate from the parents' tour buses. West Point Tours provides transportation to make this portion of the task workable, since at least 20 different buses are used before R-Day is over.

The Cadet Mess prepares lunch, knowing there is 30 minutes for the new cadets to eat. Since they are used to feeding about 4,400 cadets in less than 30 minutes, serving about 1,300 was not a big challenge, but logistics still had to be worked out.

The Cadet Uniform Factory makes all of the cadet-specific uniform items and has the new candidates measured and fitted by the Oath Ceremony. This included hemming trousers, fitting waistbands and other basic tailoring.

The Harborcraft group provides ferry service to Constitution Island to allow Family and friends to gain a more historical perspective of West Point.

The Supply and Warehouse branch experiences their busiest day on R-Day. Everything they have amassed over the previous year is issued from staged boxes and boxes of shoes, boots, hats, T-shirts, underwear, swim wear, duffle bags--all prepositioned for issue at stations in Thayer Hall.

And, of course, the Cadet Barber Shop brings in additional barbers for all the haircuts that have to be completed by the end of the day. It is a special place for the cadets--the last place they will be able to relax for a moment.

A great deal of planning goes into making R-Day happen. It's not just that it happens; it's that it happens without a hitch or missed step. DOL's goal for every R-Day is uniformity among the cadet candidates by the Oath Ceremony.