Why are NASS Companies so different?

Machdude

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2012
Messages
14
As in some companies were woken up to yellin' and screamin, hoopin and hollerin. But other companies were woken up by their detailers politely knocking on their doors.

Also, some companies thought it would be hilarious if the zoomies out in colorado heard there every move, so they screamed and yelled obnoxiously wherever they went (to class, to chow, to pep). Aaaand then some companies didn't. Some companies left the yard as true families, and some left the yard as just good friends.

The awards field was pretty much centered around one company, too (at least the team awards were). It's like they were unstoppable. And they were called pig headed by more than a few people.. though we held that we were simply more motivated than every one else (I was in hit squad, so I have an idea of what it's like to be motivated :)

It seems like the different companies got radically different experiences at nass. While I've only had one experience (thus far, fingers crossed) it really seems like some companies got a "truer" and "more fun" academy experience than others.

So why are the nass companies so different?

-Delta! What makes the grass grow?!
-BLOOD!!!
-Who makes the blood flow?!
-DELTAAAAAAA!!!!!!
 
Different squad/platoon leaders. One's experience during plebe summer and ac year can also differ somewhat. Just like, in the USN/USMC, your experience can differ based on your ship, squadron, unit, etc.
 
Ah, the innocence of youth. Nothing about NASS is "true" to the Academy experience except maybe the chow. It is like the Disney version of USNA. Performing as designed, though -- producing lots of happy and motivated applicants! Whoever came up with NASS is a stone cold genius.
 
Ah, the innocence of youth. Nothing about NASS is "true" to the Academy experience except maybe the chow. It is like the Disney version of USNA. Performing as designed, though -- producing lots of happy and motivated applicants! Whoever came up with NASS is a stone cold genius.

I think the best thing about NASS is the leadership experience for the Youngsters. It's not as if the Naval Academy needs to market themselves, convince more people to apply or actually try to prepare candidates for Plebe Summer. They have their pick of the litter with or without NASS.

I think I've read where maybe 1 out of every 3 NASS students end up actually attending the Naval Academy. And, most will tell you that NASS was not all that realistic to the Plebe Summer experience. They would've been fine without it - most are. If NASS applicants are using it to evaluate the Naval Academy in some way - I guess it may serve some purpose - but I'm not sure what they would be evaluating; how nicely manicured the Yard is? How comfortable the inside of Bancroft Hall is?

Those of you who may be experiencing disappointment over not getting accepting into NASS, believe me, you are not missing that much. Very few in the incoming class will be NASS "grads" and even they will probably tell you that, in retrospect, they would have preferred the 5 extra days off during the summer.

I will say this, however; if anybody finds NASS too hard - then the Naval Academy is not for you. If it serves that purpose, then I guess it would be worth it.
 
Machdude,

My son, really enjoyed NASS last year and he is a Plebe as we write, (9 Days from PPW!!!) From what he tells me each company at the Academy is a different world, as someone said, depending upon the Detailers.

When I asked if NASS was anything like Plebe Summer, he chuckled. From his comments and other Mids I've met over the past few months, it seems each Company has it's own unique experience, personality, and rules.

Good luck to you.
 
The only consistency between companies is that there is no consistency.
 
The main reason why NASS companies are so different is because of the personalities leading them. My company (during NASS 2011) was very well balanced between being a mini-boot camp and a "Friendly Welcome to USNA" environment. I attribute this to the diversity of the leadership personalities around. My squad leader *wanted* intel, our platoon leader wanted Submarines, and our company commander wanted EOD (I believe he got the slot as well, I saw the guy in a youtube video commemorating the class of 2012 and he was in it, wearing NWU's with the digital woodland camo). The different Naval Warfare communities are known for having different "personalities", and it was very evident during NASS. I enjoyed having a diverse company, we got loud during pep and spirit runs, and the Marine prospects made Indoc very......entertaining. The SWO and Submariners were more low-key and relaxed most of the time, it was good to have the best of both worlds. I was also able to learn a lot about all of the warfare communities, which was what I valued the most. I heard stories of companies that were mostly Marine prospects or mostly Aviators.....the company reflected the persona of the leadership, who in turn reflected the persona and culture of which community they wanted. It was very interesting. I really enjoyed NASS. And by the way, I was also triple-qualified with a nomination. I didn't get in. There are no such thing as gurantees in life, and honestly noone is a "shoe-in" into an academy, anything can happen. Make sure you try 110% and work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week and that's all you can do. Plenty of kids came home saying "I bossed NASS, so I'm getting in!!!!!". Don't be those guys. I'm not trying to be bitter or ruin the parade, just trying to inform that NASS really is not supposed to be a "mock plebe summer for future midshipmen". I thought my experience as an actual attendee and prospect might add some insight.
 
The different Naval Warfare communities are known for having different "personalities", and it was very evident during NASS.

I completely agree with the first part of the statement but fail to see how this contributed to the different motivation levels of the companies at NASS. Unless I am missing something, 3/C and 1/C MIDN run NASS and have had very limited exposure to the Fleet (6-7 months for 1/C and none for 3/C, unless someone is prior enlisted), so I really don't understand how MIDN with about a half-year's total experience could represent the personalities of various communities (the 1/C haven't even put their service assignment at this point), unless you meant company officers, who are not in constant contact with the NASSers, anyhow.

I definitely agree that the different leadership personalities of 1/C and 3/C was what made the difference, but it wasn't because of the community to which they were going to enter. In my experience, the SWO and Sub communities aren't really "laid back" when it comes to the Fleet business/culture.
 
Sorry if I'm stereotyping a little too much, I am trying to tie my observations with the observations of the OP, which may not be fully matured yet. While I completley agree that many midshipmen running NASS don't have much fleet experience, and that SWO/SUB guys officers are just as motivated and gung-ho as any FORECON Marine, I am stating that the "stereotypes" of each community were very prevalent and even supported, especially by the 3/C Midshipmen (maybe this is from the lack of fleet experience that you stated?). The prospective Marines were constantly quoting USMC-themed movies, waking up at 0' Dark-thirty to motivate us, making fun of the other services, etc., as examples. The Sub/SWO guys were more focused on answering our questions about the Academy and Admissions, and coming up with comebacks to the Marine-prospects. The stereotypes were definitley there, and almost all were seen in the 3/C mids that were more directly involved with us, so maybe it is the lack of fleet experience? I apologize for any offense.
 
No need to apologize and no offense taken....I just don't see how MIDN with very little Fleet experience fit the stereotypes, when they really only have an idea of them. I get the ones who have more of an interest in USMC to be a little more ooo-rah, but I don't think that diversity among the NASS MIDN affects how motivated a company is.
 
Last edited:
I would suspect the manner in which 3/C run NASS is dictated by their experience as plebes -- i.e., their reaction to the way they were treated by their upperclass.
 
Back
Top