Question about mids and rules

L

Lydia

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Mar 20, 2016
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Hi everyone,
I had the opportunity to attend a CVW this week and it was really awesome. However, it also opened my eyes to a whole other side of the academy.

I understand that morale was probably not at its best (it's almost finals) and many mids were irritated about having a parade, but it seemed as if there were a lot of disgruntled mids who were blowing off their school work and making some (don't know how to say this) decisions that I would have thought to be not permissible.

I guess I am wondering, is partying at the Naval Academy really prevalent and can it be used (or is it used) to influence one's standing with the upperclassmen in charge? And are some mids just given more leniency than others even when they mess up?

Overall, the environment seemed way less strict than I thought it would be.

Sorry for the strange question, and thank y'all so much for your time! :)
Go Navy!
 
You saw the last full week of the academic year as classes end, finals near, sea trials are nearly here, Brigade concert and Firsties enjoying the last few weeks being a Mid. Everyone is in a good mood as the dark ages are over and every looks forward to the next year and summer training. Everyone is also anxious for finals and and Plebes for Sea Trials and to be 'Plebes No More'! Probably not the best example of what the majority of the AC Year is like. I know a lot of high school kids think the parades are 'cool' and can't wait for them, but as you clearly saw, Mids hate them. You saw a more relaxed environment than you would in say September or even February. The military generally has a work hard, play hard mentality, so do the SAs.

Plenty of Mids drink. Plenty of Mids do not drink. It's your choice and no one cars which one you do or do not do. It won't effect your standing with upperclass. The relationship between Plebes and upperclass this time of year starts to blur more than it should. It happens naturally as May approaches. Do Mids drink underage, yes it happens. If they are caught they will play a heavy penalty and be walking a thin line the rest of their stay at USNA.
 
I ended up spending a bunch of time with the 2 roommates of the plebe I shadowed because he had Main O on Thursday night and watch on Friday night, however his morale didn't seem low at all. Also told me that the environment within the company was a lot more casual since it was nearing the end of the term. The general mood/atmosphere was better than I was expecting. In fact, he told me that he really liked being at USNA and that he is extremely happy that he did not choose another path.
 
Late April when the weather turns and May are great times at USNA. Campus is beautiful and Mids snap out of the dark ages. They know they get a break from the grind very soon and look forward to seeing the fleet and what summer holds. Alps being there during a concert as Firsties celebrate their last Friday of classes definitely makes for a fun atmosphere. Sounds like you had a good group if Plebes. I am sure they are anxious to get through the next few weeks and walk in the halls like normal people and nap again!
 
I was also attending the CVW this past weekend.

I noticed this as well and many of the upperclassmen told me the same thing - everybody is pretty worn out now, and they are extremely close to the end.

Despite the worn out mood, I absolutely loved the people at the USNA. They still did what they had to do, and they really did seem like a family.

Please do not be discouraged. Put it into perspective - what would you do in this situation? You're almost at the finish line, need to focus on finals, still have to do a lot of things before you get some free time...I do not blame them for loosening up a little bit. As soon as I met my Mid he told me don't worry about how everybody seems right now, they're all just tired.

Please don't let a peculiar time for a visit change your opinion.
 
I agree with all that has been said and also want to add an additional perspective: 18/19 year olds are similar no matter which school you attend... SA or otherwise. The dark ages of February exist wherever you go to school. I spent winters in Indiana where the "perma-cloud" tended to last until our spring festival... at the end of April. You will experience students (mids and civilians alike) who will feel this way and react to the grueling year in this manner. And you will also experience instances where behavior as you noted will not be tolerated if caught and students will walk a very fine line thereafter. My advice: try to take it all with a grain of salt. Try to separate out what is specific to USNA vs. what might happen at every school. I think you'll find that overall, the experience at USNA builds a sense of family through the trials of hard work all year long and taking care of each other as family. Good luck to you. I assume that if on a CVW, you are either a sophomore or junior. You have lots of key decisions ahead and I wish you the very best... coming from a parent on the other side of it now, I know you and your family will agonize over everything. Just go with the flow and follow your heart. Best of luck to you.
 
Good comments above. The reality of people at Service Academies is that mids/cadets, staff and faculty are not perfect. Feet of clay abound, as they do in the general population. The glossy official video clips, film at the Visitors' Center set to inspiring music, official publication photos, lofty words on the website - you should recognize that is an ideal, a target to align your choices and values toward. The value lies in the effort to take raw material and produce junior officers ready to serve in the Fleet or Corps. When mids smile, their teeth don't actually have that blinding TV sparkle moment. ;)

Moods have a regular cycle at USNA, as they do elsewhere. It's so close to the end of the academic year, it's clear what plebes are going to make it. Their life eases. Firsties are focused on impending Real Life, 2/c can't wait to be firsties and get on with their summer, 3/c dream of civvies and cars, plebes are counting down the days till they are done with this year and looking forward to their first summer of training and leave. It's May, and new beginnings are at hand.

Mids have a choice as to what standards they uphold, as do the officers and enlisted leaders. Therein lies character.
 
Most Mids skirt a rule or two, but most also have a sincere sense of honor and a serious commitment to what they are doing. You witnessed a "time of year" thing. Ask my son's Plebes how they felt about 5:15 am PEP before PEP. Believe me, there's plenty of serious stuff there to keep em straight and on their toes.
 
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