>> welcome back to west point holiday special i'm gretchen carlson. we are at the united states military academy at west point where cadets spend four extremely busy years studying and learning before becoming leaders in america's army. >> first thing do you is you go through a summer that transforms you from civilian to cadet. as a cadet you are kind of an apprentice in the profession of arms. developing the skills and capabilities militarily, physically, and incidentlike actually. >> just making it through fall semester through winter break at west point is nothing short of a triumph. for the freshman class known as pleads it's first chance to take a breath as they report to post after graduation. r day was the start of rigorous schedule of training and education that will continue throughout their time here. >> this 9/11 generation is very unique group of young men and women. because they all recognize that our nation was attacked and they want to stand in the gap and do something about it and our motto here