Thursday, 15 March 2001, was a special day for the Corps of Cadets.
The Corps celebrated Founders Day Dinner in the Cadet Mess,
recognizing West Point's founding 199 years ago. They also celebrated
their upcoming Spring Break, which would start after their last class
on Friday, 16 March, and last until 25 March. For the Class of 2004,
the Fourth Class, another event occurred which made the day even more
special. The Plebes were promoted from cadet private to cadet private
first class in an outdoor ceremony just before Founders Day Dinner.
As dusk was falling over the plain, the Corps of Cadets, wearing
Full Dress Uniforms, assembled in company formations outside their
respective barracks for the promotion ceremony. After accountability
was taken, the Battalion S-1s read the promotion orders signed by
Cadet First Captain David Uthlaut. The formation was then turned over
to the individual company commanders. Headquarters platoons were given
"At Ease," while the three line platoons executed "Open
Ranks, March." Squad Leaders then walked down the ranks to promote
their plebes, handing each plebe a set of US brass, representing cadet
private first class rank. This rank is worn on the uniform where the
upper-class cadets wear their class shields.
After those plebes being promoted were awarded their new rank, the
platoons returned to normal interval and the ceremony was concluded.
The upperclassman clapped for the plebes in their company at the end
of this simple, yet significant ceremony, before marching in to the
mess hall for Founders Day Dinner.
Despite some controversy surrounding the change from Recognition
to a Promotion ceremony, the event was well executed by the cadets.
The previous Recognition Ceremony at West Point involved upper-class
cadets shaking hands with the plebes and exchanging first names. Traditionally
held at the end of the academic year, the ceremony had been moved
to Spring Break in 1991. This led to a period of several months where
the plebes were recognized but still performed plebe duties - an awkward
status.
This awkward status led the current Cadet leadership to recommend
that the ceremony be changed. This change is in keeping with the Cadet Leader Development
System
(CLDS), which is the framework for the rank structure, responsibilities,
and
privileges that each class maintains. CLDS, developed in 1990, places
a
much greater emphasis on rank between the cadets.
Before CLDS, a more
informal structure existed among the cadets with only one major division
-
that between the three upper-classes and the plebes. CLDS makes a
distinction among upper-class cadets, as well, with yearlings acting
as
junior NCOs (non-commissioned officers), cows are senior NCOs, and
the
firsties represent cadet officers.
In keeping with the new system,
all
cadets address each other by rank in public. For example, if a First
Class
cadet is talking with a Second Class cadet, the firstie will address
the
cow
as "Cadet Sergeant." The Second Class cadet will address
the firstie as
"Cadet Lieutenant" or "Sir." Similarly, Plebes
address upperclassmen by
the
ranks of Cadet Corporal, Cadet Sergeant, or Cadet Lieutenant.
This
policy
teaches cadets about professionalism between ranks and the increased
responsibilities that come with rank. The problem with recognition
at
Spring Break was that by allowing a period of time to exist during
which
plebes could address upper-class cadets by first names, primarily
from Spring Break until the start of Cadet Field Training, the return
to formalities once Camp Buckner began was confusing (and painful
at times) to some.
The goal of the cadet and academy leadership with
this change from recognition to a promotion ceremony is an attempt
to eliminate such inconsistency.
While the traditions of the Recognition ceremony have changed, the
attitudes have not. The plebe promotion ceremony is still a time for
the upper-class to congratulate the plebes for surviving the last
nine months.
This promotion also recognizes that there is still a great way to
go,
and
that the plebe relationship with their team leaders and squad leaders
will
not change much as they transition to greater roles next summer and
next
year.
With only two months left until graduation and promotion for
the rest of the Corps, the light at the end of this tunnel is at least
there for everyone to see.
I welcome your comments at Rangersct@aol.com.
