Well wishes to 2017 plebe summer
- Thread starter CSGuy
- Start date
Company patch features some sort of demented squirrel.
What makes training in 21st comparatively "rough"?
The relative nature of one company over any other is largely in the degree to which the company members, especially plebes, are held to the letter of plebe or other class rates. It also used to be a matter of how seriously the company took its role in preparing its members to become officers and in doing their best in meeting obligations and expectations. It was something that passed down primarily from the upper classmen. It also was a reflection of the Company Officer's interpretation of his role in molding the midshipmen under his command.
Congratulations to the members of the incoming Class of 2017; the fun is about to begin! One big thing to keep in mind as you become a midshipman is that the job of the detailers is to whip you into functioning members of the Brigade. The sooner you show them that you are capable of meeting those expectations, the sooner they will back away and find the poor, misguided dufus who still thinks his/her role is to change the Brigade to something "nicer". My insight comes from a summer as a detailer, plus several years in the fleet as a junior officer.
Got it. Short-term pain for longer-term gain, in theory and, I would hope, in practice. Thanks for the experienced answer. My DD is in 21st, so I had to ask
LongAgoPlebe
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It wasn't until many years after my own plebe summer that I realized the single best lesson I learned that summer - among many, many of them, some of which follow me to the geezer age of 41 - was the habit and practice of what I'll call mindfulness.
Mindful people pay attention. If you adopt and practice this habit early, you will recognize that detailers are (largely) okay with mistakes that arise when you try something new and fail, but they hate so-called stupid mistakes: the ones made out of a failure to learn from your own or others' mistakes or repeated mistakes. These always arise from someone(s) not paying attention, rather than the process of learning new skills.
Mindful people observe everything they can: detailers, peers, routines. They are early to formations and meetings. They do their best to observe what others (squad, platoon) are doing in the moments before a deadline and assist them to be early too. Mindful people learn vicariously. If your swim buddy puts out a paw fingers up and gets flamed for it, you put out your paw fingers down.
Mindful people anticipate and plan. If you know that one of your training evolutions tomorrow is swim, you make sure you have your suit and towel ready to go in this evening's prep. You plan your week's laundry so that you have a clean blue rim to wear under white works for the day's training (wear the smelly one to PEP).
Above all, mindful people are observing themselves and making adjustments all the time. They recognize when they are tuned out and immediately tune back in. They recognize when they are tired, hot, thirsty, frustrated and take a mental or physical breath. They make commitments and set goals, and they resolve to carry through in spite of their fears, emotions, or physical limitations or risks. They recognize, and remind themselves, that nothing is permanent. They recognize that even they are not going to be perfect, and they learn a habit of after-action evaluation to dispassionately assess what worked and what did not, and what they will do in the future. They stretch to overcome their own limitations by placing themselves in situations where they can be tested and strengthened, over and over.
Mindful people adopt these and other practices because they work, not because someone makes them do it. They are, above all, internally motivated and driven. For these reasons, mindful people succeed where others who are physically stronger, intellectually smarter, socially savvier fail. Be that person.
Mindful people pay attention. If you adopt and practice this habit early, you will recognize that detailers are (largely) okay with mistakes that arise when you try something new and fail, but they hate so-called stupid mistakes: the ones made out of a failure to learn from your own or others' mistakes or repeated mistakes. These always arise from someone(s) not paying attention, rather than the process of learning new skills.
Mindful people observe everything they can: detailers, peers, routines. They are early to formations and meetings. They do their best to observe what others (squad, platoon) are doing in the moments before a deadline and assist them to be early too. Mindful people learn vicariously. If your swim buddy puts out a paw fingers up and gets flamed for it, you put out your paw fingers down.
Mindful people anticipate and plan. If you know that one of your training evolutions tomorrow is swim, you make sure you have your suit and towel ready to go in this evening's prep. You plan your week's laundry so that you have a clean blue rim to wear under white works for the day's training (wear the smelly one to PEP).
Above all, mindful people are observing themselves and making adjustments all the time. They recognize when they are tuned out and immediately tune back in. They recognize when they are tired, hot, thirsty, frustrated and take a mental or physical breath. They make commitments and set goals, and they resolve to carry through in spite of their fears, emotions, or physical limitations or risks. They recognize, and remind themselves, that nothing is permanent. They recognize that even they are not going to be perfect, and they learn a habit of after-action evaluation to dispassionately assess what worked and what did not, and what they will do in the future. They stretch to overcome their own limitations by placing themselves in situations where they can be tested and strengthened, over and over.
