I-Day is Approaching Fast

grades

Try failing a final course or two and see what happens!
 
Aye, Kam, thank you for the enlightenment...Maybe I was thinking of USMMA, they might have the code then...


Eh, maybe it was just something I saw on TV years ago and it stuck.
 
Luigi59 said:
Where was the personal attack? :confused:

Other than a Navy BGO insulting another service (nothing new), I saw no personal attacks. I DID see however, a good discussion about the relative merits of pre-reading Reef Points, with valid reasons coming from both sides.

Where the discussion started to waver was when a BGO stated that he was speaking officially for the Academy in saying the candidates should not pre-acquire and read Reef Points.

Seems to me that if that 'advice" is official policy, then an official BGO should be able to back it up with some proof. If that's the official policy, then EVERYONE will know and the discussion should end.

Until then, it's only one opinion among many, with both sides giving valid reasons for and against learning it.

Fair is fair. Don't close down a thread because a few are challenging a poster to back up his statement.
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Luigi, a moderator has asked and that is all that needs to be said. This board is not a democracy and is run by a volunteer staff who have more things to do than play referee all day long.
 
I understand that Plebe Summer is supposed to be a challenge, but how many times during the summer will there be a chance to just sort of chill? Like one of you said you had the privilege of teaching the honor concept. Is that taught in a civilized discussion or during indoc? I'm just curious since I am a plebe to be.
 
You will find out very quickly that your whole day is filled with different evolutions to go to. An example day could could go something like this: wake up, PEP, breakfast, sailing lessons, ODev class, lunch, swimming, intramurals, dinner, drill, sleep. You might have a half hour here and there between evolutions (called "gray space") but this is when your detailers will be teaching you the finer points of shining your shoes, rating you on a bulkhead, having you do rack races, or whatever else they want you to do. The only free time you have is about 30 min every night before you go to bed. And this time is mostly spent taking showers, shining shoes, prepping uniforms, and cleaning your room. You only so real "chill" time is on Sundays where you have about 3-4 hours of free time where you are either going to church services or sitting around in your room, doing the above or just writing a letter home.

You will notice above that I mentioned the "ODev" training evolution. That was the "Officer Development" classes that I taught. It was character and honor training. Like you alluded to, it IS a civilized discussion. You are in a classroom and I am your teacher. I may have a red name tag and be a 1/C, but my job is to have you understand and embrace the material, not yell at you while you blindly memorize it. Compared the the rest of Plebe Summer, these ODev classes are more relaxed. You sit in chairs, listen to me talk over some powerpoint slides, and engage me in discussion. Now outside the classroom, I'm just like any other detailer :biggrin:
 
kp2001 said:
Luigi, a moderator has asked and that is all that needs to be said. This board is not a democracy and is run by a volunteer staff who have more things to do than play referee all day long.
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A moderator's priority should be to ensure that accurate truthful information is presented to candidates and their parents.

Anything alleged to be USNA official policy (and not just personal opinion) should be backed up with proof.

Or even more important, retracted if not true.

A request for accuracy should be EVERYONE's priority.
 
Luigi59 said:
Perhaps you are aware that over the last FOUR DECADES the information age has changed much of what was once valid in 1966, and made it inconsequential or invalid in 2008. Technology has changed the daily lives of every single one of those incoming plebes, perhaps the advances has enabled the incoming plebe to be able to process all of the necessary information AND pre-acquire and learn Reef Points without ANY fall-off in performance, as may have been the case FOUR DECADES ago.
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Lest someone considers this pertinent, it demands rebuttal.

The Navy purchased both F/A-18E (single seaters) and F/-18F (two seater) versions of the Super Hornet. Both models are now operational and squadrons on our carriers are either assigned one model or the other. The interesting point is that the missions of the squadrons are exactly the same. No different for the single seater than the mission of the squadron with the WSO in the back. For the very demanding strike mission, the AF actually developed the F-15 two seat Strike Eagle. So the question is, since both aircraft perform exactly the same mission, is the WSO in the back of the ‘F’ Model simply excess baggage? Not at all. The fact is that the single seat Super Hornet is limited in it’s capability by pilot limitations, not aircraft limitation. The average single seat pilot can only perform to about 70% of the aircraft’s limitations. Not a pilot from FOUR DECADES ago, but a pilot of the modern Technological ages.

