Midshipman Card

Can someone please explain to me what the Midshipman card is? Can it only be used at the midshipman store? Where does the money come from?

USNA2011Dad said:

Can someone please explain to me what the Midshipman card is? Can it only be used at the midshipman store? Where does the money come from?

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Parents are entitled to shop in the Midshipman Store during the years that their Midshipman attends the Academy. You get a card that identifies you as an approved patron. Get the card at the Mid Store by either taking your Mid with you or knowing what their identification number is. It expires in May of the 1st class year.

You show the card when you make a purchase. The Mid Store used to be online but those days are over. Probably because we are at war. So you must go to Annapolis to buy anything in the Store.

So you must go to Annapolis to buy anything in the Store

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Well, they claim that, if you know the Midstore carries an item, you can call the Midstore and order it. We live close enough that, I confess, I haven't tried this. However, please note that you must be qualified to shop at the Midstore (e.g., current parent, alum, etc.) in order to do this and, as noted, I'm not sure whether it works in practice.

usna1985 said:

Well, they claim that, if you know the Midstore carries an item, you can call the Midstore and order it. We live close enough that, I confess, I haven't tried this. However, please note that you must be qualified to shop at the Midstore (e.g., current parent, alum, etc.) in order to do this and, as noted, I'm not sure whether it works in practice.

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Right. I haven't resorted to this since we live only a little over an hour from Annapolis. It does seem like a pain but if you live far away it might be the only option. You can always ask your Midshipman to buy what you want, but if you're buying something FOR your Midshipman the surprise factor goes away.

Is the "Midshipman Card" of today the equivalent of the "Midstore Card" of yesteryear?

If so, be VERY, VERY careful with it. It's NOT free money. I spent two months at the beginning of my 2/C year without being paid while I caught up to the debt.

From personnal experience...please do not buy academy stuff for a midshipman or cadet. In four years they will have more stuff than they can handle or ever get rid of. On the other hand, they also have four years of gifts for family that don't take too much planning. Parents love that stuff, they can't get enough.

Alright - taking a break from finals. Or am I just easily distraced?

There are 3 so called "cards" that I know of:

The Midstore Card
Issused to Midshipmen, this is basically a credit card - all the money spent on it come out of your paycheck, so beware. You can use it in the Mid Store, Uniform Shop, and book shop. Handy if you don't want to stack up a charge of $500 for books on your credit card at the beginning of the semester, but I never use mine for anything else besides books.

Parent's Mid Card
My parents have them for me and my '09 brother (not sure if they've stopped issuing them). Just ID's you as a parent of a mid so you they can shop at the Mid Store with an escort. Just has your Mid's alpha code on it.

The Yard Card
Brand new thing this year. It's like a gift card that can be recharged. You put some money on it and spend it like a gift card. However, its run by MWR, so I believe you can only use it at Drydock, Steerage, and the Visitor's Center. Like it said, its a brand new thing, so not really sure on how it works.

Midshipman Store Card:

Parent or Guardian of XXXXX Alfa Code ######

Expires Graduation Month of Midshipman

Does not need escort but must be presented when making purchases. Immediate family members, as guests, allowed access to Midshipmen Store.

Not available to us on I-day but we did get them PPW. On I-Day we used temporary cards which came in the admission folder.

KaMiKaZi said:

The Midstore Card
Issused to Midshipmen, this is basically a credit card - all the money spent on it come out of your paycheck, so beware. You can use it in the Mid Store, Uniform Shop, and book shop. Handy if you don't want to stack up a charge of $500 for books on your credit card at the beginning of the semester, but I never use mine for anything else besides books.
.

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So why have I been buying all of these BOOKS!?

^^^^^^^