now what? ... after the appointment acceptance

mattlukemom

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2010
Messages
16
After all the anticipation and work, and waiting and worrying - yes! my son finally got his appointment to USNA:smile: But now comes more questions, what do we need to do now, as a mom who is always so organized I can't help but to feel the need to be doing something (other than enjoying my son for the next 3 1/2 months) - any advice or words of wisdom or resources to check out?
 
My son is a Plebe on the final trek where he can finally see a little light at the end of the tunnel to Plebe No More soooo, .....Yes, number 1 is to enjoy the next 3 1/2 months, they go fast. Plan his graduation party, go on a few trips as a family, go out to dinner. Then, when the package comes, go buy socks and underwear and what ever else is on the list for I-Day. He will never really need it, but it will give you both something to do and be prepared to bring back unopened bags of socks and underwear at PPW :) .
Get on the USNA listserve to get great advice, check out all of the USNA websites, ask questions. It's an amazing ride!
Oh and you might want to take a few tissues to I-Day, but there are also plenty of people handing out boxes too!
Congradulations to your son!
Julie
 
What part of fl are you from? My son is waiting anxiously on news from the academy and we are in fl as well
 
One of the great things about USNA -- but maybe not so much for moms -- is that you really don't have to do much at all other than show up on I-Day.

USNA will send you some forms to fill out (police record check, for example). Get that done. If you want to buy the stuff on the list, do it. But, as noted above, you don't really NEED that stuff for the most part -- if at all.

I think my mother's biggest "regret" about USNA is that she didn't get to go w/me on the shopping trip to outfit my room. I can say that everything else about USNA more than made up for it.

I agree with the above poster who recommended enjoying the rest of the time until I-Day and especially doing family activities. Oh, and your son should definitely ensure he stays in shape. It can get tough once the regimen of school sports is over . . .
 
It will be so strange taking a child off to school without a car full of stuff.
 
My advice to incoming parents and plebes:

The clock is ticking with three and a half months left. Most important item, enjoy your family time and find activities to do and enjoy as a family. These can be simple things like a picnic, movies, or whatever makes your family happy. If finances allow a family vacation is always a good thing. Once a plebe hits I-Day, the Navy owns your butt and your time 100%. You will get a whopping total of about 6-7 weeks of leave time combined that covers Thanksgiving, Christmas, summer, etc. Family and or personal time will be a very precious commodity very soon.

Do not get STUPID with the Law - High school is ending, you are on top of the world, graduation parties etc. A DUI, felony arrest, or anything to do with drugs can and most likely will be show stopper as far as entrance to the Naval Academy. You have all worked hard to get where you are. A momentary lack of judgment or following the wrong crowd can destroy those dreams.

Lastly Do Not get Injured - Every year there are ugly stories of midshipman that are denied entry due to stupid injuries. A broken bone, blown out knee or whatever are likely show stoppers for getting into the academy in 2010. You can't stop living life but that rock climbing trip with your buddies or participating in some extreme sport in the next few months may not be the smartest thing. Parents the term "bubble wrapping" your child easily come to mind. Bottom line use common sense.

Enjoy your family and your freedom to be your parents child. Come I-Day your childhood will come to an abrupt and not very pleasant end.
 
One of the great things about USNA -- but maybe not so much for moms -- is that you really don't have to do much at all other than show up on I-Day.

USNA will send you some forms to fill out (police record check, for example). Get that done. If you want to buy the stuff on the list, do it. But, as noted above, you don't really NEED that stuff for the most part -- if at all.

Oh, and your son should definitely ensure he stays in shape. It can get tough once the regimen of school sports is over . . .

USNA1985, ( anybody else too)

Thanks for the excellent FAQ's. Big help, really!

Our son is still waiting, but in the event that he receives an appointment, he has a small issue: an unusual shoe size 13 A or B.

We have found more hen's teeth than shoes that fit him (street or athletic). If it wasn't for the internet, he'd be sloshing around in shoes that don't even come close to fitting.

Knowing from personal experience, the importance of fit and quality for boots and shoes, do you any ideas for insuring the Academy will get that small but important detail right for Plebe summer and I-Day , etc.?

I still deal with stress fractures and shin splints from bad boots in USMC boot camp 40 years ago. And those boots fit but were the crappy foam rubber garbage that they finally stopped using.

Foot care is just one of those often ignored important things that the military can easily overlook.

