A cherished tradition at the U.S. Military Academy, like so much else, is different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monday was reception day, or “R-Day,” at West Point, as parents dropped off new cadets. This year, the reception is happening in phases.

More than 1,200 cadets are coming from every state over the course of three days, with COVID-19 testing and precautions in place.

Basic training for cadets is down to four weeks instead of the usual six this year. The cadets will complete about 80 percent of the training they need, and finish the rest in 2021.