Phone Calls this Sunday

[mtarheel]

Can we expect a longer phone call this Sunday with our son.
1st company
2013

Georgia Parent

 

[CPASteve_98]

I believe it will be limited to 5 minutes again.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[Dave'sMom]

After indoc I recall that the calls lasted a little longer as they would have their cell phones back for most of Sunday. There is a stipulation, they must be outside standing at attention while they call. After a while depending on CO, they either have more phone freedom or less.
Hang in there til Parent Weekend. You will have most of your questions answered then!

 

[doktrmom]

Yelling etc Post Indoc

So now that the end is in site , just how different will their lives be after Indoc but before parents weekend? After parents weekend for the rest of the first year?
I don't expect my DS who is not there for the military aspects but for the boat/water ones to care to much for the Regimental "stuff".

 

[kp2001]

I don't expect my DS who is not there for the military aspects but for the boat/water ones to care to much for the Regimental "stuff".

This is a statement and one that may portend trouble in the future. I'm not going to jump to conclusions but I very much hope your son, and all candidates for that matter realize the extent of the "military aspects" he is going to encounter.

As to answer the other part of the question: life actually gets harder after indoc for most plebes. The big kicker is the start of Academics on top of all the stuff they have to do. There will be numerous rules to follow (somewhere around 100 for just the plebes) and will include things like:
1)no use of the soda machines
2)no walking further than 6 inches from the bulkhead (wall)
3)No talking in the passageways
4)No sleeping in your room during the day until said time
5)Square every corner, greet every upperclass, salute all officers
6)If more than 4 are walking between buildings they will do so in formation, if less then that then they will run between buildings
7)No backpacks over the shoulder
8)No use of certain doors/passages/shortcuts through campus
9)No radio, no video games, no phone etc
10)Room in inspection ready condition at all times
11)Clean the common areas every morning including waxing the floors
and on and on and on

Most of these will continue through their entire plebe year with some waxing and waning of the rules based on how they are doing as a class. The biggest rule that gets relaxed after acceptance day is how you eat in the dining hall and the possibility of liberty.

 

[KPMarineopsdad]

I don't expect my DS who is not there for the military aspects but for the boat/water ones to care to much for the Regimental "stuff".

While not as strenuous as other academies the regimental aspects of of KP are a large part of their lives especially during plebe year since these duties take up so much of their time. Being commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Military is part of the "deal" and those who do not "care for regimental stuff" are in for a long 4 years. Actually, they are in for a long 1 or 2 years since many of them don't make it. If all you want to do is sail....and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, you might be better served by one of the state maritime academies. All of them are fine schools.

 

[deepsea]

I don't expect my DS who is not there for the military aspects but for the boat/water ones to care to much for the Regimental "stuff".

As a grad who entered KP with the same feelings- It is easy enough to deal with the regimental side when you know that everyday at 1600 and all weekend you can be out on the water having fun while improving your skills as a mariner. Remember it is the Merchant Marine Academy, and behind all the military hoopla, it exists to train mariners. Only about 25% of Grads go active duty- and most of the rest are there for the same reasons as your son, they want to be the best mariners they can, not marines.

 

[doktrmom]

After Indoc

1)no use of the soda machines
2)no walking further than 6 inches from the bulkhead (wall)
3)No talking in the passageways
4)No sleeping in your room during the day until said time
5)Square every corner, greet every upperclass, salute all officers
6)If more than 4 are walking between buildings they will do so in formation, if less then that then they will run between buildings
7)No backpacks over the shoulder
8)No use of certain doors/passages/shortcuts through campus
9)No radio, no video games, no phone etc
10)Room in inspection ready condition at all times
11)Clean the common areas every morning including waxing the floors
and on and on and on
QUOTE]

He will handle this stuff just fine. We (DS DH and myself, we are X Army Officers) knew about the "military" stuff but also noted it was a reserve commision for most and the "Merchant" Marine Academy. That is what he is there for too, deepsea. I didn't mean to imply playing in the water. He's a good student too so the academics while challenging won't be a big issue.

Thanks to deepsea, KPMarineopsdad and KP2001 I would love to hear so I can communicate to him when the opportunity presents.