Multi-tasking in pressure situations is not a trait that one suddenly develops at full capacity after a certain number of exercises. It is a process that is cultivated, nurtured, and grown throughout one’s entire career. The ‘poor’ get ‘good’, the ‘good’ get ‘better’, and the ‘better’ become the best of the best. Plebe Year with its chow calls, come-arounds, Reef Points, etc. is the beginning of that journey. Make the most of it. Don’t be the pilot who, on night sector patrol over Iraq, turns down a mission involving pinned down Marines under heavy fire because you are not the best of the best. Or worse yet, attempt the mission, and ‘buy the farm’ because you exceeded your capabilities. EVERY evolution and exercise at USNA is done for a reason. You may not recognize the reason until much later, but, rest assured, they are there. Make the most of it. In my opinion, the ability to multi-task in less than ideal conditions is the single one item that causes USNA and WP grads to stand out above all others. I am not being derogatory to the AFA, just haven’t seen enough examples to formulate an opinion.
 
A moderator's priority should be to ensure that accurate truthful information is presented to candidates and their parents.

Anything alleged to be USNA official policy (and not just personal opinion) should be backed up with proof.

Or even more important, retracted if not true.

A request for accuracy should be EVERYONE's priority.
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The moderators are not the truth police. Don't want to be. Don't have time to be.

EVERY SINGLE comment on this board is someone's opinion. Some opinions may carry more weight with some readers than do others. I don't care whether someone says they are spouting "official" policy or not. You and every other reader can evaluate a poster's "credentials," prior posts, tone or anything else you like and make your own decision as to accuracy or lack thereof of each post.

If someone disagrees with a poster, the appropriate action is for that person to reply civilly stating the opposing views rather than challenge the poster's qualifications, veracity, etc. [Or, politely PM the poster raising the source of disagreement.] Readers can read all of the posts and then draw their own conclusions. That's what forums are about.

If you want the absolute "official" policy on anything, go to the official website. For USNA, it is www.usna.edu.

Those of us who are SA grads or were military officers were taught to be "officers and gentlemen" [or ladies]. Let's try to remember that training.
 
I guess this is on-topic but... off-topic for what's currently being discussed...

I'm in! :eek: Now I get to join the group waiting for I-Day!
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS!! Finally! :yay::yay::yay::yay::yay::yay::yay::yay:
 
gonecokanutts!! Amazing and wonderful news...I was worried that medical whatever would never go away...hooray and congratulations!!! :thumb: :thumb:
 
gonecokanutts said:
I guess this is on-topic but... off-topic for what's currently being discussed...

I'm in! :eek: Now I get to join the group waiting for I-Day!
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Congratulations!!! Your jouney has just begun.

Again, to the parents and future Midshipman. You have a clock ticking with 60 some odd days left. Make time for eachother and enjoy these days. You will never have the time and carefree days like you do now. I-Day starts a life changing experience for parents and mids.

To make my point I've copied in one of the most heartfelt e-mails from a mom on another list serve. Her son has completed the jouney through USNA, training , and now deployment to the fleet. If this does not make you want to hug your future mids, then something is wrong with you.

The day I had not been looking forward to has finally arrived. On Monday,
hubby drove XXXX to Portsmouth and yesterday, XXXX reported in for the
deployment muster. In about an hour, he will board a plane to Europe and
from there, make connections to Bahrain where he will check into his new
unit. A couple of days after that, he and the boat's new crew members will
be flown out to his boat and the journey will begin again.



There's an unspoken rule about days like today. My door is mostly closed
and everyone around knows to leave me alone with my thoughts. I am
somewhere between keeping busy and weeping. Fortunately, I did a lot of
caching up on the important stuff earlier in the week so I can concentrate
on doing the routine work that fills the time, but does not take much
cerebral engagement.



