Entrance on I Day

MaryMom

5-Year Member
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Jun 17, 2010
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When we are arriving for I day is there a special pass that the family gets for entering into one of the gates? Or is the Permit to Report letter what we use? It looks like from the other posts that we will utilize the shuttle. I'm just concerned because we are no longer home to receive mail. I'm thinking that USNA is sending us something? Details, details. :smile:
 
If you are driving the permit to report letter allows you to drive onto the yard and drop off through either gate one or eight. Parking is then at Navy/Marine Stadium and shuttle back to Alumni Hall. Don't know what you mean by taking the shuttle? Do you mean from BWI? Just remember that if you drive on and drop off your son/daughter PLEBES will be ushered into Alumni Hall as they arrive. I dropped off and went to park the car an hour before report time and waited for the shuttle to bring me back and missed my MID entering Alumni Hall. I had the camera so no pictures. Bummer
 
USNA is open the public . Just show your driver's license at Gate 1 and bags have to go through the scanner. You will have no problem getting onto the yard on I day as long as you have your ID. There will be 1100+ plebes and their family members coming onto the yard in the morning. They will be ready to handle the crowds. I can't speak for the shuttle buses, we walked on in '07.
 
You can drive onto the Yard with your permit to report letter but you can not park. Drop off is easy but you have to take the car out to the Stadium and take the shuttle back to Alumni Hall (unless you sneak into a parking space by the MID Store and I didn't tell you that). You don't have to lug your stuff through gate one or eight security.
 
Permit to report plus ID's is how you will drive on the yard to drop off your Mid on IDay. Sometime during Plebe summer the Academy will send you your Midshipman Parent Pass (MPP). This is the pass that you will use for the next 4 years to drive and park on the yard (When parking for parents is allowed) Typically the only times that you cannot park on the yard without a DOD sticker is for IDay, Parents Weekend - both PPW and 2nd Class - and Commissioning Week.
 
My husband is active duty military, can we drive on the yard and park with his id (they no longer issue DOD stickers) or do they send everyone to the stadium because of all the crowds walking on the Academy grounds during Iday?
 
I think but am not sure that Active Duty is allowed unlimited access. When did they discontinue bumper stickers for enlisted and officer? My daughter just applied for and received her access sticker for the Yard. I remember when I borrowed an officers car with the old Blue sticker and got my first salute at a gate at Mcguire AFB.:yllol: Never thought I would have a MSGT salute me but I appreciated the respect. The one on my own car was yellow and every other time they just waived us through.
 
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Yard access/DOD ID

My husband is active duty military, can we drive on the yard and park with his id (they no longer issue DOD stickers) or do they send everyone to the stadium because of all the crowds walking on the Academy grounds during Iday?

DOD stickers are still issued at USNA, part of Naval District Washington. People with military ID and sticker can drive on. No sticker, or rental car, just go to Gate 1, show ID, stash car in temp parking, get day pass at Security, and have fun finding a parking place. Mid, staff and faculty parking is pretty well-marked, either by a sign at the entrance to a parking area, or by "1/C" painted in the spot, or by "reserved for Superintendent's guests" signs at the head of the spot. A yellow triangle painted in the spot is nothing to worry about, if you don't see any other signage. With patience, you will find a spot. Don't give the spot up, just keep stashing those bulging Mid Store bags in the car all day long...:thumb:

In fact, if you have DOD sticker and ID, I'd head for Gate 8, the 24-hour, non-visitor gate, that is a direct shot to Alumni Hall. If you look at the Yard map in the link below, Gate 8 is at the left-had side. If you haven't found it before, coming from the Annapolis Mall director on Rowe Blvd past the stadium, turn left on Taylor Ave, then right at the t-intersection. Go straight on this road through the King George St. intersection (King George runs down past USNA along the wall to Gate 1), and make the next right into Gate 8.

http://www.usna.org/USNAmap.html
 
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The instructions for I-Day and parents, posted on usna.edu say that any parent can drive onto the Yard on I-Day to DROP OFF their child. You can only PARK on the yard if you have a DOD sticker on your car (not just a military ID).
 
Will gate 3 be open for walking? DW will be in a wheel chair so we'll be pushing her.

