Plebe yearU.S. Military Academy (West Point) · Fourth class

Role

Plebes serve as "members of the squad," learning to be good followers and teammates¹.

Duties

Calling minutes before formations, sorting laundry, taking out barracks trash and recycling, and setting the mess hall table². Plebes also memorize Plebe Knowledge².

Branch prep starts

In plebe year cadets get initial exposure to Army branches and take the Talent Assessment Battery³.

Milestones

Plebe-Parent Weekend, planned and run by plebes².

Reception Day (R-Day)

Your "47-month experience" starts with early-morning in-processing. The day ends with the Oath Ceremony². New cadets get haircuts, uniforms, and medical checks, and have their first lessons in marching and military courtesy. R-Day for the Class of 2030 was June 29, 2026⁴.

CBT

"six weeks of Cadet Basic Training": physical training, small-unit tactics, and individual military skills⁴. CBT "transitions new cadets from civilians to cadets"⁵. The Class of 2030 finished with the 12-mile March Back on August 10, 2026⁶.

Acceptance Day (A-Day)

The parade at the end of CBT, when new cadets formally join the Corps. Classes start the next Monday². A-Day for the Class of 2030 was set for August 15, 2026⁴.

Academics

Major selection (see majors and academics). Plebes have mandatory study time from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.⁷.

Privileges

Weekday evenings, "Upperclassmen can go off post during this time," but plebes study⁷. Cadets earn pass privileges throughout the year⁷. West Point's public pages don't publish exact pass counts by class year, so we don't list them.

When it becomes binding: At the Affirmation Oath, the night before cow (junior) classes begin. Before then, cadets "may leave... without incurring a service obligation"⁸.