Whats the difference between a “New Cadet candidate” a “New Cadet” and a “Plebe”?
West Point is a great place for transitions of status! The first few steps are particularly confusing to new families’ (of course, your son/daughter will learn the fine points of these distinctions in about 30 seconds on the morning of R-Day) Until you start a file at the USMA admissions office, you are a “prospective candidate”; once you start a file, and until you show up for R-Day and take the oath, you are a “New Cadet Candidate”; after taking the oath, and until successful completion of Cadet Basic Training (CBT), popularly known as “Beast Barracks”, you are a “New Cadet”; upon completion of CBT and the Acceptance Day parade at the end of the summer, you become a “Plebe” or Cadet Private. Toward the end of a Cadet’s first year, and provided of course that they are making satisfactory progress, they will be promoted to Cadet Private First Class, and authorized to wear the brass “U.S.” insignia on their shirt collar. This is a big deal for Plebes, and may include formal recognition
