Couple of new plebe summer questions...

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jomass

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1. They say you shouldn't try and stand out/show off during plebe summer; just blend in and you'll be better off. So how does that apply to pistol and rifle shooting? Should you not try and be a great shot on purpose? And for the obstacle course, should you not try to get your best time, or would it be better to just be 'avg', even if you could do better?

2. PPW is Aug 12-15 and Reform of the Brigade is 8/20, with classes starting 8/24. What type of liberty is usually allowed for those 4 days of PPW? (although I presume it differs every yr) And are any overnights allowed?
When plebes return on 8/15, what goes on with them until the Reform date of 8/20? and what goes on up until classes start on 8/24?
 
Two caveats to my answer. First, I'm a mom, not a Mid, but any Mids out there will correct me if I err. Second, things can vary a lot from year to year and company to company.

1. You do not want to show up your classmates at times when you could be helping them along. IOW, if you make your rack/rig your uniform, etc. perfectly and in record time and go stand in the p-way while your roomie is still working at it, that's bad. On the rifle range, there is no way that you can "help" anyone else. Your job is to just do your best. A current/recent Mid might have a different answer re: the O course. My thought would be, if you come to an obstacle and someone is struggling and you can help them (give 'em a boost, etc), I'd help and move on. However, when there's not any way to help someone who is struggling, I'd say to do your very best.

2a. For PPW in 2008, town liberty was granted starting at or about noon on Friday ('til 2200?), ~0800 to midnight on Saturday, and 0800 to 1800 on Sunday. That year, no overnights were allowed. Keep in mind that serious rules violations could eliminate some or all of that time for any or all of the Plebes of a given company. Two years ago, a Plebe lost his Town liberty for chatting with his family on Friday AM. All the Plebes had been expressly told that they were not to communicate with family members until the beginning of liberty, so he disobeyed a direct order. On more than one weekend (not specifically PPW, but it could have happened), my Mid's company lost hours of Town liberty because classmates didn't pass room inspection. As it was, parents in our company were not allowed to visit their then-Plebes rooms over PPW due to failed inspections.

2b. Between PPW and Reform, PS continues. Each company rotates through various training blocks (such as sailing, rifle, drill, etc.) so some time will be spent finishing those things. You'll be issued computers, books, you'll move into Ac year rooms, and generally be kept busy.
 
Agree with 2012mom: They should do their best, but be willing to help out others as well.

As far as rifle and pistol: of coure they want to do their best. When you get to them PPW, you will notice they are wearing a bar of ribbons. My plebe had one for standing watch during a time of war and one for rifle and one for pistol. Both rifle and pistol had tiny "E's" pinned to them: he had rated Expert on both qualifications. I saw some with "S's" for sharpshooter, some with no letters at all. They will wear these for the rest of their service time and I am sure they want to try to rate E! They are not "showing someone up" by doing so.

Obstacle courses probably offer more opportunity to encourage others than markmanship does.
 
Thanks for the responses above. A couple more...

I read that you can bring a 2'x 2' cork board with a few photos during Plebe summer. True? And if so, do you just bring that into Alumni Hall with you on I-Day??

Also, thought I read somewhere that there is time during Plebe summer for Plebes to partake in sports/athletics of there choosing. I know they have mandatory athletics in the afternoons during the regular year, but didn't know they had this in Plebe summer too; or maybe I mis-read that.

If you want to walk-on to the lax team, when does that take place? After classes begin?

Thanks to all responders
 
Every room and desk in BH has a cork board. Just bring the pictures of the girlfriend so you can put them up for the short amount of time that you are likely to stay together. I'm sure they'll soon be replaced with Megan Fox or Catherine Bell in her USMC uniform - to keep it USN/USMC related. Thumb tacks are issued. Sports period is mandatory during PS. If you want to try out for Lax, you will go to that during sports period. Eventually they will decide if they like you or you will decide for them and either stay or go to intramurals or another organized sport activity.
 
to add to Marvins post, formal LAX tryouts will be after reform.
 
jomass said:
1. They say you shouldn't try and stand out/show off during plebe summer; just blend in and you'll be better off. So how does that apply to pistol and rifle shooting? Should you not try and be a great shot on purpose? And for the obstacle course, should you not try to get your best time, or would it be better to just be 'avg', even if you could do better?
Click to expand...

Never go easy. You'll never have an opportunity to help anyone on the O-course, it's so fast. Maintain a high intensity at all times.
 
Every desk already has a 2'x2' cork board, but you can bring all the photos you want. Just make sure they're professional and not embarrassing, because your Plebe Summer detailers will obviously make fun of you if they are.
 
What you rank coming out of Plebe Summer is the first thing that your upperclass will see. Plebe year is all about walking the fine line between making yourself look good and ensuring that your classmates look good right along with you.
 
In the grand scheme of things, what you rank out of plebe summer is as important as which shoe you put on first. Don't get wrapped around the axle about performance. Survive and advance.
 
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