Again thanks for being one of the "universal BGO's" here.

Dad_of_Nominee
 
One of the items past incoming plebes were advised to bring is broken-in, predominantly while running shoes (my son's a 2/C and that was his experience). I suspect that's still the case. As noted, plebes are issued just about everything they need, including running shoes, but it's a good plan to bring some they know fit/work/don't cause blisters.

As for other shoes, my Mid's a 14 and has had no trouble being issued all the other USNA shoes in his size.
 
Our cadet wore a size 24" waist pant (yes, she is female!). The Academies are experts in fitting the unusual sizes. Solution was they ordered the smallest waist male trouser and then tailored them specifically for her.
Now we're just hoping they can find a woman's size 6 shoe for #2 DD (sure they can dig them out of the storeroom from the 50s) :shake:
 
One of the items past incoming plebes were advised to bring is broken-in, predominantly while running shoes (my son's a 2/C and that was his experience). I suspect that's still the case. As noted, plebes are issued just about everything they need, including running shoes, but it's a good plan to bring some they know fit/work/don't cause blisters.

As for other shoes, my Mid's a 14 and has had no trouble being issued all the other USNA shoes in his size.

Please make that "predominantly WHITE" running shoes. Sorry.
 
Whatever a Plebe is wearing or bringing on I-Day is taken away and put in storage until Plebe summer is officially over in August. Cell phones are taken away but returned (charged) before the three phone calls during Plebe summer. The phones are charged by the upper class detailers. The picture in my mind of the detailers charging 1,200 phones always brought a smile to my face.

We bought whatever number of white under garments that were stated as needed. As the cashier in Target said "that's an awful lot of white underwear" which were also taken away and given back at the end of Plebe summer.

During the whole first year, as a Plebe they are technically not allowed civilian clothes (in their rooms or on weekend town liberty) and can only wear civilian clothes on leave.

Things to do if you haven't already done them:

Plan a going away party for your Plebe

Plan a family vacation if you can

If your Plebe doesn't already get enough physical training from his or her sport, purchase a short term gym membership or physical training sessions to condition.

Look at the USNA home football schedule (posted at navysports.com) and plan at least one trip to a football game if you can.

Join your local parents club for valuable information and so you have a place to tail gate before a football game .

Stock up on post office fixed priced boxes so you have them handy to send care packages during Plebe summer. My D said getting mail or a package at the end of the day really helped. I also bought post cards from places we went during her last year at home and from our home town. I used them to send a quick note or a silly comment.

Count your blessings because your child is on his or her way to a wonderful life changing experience (for everyone involved).

GoNavyMom
 
Stock up on post office fixed priced boxes so you have them handy to send care packages during Plebe summer. My D said getting mail or a package at the end of the day really helped. I also bought post cards from places we went during her last year at home and from our home town. I used them to send a quick note or a silly comment.

GoNavyMom

Thank you for the great advice.

What items are acceptable for them to receive via care packages during plebe summer?
 
Keep in mind that this year might be different - new 'dant will be in charge. We were all told junk food wouldn't be allowed but they seemed relatively liberal. The detailers do look at what's in the package.

I sent Twizzlers (her favorite), snack bars (cliff bars), gold fish crackers, dried fruit, pop tarts. I always tried to send enough that she had for herself and to share with her company.

I also sent news clippings about her favorite baseball team which I think helped in some sense with her detailers who seemed as starved for outside news as she was.

I also sent photos that she hadn't yet seen from her prom and her graduation party.

In one package I included sand and sea shells from a beach vacation that she couldn't go on. I heard this got a "what the f***" from the detailer to which she responded, "don't ask" but she was allowed to keep both.

GoNavyMom
 
I should add, when I sent the first package, I enclosed all of the goodies in a plastic shoe box with a lid so she would have a place to store future supplies:smile:

GoNavyMom
 
Running shoes are NOT taken away from plebes -- everything else is.

Sending a shoebox-sized container for food over plebe summer is an excellent idea. I'm told it provides resistance against the legendary mouse problem in Bancroft.
 
Stuff for Plebe Summer

Shouldn't my daughter be bringing some sports bras and a bunch of white undies along? Are these things provided by USNA along with everything else? She's ready for anything but why send a bag full of stuff if it's just going to be taken away until the end of Plebe Summer?
 
