- [Hairdresser] Ready?
(laughing)
(military fife and drum music)
(military trumpet and drum music)
- [Narrator] On a scorching Monday in July,
over 1,200 cadet candidates arrive at the
US Military Academy for reception day,
also known as R-Day, it marks the beginning
of their time at West Point.
- All day long, the new cadets will do a transformation
from their civilian status
and at the end of the day,
take their oath to serve our nation in the Army.
(military march music)
- [Interviewer] Why did you decide to come to West Point?
- Both my brothers went here and it's a great school
and I wanted to join the Army afterward
so there's no better school to do that.
- All my uncles, they served in the Army
and they're telling me that,
all about this school and how great
and all the leaders that came from it
so I just wanted to follow in their footsteps.
(drum flourishes)
(inspiring military music)
- West Point is located about 50 miles
north of New York City.
It's in the Hudson Highlands.
It's called West Point because it's located
on the western point of the Hudson River where it bends.
George Washington recognized this as a strategic
point of interest because the British had to attack
as they came through the Hudson River.
It's the longest continuously garrisoned
military installation in the United States.
- Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
I welcome you to the United States Military Academy
at West Point.
- [Narrator] After a short orientation,
the cadet candidates have 60 seconds
to say goodbye to their families.
(patriotic music)
For the next six weeks, contact with family members,
if any, is extremely limited.
(drum music)
Once they leave Eisenhower Hall,
the cadet candidates are now called new cadets.
- New cadets, move, let's go!
Up to the tape!
- You'll move along the wall, am I understood?
- [New Cadets] Yes, Sergeant Pack.
- You think you're special?
Look straight forward!
- In 2018 to be accepted at West Point,
you must be a United States citizen
in good physical condition, pass a medical exam to be able
to be commissioned in the Army,
and have a high academic achievement.
- [New Cadets] I am soldier!
- [Narrator] Tuition at West Point is free,
but the cadets commit to years of service after graduation.
- After their four years at West Point they've committed
to five years active duty in the Army with three years
in the reserve component.
- Hurry up you guys, get there.
- [Narrator] The new cadets are issued physical training,
or PT uniforms.
- New cadet you better close this gap!
- [Narrator] Along with a bag that holds everything
they're allowed to carry for the next six weeks.
Their next stop,
the barber shop.
(military drum music)
(hair clippers buzzing)
- [Narrator] Only the male new cadets are required
to cut their hair.
The female new cadets get to keep their locks.
- Hi how are you?
Thinking about West Point, what do you think?
- Maybe.
- Maybe, my brother and sister are here.
- Your brother and sister are here?
Pretty exciting.
- [Narrator] West Point started admitting women in 1976.
Today more than 20% of the cadets are female.
- Over 24% of the class of 2022 are women.
- Close that gap new cadet, close that gap!
- So we've seen a huge surge not only in the interest
in women applicants, but also the retention of women cadets.
(military drum music)
- [Narrator] The new cadets are assigned to companies
where they learn the basics of taking orders.
- You wait for our command,
do not do things on your own initiative!
- [Narrator] And marching in formation.
(cadets yelling)
- We have upperclassmen from the junior and senior classes
that are here leading the new cadets.
- Your lunch, your boots or not they better be in the bag!
- So this is a leadership laboratory,
not only for our new cadets but also for our upper class
as they work on their leadership skills.
(military drums)
- [Narrator] Everything the new cadets learn on R-Day
culminates in the Oath Ceremony.
Family members gather for one last look
at the class of 2022 before basic training begins.
(Intense music)
(intense music)
- [Officer] New cadets, raise your right hand
and repeat after me.
- One of the most common traits that I see
of West Point applicants is they wanna be part of a team
that's bigger than themselves.
(intense music)
- [Narrator] Those who complete the rigorous six weeks
of basic training will be formally accepted
into the corp of cadets.
(dramatic music)
- It's gonna be a long six weeks,
I can tell you that.
I'll get through just take it day by day
but I know it's gonna be long, it's gonna be hard,
but I'm prepared for it.
- I feel like it's gonna suck but in the end
it's all worth it.
- All of us know what to expect really,
we just go in there you now, get yelled at a little bit,
get on the bus, get yelled at some more.
- I think it's gonna be fun you know,
everybody always talks about it's gonna be a miserable time
but I think if you embrace the suck it's gonna be,
it's gonna be okay, you're gonna get through.