Bracing

They did it when I was there.

Stupid practice, really....
 
No, pushups aren't allowed. Its like a maximum of 20 at a time, and you need company officer approval. Interesting tidbit: for some reason the detailers can't participate in the remedial pt sessions because they need to make sure everyone is safe.
 
Gee Zaphod I think you may be right……what was it you said in another thread…..”wussification of the officer corps” :thumb:

To borrow from my favorite radio personality:

DON'T DOUBT ME!

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
They did it when I was there.

Stupid practice, really....

I hated bracing up - it gave me a headache, for some reason.

I remember sometimes we were ALL braced up for lengthy periods of time.

"Brace up!" was a common thing you would hear.

I never recall Plebe Summer being very physical with regards to punishment. I don't recall my squad leader EVER saying, "Drop and give me 20!" That would have been no big deal. Things were very psychological - that was much worse. They always had you believing you were in big trouble. They would ask us our rates CONSTANTLY. And the less you knew them the MORE you would get asked. Not knowing them would lead to "come arounds", being braced up, and just general crap.

I remember having a love-hate relationship with meals. I was hungry and wanted to eat, yet that was the time when we got asked the most rates. I remember getting grilled so severely during a meal that there was no time to eat. It could be miserable.
 
sorry this is probably a stupid sounding question, but what exactly are rates?
 
My MID called a Marine Major "Gunny" during her first year. Did pushups until the deck was soaking wet and then had to wipe it dry and do some more. Squad tried to do them with her and were told to "brace" against the wall. She never got the rank wrong again.:yllol: Learning experience.
 
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They'll still give you the pool of sweat after your pushups. The detailers would probably make each of your twenty pushups take 30 sec, which is no fun. But I generally agree Memphis' memory of Plebe Summer: mentally and emotionally difficult. Also, I didn't check the link but rates are random things you must know from memory, this includes everything from the next 3 meals (or 4-9 meals depending on how well you know 3) to the names on the mexican monument to the joint chiefs to the number of bricks in T-Court (2013 FYI) to your chain of command to the winners of the Heisman Trophy to Man in the Arena to Qualifications of a Naval Officer to How's the Cow to How Long Have You Been in the Navy to What Time is it? to how many days your cadre has until graduation to 3 news articles to the 11 General Orders of a Sentry to Navy Blue and Gold to the Varsity captains...you'll figure it out eventually. Don't try to figure it out early, otherwise you'll be the tool in you squad who thought they could figure everything out.

And a Major can do what he wants, its the mids who have to follow the rules.

And Memphis did you have plates being broken with plates during meals? Those were the fun meals...
 
Memphis - from what you describe, I would say that going through Beast at West Point (1984) sounds very similar. I don't remember being dropped for pushups other than when we were at Lake Frederick or during PT (ie if someone thought you weren't doing enough or were wimping out they might call you over for some additional attention), but certainly not in the barracks or during the academic year.

From what we hear about USAFA (my son leaves in 20 days :eek: ) it seems completely different. Sounds like being dropped for pushups, flutter kicks, etc. is pretty much constant through the summer and all of 4th class year (and particularly recognition!). For us it was much more of a mental game. Not sure I could have handled the physical stress of AF (although I never had trouble at WP). Although I supposed they didn't do the ruck marches! :rolleyes: (Quote my son "When would a pilot ever have to HIKE anywhere?").
 
Memphis - from what you describe, I would say that going through Beast at West Point (1984) sounds very similar. I don't remember being dropped for pushups other than when we were at Lake Frederick or during PT (ie if someone thought you weren't doing enough or were wimping out they might call you over for some additional attention), but certainly not in the barracks or during the academic year.

From what we hear about USAFA (my son leaves in 20 days :eek: ) it seems completely different. Sounds like being dropped for pushups, flutter kicks, etc. is pretty much constant through the summer and all of 4th class year (and particularly recognition!). For us it was much more of a mental game. Not sure I could have handled the physical stress of AF (although I never had trouble at WP). Although I supposed they didn't do the ruck marches! :rolleyes: (Quote my son "When would a pilot ever have to HIKE anywhere?").

At USAFA all basic cadets march out to Jack Valley and back during beast. I believe it is several miles.
 
At USAFA all basic cadets march out to Jack Valley and back during beast. I believe it is several miles.

Well, yeah, but not with a 45 pound rucksack! Marching with just an LBE (or whatever the current/AF term for it is!) and a rubber rifle isn't exactly a challenge! :rolleyes:
 
Bet the "Poor Boy" never did that again and knew his ranks blindfolded:thumb: 1st Class wear the uniforms of their selected service prior to graduation. Firstie steps out into the company area in Marine Uniform. My Mid is on watch. Sees the uniform and gold on the collar. Calls Company Area to attention. Firstie snaps to and looks around for an officer. My Mid announces "never mind, carry on".:yllol:
 
I hated bracing up - it gave me a headache, for some reason.

I remember sometimes we were ALL braced up for lengthy periods of time.

"Brace up!" was a common thing you would hear.

I never recall Plebe Summer being very physical with regards to punishment. I don't recall my squad leader EVER saying, "Drop and give me 20!" That would have been no big deal. Things were very psychological - that was much worse. They always had you believing you were in big trouble. They would ask us our rates CONSTANTLY. And the less you knew them the MORE you would get asked. Not knowing them would lead to "come arounds", being braced up, and just general crap.

I remember having a love-hate relationship with meals. I was hungry and wanted to eat, yet that was the time when we got asked the most rates. I remember getting grilled so severely during a meal that there was no time to eat. It could be miserable.

Looks like not much changed between your time and mine.

We were not given pushups, but come-arounds and grillings during meals were legendary.

I recently had a dream (not for the first time) that I was back at USNA to get another degree from there, and that of course I had to do all four years AND Plebe Summer. It was funny thinking, "GOD this is a load of crap!" while being yelled at by some who I outranked! :yllol:
 
Well, yeah, but not with a 45 pound rucksack! Marching with just an LBE (or whatever the current/AF term for it is!) and a rubber rifle isn't exactly a challenge! :rolleyes:


Well no 45 pound rucksack, but 7000 feet above sea level and on the side of a Colorado Rocky mountain. Sounds pretty challenging to me!!!!
 
Looks like not much changed between your time and mine.

We were not given pushups, but come-arounds and grillings during meals were legendary.

I recently had a dream (not for the first time) that I was back at USNA to get another degree from there, and that of course I had to do all four years AND Plebe Summer. It was funny thinking, "GOD this is a load of crap!" while being yelled at by some who I outranked! :yllol:
Wish I had a dollar for everytime I dreamed I was going back to USAFA, at my current age, knowing that I've already done it all before...and they've increased since DS started his application process a year ago.
 
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