what do mids pay for?

What extra's are midshipman monetarily responsible for?
IE: Do midshipman pay travel expenses to go to away football games? Do they pay for club sports? Do they pay for fees, if for example they join the ski team, or pellets for paintball club?

Your answer is a little vague. Mids will not pay travel expenses for away sports games if they are on the team. I'm not sure about expenses for club sports, but I imagine that it could vary by which club sport you're interested in.

Mids "pay" for quite a few things. However, most of these items come directly out of their accounts so they never actually see the money (sort of like withholding of income taxes, Social Security, etc.).

Among the things mids pay for indirectly are uniforms, books, haircuts, laundry and dry cleaning, and home football game tix.

Obviously, there are discretionary purchases that mids make with cash, check or charge such as MidStore purchases, food out in town, etc.

In terms of travel and sports, I believe that if you are a member of a club sport, your travel is paid for by USNA. If you elect to (and are able to) travel to a sport as a non-player, you would have to cover the expenses. You MIGHT (in some circumstances) be able to travel with the team if there are extra seats on the bus/plane, etc. And some group meals MIGHT be provided. But basically, you're on your own. Unless things have changed . . .

Just to add some additional insight - DS is on a ECA team which is not a club sport and their expenses are (mostly) covered including travel to competitions. When the mids who were not part of the sports teams traveled to Dublin, Ireland recently for the Navy vs. Notre Dame game (ugh!) they had to pay for their own airfare but were provided lodging in local schools (Trinity College, etc.).

Shifting gears on the fundamental question of "what do Mids pay for?"

The short answer is ... just about everything. Or so it seems. Cobbler services never used, cleaning services that don't clean and too often are late, haircuts not employed, uniforms not worn, books not employed in class, etc. etc. etc.

Mids LOVE to grumble about the money-making schemes employed at USNA to re-capture all that moolah Mids might think is coming their way. lol

Also,

Mids are Issued a card referred to as the Midshipman Card- What it is is a direct check-card for their held pay account.

How this works is: Each and every midshipman on the yard is paid $990 per month from the Navy. As 4th class, you only see $100 per month, every month (except July and August, which is only $50 per month). The rest of the remaining $880 is used to pay for laundry, haircuts, food, life insurance, class fund, and the big kicker- to pay back the ace loan. Any remainder after that goes in to the "Held pay" account which is accessible using the Midshipman Card, and can only be used to purchase standard-issue and necessary items I.e. books, soap, and uniforms.

Every now and then, the "held pay" account is liquidated in to your paycheck, and you get some of the money back.

It is a really confusing system, but just know that in the end, 4th class get paid $100 per month, 3rd class $200, and so on; of that, none of it needs to get spent on anything. Does it get spent though? Most likely, yes.

My son is still working toword an appointment-still needs a nomination.

We are used to paying thousands and thousands (and thousands) of dollars for my son's sport (travel ice hockey) each year. This sport is considered a club sport at USNA. If he were to make this team (it is a cut sport so may not happen at all regardless) do we pay for his fees and travel expenses? Where we live $100.00 per month that go into plebes account would cover the hockey tape and gatorade. Just curious. Thanks in advance.

Vista,

When my kids were young a friend advised us to avoid several sports due to cost, practice times and travel - hockey being one of them As it turned out the sports they ending up playing were just as costly and time consuming! My understanding is that the Academy covers much of the cost of the club and ECA activities. I would ask the Hockey coach directly -
http://navyhockey.net/page.php?page_id=13487

AikiBudo said:

When my kids were young a friend advised us to avoid several sports due to cost, practice times and travel - hockey being one of them :

Click to expand...

That is only ONE of a very long list of parenting mistakes that I wish I had a "do over" for.

AikiBudo said:

I would ask the Hockey coach directly -
http://navyhockey.net/page.php?page_id=13487

Click to expand...

I considered that, but I am afraid that would be too forward and presumptuous in this stage of the process. And remember that old Sara Palin quote: "They say the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull - lipstick." I strive hard to not live up to that daily. Some days I am less successful than others.

I went and asked one of my company mates who is on the club hockey team. He said it was $300 to play, which covers all uniforms, etc for it. It does NOT cover gear however.