They will tell you when you get your "permit to report" package exactly what to bring. Bring it. If they take away sox and undies until after plebe summer, so what. Part of the military is following orders. All the agonizing over whether to bring X pairs of sox and undies is pretty silly. My son's company did not take the sox and undies away. Considering what they do over plebe summer and the extreme amount of physical activity, those "fresh" sox and undies taken away earlier might be quite welcome at the end of plebe summer.

More items for care packages in the summer:
- "Tiger Balm" for sore muscles (I found it at Wal-Mart, learned about it on this website. Used it myself for a pulled muscle at work and it was amazing)
-Powdered gatorade in single serve packets. Looked all over for these, bought a bunch when I finally found them.
-Tide white sticks or stain sticks for getting nasty spots off the whiteworks (uniforms!) (When you visit PPW, take a few along for you to have. Then when plebe spills something as you are eating out, etc, you will be ready. Your plebe will be wearing his summer white uniforms, not the plebe summer "popeye" suit which is also white, for the first time during PPW. You want to be ready as those uniforms are sparkling white.)
-Photos. My plebe's company allowed three to be up on display during summer. I sent photos of all kinds of things: his friends, his childhood, funny moments, recent wedding photos, etc. He rotated them around.
-Funny, inspiring, silly, etc cards. I sent one every day. Started "collecting" them as soon as he was notified of appointment.
- Healthy snacks: nuts, trail mix, clif bars, power bars, etc. Single serve portions. No more than fits in the rubbermaid type shoebox size container.
I would limit the "candy" like stuff. These kids are working out and running like you can't believe. My son shuns soda, candy now like it is the plague.
-Son requested several hundred safety pins a couple of weeks into plebe summer. He and his room mates pinned their sheet to the bunk nice and tight and slept on top, thus saving the hassle of making the bed.
-"Body Glide".....it is anti-chafing stuff. Found it at Academy.
- Sports Beans.....jelly beans with electrolytes. Also at Academy.

For now, if your son/daughter has an appointment, the single very best thing you can do for them is encourage them to RUN. And then run some more.

Plebe summer is grueling, mentally and physically. If the physical part is overwhelming for your plebe, they will break down mentally. If the physical part is challenging, but do-able, the entire summer will go much more smoothly. My son said all the kids who struggled during plebe summer were struggling physically, then mentally. Imagine being overwhelmed, challenged and busier than you ever imagined. And then being behind the curve when you run (daily, often more than once) and work out.........

Enjoy every moment with them (guess you could start running, too!). For when they are gone, it is much more "gone" than traditional college. I have a son at USNA and another in vet school. The lack of contact as compared to son at traditional college is easier because our son likes USNA, and has from the very beginning. He reported in good physical condition and was very grateful for every run and workout he did at home in the weeks leading up to I-Day.

It is an exciting time......and folks, it only gets better!:thumb:
 
Oh, also: First care package should be that shoebox size rubbermaid type container. Mail it from Annapolis when you get there for I-Day. Funny story: we mailed this a day before I-Day from downtown Annapolis post office. Drove all the way back to Texas after I-Day. Home like four days later. Mailed another care package. Son received the package sent from Texas before he got the one mailed from Annapolis. At the time, I was worried about mailing it two days before I-Day and having it arrive at USNA before son did!
 
We bought and sent much of the same stuff as in jennyp's list (BZ!) Tide sticks are great, but after trying them, bleach sticks, and Shout wipes, my Mid swears that the Shout wipes are the best.

As for getting laughs from detailers over things sent in packages, here's my mid's best PS story. She had written home that she didn't have enough "blue rim" T-shirts, because the laundry service was slow. A dear family friend found some on-line, and had them shipped to her. The detailer who examined her package for contraband struggled to keep a straight face. Just then a LT walked past, looked in the box, and said, "Your family sent you blue rims???" The LT had to turn away to keep from cracking up. However, there were quite a few times during Plebe year when those extra few shirts meant that she had something clean to wear, and she was very glad to have them!

Between now and I-day, make sure your Plebe-to-be eats huge quantities of their messiest favorite foods. Maybe it's barbecue, or slurping watermelon, or corn on the cob - the messier, the better. After I-day (particularly during PPW), they will NOT want to eat anything messy - at least my girl didn't - for fear of messing up those Summer Whites. That's also a good reason to take them out to eat at Buddy's or Cantler's (for crabs) the night before I-day.
 
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