Visiting West Point

In honor of the United States Military Academy's commencement exercises (culminating in the graduation ceremony this Saturday, May 27), here's a guide to visiting West Point courtesy of the 1954 edition of Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette. It seems to me that my experiences as a visitor were a bit different - but how much could possibly have changed between 1954 and 2005?

Many a teen ager dreams of being invited to a West Point Hop but, should the coveted invitation come, a girl hates to ask her escort what's expected of her. She likes to pretend at least that she knows all about the Point, that she has been invited there before, though unable to accept.

The cost of a West Point week end is very modest, even though the girl pays her own way some of the time. She is responsible for getting herself to the Point and back by train, bus, or her own car. Her cadet makes a dormitory room reservation for her, if possible at the U.S. Hotel Thayer, the hotel on the Reservation. The room cost is a dollar seventy-five per night and meals are available at moderate prices. If the Thayer is filled, the cadet arranges to put up his drag at approved quarters in the village, Highland Falls, through the Office of the Cadet Hostess, again at a dollar seventy-five per night, which is paid by the guest, of course.

The week-end guest is not met at the bus or train that took her to the Point but taxies to her designated quarters sometime Saturday Morning. West Pointers have classes half a day Saturday but expect their dates to be available by 2 p.m. When there are home football games cadets are free at 1:30 p.m.

As at Annapolis, there are strict rules concerning transportation and other matters. At the Point a cadet may not drive a car but may be driven in his guest's car or in his family's car. So a girl with a car will prove popular with her escort and will not have to pay taxi-fares (twenty-five cents, point to point) to the dress parade or chapel (a Sunday morning must for cadets - and the considerate guest goes, too).

A West Pointer is allowed to carry a small amount of money now but not enough to take care of all week-end entertainment. Off the Reservation, especially, the girl pays, quietly of course, although everyone knows the rules in this respect. And, as a West Point cadet is not permitted to drink at all, not even beer, a considerate guest does not drink in his presence and, of course, does not bring liquor of any kind into the Reservation itself, even for personal use.

There is usually a hop or other entertainment on Saturday night at the post, for which cadets make all the arrangements. Fairly conservative dance dresses are worn. The girl showing up in attire more suited to burlesque than the starchy Point is unlikely to be asked back.

A cadet is conditioned to walking and expects his girl to be able to get around on her own two feet without wincing. A good pair of walking shoes is essential. A nicely tailored suit or sweater and skirt is expected for sports or an afternoon walk. Slacks and shorts are never worn.

There is no riding for guests at the Point, but there is swimming in summer and ice skating in winter. A conservative bathing suit for swimming (and non-pretentious skating clothes in winter) is a safe choice. Unless you are a ballerina on skates, don't get yourself up in a fancy skating costume. Wear a sweater and skirt.

For Sunday chapel you will probably wear what you arrived in - a soft suit or dress and coat and of course a hat. If you want to wear flowers at any time, you will probably have to buy them yourself, except at Graduation Hop when the cadet traditionally sends them to his chosen girl.

It is poor taste at any time for a girl to smoke on the street, so don't smoke while walking with your cadet, who is not allowed to smoke on main roads and sidewalks. Don't take his arm or kiss him in public - don't even attempt to hold hands while on the Reservation, except on Flirtation Walk where a little romantic leeway is permitted. And, of course, you wait to be invited there.

At the Hop, guests and cadets all pass down the receiving line before beginning to dance. The line consists of, first, the Hop manager, then an officer's wife and her husband, chosen by the Hop manager to act as hosts for the evening. The cadet gives the name of his guest to the Hop manager as he approaches the line. The Hop manager then introduces the guest and the cadet to the hostess, who in turn presents them to the host.

After a Hop all classes may now escort their guests to their quarters, on or off the Reservation, but may not take more than one hour for the courtesy and may not enter any building after leaving the place of entertainment.

Even if you are a cadet's best girl, don't ask him for buttons (which are expensive) or for a miniature of his ring (which is really considered an engagement ring).

As West Point is near New York, it is possible for a cadet to get to town for dates. First classmen are allowed two week ends a month away from the Academy, second classmen are given just two a year. But even here, his spending money is very limited, and if you can't entertain him at home you must arrange entertainment for which you can quietly pay in advance.

West Point Slanguage (still from Amy Vanderbilt)

Air gadget - Air cadet

Area bird - A cadet who usuallly spends his free afternoons serving punishment tours

Army brat - The son or daughter of a regular army officer

B-ache - v. To explain, make excuses n. Official explanation of delinquency; a complaint

Beast barracks - Elementary training of a new cadet before he joins the corps. Barracks occupied during above period of training.

Beno - A cancellation, negative report, derived from the official phrase, "There will be no..." Often comes in the form of a letter from a femme, i.e., "Sorry can't come."

Beno wagon - Mail truck

B. food - Cereal or breakfast food, hot or cold.

B.J. - Fresh; lacking in respect; "Bold before June."

B.P. - Barracks policeman; division janitor

Board fight - A recitation in which cadets are sent to the blackboard, where they fight their way through a maze of problems

Bolo - To fail miserably

Boodle - Cake, candy, ice cream, etc.; all eatables in general, excluding those served in the mess hall

Boodle fight - A gathering of one or more persons at which boodle is consumed

Boodlers - Refreshment room in Grant Hall. Also refers to the boodle dispensing centers at the Cadet Store and the Thayer Hotel

Brace - n. The correct military carriage for a plebe v. To correct a plebe's posture

Break in, out - To be admitted or released from the hospital

Brownboy - Synonymous with sleep or sack; khaki-sacky

Buck - n. A cadet private v. To work against, to oppose

Buck-up - v. To improve upon something

Bugs - Oysters, small pieces of vegetable, or other solids found in soup

Bust - To revoke the appointment of a cadet commissioned or non-commissioned officer

Butt - Any fractional part of any whole, as in a "butt of a glass of milk"

More to be posted tomorrow...

Image is from Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number LC-USW33-000140-ZE DLC (b&w film neg.)]