Care Package Question

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2020 Parent

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Aug 19, 2015
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In planning a couple care packages I was looking for some clarification. I believe only firsties have refrigerators in their dorm rooms, isn't that correct? No cold drinks for 3 years? Bummer. Nothing beats an ice cold Mountain Dew at 3:30 in the morning.
 
Company areas usually have a wardroom with a full-sized fridge that everyone can use. The plebes might not be able to use it until a few weeks to a few months into the school year though! It depends on the company. But they can have cold drinks - just not at 0330 because they are supposed to be asleep at that time!
 
There are also coke machines in the hall, they have access to the Mid store, Dahlgren and another food area within Bancroft called Steerage. So plenty of access to soda, pizza, snacks, salads and everything else an 18-24 year old can eat without thought. The mid store is a popular place for Mids and as I am sure you learned this week is well stocked for Mids and what they like.
 
And no coffee machines until a 2/C...unless that's changed. Lots of "dumb" rules that your child signed up to live by when they walked in the door yesterday. Welcome aboard! :)
 
I'm still unclear on this. When sending letters , is it ok to send a photo? Or photos?
 
fddad19 said:
I'm still unclear on this. When sending letters , is it ok to send a photo? Or photos?
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There's some good guidance in the USNA Class of 202o Permission to Report packet about care packages and what to send. I'd check that out. As for pictures, yes send them. The plebes have a small cork board in their rooms where they can post a few pictures. It's pretty much the only personal thing they can have. Our plebe reported with a couple of pics and was allowed to keep them. I have enclosed a couple in letters this past week. Naturally, the photos should be in good taste if they are to be displayed. Hope that helps!
 
BlackKnight89 said:
There's some good guidance in the USNA Class of 202o Permission to Report packet about care packages and what to send. I'd check that out. As for pictures, yes send them. The plebes have a small cork board in their rooms where they can post a few pictures. It's pretty much the only personal thing they can have. Our plebe reported with a couple of pics and was allowed to keep them. I have enclosed a couple in letters this past week. Naturally, the photos should be in good taste if they are to be displayed. Hope that helps!
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Thank you for replying. Great information.
 
I would also suggest you send some Body Glide. They will be running and exercising in some hot and humid conditions. It can be used anywhere chafing may occur (feet, thighs etc.) It was first used by distance runners for their feet but now is universal. Used to be hard to find and carried mostly in stores catering to runners but now any good sporting goods store. Check the website and you can find a retail near you. Other than that follow the suggestions from USNA and don't forget the flag to prevent mutiny charge. Good luck to all but mainly to the parents. Looking back, four years went awfully fast but it didn't seem so at the time.
 
AF6872 said:
I would also suggest you send some Body Glide. They will be running and exercising in some hot and humid conditions. It can be used anywhere chafing may occur (feet, thighs etc.) It was first used by distance runners for their feet but now is universal. Used to be hard to find and carried mostly in stores catering to runners but now any good sporting goods store. Check the website and you can find a retail near you. Other than that follow the suggestions from USNA and don't forget the flag to prevent mutiny charge. Good luck to all but mainly to the parents. Looking back, four years went awfully fast but it didn't seem so at the time.
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Great point on the US flag...forgot to mention that. We've been sending Gold Bond powder if you can't find Body Glide.
 
What is the flag size that is allowed? Is it a flag on a small stand or one that is pinned up to the 2x2 cork board they put pictures on ?

Thanks for the help.
 
Not sure if they still stock them and probably not helpful now for 2020 parents since PS has begun, but we were able to buy a couple of the small desk top flags and stands at the Visitor Center.
 
Thanks so much. I bought one on Amazon today and will ship in next care package. Hope that's allowed.
 
As I read the postings of what seem like desperate parents, it makes me smile.

Rushing out to buy things that other parents post as essential...

You don't need to send flags, bodyglide, fans, computer monitors, muffins of the month or just about anything else.

