Janae Bell of Woodstock slugs it out during ‘Beast,’ which is what cadet basic training is called at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The 19-year-old daughter of Greg and Linda Bell is one of few women selected to attend the prestigious service academy.
After completing her first year at West Point as a freshman, or plebe, Janae Bell is settling into her role as a cadet.
Ms. Bell, the 19-year-old daughter of Greg and Linda Bell, will join other plebes this weekend to start cadet field training at Camp Buckner.
The month-long training will build on what cadets learned during "Beast," or cadet basic training, which is conducted before plebe year.
During the field training, Ms. Bell and other cadets will expand upon their knowledge about land navigation, marksmanship with firearms, soldier first responder, close quarters combat, patrolling and urban operations and how to work together as a squad and platoon in more of a combat setting.
The culminating event of the training, Ms. Bell said, is Camp Illumination, where the plebes will become cadet corporals and enter their sophomore, or yuk, year at West Point.
After the advancement, the students will then embark on a seven-mile run from Camp Bucker back to the West Point campus.
Ms. Bell said she's excited about returning for the training.
"It's going to be not as mentally and emotionally trying as 'Beast' was, but it's not going to be a walk in the park," she said.
The idea of attending West Point never crossed Ms. Bell's mind until late in high school.
While a senior at Woodstock High School, where she was also on the swim team, Ms. Bell received recruiting letters from West Point, but didn't consider the school an option.
It wasn't until the end of a weekend recruiting trip she made that she fell in love with the campus.
"I told my family that I was pretty set on attending there as it seemed to be the perfect piece to my puzzle," she said.
"From a young age I had always lived a very disciplined life that I had established for myself. I had always wanted to do something service related but never knew what it was. After my visit to West Point, it's like everything fell into place."
All five U.S. service academies offer appointments to individuals who meet eligibility requirements and are the most competitive in academics, extracurricular activities, physical fitness, medical standards, leadership traits and motivation.
Also, students must gain nominations from a "qualified" source, which includes a U.S. House member, a U.S. Senator or the vice president of the United States.
Ms. Bell was appointed by U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Roswell).
Part of the class of 2013, Ms. Bell was among 190 women out of 1,299 cadets admitted in to the academy last year. The incoming Class of 2014 will have nearly 1,400 new cadets, including 250 new female cadets.
While women were staff officers and teachers at West Point, they weren't allowed admission until 1975 when then-president Gerald Ford signed legislation allowing women to apply to U.S. service academies.
In 1976, 119 women became the first female West Point cadets when they joined the class of 1980. Sixty-two of those women graduated in 1980.
Ms. Bell said she is comfortable being one of few women enrolled at West Point, saying her closest friends while growing up were boys.
Women, Ms. Bell said, make up 15 percent of West Point's population of roughly 4,400 cadets. She is one of 20 women in her company, which ranges between 140 and 160 cadets. During "Beast," she was the only female out of 10 new cadets.
"We are definitely a minority at the Academy, there's no doubt about it," she said. "We have to be very conscious, though, of our reputation. Because there are so few of us, one girl can establish the Corps' opinion of all or most of the girls."
Ms. Bell added when women gain the respect of male cadets, "they will be there for you whenever you need something no matter what."
Her daughter has changed for the positive while attending West Point, Mrs. Bell said, noting she is more confident and has "blossomed in that environment."
Mrs. Bell, who also has a 16-year-old daughter, Carissa, said her older daughter always liked rules and schedules. She said she hopes the service academy can help Ms. Bell "find out where she fits in our society."
"We are really proud of her," Mrs. Bell said.
Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services Chief Raymond Gunnin is a family friend who also has been amazed by Ms. Bell's transformation.
Gunnin said Ms. Bell has been reserved and "extremely smart" since she was a child.
"She is a prime example (that) hard work and dedication can move mountains for you," he said.
Ms. Bell was a member of the Army swim team during her plebe year and participated as a coach for her company swim team after the season ended.
Next year, she's planning to try out for the equestrian team and the Glee Club.
Ms. Bell is an undecided major at West Point, but is considering psychology, engineering, law or foreign language as possible areas of study.
After her second year at West Point, Ms. Bell will make the decision as to whether to continue with two more years of study there. If she takes that path, she will graduate as a second lieutenant in the Army and be required to serve five years on active duty status.
After that, Ms. Bell can either serve another five years of active duty or three years in the Army Reserves and then enter society as a civilian.
She graduated from Woodstock High in 2009 and while there, she was a member of the swim team, the Beta Club, the choral program, National Honors Society, the student government association and was an honors and Advanced Placement student.
Ms. Bell said West Point is teaching her and other cadets values such as discipline, honor, loyalty and "create leaders of character."
"We all hold ourselves to a much higher standard of living so that we may in turn help all those around us," she said.
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