Attending PEP on Friday of PPW

Mixed in under another topic recently was a debate regarding parents attending PEP on PPW. Since I'm only about an hr away, I attended PEP one morning last week and had no problem whatsoever, although I did not enter past the fence nor sat on the bleachers. PEP is held on the Rip Miller field, which is the one closest to the Visitors Center and bordered on one side by the water. I stood by the gate on the water side and was able to get a good look at what PEP is all about. They work those Plebes pretty well; they're shirts were soaked at 6:30 am. Your son or daughter will no doubt be in the best shape of their life.

I don't believe you can go and sit in the bleachers and I didn't want to push my luck. I could get a good enough view from the gate. Part way through, the platoons jogged past us to go down the lot to another field where they had other events such as tug-of-war, chin ups, fireman's carry, etc.

The new detailers were in the bleachers just observing and I chatted up a few as they were leaving. They admitted that they themselves were nervous about becoming detailers. All seemed like really good people (we'll see!)

So anyway, I just wanted to let other parents know that if you want to see what PEP is like, and PPW might be your only chance to do ir, then go see it!
I think you'll appreciate much more what your Plebe's daily grind has been like.

So what time does it start in the morning? Is it over at 6:30?

Unsolicited advice that's worth what you pay for it . . . if PEP attendance is an "offical" event of PPW, go for it. If not, don't do it.

Why not? It's one thing that a couple of people/parents were in the general vicinity this past week. It's something else for 1200 sets of parents to show up on Friday morning of PPW. If USNA wants parents to be able to attend, they will make plans for it. If they don't, they're telling you something.

PEP goes from 6:00 - 7:30

BTW...PEP doesn't mean it's a "PEP Rally". If you go, just stand back and observe. No shout-outs, banners, signs, cheering, etc, etc.

I'm sure they don't want distractions, which might have happened in years' past.

well i know what mom will NOT be attending PEP......it would never bother my son to see me there, but he would ABSOLUTELY think someone died if he saw me up that EARLY......

Bailey, that is hilarious! Same with my Plebe. He might come unglued and rush over to see what was wrong in our family. I am NOT an early riser and since DS has tried to fly under the radar and draw NO attention to himself for the past 2 months, I think maybe I should order room service and just chill......

I'm with you, Baily and Love! Who in the world wants to get up that early to do something that is this controversial! But, my husband may drag me out of bed and at least force me to head over to the yard.

As my daughter told me as a second set: If they don't want parents there they will have someone at the gates to the field telling parents they can't enter. Then as someone said before, wander over to the seawall and stand on the road and look through the (very small) fence. Half way through PEP they all run out and run right past you for their laps. You don't have to sit in the bleachers. Hey Coffee and a Danish if you are within walking distance it will probably be the lowest temperature of the weekend. Maybe about eighty! Our PPW was Hot, Hot, Hot and PEP was the best time of the day.

lovethenavy said:

Bailey, that is hilarious! Same with my Plebe. He might come unglued and rush over to see what was wrong in our family. I am NOT an early riser and since DS has tried to fly under the radar and draw NO attention to himself for the past 2 months, I think maybe I should order room service and just chill......

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Tsk Tsk Tsk...have you no GUILT! LOL
These guys and gals have been up at 5:30 am, six days a week for 6 weeks, and you can't go 1 day? You'll regret not seeing what PEP is all about. Sun rising over the Severn. Fresh air. Sea gulls squawking. And to hear them count...4sir, 5sir, 6sir, 7sir.
Not sure if they'll see you; I couldn't find my Plebe, but was great to see the entire Plebe class.

Would love to hear them do the 'Hi Mom! Hi Dad!' chant during push-ups! lol

NOW do you feel guilty??

Hi Mom, Hi Dad was funny. The Cadre know you are there but your Plebe will never see you. They have more important things to worry about. Detailers.

Bailey: That was funny. You can't get up before 0500 even if your kid will never see you?

My husband and I went with camera and video camera and shot through the bleachers at Rip Miller field (not sure where they will be if the construction has begun on Rip Miller by that time). We even got a collective company greeting from my son's company! It was all in good fun and no one got in trouble. However, that being said, we were as discreet as possible and did not in anyway try to bring attention to ourselves. We did not enter the stadium either. I would suggest standing along the street and applauding them as they run by (all of the Plebes) during their battalion run. We got a lot of thumbs up last year from the Plebes and the Cadre.

We were very impressed with PEP and it gave us an appreciation of what these young men and women were experiencing.

PEP has been declared "closed" by USNA. I think the parents should respect that and stay out of the confines of Rip Miller Field. Do not enter. Do not sit on the bleachers.

Having said that, the Naval Academy is open to the general public and you are free to tour the Yard. You can put 2 and 2 together, I think.

I think if you wanted to wake up early and watch PEP from outside the fence, it would be a win/win situation. Everybody gets their way. Nobody is going to get into any trouble, for crissakes.

In my mind, PEP will always be Heinz Lenz, perched upon that platform, bellowing out "Go hard, '79! Go hard!" in his thick German accent. During my years, Heinz Lenz was PEP. We hated PEP, but we loved him.

