Since we’re talking about a typical week, let’s start with a typical Monday!
0515: Getting to PT (Physical Training) on time is important, so I wake up a little early to change, brush my teeth and hair, etc.
0545-0645: PT with Air Force ROTC at Plumley Armory. Each day has a different routine, but Mondays typically have a cardio/upper body focus. In the Air Force Dept., I’m a Cadet Squadron Commander, which entails watching over the two flights I’m assigned to and PT’ing with them. At the end of PT our Cadet Wing commander meets and gives out any announcements for the week, and then we’re on our way.
0655-0720: Showering, putting up my hair & getting into uniform, not forgetting to grab my Norwich ring, and then it’s downstairs and out to get ready for formation.
0735: Open ranks inspection, where uniforms are checked to ensure the members of Band Company are ready for the day. Followed shortly by morning Formation.
0745: Accountability report, followed by formation, followed by a quick day’s announcements from the Cadet Colonel.
0750-0830: Off to breakfast! Best to go a little closer to 0800 as the rush will have died out a little.
Academics vary from day to day, classes typically following either a Monday-Wednesday-Friday or a Tuesday-Thursday pattern. T-R classes are typically a bit longer to compensate for only being two days a week. On M-W-F, I don’t have class until 11, so I’m free to study, do independent research, or whatever else strikes my fancy until 10:45 when it’s time to pack up and go to class.
1100-1150: Political Philosophy with Prof. Andrew. You need to do the reading here! Prof. Andrew is a great teacher; I usually get the best notes from his class. Currently, we’re finishing up Hobbes’ Leviathan and moving into the works of Adam Smith.
1200-1235: Upstairs in the Wise Campus Center (WCC) Skybox, planning out the rest of my day and again waiting out the crowd downstairs in the Chow Hall (Dining Facility) until the lines are easier. Then, it’s lunch, which fluctuates frequently in terms of what’s offered. (Sodexo has gotten much better the past few years in terms of variety and ingenuity.)
1245-1350: Class prep time.
1400-1450: Chinese Military History with Prof. Kim. (She’s fluent in three languages!) We’re just finishing up Romance of the Three Kingdoms and moving into studies on types of Chinese armor in that time period.
1500-1600: An hour of leisure time, in which I normally hang out with the Band guys as we wait for practice.
1600-1800: Band Practice! We’re shifting out of the Concert Band pieces for winter and sampling a few different styles as the Band- and Colonel Edwards- gear up for our St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, where we’ve been invited to play in an overnight trip.
1800-1830: Dinner.
1830-1900: I usually sit in on Battalion passdown (weekly announcement of events, policies, etc) just for fun with my Company Commander/1SG… it’s just good to know firsthand what’s going on.
1930-2000: Company passdown with the Band. I help keep the Corporals in line while the 1SG gets things announced, and we attend to any in-company matters before breaking out for the week.
2000: Done! 8pm and I’m finally changing out of uniform, attending to any homework and seeing friends before going to bed around 2330… after all, there’s PT for us again on Tuesday and 0515 is an early start!
Mondays are one of my busiest days, but a good way to set up for the week to come. Talk to any Cadet on the Hill and you’ll find that their schedule really varies from day to day. One day you may have 9 hours of classes (personal experience) and the next, no class at all(also personal experience)! It’s your own adventure.
Here’s to a great weekend, and the week ahead,
Respectfully,
Rikki Feightner, Band Co. ‘15