Hubby brought XXXX by the office on Monday on their way to VA to see me.
When XXXX walked in my office, it took me a moment to realize what was
standing in front of me. My little blue-eyed, blond hair, tow-headed baby
has grown into a 6'4" man that walks with confidence and ease. He is ready
for the challenge, and this time knows what he will be facing. There was
no fear or anxiety in his face, much like what he had the first time he
deployed. We chatted for a few minutes, then walked arm in arm outside
where hubby was pacing around the car anxious to miss the rush-hour traffic.
I tried to blurt out all the mommy-words like "be careful" and "stay safe"
and "be careful" and "brush your teeth every day" and "be careful" and "get
plenty of rest when you can" and "eat healthy food" and "watch your money"
and "stay safe."



All I could manage was "I love you and I am proud of you. We will see you
in a few months."



That fast, he was in the car and they were off.



He called last night. I felt much better hearing his voice one more time
before he ships out. He was in good spirits and talked about meeting up
with his new crew, including his new skipper. He sounded like he was going
to summer camp instead of harm's way. We both knew better, but I think he
just wanted to make sure I would not worry.



Worry. Where is this in the mommy handbook? I was reflecting that I have
been in one state of worry or another practically since the day I stared
excitedly at the blue dot on the pregnancy test stick. I remember worrying
about carrying a healthy baby and having a safe birth. I worried about
scraped knees and sore throats. I worried about struggling grades and
friends that were not true in heart. I worried about him surviving basic
training, then surviving his first duty assignment, then surviving his first
deployment. I worry about his finances and his career. Ohmygawd. It just
hit me - I have turned into my mother!



I guess that is the state of my life right now and probably the same for all
of you. There's a point that I have come to accept my son's life choices
and have learned to support them, no matter how badly I want to step in and
kiss all the boo-boos to make them better. It was different when he was
little and I had some control over what was happening to and around him.
Now my XXXX charts his own destiny. I pray for his safe return and take
comfort in knowing that he is doing what he was born to do.



And I am waiting to exhale (again)..
 
^^^ Way to choke up all the Mom's & Dad's MIDNDAD. :biggrin: Geez, I could hardly read the thing from reaching for kleenex. When you new parents eventually let them go, you're gonna be so proud of what they become. Its such a gratifying replacement for some of the feelings mentioned in the letter. Trade all those for some of the other. Its all good. Hang tough!
 
Gosh. I hate to post this, but I have to. My stepdad got the idea from my mom that the medical waiver meant that I was accepted because of my LOA. So he told me I was in. My mom clarified -- she only found out that my medical waiver went through. So... good news, just not as good as we thought. :confused:
 
gonecokanutts, go read your LOA letter and see what the contingencies are....

MIDNDAD, thanks for sharing the email from the Navy mom...I think her sentiments transcend the Navy and apply to all parents who have children in the U.S. Armed Services.
 
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Someone will correct me if I am wrong but:

LOA + Nomination + Med Waiver = IN
 
gonecokanutts, the LOA means that as long as everything is clear, your admissions package is complete, you are done with DoDMERB (once the waiver shows on the DoDMERB web site you are done), then all you need to do is accept the offer.
 
:eek::eek:

That's what I thought... I've just heard so many people tell me that not everyone who gets an LOA gets in, so I thought I still had to wait.
 
MIDNDAD, I loved the mother's email! I find myself with many of in the same feelings she expresses. For me, I have really been working on letting my daughter make ALL of her own choices as of late. She has been doing a pretty good job for a 17 yr old going on 18 but there have been some things that have disappointed me too. It's all about letting them grow up and start to live their own lives. It is very difficult to do this but I realize that when I say goodbye to her on I-day, my job is radically shifted. I really can't teach her too many things more, only help to influence her with my guidance when she wants it.

Also, I too am trying to cherish the time we have as a family with her around because I am aware that our family make up will be forever changed since she is the oldest of my daughters. My other children are having a hard time with all the attention my oldest is getting and I have heard that XXXX is my favoirte and that everybody knows it. This is so hard. I try to explain to the other sibs that she is just at a different place in her life that requires more attention right now. I also assure them that I will do the same for them too when their time comes. I would love to hear any advice other parents have on dealing with the same issues.:redface:
 
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