We're staying at Loews on West Street and gate 3 looks to be closest.

Or would driving on be better - with DoD sticker and handicap plackard.
 
osdad~

Gate 3, not sure. That's a flex gate. I suspect yes, based on my recollection of past years, but that's not a guarantee for this year.

Since you have a DOD sticker and handicap placard, JMO, I would drive on and lock onto one of the handicap places. They exist in various places on the Yard.
 
I guess it depends on what base you are stationed at. We are in Ohio, and WPAFB does 100% id checks, and no longer issues stickers. However, I just realized we aren't taking hubs car out there, and the car we are driving out to Annapolis still has a DOD sticker on it, so we might be in luck.
 
gate 3

USNA website states that Gate 3 will be open for pedestrian traffic for I Day, and it was last year.
 
Ok, so I am still a bit confused about the use of a handicap sticker, which we have. Does that mean that for I Day you would not be able to use this sticker to park anywhere on the yard?
 
Ok, so I am still a bit confused about the use of a handicap sticker, which we have. Does that mean that for I Day you would not be able to use this sticker to park anywhere on the yard?

The official guidance at the usna.edu website says "no vehicles without a DOD sticker" will be allowed to park in the Yard on I-Day (emphasis in original). To my mind, "no" means "no." They do offer a shuttle bus from the stadium. I would think that it would be better for handicapped individuals as the bus will probably drop you off closer to where you need to be than walking from where you've parked.
 
http://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/iday.htm

*Please Note: “All parents will be allowed to drive onto to the Naval Academy yard with their son or daughter’s permit to report letter in order to drop off their midshipmen candidate. However, no vehicles without Department of Defense (DOD) tags will be permitted to park on the yard. All family and friends are encouraged to park at Navy and Marine Corps Stadium and take the free shuttle buses to Alumni Hall."

For Commissioning week they specifically stated Handicap could park on the yard. However, we had to enter at gate 1, park in the visitor section outside the yard, go inside and obtain a USNA permit. The handicap individual had to be present along with paperwork from the handicap permitting agency (your state DOT) showing to whom the permit was issued. Then get back in line to drive onto the yard.

We found it easier to park at stadium and take shuttle.
 
Ok, so I am still a bit confused about the use of a handicap sticker, which we have. Does that mean that for I Day you would not be able to use this sticker to park anywhere on the yard?

I called the pass and tag office and was told that "as far as they knew" handicapped parking would be allowed on the Yard. I was advised to come to Gate 1 on June 30 to get a pass and be sure that was still the case.

Janet
DD: Sarah 2014 / O-28
 
If you've never been to USNA, recognize that most of the available parking is a long way from Alumni Hall. Thus, the disabled person will likely need to be dropped off by someone able to walk longer distances. if the disabled person is driving, definitely take the shuttle as you can't count on finding any space -- let alone a handicapped space -- within easy walking distance of Alumni Hall or T-Court (for the Oath of Office). These days, there are a lot of people who qualified for handicapped parking and, at USNA, not too many handicapped spots so you could find yourself out of luck even with a permit.

Also, while there should be some open spots b/c the firsties (other than detailers) aren't there, understand that there is a lot going on during the summer, including sports camps and other programs. Parking at USNA is always a challenge. I would give serious consideration to the shuttle -- I've used it for other events at USNA and it runs very efficiently.

The one exception to the above is if the disables person needs a wheelchair or is totally unable to walk. I'm not sure the shuttle buses are set up to handle that -- I would check with USNA.
 
Question from a different angle: I understand that once we drop off our plebe and go to park the car, that will be the last time we see him until after the oath ceremony. If we decided to come a bit early, park and walk onto the yard with him, instead of dropping him off, is that okay and is it ever done that way? I just think it would be awesome to walk on with him for his first "official" time at USNA. Also, we'd like to get some pics that morning, if possible. If not, that's fine, too. I'd just like to know ahead of time.
 
Everything you need is on the website

Go to the USNA website -- top right click on I-day information. They have a booklet you can printout that gives very explicit details regarding everything you need for I-day. including the gates and driving on the yard. It also gives a detailed agenda for the day. Get the official word.
 
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