For those of you who don't know, "Reef Points" is the handbook for plebes. well, I decided to be proactive andorder one which came in today.For all of you USNA grads or past plebes for that matter, how important and useful is this book? What will I need to know? Also, for all of us appointees, have you considered ordering one?
Reef Points
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armystrong2015
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Nah, I wanna wait until I get one during Plebe summer (if I go to USNA).
While i'm not a current mid, i would advise against doing this. I've seen on the forums before BGO's and others saying so. Basically it breaks down to the fact that you do not want to show up your fellow mates from the get go. Everyone has a learning curve and everyone gets through it. Also, yelling out facts in your room alone is a lot differnt then having a 1/C breathing down your neck harassing you. On a final note, you also don't know when you will have to memorize certain info. So what you memorize now may not be needed till end of the summer.
DD's PTR (Permit to report) package gave her a list of a few things to memorize before arrival. They were things like the Mission of the Naval Academy, the 10 general orders of a sentry, and so forth. However, everything they needed to know was in the PTR. There really is NO NEED to have Reef Points ahead of time, or to spend time memorizing any of it.
For now, have fun, stay out of trouble, spend time with family and friends, and get in great physical condition.
OTOH, now that you have Reef Points, be sure that your parents take it with them for I-day. It changes every year, but the Class of 2011 version had all kinds of interesting stuff about the various monuments on the Yard. It was great for us parents to have as we wandered around!
For now, have fun, stay out of trouble, spend time with family and friends, and get in great physical condition.
OTOH, now that you have Reef Points, be sure that your parents take it with them for I-day. It changes every year, but the Class of 2011 version had all kinds of interesting stuff about the various monuments on the Yard. It was great for us parents to have as we wandered around!
usna1985
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There has been quite a lot of discussion of this topic in years past. The general concensus from current mids, recent mids, BGOs, alums, etc. is that if you want to get RP to flip through it and see what's in there, fine. If you have no military background, you may find sections on ranks, etc. to be useful. However, your time b/t now and I-Day is MUCH better spent working out, enjoying time with your friends and family etc. than trying to memorize RP.
Other than the things you are instructed to memorize before arriving, you are NOT expected to learn anything else until you get there. As noted, showing up your classmates doesn't go over well. And, even if you have memorized stuff, the detailers will find something else to make sure you're fully challenged.
Other than the things you are instructed to memorize before arriving, you are NOT expected to learn anything else until you get there. As noted, showing up your classmates doesn't go over well. And, even if you have memorized stuff, the detailers will find something else to make sure you're fully challenged.
Spanky58ggpt
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Several different views on having or getting reef points have been expressed previously. Do keep in mind that certain portions may change from year to year. It can be interesting reading for someone with limited military knowledge/experience. A good way to look at it is all knowledge has benefit at some time. DO NOT spend the final months of your senior year trying to get ahead and memorize the whole thing. Enjoy yourself, get more prepared physically, and continue to do the things that got you where you are. If you already have it, read it understand it, ask questions of someone with military/academy background. Let your parents browse it also, fun stuff in there, for now. When it is required reading it becomes less fun. Memorize the stuff in your PTR and you'll do fine.
As an officer you should never stop learning, and as you're about to enter the military I would place particular emphasis on that topic. You shouldn't show up your classmates. But that means don't raise your hand and show off that you know the answer when everyone else in your squad is struggling.
Knowing this stuff in advance can only help you. It will help you focus on learning things other than rote memorization (like navigation, seamanship, characteristics of different weapons platforms, pipelines of various services) and it will allow you to assist your fellow plebes in their work.
Like everyone's said, the cadre will find something you don't know. So I'm not saying memorizing this information ahead of time will get you out of a good yelling at on the bulkhead. I'm saying it will allow you to learn more and help your shipmates more. And that is exactly what you should be aiming for during your time at the Academy.
Always seek to improve yourself and learn as much as you can as a Midshipmen because soon you will be an officer and you will be saying this very same thing to your sailors and Marines.
Knowing this stuff in advance can only help you. It will help you focus on learning things other than rote memorization (like navigation, seamanship, characteristics of different weapons platforms, pipelines of various services) and it will allow you to assist your fellow plebes in their work.
Like everyone's said, the cadre will find something you don't know. So I'm not saying memorizing this information ahead of time will get you out of a good yelling at on the bulkhead. I'm saying it will allow you to learn more and help your shipmates more. And that is exactly what you should be aiming for during your time at the Academy.
Always seek to improve yourself and learn as much as you can as a Midshipmen because soon you will be an officer and you will be saying this very same thing to your sailors and Marines.
MomoftheMagik
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Buying Reef Points isn't wasted, IMO. Even if you decide not to study it or look through it, it is an awesome reference for parents, sibs, etc. My current Plebe looked through it briefly before he left for I-Day, but it got much more use while he was going through Plebe Summer...by his family. There will be days when parents can't find pics, hear no news and are just beside themselves wondering what's going on and if their DD/DS is doing okay. We looked through Reef Points during some of those times. I had his sisters memorize some things, like "How's the Cow?" and "Why didn't you say Sir/Ma'am". We even had one day when they could only use the 5 Basic Responses of a Plebe. I guess it just made us feel closer to son/brother. Of course, it was fun for us...not thinking DS was feeling the same! 
WestTexasmom
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Buying Reef Points isn't wasted, IMO. Even if you decide not to study it or look through it, it is an awesome reference for parents, sibs, etc. My current Plebe looked through it briefly before he left for I-Day, but it got much more use while he was going through Plebe Summer...by his family. There will be days when parents can't find pics, hear no news and are just beside themselves wondering what's going on and if their DD/DS is doing okay. We looked through Reef Points during some of those times. I had his sisters memorize some things, like "How's the Cow?" and "Why didn't you say Sir/Ma'am". We even had one day when they could only use the 5 Basic Responses of a Plebe. I guess it just made us feel closer to son/brother. Of course, it was fun for us...not thinking DS was feeling the same!
