First Mail

Northstream

10-Year Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2010
Messages
92
Any typical time frame when the detailers might had out first care package or letters. We put them in the mail the monday before I day so I am confident USPS got them there. When can our plebe mail her first letter, if she wants to?:cool:
 
Varies on the first question. Re: the latter? When they tell 'em "WRITE!"

And they do.
 
First Letter

In the Superintendent's briefing on I-Day, we were told that the plebes had to write a letter by July 4. So I would imagine we will receive a letter by the end of this week. :eek:
When we dropped a letter off in the Annapolis post office the day after I-day, the mailbox was so stuffed that letters were sticking out of the slot! I am sure they had just as many packages (we mailed ours on I-Day). Those packages all have to be sorted into Companys and Platoons, but I would imagine they've received them by now. :confused: (I mailed two more packages from home on Friday and Saturday).
 
CANT WAIT

well, still nothing here in florida... can't wait... hope to get one today!
 
Incoming Mail through USNA Postal is slow at best. Outgoing not so bad. Even for Upper Class packages are slow through their postal service.
 
We received the first letter in the mail today. It looks like it was hastily written on a piece of notebook paper last Friday somewhere between the many tests the Plebes were required to take that day. DS says the food is not bad and they haven't pushed him as hard as he thought - so far so good. We'll see what the next letter sounds like!
 
Letter today??

Where do you live that you go the letter today? We live in NJ and I thought for sure we would be among the first to get one--but nothing yet...
 
Plebes often find a minute or two to scribble a note on Sundays, and on days when their platoon is doing things like going to the shooting range or the O-course or E-course. Other than those times, detailers like my Mid work hard to keep them busy. :shake: At PPW, or in their notes, you will start to hear them talk about "gray space." That does not mean "free time." It means "time my platoon spent with our detailers."

If you do hear discouragement, here a few things you can remind them:
- Set small, attainable goals (I can get through this day/hour/minute)
- Focus on your squad, not yourself. Among other things, misery loves company
- Even if you already think you've made a huge mistake in going to a SA, give it a fair shot. Very few people regret sticking through to Commissioning, or even just to the end of Plebe year. Lots of people regret leaving without giving it enough of a chance. One new 2011 Ensign I know swore he wasn't going back 2nd semester of Plebe year. One current detailer I know actually submitted resignation papers before deciding to stay.
- The detailers cannot stop time. PS and Plebe year will pass.

Here are a couple of things that they don't want to hear now, but they will agree to whole-heartedly three years from now:
- As detailers they will swear that (1) THEIR Plebe Summer was MUCH harder, and (2)there is so much more to do/take care of/less sleep/less food as a detailer than as a Plebe :biggrin:
 
What 2012 said! Our Mid decided during PPW she wasn't going back for more of the same. Told her stick it out for a semester or two and see what happens. What happened is she is now in Flight Trng at Whiting Field and loving it!!
 
Any typical time frame when the detailers might had out first care package or letters. We put them in the mail the monday before I day so I am confident USPS got them there. When can our plebe mail her first letter, if she wants to?:cool:

The first letter I got from one of my sons said only this: "We have to write a letter." It also looked like chicken scratch.

That was it - nothing more. Hilarious!

I understood. My wife was not as amused.
 
LOL! That was what I expected from my son. He surprised me by actually writing on BOTH sides of a page from a small composition book.
 
The first letter I got from one of my sons said only this: "We have to write a letter." It also looked like chicken scratch.

That was it - nothing more. Hilarious!

I understood. My wife was not as amused.

Haha, that's awesome.
 
The first letter I got from one of my sons said only this: "We have to write a letter." It also looked like chicken scratch.

That was it - nothing more. Hilarious!

I understood. My wife was not as amused.

haha...that's what i basically wrote on my first letter too!!
 
When we received for our first 'letter', I was thrilled, until I opened it. It was an envelope, addressed by our kiddo, with a BLANK piece of paper enclosed! I was convinced it was a cryptic note, trying to tell us how torturous it was. Only at our 1st phone call did kiddo tell us there was no time to write, cadre was bellowing and they were required to produce an envelope, addressed to home in 5 min. :thumb: Mission accomplished.
 
Still no letter here in Wisconsin, but we never received the letter telling us what company or platoon he would be in....:rolleyes:
 
Letter today!

Got the letter today. Two sentences in chicken scratch + two requests--1. NEED VERY COOSHY SHOE LINERS (her spelling) 2. FOOD regular Luna Bars and anything else

Well, since she was forward thinking enough to request those items, I am assuming this is a positive letter! :thumb:
 
I followed all the standard suggestions for the 1st care package, which I sent about 3 days after I-Day. In the 2nd letter we received (after the cryptic, required 1st letter) he wrote "enough cleaning supplies and don't send any underwear, etc. We have plenty of both."

However, everyone is different in their requests.
 
Got two letters today. First letter must have been the required speed communique. Said he was doing fine but had little time to write. Second letter had more detail. Had some time before church after prepping room for Bravo Inspection. Sounded upbeat and positive. Said he had a good platoon and squad. Detailers are pushing them hard, especially on learning required rates. Has found common ground with fellow plebes and even compared one of his detailers to a very respected classmate of his older brother.
 
Incoming Mail through USNA Postal is slow at best. Outgoing not so bad. Even for Upper Class packages are slow through their postal service.

Our experience is quite good with USPS. Package from Amarillo, TX mailed on a Monday often arrives Thursday, sometimes even Wednesday! I use the flat rate boxes and stuff 'em full of goodies.
 
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