Please give it to me straight -
What is up with the state parent clubs/spirit committees? What exactly is it that they do? I understand both cadet and parent need to sign a permission/contact form in order for them to connect with cadets, so what do they do to support their journey? Are they basically like PTAs?
OK, but first a question. By PTAs do you mean Parent Teacher Association---as in the schools.
OR
PTA's as in "pain in the ....."?
Now the answer. When Plebe's go off to the Academy, there is huge separation anxiety. There is also ALOT of pride for our kids as they have made it into such an inspiring (for many of us) institution. Many families are literally ripped apart at this point and the pain, the pride, the love, the angst, and many other emotions tend to rule the day until we (both parents and plebes) come to grips with this.
All that Stealth 81 said is true, yet there is even more along the lines of mutual support for parents, support and comfort for our young adults who are now away from home -- permanently for the first time in many cases.
The Parents associations are not a mandatory thing for anyone, yet I HIGHLY recommend them for the parents of Midshipmen.
They are an excellent support system for everyone, they are open and welcoming to everyone. Can't say enough good about the ones our family is involved in. As an example, the NY (maybe NJ/NY) parents club charters busses to get their mids home safely for Christmas break. There are other clubs that make things by hand and offer them for sale to everyone to ease the journey of the USNA. I know that if my plebe runs into a problem anywhere there is a parent club, that ultimately they will get the assistance needed.
So, I think of the parent clubs more or less as booster clubs, support friends, shoulders to lean on and an ex-officio part of the USNA or other service academies for both the plebes and the parents. During plebe year especially, remember misery loves company.