USNA Summer Block

THS

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According to the USNA calendar spring semester finals end May 12 and summer block 1 begins May 31. What do plebes do between the end of the semester and the start of summer block?
 
Oh, nothin' much. Sleep late, go sailing, play XBOX all day, have barbecues, that sort of thing. :D

Plebes will be training for, then participating in, Sea Trials, an all-day (longer!) test of physical, mental, and moral strength for them. (Wish we'd had this, back in the day!) Then there's the Herndon climb and color parade. Lots of mandatory fun, briefings for summer training blocks, packing up their sea bags and the rest of their belongings to put into storage...

Here's a description of some of the published activities for Commissioning Week, May 20-27 this year. http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/
 
There is also Zero Block, which came into being a few years ago now, falling right after exams and finishing before Block 1, which starts after graduation. Blocks 2 and 3 follow, then it's time for Reform and the next academic year.

Some are able to take "inter-sessional leave," some days off after classes end and before pre-Comm Week stuff starts.

This all becomes clear once there.
 
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Thanks LongAgoPlebe. I guess a short visit with DS is off the table between the end of finals and summer block 1. He's told us he requested block 3 for vacation and I'm wondering if it would be risky to plan a family vacation then. I expect his future summers will be too busy for scheduling any family vacations, so I'm thinking this may be the last time for a family trip someplace other than Annapolis.
 
I believe they just go their summer training. Things can change in the coming weeks, so understand there is always risk when scheduling vacations. Your Kids will know best if they have things such a Summer Seminar or Detail on blocks that are much more locked in then something like aviation cruise which could be any block and change around. They usually have inter sessional leave if you want a visit unless they head home. That leave time varies for every Mid depending on when finals are. So best to check with them. Also not sure when Commissioning Week is this year, but it is prior to Memorial Day weekend and then it rolls immediately into that weekend Mids normally report for 1st block training the Monday or Tuesday. So like always, your Mid knows best.
 
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Thanks LongAgoPlebe. I guess a short visit with DS is off the table between the end of finals and summer block 1. He's told us he requested block 3 for vacation and I'm wondering if it would be risky to plan a family vacation then. I expect his future summers will be too busy for scheduling any family vacations, so I'm thinking this may be the last time for a family trip someplace other than Annapolis.


Risk - blocks do get switched around for various operational reasons. Usually once into Block 1, risk drops but is never 0%.

Mids almost always have one free block for leave, but many choose voluntary summer school, interesting internships, language studies abroad, NOLS, and other fun stuff, and fill the whole summer.
 
THS, if you plan your vacation starting the second week of block three (i.e. 1 Aug) for about two weeks, I think it is relatively safe.

Definitely check with DS though!
 
Yes, we have been discussing summer plans with DS.

ktnstalk, that's what we're thinking! Thanks
 
Yes, we have been discussing summer plans with DS.

ktnstalk, that's what we're thinking! Thanks

That's great! Hope you get to do something relaxing and fun with your DS. Btw, I "talk", and I don't "stalk"! [emoji28]
 
Mom/Dad/Siblings, having that Plebe home for a whole block may not be what you expect. He/She is not going to be the same Kid that left a year ago. Ours camd home "Wired for sound" so used to having important things to do all day every day not be able to Adjust to the No Demands, slower pace at home. I am sure not all are the same and some Love it. Our Son paced the house constantly and Lorded over his "civilian deadbeat sibling". He didn't really say that but they got the message. They were so ready to get rid of him.

Don't get me wrong, we still love him.... and really love his short visits, BUT he and we agreed that it would be best if he scheduled Summer school after that it has worked great for the last 2 years. He needed to lower his workload during the school year. Somehow he managed to get home for a bit both summers. Want to say he came home during Zero block. That little bit of time you were talking about between Exams and Commissioning week.

So just be warned, Family Vacations may not work out just like you expect!
 
Some leave questions for USNA:
1. Do Plebes start accruing leave like folks on active duty (30 days per yr) when they arrive on I-Day or does leave start after you are Commissioned?
2. Is leave req'd for holidays or are Mids on 'break' similar to other universities?
2. Regarding Summer Blocks (0-3), how long do the blocks run & do Mids take leave during this time if not on official training?
 
Some leave questions for USNA:
1. Do Plebes start accruing leave like folks on active duty (30 days per yr) when they arrive on I-Day or does leave start after you are Commissioned?
2. Is leave req'd for holidays or are Mids on 'break' similar to other universities?
2. Regarding Summer Blocks (0-3), how long do the blocks run & do Mids take leave during this time if not on official training?


1. No. Yes. Plus they get 30 days "basket leave" after graduation.
2. Leave is taken during scheduled breaks in the academic calendar.
3. Summer training blocks (0-3) are roughly 3 weeks long. At least one can be leave, though mids often choose summer school to get ahead on their matrix or to ease the schedule for when they are in-season as athletes, or do an internship or other elective summer training.
 
Correction to my post above: regular training blocks are 4 weeks. Conflation is my enemy today, as I was thinking about variations on the regular length, thus using "roughly," and then wrote 3 vice 4. I need to re-synch brain and fingers.

Or maybe I need a leave block myself...

Thanks to my forum friends who kindly PM me when I have conflatitis.
 
Thanks Capt MJ for the info, however, I'm not tracking answer to #1 though. No & Yes? Maybe my question was confusing. Do Mids accrue 30 days mil leave (per yr) during their attendance at USNA?
 
Thanks Capt MJ for the info, however, I'm not tracking answer to #1 though. No & Yes? Maybe my question was confusing. Do Mids accrue 30 days mil leave (per yr) during their attendance at USNA?


Do Plebes start accruing leave like folks on active duty (30 days per yr) when they arrive on I-Day or does leave start after you are Commissioned?

No - to start accruing leave. Yes - leave starts after commissioning. I saw your sentence as two complete questions. The nuns' grammar lessons run deep. Sorry I made you come back to the well.
 
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