Plebe Summer - First Phone Call on Sunday July 11th

today's phone call

just got off the phone from my E company, 9th platoon plebe. He's doing great, seems to be taking all the guff from the detailers in stride. Did say that" 3 people from his group have tangoed and that two more are going". When I questioned him as to why he just answered that they "weren't ready for the military". Thought I'd share his reaction. Out of the mouth of babes,er a plebe. Hope everyone else has a great phone call!
 
Good to have a positive phone call! We are still waiting to hear in SD. It is 1:30 our time. Does anyone else have any news to share from their phone calls today? I hope we all get positive, or at least mostly positive phone calls from our kids. :smile:
 
Just got off with DS (O-27) - a positive phone call.

Said they all switched roommates last week - Said the detailers are being really nice, since they only have a couples of days left. They've been told that when the new detailers come in, it will be the worst 3 days of their lived :)

Said he's really busy, but getting through. Weapons and sailing are fun. Etiquette was funny, with filet mignon to boot.

So good to hear his voice and have him sound positive.

Hope everyone else has a good call.
 
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=supportivemom;129154]just got off the phone from my E company, 9th platoon plebe. He's doing great, seems to be taking all the guff from the detailers in stride. Did say that" 3 people from his group have tangoed and that two more are going". When I questioned him as to why he just answered that they "weren't ready for the military". Thought I'd share his reaction. Out of the mouth of babes,er a plebe. Hope everyone else has a great phone call![/QUOTE]

My DS also in E company, very up beat and positive. Said its not has hard as he expected! He must have really been mentally prepared for the worst :eek: He attended USGA AIM last year and said that had really helped him with his expectations.
Confirmed 3 plebs went tango and are already gone. He was not surprised. Biggest challenge is memorization of material with little sleep. Had a mild version of the "hack" but said he is better and doesn't have time to get sick.
Also, they just reshuffled the deck as far as roommates. New detailors tomorrow, he said prepared for an I-DAY do over.
Very very good report:thumb:
 
Plebe sounded better than i thought except---DS has not received any mail for 5 days his detailer hasn't gone to get it-also said he has pink eye and plebe hack went to the doc 3 days ago was given a prescription for pink eye but detailer hasn't gone to get it- this is keeping him away from activities because of the infection status-He has been singled out by one of his detailers and moved to a separate squad they have 5 they picked out to move and have been demoted to 5/C -they told them they have been chosen to leave they are constantly being told they dont deserve to be there and to leave the detailer is only working with the five of them i think and he said they took them out on a black flag day and made them do workouts in their fatigues then took them to join the others on weapons and the four of them did very poorly because supposedly before you do weapons you aren't supposed to work out it effects your scores. all other members of his company have been given their mail and their prescriptions. Chose a sport they wanted to do and because of sickness and writing assignments he missed three sessions and has been moved to a sport he hates. doesn't know his schedule or his classes and has been told he doesn't need to know and will not be allowed to go find out because he was at the med during counselling and missed it. the 5 that have been singled out are being kept from the rest of the company to an extent. He says once you are classified like that you can't work your way back out no matter what you do. My question is --if the detailers are supposed to break you down and obviously this is working but their first duty is the well being of the plebes shouldn't someone have gotten these kids their meds? i know getting mail is a hard thing to accomplish but if the others are getting theirs in the same company wouldn't these kids mail be at the same place. You know sometimes getting an encouraging letter from home can make the demons go away at night. If the detailers jobs are not only to mold these plebes but the end result is to help them to stay that no one wants them to go ---i don't get it. DS said even though it was getting better once he was singled out it's been worse than the first week. I said well you get new detailers tomorrow -he said it doesn't matter once they single you out and decide they want to get rid of you they do everything in their power to make you miserable and to make you leave. He was told to get counselling because he needs to T out and they told him they made an appointment for him to talk to someone last week but again no session has been made. I'm almost ready to tell him to go T at least there he can get some answers,meds and his schedule then come back to a different company.
He said mom the next four years are going to be miserable -and i have done everything without any hesitation-swear-and because they say i'm not loud enough they moved me-he said yes i'm having rate trouble but so are a lot who haven't had this happen -and yes on the 0 course i was able to do all of it except the ropes i couldn't get my shoes to dig into the ropes and i can't ask any questions or talk to anyone -I'm just s---wed and can't do a thing about it. His voice near the end was hollow and defeated -sad for me that a kid can deal with this accept it and continue on even when they know their misery is in the hands of one person no offence on a major power trip. He even started out really respecting and liking the detailer making his life h-ll. Can't help him -----------and to the earlier post about going to the bathroom at 3 am --he said he tried that and the detailer stood over him the whole time he was in the toilet yelling at him so he just held it and went back to bed. there were others in the toilet when he was in there who had not one word said to them. Maybe i'm crazy but i just dont get it--and before you start in on the maybe you plebe isnt giving you the whole story---God as my witness i really don't think so i think i'm getting the real story from one of the most determined and respectful kids i know who for some reason has p--sed a power tripping 20 year old off who is out to make a name for themselves as a bada--. To still discuss this in terms of four years instead of T'ing out shows a lot of character and drive.
Really upset with no place to go MOM!
 