Here's what it says in the PPW Information book we received under the heading "Meeting Your Midshipman":
"...Please do not expect to meet your midshipman before 12:15 p.m. on Friday. At best, you will break your midshipman's concentration on training; at worst, you will disrupt the training of an entire company -- and the careful planning and timing that goes into each training evolution. As such, Friday morning PEP is not open to the public." (sentences are bolded as they appear in book). Sounds like they really don't want us around!

Like Popeyesmom said, discretion is the key. Husband runs every morning anyway, so maybe he can "happen" to jog by the general area and catch a glimpse. As for me, the best I can hope to do at 6 am is stand on the curb blinking owlishly and holding a large cup of coffee.

Memphis9489 said:

In my mind, PEP will always be Heinz Lenz, perched upon that platform, bellowing out "Go hard, '79! Go hard!" in his thick German accent. During my years, Heinz Lenz was PEP. We hated PEP, but we loved him.

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We never had PEP but I swam like a brick. Lived on subsquad. I still wake up in the middle of the night;

"Puuulllllllll, Keeeeeeek, Glideeeeeeeeeeee,Puuulllllllll, Keeeeeeek, Glideeeeeeeeeeee."

Not sure I would classify it as love.

Which is why I was shocked when my kid said he loves PEP! He left here a scrawny 6'1", 140 pounder. Sunday he told me he's gained 10 pounds, and I can certainly see it in his pictures. It is all in his shoulders and chest! Dropped off a boy, but looks like he's beginning the process of turning into a man! Thanks, USNA!!

I agree that, if PEP is closed to parents, you should stay away. Why flaunt the "rules" when your child is now part of an organization that is taught to follow rules? I'm SURE that, in the video they will show parents about Plebe Summer, there will be PLENTY of footage of PEP. It will give you a very good idea of what it's like -- and probably a much better and closer perspective than trying to peer through gates or jog by.

That said, no picture or even in-person viewing can ever adequately capture the feeling of your issue T-shirt hitting that cold, wet astroturf for the first time at 0600! And, Memphis, I'm with you on Heinz Lenz -- "Come on '85" -- in his thick German accent. He was probably more fit at 56 (when we saw him) than 80% of our class; one of those people everyone thinks will live forever.

Back to the parents, remember, there are up to 2400 of you. If even 1/10 of you try to view PEP, it will be like a small army and, quite honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if there are "sentries" in place to keep parents away from PEP. It could be embarrassing to be "turned away."

For those of you staying at the Marriott downtown, certain rooms overlook part of the yard and you may be able to see the plebes running along the seawall -- if they are on a run and if they take that route. From that position, you are disturbing no one.

Other than that, watch it on the video.

And yet, the Yard is open at 6am.

Are just the parents of the Class of 2014 banished from the Yard because PEP is in progress? I'm wondering if all the other tourists got "the memo" on PEP being closed.

What is the definition of PEP being "closed"? Does that mean that you cannot view it? Or, does that mean you are not allowed within the confines of Rip Miller Field - i.e. on the sidelines or in the bleachers? Or, does that mean you have to stay 20-feet away from the fence? What if you were walking down by the Sailing Center and a company of Plebes goes jogging by? Should you turn your back to them and not make eye contact? After all, it is PEP ... and PEP is "closed."

I mean - seriously ...

If history is any indicator, not that many parents will find it convenient or even possible to be on the Yard at that time. I would say the vast majority will still be driving to the Academy at that time -or- their flight hasn't even landed at BWI yet.

Someday I hope to learn to control it but as of now, I cannot. When making a decision especially, and often on other occassions, my mind , uncontrollably, it seems, just wanders to all the possible conclusions of a decision. Presently, the following scenario is dancing through my head. So, I am a brand new plebe parent determined to see Friday morning PEP. The gate is open. I find a nice seat. Wow, that was easy. About halfway through the morning evolution, totally absorbed, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around. It is a bright shiny new Ensign in whites sporting the red name tag. "Excuse me sir, are you the parent of a member of the Class of 2014?" "Of course", I respond, unable to contain my pride. "Did you not get the PPW package?", he asks. Suddenly realizing the gravity of the question, I stammer out a "Yeah. Yes, but.......". "Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave", of course, is his response. I gather up my things and depart quietly thinking how lucky I was that it was a very quiet private low key request to leave and no one else seemed to notice. Later that day, I meet up with my new Plebe and we have a wonderful reunion. Of course he is full of stories and cannot wait to show me his room. After about a half hour in his room, meeting all his roommates and their parents, listening to all the tales of Plebe Summer, I could not be happier. Or more proud. A chip off the old block. I am beaming. Son suddenly looks over and says "Dad, I almost forgot. My Company Officer is in his office. I would like for you to meet him." "Of course", I reply excitedly. We walk down to the office, Son knocks on the door, and, when invited in, we enter. Guess who the Company Officer is? Of course it is. The only thing I could imagine being more embarassing would be if I were wearing my shiny well-worn class ring. Oh well, it could really never happen. Could it? Is there a 12 step recovery process for a wandering overactive mind?

The various viewpoints have been stated. Plebe parents will need to make their own decisions.