West Point Rday 2021: Report to Cadet in Red Sash on #SALRadio

One of the long standing traditions at West Point on Reception Day is for each "New Cadet" to report to a stern faced senior Cadet who they are required to recite a specific sentence to. The senior Cadets dressed immaculately in white cover, shirt with epithets of rank and grey trousers, summons each New Cadet in front of them admonishing them to "Step-up to the line but not on the line". The New Cadet puts their bag down on left, stands straight, salutes and says, "This is New Cadet Smith, reporting to the Cadet in the Red Sash" If they New Cadet fails this drill in the slightest way, they are sent back to a staging spot to practice before being ordered back to try again. With successful completion of this ceremony, the new cadet is welcomed into the cadet company which will be their team for the balance of Cadet Basic Training. We saw some of the company's going out for group runs by 1 PM. Alumni remember this moment decades later. Video by Ken Kraetzer for Sons of the American Legion Radio.