I wish I had advice for you, I truly do. Yes, your son is showing hell of a determination. It is inexusable that he has not received his meds, but I do believe you are not getting the entire story. But you will on PPW, when he gets through it all. I wish there was someone you could call to check that he is getting his medication. We received a letter a right after Iday from the USN officer in charge of son's company. Did it have any resource for communication?
Can you FLOOD the mailroom with so much mail that they HAVE to deliver it?
 
Blackhawkmom, my heart is very heavy for you and your son. His situation sounds terrible!
On I-Day there were chaplains handing out cards to Moms and one said to me to feel free to call. I am sure that you could call a chaplain for support with your plebe's current situation - everything you share, plus him not receiving meds. for something that is contagious, just doesn't sound right.

I will send you a PM with the phone number that is on the card.
 
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FaithfulMom's advice is much better than mine was going to be, which was to make a little detailer voodoo doll and stick very sharp needles into the most painful spots on detailer doll's anatomy. But my plan is sure to make you feel better, so go ahead and do it, too! :thumb:
Surely life will improve for your son with the change over of detailers. It's got to!
 
I feel horrible listening to your story. Please seek out the chaplains for help. Meds should given in a timely manner. That's inexcusable.
 
you know the more i think about it the more upset i get If this 1/C is supposed to be the cream of the crop and is in a leadership position then they fail miserably-not so sure they shouldn't be put back through plebe summer as a 5/C. think about it-this detailer is personally taking the well being of an entire company with a diagnosed infectious condition and is not attending to it. that means they are not leadership material. It is not only irresponsible but physically harmful to the entire company as well as inhumane. sorry all you vets but there is no way you can argue with this one. i can't express how disturbing this is to me. this plebe is dealing with the things he must do in the first place-feels like he is failing miserably-been broken down as they wished and that is the way it should be. But he continues to discuss the next four years even thought to begin with he wasn't sure that is encouraging but-this is the lowest of anything i can think of. Ok its pink eye not anything worse but not treating an infectious condition can cause damage not sure how much havent looked it up. But if you are already miserable its cruel,degrading and will also affect his performance on the weapons range and other things -can he even read the rates? you are supposed to be trying to help them succeed but this would insure failure at a low low low means. i am not impressed. yep its my kid so hate me for it -but let it be yours and then we will talk. Vets go ahead and BBQ me. but if this is the example these kids are receiving maybe there needs to be someone seeing if this 1/C is truly leadership material.
 
OK just found out if they go to med they get separated from the group -DS might not have known that but still doesn't want to draw any more attention to himself. Point still remains its plain cruel and very unprofessional.
 
blackhawkmom said:
Vets go ahead and BBQ me. but if this is the example these kids are receiving maybe there needs to be someone seeing if this 1/C is truly leadership material.
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I'm in agreement with you, the 1/c actions are completely UNSAT. This should not be happening. This is not how you would treat your Sailors/Marines in the Fleet/USMC - even if they are what is considered your "problem" kids. You need to take care of your troops and with-holding medicine doesn't make much sense and should be addressed to determine the validity. Sometimes, these detailers think they can get away stuff b/c of the position they are in they feel "untouchable". If you haven't contacted the Chaplain about your concern I would recommend that you do...I do remember pink eye as an issue my plebe summer as well and w/ all the stuff that you are doing together that's something you don't want passed around. Heck, a detailer could easily pick up that medication, and even if they aren't allowed to pick it up, there are always groups heading to medical and once the appointment is over they could easily determine where the plebe can meet up w/ their company. As far as the mail issue, I don't agree that withholding mail from the "isolated" plebes is right either, but not sure if mail is considered a privilege or a right. The bathroom incident as well is uncalled for and makes no sense.