MomOTM, until I read your post, I had thought getting RP's early wouldn't be something DS would be interested in, but now I'm convinced I need them! DS sister will want to read through it, and I can see us following in your footsteps having a day of the 5 Basic Responses! Thanks!
Whistle Pig
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Indeed much has been written, pro and con, for both subscribing and consuming Reef Points prior to Plebe deployment. And much of those protracted arguments have been well summarized here, with no further need nor benefit beyond therapy for the presenters to perpetuate those further.
Allow just one true tale of one brilliant young Mid who decided whatever the naysayers might offer, he'd pre-read Reef Points. And did.
Plebe summer came along, and in the midst of his Midshipman apprenticeship, he screwed up. Rather big time, at least w/in the context of being a Plebe. Sure to be fried, his "benevolent" detailer offered, "what could you possibly do beyond committing hari kari to redeem yourself, oh scum of scums, lowliest of the lowest?"
Well, having not only read, but indeed indelibly memorized much of the maniacle mundanenss to be found in that timeless, if regularly re-published, edited epistle, the poor Plebe offered to recite the "laws of the Navy."
Intrigued, the incensed detailer queried the queer lad, "Which one?"
Seeing some hope to his hopelessness, the sorry sack of a sailor, responded, "All of them, sir!"
Well, sure that he had this fouled-up 4/C since none in the known modern history of the world had known all of these antiquated postulates of Plebedom, the now-gloating god of that pathetic wretch donning his dixie cup, grunted "SURE! HAVE AT IT!"
Well, in due order, verbatim and absent a single slip up, that young admiral-in-waiting proceeded to spout those 27 laws he'd learned in the spring of his final year of freedom.
Astounding all with his monumental feat, and finally finding a fleeting fleet moment of brief revenge against his upperclass tormentor, the victorious sailor's shipmates broke into spontaneous standing ovation, as the detailer seemed to shrink to half his normal size.
The proud Plebe was wonderfully, fully restored to scumful status, allowed to live, chop and recite the day's menu for another day.
In brief, Reef saved his white-worked behind!
The moral of the story? There is none. But that Mid, who went on to become one of his class's great scholar-commissioned ensigns, knows what his read/don't read Reef Points decision would be.
And in the course of things, has become a legend like few others in the bowels of Bancroft.
The End
Allow just one true tale of one brilliant young Mid who decided whatever the naysayers might offer, he'd pre-read Reef Points. And did.
Plebe summer came along, and in the midst of his Midshipman apprenticeship, he screwed up. Rather big time, at least w/in the context of being a Plebe. Sure to be fried, his "benevolent" detailer offered, "what could you possibly do beyond committing hari kari to redeem yourself, oh scum of scums, lowliest of the lowest?"
Well, having not only read, but indeed indelibly memorized much of the maniacle mundanenss to be found in that timeless, if regularly re-published, edited epistle, the poor Plebe offered to recite the "laws of the Navy."
Intrigued, the incensed detailer queried the queer lad, "Which one?"
Seeing some hope to his hopelessness, the sorry sack of a sailor, responded, "All of them, sir!"
Well, sure that he had this fouled-up 4/C since none in the known modern history of the world had known all of these antiquated postulates of Plebedom, the now-gloating god of that pathetic wretch donning his dixie cup, grunted "SURE! HAVE AT IT!"
Well, in due order, verbatim and absent a single slip up, that young admiral-in-waiting proceeded to spout those 27 laws he'd learned in the spring of his final year of freedom.
Astounding all with his monumental feat, and finally finding a fleeting fleet moment of brief revenge against his upperclass tormentor, the victorious sailor's shipmates broke into spontaneous standing ovation, as the detailer seemed to shrink to half his normal size.
The proud Plebe was wonderfully, fully restored to scumful status, allowed to live, chop and recite the day's menu for another day.
In brief, Reef saved his white-worked behind!
The moral of the story? There is none. But that Mid, who went on to become one of his class's great scholar-commissioned ensigns, knows what his read/don't read Reef Points decision would be.
And in the course of things, has become a legend like few others in the bowels of Bancroft.The End
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Spanky58ggpt
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Publish Please!
Now that is funny. Don't know what the market would be but a book of similarly hilarious anecdotes from the world of plebes and beyond would certainly be fun for old salts, plebe parents, and future mids. Keep it up WP.
Now that is funny.
Don't know what the market would be but a book of similarly hilarious anecdotes from the world of plebes and beyond would certainly be fun for old salts, plebe parents, and future mids. Keep it up WP.Well then... looks like we are at a stale mate. In getting RP's, I never intended to show anyone up, or for that matter, belittle my superior. I figured, as I will eventually have to know many things, I could start now, while I dont have a 1/C mid breathing down my neck. Lets say its up to the individual. Personally, I enjoy reading up on the history of USNA and the useless Irish Penants... Just the same, I could very well need this information one day. OTOH, a fellow plebe may hate the feckless act and, in his/her case,never even need a majority of the information! I don't plan to memorize the entire scripture, rather, just become familiar with it. Its better to be safe than sorry and not get caught with your pants around your ankles... IMHO
For those families of soon-to-be plebes, anxious to get to know more about what is about to happen after your son or daughter passes through the doors of Alumni Hall, there are several books available through the visitor's store accessible at www.navyonline.com. One book that sticks in mind is/was Brief Points which purports to de-mystify the acronyms, slang, etc., that will start to slip into your DS/DD's conversations. If you know parents of a midshipman you may be able to borrow the book they received from the Alumni Association tracking the events of Plebe Summer.