Letters and support are what they need and crave. They don't need weekly or even monthly care packages. These are the smartest, most capable kids in the world. They will get what they need.

I know you love them, and want to help. They are probably having the time of their lives, and will grow stronger every day they succeed on their own.

I have seen so many times, parents that just can't let go. Looking for rides to the airport for their cadet, or even posting here looking for housing for new second lieutenants. Not necessary!

This is all just my opinion, but the academy produces leaders that can (and must) stand on their own feet.
 
Most of these parents asking questions have never been associated with military culture. They are lost and ask questions which might seem as not letting it go. There is no stupid question only a stupid answer. They are the best and the brightest but they are still their children. They are not having the time of their lives. Never saw any Mid looking for a ride to BWI that didn't get one or a 2lt or ensign looking for a home that didn't get one. They are not Cadets at USNA . Fans in Mother B? Computer Monitor after issue?
 
Hey I get it parents want to help. Care packages are the one thing parents can do to show they care and send their love. Some will love Plebe Summer, some will not. Some will do well at it and struggle with the Ac year. Some will thrive academically and others will barely make it. I hated Plebe Summer. I would never call it the time of my life. I sucked at it, but made it through. Was a decent Plebe. Was a pretty good Mid by the end of it all. As someone who has done Plebe Summer, the letters are the most important thing! The most boring mundane details are the best things for a Plebe (also while on deployment in a combat zone!). Telling them you went and had fun will not make them mad or upset, they will get joy in it! Tell them about the weather, the dog, their siblings, the neighbor, the pool, what was for dinner, etc. They will love it. Send pictures. They will love them even more. Plebes honestly end up with more stuff than they know what to do with by the end of the summer. Send a box and then follow their needs in their phone calls and letters home. Don't worry about monitors, printers, etc. Let the Plebes figure it out and then when they ask during Parents weekend either order it or pick it up then. Its their job to figure it out and their upper class will help them with the regulations and what they can and cannot have. Yes Parents Clubs tend to provide lots of great info, but some of this stuff needs be figured out by the Plebes and will company dependent. Amazon Prime accounts linked to Mom and Dad's bank accounts tend to get used heavily! Trust me they can still do homework without a 30" monitor or high speed laser jet printer. And as much as we call them kids, they are legal adults who are in the military. Thousands of kids their age are in boot camp as I type this with even less contact with home, access to care packages and will soon be expected to be maintain millions of dollars worth equipment with people's lives at stake (just one example). These kids are smart, adaptable, driven... they will all figure it out!
 
I have to laugh a bit at you guys -- sending packages? sending pictures? getting phone calls? Basics at USAFA don't get a phone call until Doolie Day Out (Jul 17), no pictures to be sent in their mail, and no packages until the end of Basic (approx Aug 10).
That said, write your plebes every day -- and number them so your plebe will know which one to open first should they get two in one day. DS told me he knew he'd have mail whenever they got to go to the mail room because I was writing everyday.
 
When I spoke to my plebe, he said a lot of people were getting care packages and he wasn't. I didn't sent one before we left and I sent it the day we got back. He seemed a little jealous that the others were getting so much and some of them were rubbing it in his face. Unfortunate. I would urge you to ask you plebe if they need those care packages to make it through.
 
Protein bars And the like , Peanut M&M's that type of thing. that is what they crave. Almost all will burn calories down to the point they are eating muscle. Will look gaunt in pics, having said that there will always be that one that actually gains. Go figure.

Do NOT Allow yourselves to be drawn into the "HELICOPTER PARENT" argument. It happens every year, I can copy and past the one from my plebe's summer. Will save everyone a lot of typing!

Just Saw the E-mail blog Welcome went out this morning. use it it is great!

You hard core parents, Leave it go. It makes them feel better so what do you care. The ones who want to do. Don't mind the "Hard Core" believe it or not they are trying to help you by wanting you to realize that Your Plebe was picked because he/she is up to this Challenge! :angel:
 
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