Hope this can be worked out, but glad to hear your son is sticking it out and refusing to go to Tango. As people have already mentioned...a new set of detailers take over tomorrow. I know they will get a pass down from first set, but still he can make an impression on second set. Continue to encourage him, you hang in there as well. PPW is right around the corner and academic year is a new phase as well...initially the upperclassmen, especially the 2/c, will take their crack at the plebes but then once academic year settles in they realize that they need to focus on studies and not so much on the plebes. Academic year is the marathon portion of being a plebe. After plebe year, you just gotta stay out of trouble and focus on studies...a few mando events/obligations here and there but for the most part you are "free".
 
I agree with the Chaplain suggestion. The following Regs cover Plebe Summer.


http://www.usna.edu/Commandant/Instructions/COMDTMIDNINST_PS_SOP_3120.1F.pdf

Some parts are interesting reading. See page 33, withholding mail is a Federal Postal Offense. I can't see the company mail officer who picks up the mail getting his a** in the ringer because one the squad leaders is a jerk. If all else fails tell them he can't see out of that bad eye and wander over to the PEP medical tent. He can tell them he is supposed to have a prescription but no one has picked it up and the condition is now getting worse. Noon tomorrow he will get the new set. Maybe a lot better.
 
thanks for all the suggestions and private notes. Still really upset-but that is a mom's job. AF-thanks for the heads up and the info--one problem Uncle Sam must be watching you----it won't come up -you can see the table of contents then it says downloading procedures not applicable. But the thought was nice.
Trying to decide to call tonight or wait til i calm down and call tomorrow. might need to calm down.
 
MOM:
It is 103 pages long and you may be timing out. If you can't open directly right click on the link and select "save target as" save the file and then open it in Adobe reader. Hope that works.:thumb:

It's tough but call tomorrow. Bye they way I think they are watching just about everyone one way or another.

You can also google "Commandant Instruction Index" and it is document 3120.1F.
 
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blackhawkmom said:
thanks for all the suggestions and private notes. Still really upset-but that is a mom's job. AF-thanks for the heads up and the info--one problem Uncle Sam must be watching you----it won't come up -you can see the table of contents then it says downloading procedures not applicable. But the thought was nice.
Trying to decide to call tonight or wait til i calm down and call tomorrow. might need to calm down.
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If that link still doesn't seem to work, try accessing this link http://www.usna.edu/AdminSupport/instructions.htm then scroll down until you see Commandant and click on the Commandants Instructions link and then scroll down until you find the instruction 3120.1F (Plebe Summer Standard Operations Procedures)
 
blackhawkmom said:
also said he has pink eye and plebe hack went to the doc 3 days ago was given a prescription for pink eye but detailer hasn't gone to get it
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With all the new privacy rules and regulations concerning HIPAA and all the existing government regulations concerning the handling of prescription drugs, I seriously doubt that the detailer is even allowed to pick up the prescription. Detailers aren't moms. They can't swing by the family pharmacy while junior is at wrestling practice and pick up medication. This is probably some sort of misunderstanding, an unrealistic expectation by the plebe, or mom is either making assumptions or not getting the whole story.

Reading the entire thread, I would guess that the detailers are simply doing the job to which they have been tasked and that if a Chaplain intervenes, unless the Plebe has decided to quit, it will only bring undue unnecessary attention.

Maybe best just stick with venting on the forum. It will at least make you feel better.

A Vet
 
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Mongo. I couldn't disagree with you more. If the Detailers are withholding medications, then they are completely out of line, and in my opinion guilty of abuse. I spent 4 years stationed at medical at the Naval Academy and this would never have been tolerated. I personally think that if BlackhawkMom feels that her plebe is telling the truth about medications being withheld then a phone call needs to be made. I remember many a phone call during my tour there, so it wouldn't be unusual for Mom to make that call.
 
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