Cell Phones

Ddcga

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
37
It is unclear whether or not incoming Plebes are allowed to bring their cell phones with them. I have read in other threads that if they do, of course the phones will be taken away until after Indoc which makes complete sense. DS is determined to do things strictly "by the book" and is convinced he should leave his phone at home and have us bring it out on Parent's Weekend. Is this what should be done or should he bring it knowing he's not breaking any rules and will be returned after Indoc?
 
Have him bring the cell phone. It will be collected and stored; however, he will be allowed to make brief calls during Indoc. When our DS was going though Indoc, he was allowed a 5-minute call on the second Sunday (you could hear someone in the background saying "four minutes left"..."three minutes left) and another call the following Sunday.
 
Bring phone and charger- make a plan ahead of time as to which number he/she will call- the last thing you want is to miss the call after not seeing or hearing from them for almost 2 weeks.

When the phone calls comes be ready to be a cheer leader- and have the tissue handy for once the phone call is over!
 
Ditto. Take the phone. Otherwise he will be lined up at a pay phone. Mine took his 4 years ago. Don't think anything has changed.
 
kdbax is exactly right. And be ready for the call at any time of the day. We are on the west coast and DS woke us up at 6:45am.:eek: The call seemed to go by in seconds, with the countdown in the background. Later, but probably before PW, they may get limited privileges to call home and will be standing at attention outside their barracks while on the call. So, do send the phone and, as ProudMom2014 said, be their cheerleader. :thumb:
 
Except there are no pay phones :) If they don't have a cell phone, not sure how the phone call home will be done. Borrow a cell????
 
I agree - he should take the phone and charger. If he "wants to do everything by the book" no sweat just turn it in to the CTO/DI's when they collect them. When they are allowed to call during indoc, if things stay as they have been in recent past, they will be given the phone and they will be standing at attention in front of the barracks/dorm they live in and will be timed by a DI. So don't be surprised or worry too much if the short (usually limited to 5:00) conversation is a little stilted...

Gosh is it already time to be talking about such things again? Yes it is, that means I'll be needing to make some reservations for next June for DS' graduation soon. Holly cow does time fly by. Incoming Class of 2015 and parents congratulations once again, please buckle up and prepare to enjoy the ride.

Class of 2011 - Bell Ringing starts next week right? Congratulations - I sure hope they stream the video again this year so I can sit in my office down here in VA and watch y'all and relive those happy times from 29 years ago... one of the three happiest and proudest days of my life!
 
Last edited:
What is the cell phone policy post-indoctrination?
For our son (a 2013), it was a gradual relaxation of the rules. Calls were allowed on Sundays only - at first limited times, then toward the end of plebe year more open times. It was easier after Acceptance Day and again after Recognition.

Just a note to you newbie parents: The first call is tough. Indoc itself is tough, and it will show in that first call. Aside from the countdown in the background, DS sounded completely frazzled - "this place is crazy!" And that was despite being prepared for it. By the second call, he was a lot calmer. As proudmom2014 said, be a cheerleader, and don't sound unnerved by what they're telling you. The short, infrequent calls are a good way to prepare you, the parent, for Sea Year.:wink:
 
For 2014's it was 2 5 minute phone calls during Indoc. After Indoc they were allowed 30 minutes to make phone calls on Sundays- times varied as to when the call came. After PW I believe they were given phones all day on Sunday and could call anytime- at this point they were still standing outside at attention I believe! Eventually after PW Plebes were given phones to keep at all times- safety reasons.... they were only to use it in an emergency and calls home on Sundays again. Man o man I so looked forward to Sunday's! Practically had the cell phone (duct) taped to my hand- - Sad to report we are now at the end of our third tri and the phone calls no longer come unless DS needs tickets home or me to send something up..... guess I'm getting ready for sea which is right around the corner- WOW has time flown!
 
Man o man I so looked forward to Sunday's! Practically had the cell phone (duct) taped to my hand- - Sad to report we are now at the end of our third tri and the phone calls no longer come unless DS needs tickets home or me to send something up..... guess I'm getting ready for sea which is right around the corner- WOW has time flown!
What's funny is that we were just getting used to the relaxed phone usage when - wham! - son ended up on a ship with little port time and limited phone. For the last couple of months, we've been back to a brief phone call on Sundays from the ship's satellite phone. However, it's better than no calls.:thumb:
 
jasperdog;193827Class of 2011 - Bell Ringing starts next week right? Congratulations - I sure hope they stream the video again this year so I can sit in my office down here in VA and watch y'all and relive those happy times from 29 years ago... one of the three happiest and proudest days of my life![/QUOTE said:
Me, too!!!
 
:) I was told that they plan to stream it live, but the link may not be made available until the day of.

Check the parents page on the academy website as the parent program coordinator will be posting it as soon as it is available.

I'll be at KP for bell ringing, so I probably won't be able to add it to the national parents page.
 
We were also told to have the cell phone completely charged before DS passed it in at Indoc. Lived for that first phone call! Sat all day with phone on our laps but very well worth it! Good Luck!
 
We were also told to have the cell phone completely charged before DS passed it in at Indoc. Lived for that first phone call! Sat all day with phone on our laps but very well worth it! Good Luck!

Also be sure to power off after the phone call so te battery will last until the next phone call can be made. :smile:
 
They usually get them back in time to charge them, son don't fret :)
 
POWER OFF the phone is a must...don't forget. Not just the battery going down but when it does, it makes a little beep sound that wakes up the DI at 0300 and when he finds out who's phone it is......I don't even want to go there. Just hang in there and wait it out...in retrospect it goes by fast. I would even pull the battery out....
 
I'd also like to throw in a small piece of advice if your son happens to have a girlfriend: Have him make the girl fully aware that he will NOT be spending those collective 10 minutes on her. I know a girl in the next state over that was, for some reason, under the impression her boyfriend would be calling her, not his parents.. Kind of a nasty week for her when she thought he was blowing her off only a week into plebe year.. I, on the other hand, did alright because I was prepared to ONLY get letters from my boyfriend for a while.
 
Back
Top