Herndon 2016

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socalmomof3

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My husband and I are planning to travel to the Naval Academy to watch the Herndon climb on May 23rd. When deciding the dates to stay, is there anything that goes on in the days before or after to make me want to arrive earlier than May 23rd or stay later than May 23rd? Also, what are the chances that my plebe will be gone during the 0 block? If he is not scheduled to be gone, then what will he be doing each day since school will be over?
 
WRT Herndon, you won't see your plebe until you see him/her in the boiling mass around the monument. They should have town liberty that afternoon/night, and you can take them off-Yard after they get de-greased and showered up. In general, that's the pattern. Others may have more specific insight.

Summers are a mix of leave block(s) and training blocks. Training can be completely away from the Yard, ashore or at sea, or out of the country. It can start and end in the Yard, with some away time. It can be summer school, voluntary (double majors, getting ahead in matrix, trying for VGEP [another thread], easing load on traveling athletes) or involuntary (academic OOPS). Blocks can be mandatory or elective in nature. Town liberty varies with each option. Your plebe will get plenty of briefs and will be signing up for his/her summer sked - I think after holidays. There is ALWAYS the chance for change and block swaps from original schedule. Just like the real world military.

All kinds of stuff happens after classes and exams end. Turning in uniforms for storage, briefings for various summer events, academic boards for the oopsters, honor/conduct/performance hearings, late-season sports, cleaning rooms, some days of what is called "inter-sessional" leave. Current and recent mids can pile on here. Your plebe will figure it out.

We counsel our sponsor mids, especially plebes, to not delay telling mom or dad if they plan to go somewhere else with a friend for any leave breaks. Stand by for those empty nest indicators to happen when least planned.
 
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Our plebe DS plays a fall sport and already knows, from older teammates, that he will likely miss Herndon and Sea Trials to do 0 block on a YP. Fall athletes often return to the Yard partway through third block to start preseason training, so they take advantage of 0 block for other training (and a few get extra leave during the other part of third block). We live in the DC area so a last-minute change of schedule won't be a problem, thankfully - and we assume there will be at least one last-minute change of schedule this summer!
 
Based by your screen name guessing you are trying to make plans from Cali, totally understand. I was a west coaster and trying to plan to kee costs down is hard. If your DS follows the normal training blocks he probably won't have 0 block. Usually it's athletes or for those doing extra training blocks. But as always, you never know with the military!

Usually during Commissioning Week there is tons of liberty and a great time to visit. The yard is alive with happy people and your DS will be relieved Plebe Year is over. Normally there are very few obligations, mostly pack up and prep for summer. Not sure where you are at, but if possible since BWI is a hub, Southwest for flights is a great option. That way if he has 0 block or something comes up you can just use the ticket another time. Hotels in Annapolis might already be full, but if you just head towards the airport area plenty of to prions, not that far of drive and usually much cheaper than Annapolis during the busy week.
 
NavyHoops-
Yes, we are west coasters too! I think booking flights with Southwest is a great idea. That way if something comes up, we can use the ticket money for another flight. We were planning to arrive a couple days before Herndon and then leave the next day. But I was wondering if it might be better to arrive right before Herndon and stay a couple days after? I know there is nothing definite, but will my plebe likely have more time to spend with us after Herndon?
 
Thanks socalmom for posting the question. We already booked our hotel stay for Herndon, but it didn't occur to me that my DS may not be there to participate. Besides an O block assignment, is there anything that would prevent a Plebe from participating?

When is sea trials scheduled?
 
Sea Trials are prior, can't remember exact dates, but it's a week or more prior. If they don't have 0 block they will participate in Herndon. This is the tough part of the military, you want to plan, but there are unknowns. Welcome to the next 9 years minimum! Google the commissioning week schedule for USNA and it will show you the schedule for at least last year (not sure if this year's is out or not). Don't panic when you see a million events listed on it, most those are for 1/C. Ask your DS to ask his 3/C if they will have more libo before or after Herndon, they can help fill in the blanks and provide suggestions. And the great part of Southwest... Changeable tickets! They tend to be a lifesaver for USNA advance planning!
 
In the past few years, Sea Trials has been held on the Tuesday before Herndon, but since at least the mid-naughts, it has been closed to the public (that means you can't just go and observe your DS/DD). If tradition/scheduling holds, that would put Sea Trials on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

The Commissioning Week 2016 schedule is already posted on USNA's PAO site. Herndon for 2019 is Monday, May 23, 2016.

http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/_files/documents/CW2016TentativeSchedule for CW Website.pdf
 
Just looked at the schedule. Couple of things. Your DS could have a weekend so he could spend pretty much the entire Friday-Sunday with you and then the climb is on Monday. That is IF he has a weekend to use. At the rate the Supt and Dant give them out, be surprised if he didn't have one to use! Your DS should be able provide input to that. Tuesday is Blue Angels practice. Always a good time. As the week goes it gets busier and busier at USNA. Most of the events listed on the Plan of Day are for graduating Firsties, so don't think your DS will be swamped with events. Most of stuff he would be busy with isn't listed on that on the POD. He will have room move out, training briefs, uniform turn int, watch, etc. But, most of this stuff can be worked out and around while visiting. If I remember right, my parents came in the Thursday night before and I took a weekend (we had 1 all of Plebe year and I saved it just for that weekend!). We spent Friday - Sunday in DC and Baltimore exploring. Monday I climbed Herndon and they departed Tuesday. It worked out well, but what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for the next person!
 
With Blue Water experience DD sailed 44's to Newport during O Block. She thought the rooms were amazing compared to Mother B. Missed Herndon but we did get to meet her in Newport. Southwest is a great airline for flights to BWI and BWI has a great USO station for service members if they have some wait time.
 
DO HERNDON! Great time tons of fun. We are West Coasters and had a blast at Herndon! We have taken every opportunity to visit the academy. It's only 4 years--do everything possible that you can.
 
Bring chairs, water, snacks and a good camera to Herndon. It can take awhile! You will eventually want to take a seat after the initial rush of things. Weather is a mixed bag at the end of May in Annapolis. Your newly minted 4/C will be excited, happy and tired when its all over. The lard and water they spray hurts the eyes and quiet frankly the whole thing is just sort of nasty.
 
Sunscreen. You can be hot and sweaty or chilled by May rain. Not a dress-up affair.
 
Be sure to see the Blue Angels airshow. They will practice most of the show the day before as well.

Great stuff.
 
DW and I are for sure attending Herndon, but here is my question. If DS has 1st block leave should we just stay and bring him home with us? Is that how this can work?
 
If he has first block leave, then I believe that starts the afternoon after Commissioning - but he should be able to ask his youngsters how it works. He will have liberty, but will also have on-Yard tasks, has to clean his room, turn in gear, pack up stuff. Let him tell you.
 
If he has first block leave he will not be able to depart until after the graduation/commissioning ceremony. Can't remember if you are local or semi-local or not, so really your call. If you are in driving distance... be prepared to be driving some things home!
 
Still going? I was able to get an incredible airfare for Herndon. Tried to reserve a table at the Iron Rooster May 21 -23, but it's booked for breakfast and lunch - hoping to experience what everyone has been raving about. Any SWAG at the Mid Store for c/o 2019 Herndon climb?
 
Oh yes. We will be there for Herdon for sure. DS is staying for 1st block afterward. He is on staff for the stem camp. I am sure we will be carting home a ton of stuff for him though.
 
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