Plebe Summer - Phone Calls Home

M

MIHOSER

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2009
Messages
323
#1 Sunday, July 11th
#2 Sunday, July 25th
#3 Tuesday, August 3rd

TUESDAY? How will that work? Will it be in the evening? Mom and Dad both work.
 
MIHOSER said:
#1 Sunday, July 11th
#2 Sunday, July 25th
#3 Tuesday, August 3rd

TUESDAY? How will that work? Will it be in the evening? Mom and Dad both work.
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So, how did you get this information? Did it come in the mail with company assisgnment?
 
Yes.

Midshipmen are permitted and encouraged to bring their cellular phones with them on I-Day. This will facilitate calls home on the following dates: 11 July, 25 July and 3 August. Midshipmen will not be permitted to keep their phones in their rooms, ...
 
Phone calls vary in length ... it depends on the company. They are told they will have x amount of time ... sometimes that applies, sometimes they can talk much longer ... if they say they have to go ... they do!

The calls last year were in the early evening on the west coast ... but sometimes, just one parent will get the call if they are both at work ... just take lots of notes so you can fill the other person in ... all the plebes in a sqaud make the call at the same time ... no arranging for the parent's schedule ...

the control aspect of being a parent will be over ... you can not dictate, ask for or expect accomodation ... a tough adjustment for many a mom (me included!) ...
 
Just remind them to turn the phone off so the battery is not dead when they get it back. Although I have been informed that some companies give them back early enough for them to recharge. A distinctive case makes it easy for them to identify when they start handing them out for the calls.
 
condor1992 said:
How long is each phone call approximately? Or is there no set time limit?
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For the Class of 2013 they got almost 30-minutes for each call. We ran out of things to say. I recommended my sons call some of their friends - which they did.

Ironically, those were the longest calls we ever had during their entire Plebe Year. Once the academic year begins they get their cellphones back. They can't use them during study hour and, depending on the orientation of your room in Bancroft Hall, the reception is not too hot. However, they were so busy they hardly ever called. Mostly a text message now and then.

If you have twins (like I did), be prepared for BOTH of them to call at EXACTLY the same time. Once they called, I had them both hang-up and I called each of them using 3-way calling from our house phone. Then my wife got on the other house line and we had all 4 of us on the line at the same time.
 
When I did detail, we charged the kids phones the night before the phone calls. This was a pain, but was better than letting them use my phone. The phone and chargers, all tagged with names, remained safely locked in my con locker during 1st set. The calls were supposed to be 5 minutes, but my classmates and I agreed to slide to about 10. What's 5 extra minutes right? This is company specific so take it for what it's worth.
 
I love the mental image of detailers charging 1,200 phone.

GoNavyMom
 
Is there a usual time for them to make the calls? Or is it like waiting for the cable company guy???
 
Our 3 phone calls came at almost the exact time that we were told, but we stayed around the house just incase, we weren't going to miss those calls. Ours were also 30 minutes, but we were expecting 3-5 minutes so you never know.
Suggestion - Start writing down questions you have and have it by the phone because if you have a Mid like ours who is of few words, you wont get much info and if you don't write them down, when that phone rings you are too excited to remember what you wanted to ask!
Congrats to you all!
 
Also, make sure you say what you really want to say first thing, including endearments and encourgaments. Once they say they have to go, you may not even get an "I love you!" out before they hang up. And don't get too upset if your DS/DD sounds discouraged, it is part of the process and things do get better!
 
marvin7794 said:
When I did detail, we charged the kids phones the night before the phone calls. This was a pain, but was better than letting them use my phone. The phone and chargers, all tagged with names, remained safely locked in my con locker during 1st set. The calls were supposed to be 5 minutes, but my classmates and I agreed to slide to about 10. What's 5 extra minutes right? This is company specific so take it for what it's worth.
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Like I said, the Class of 2013 got 30-minutes per call - three different times.

We were running out of things to say.

I told my sons (twins) that they could call a friend and that they didn't have to talk to Mom & Dad the whole time. They really appreciated it.

Besides, having a father who was a grad, they really didn't feel the need to tell me everything that was going on. They knew I had a pretty good idea.

They enjoyed teasing me, "Dad, you were wrong. It's a lot easier than you said it was."

I said, "Well, have you ever considered you guys are just better than I was?"

Which they were. :smile:
 
MIHOSER said:
#1 Sunday, July 11th
TUESDAY? How will that work? Will it be in the evening? Mom and Dad both work.
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WHAAAAAAAAAA!!!

It's called "voicemail", junior. Welcome to the Big Leagues. :cool:
 
Zaphod,

It's a legitimate question. Spare me your BS sarcasm. We both work all day Mon.-Fri. Just want to make appropriate arrangements.
 
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I repeat: "WHAAAAAAAAA!" :rolleyes:

How on Earth did Midshipmen EVER get by in the old days before answering machines, cell phones, IM, e-mail, and telephones? How did their parents survive?

You think that Plebe Summer works like a clock and that you can make plans weeks in advance for something as mundane as a PHONE CALL? I think you've bought too much into the propaganda that USNA is a well-oiled machine. Good luck with that.

Tell you what, carry your cell phone with you at all times to ensure your baby can reach you whenever he has a chance to call, and be thankful you have that option. Problem solved.

Once again, the parents think they know more than the friggin' graduates. :rolleyes:
 
MIHOSER said:
#1 Sunday, July 11th
#2 Sunday, July 25th
#3 Tuesday, August 3rd

TUESDAY? How will that work? Will it be in the evening? Mom and Dad both work.
Click to expand...

On the second 30 minute call we discussed the logistics for the third "work day" call. DD knew I would be at work and called me there. Even at an office with the strictest phone usage policy, I have to believe there's room for a call from your Plebe and that no one will care if you use the office phones' conference calling ability to dial in the other parent.

GoNavyMom
 
Mihoser, I don't think we'll get a time. Heck, I feel really spoiled knowing which days DS will call. And, if our calls are like Memphis says, 30 minutes, I'll think I'm in heaven! My experience with oldest in basic training was much different. In spite of Zaph's sarcasm, and frustration :yllol:, his advice about keeping your cell phone near is the best solution, if that is possible. There were many people on our forum who missed calls during boot. It was sad for them and for their sailors, but these things happen.
 
Hey ... for new parents ... ignore the rude and sarcastic responses by some "experts" on this forum ... I've been where you are, wondering how it all works, what's coming and how best to "be there" for my guy ... and luckily last year another forum provided fantastic support ... WITHOUT the crappy comments from some here ... Too bad that forum is gone...

My suggestion: Find the parent's club in your area ... connect with them. Our local club has wonderful people who willingly answer questions, offer support ... and help you keep that stiff upper lip for your midshipman or cadet ...

Congratulations ... and all the best to your son/daughter in the coming year
 
Hi,

The disagreement over phone calls v. no phone calls seems to be drawn along gender lines.

The good old days are gone at USNA and in the rest of the world. Right or wrong we live in an era of instant communication and gratification. As a mother/parent, I needed to hear my DD voice to know how she was coping and once I knew she was okay, I was okay. Before the first call, I would tell myself if something terrrible happens I will get a call. After the first phone call, personally, I thought 30 minutes was too long.

For many of us without any previous connection to the military, this is a whole new experience. It takes a while for the kool aid to kick in but it does and by the end of Plebe year, I no longer expected a phone call but was glad for the text messages/calls when they did come.

So, let's lighten up on the newbies and try to guide them through the process based on more facts than opinion.

GoNavyMom
 
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