Mindful people adopt these and other practices because they work, not because someone makes them do it. They are, above all, internally motivated and driven. For these reasons, mindful people succeed where others who are physically stronger, intellectually smarter, socially savvier fail. Be that person.
Dial the gate
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LongAgoPlebe,
That is brilliant. So very well said. Thank you!
That is brilliant. So very well said. Thank you!
There's a reason they call it "No fun 21", but my now-Firstie says that its just that 21 tends to hold traditions more dear than most other companies. In those precious minutes that you have with your Plebe between swearing in and their disappearance into Bancroft for six weeks, try and focus on the positives from the day. They'll be a little shell-shocked, so don't let them start dwelling on the negative. They're starting out on a great adventure, one that thousands before them have survived, and numerous have thrived. Blink, and you'll be where I am - proud parent of a Firstie at the United State Naval Academy.
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Good post by LongAgoPlebe. Though this might be kind of a bummer, I'll add something else.
The Naval Academy will disappoint you. It very well may happen over Plebe Summer. You may realize that not all of your classmates are 2400 SAT Football heroes, and you may realize that not all of your detailers are future SEAL-astronauts who set a perfect example in everything they do.
Both your peers and your detailers are human, and it shouldn't be a shocker that both will make mistakes, some of which will probably having you seeing red over how petty or unfair something seems.
Take the negative with the positive and remember than just because you were let down or disappointed or feel cheated in some way by your upperclass it NEVER entitles you to do the same to your underclass, who will watch you just as closely as you watch 2014 and 2015.
Learn from their mistakes and take notes on what you think could have been better ways to handle different situations. You may find, as I did, that your perspective changes once you get to be a big bad 1/C, but that some things are wrong regardless. Once you get into a position to change things, which you will, do so. Don't fall prey to cynicism, even as a plebe or youngster you can be a force for good in your company, sport, or ECA.
Keep the faith. Remember why you came to USNA and what about the sea services attracted you in the first place. I've been a completely average 2ndLt doing nothing of actual significance for the past year (actually less than average since I'm still a couple years out from the fleet) so take my wors with a grain of salt but even at its most miserable this job is totally worth it. I have classmates deployed around the world now as Navy and Marine Officers and even when the day to day sucks I don't think any of them would change a thing. I've heard "I have the best job in the world" or "I have the best Sailors/Marines in the service" so many times its almost cliche.
Work your ass off, take risks, and don't be afraid to volunteer. It's not for you: every learning experience you gain at USNA is a potential boon to your future Sailors and Marines. And at the end of the day they deserve nothing less than your absolute best.
The Naval Academy will disappoint you. It very well may happen over Plebe Summer. You may realize that not all of your classmates are 2400 SAT Football heroes, and you may realize that not all of your detailers are future SEAL-astronauts who set a perfect example in everything they do.
Both your peers and your detailers are human, and it shouldn't be a shocker that both will make mistakes, some of which will probably having you seeing red over how petty or unfair something seems.
Take the negative with the positive and remember than just because you were let down or disappointed or feel cheated in some way by your upperclass it NEVER entitles you to do the same to your underclass, who will watch you just as closely as you watch 2014 and 2015.
Learn from their mistakes and take notes on what you think could have been better ways to handle different situations. You may find, as I did, that your perspective changes once you get to be a big bad 1/C, but that some things are wrong regardless. Once you get into a position to change things, which you will, do so. Don't fall prey to cynicism, even as a plebe or youngster you can be a force for good in your company, sport, or ECA.
Keep the faith. Remember why you came to USNA and what about the sea services attracted you in the first place. I've been a completely average 2ndLt doing nothing of actual significance for the past year (actually less than average since I'm still a couple years out from the fleet) so take my wors with a grain of salt but even at its most miserable this job is totally worth it. I have classmates deployed around the world now as Navy and Marine Officers and even when the day to day sucks I don't think any of them would change a thing. I've heard "I have the best job in the world" or "I have the best Sailors/Marines in the service" so many times its almost cliche.
Work your ass off, take risks, and don't be afraid to volunteer. It's not for you: every learning experience you gain at USNA is a potential boon to your future Sailors and Marines. And at the end of the day they deserve nothing less than your absolute best.
