Mail during Plebe Summer

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iceman92

5-Year Member
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Jul 4, 2010
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14
I know you can contact family via phone once or twice over Plebe Summer. But how does sending / receiving mail work? Can you both receive and send mail, or can you only receive letters?

Not sure exactly how it works
 
You can receive lots of mail. They also encourage you to send mail, but according to our son there was only a little time to write. We got 6 or 7 letters from DS during the summer. One he wrote while on a bus to a training location. When my older son was in boot, we could expect a letter every Wednesday like clockwork after the third week, but it was hit or miss with our Plebe during PS. Plebe Summer participants can also receive care packages, which made my enlisted son cry foul. :rolleyes: :yllol:
 
The detailers collect mail, both inbound and outbound. You're issued Naval Academy stationary, postcards, envelopes, and stamps. At night they'll ask who has mail to send out and deal with it for you.
 
I think we received a grand total of 2 letters during Plebe Summer, but I wrote every day. And every day of the rest of the 4 years. And I'm still writing every day during flight school. My dd has mentioned that even when she doesn't have time to open them, it sure is nice to always have something waiting. The parents will be instructed to use plain white envelopes, with flag stamps and nothing written on the outside. Print any pictures on the letter and then they can't be confiscated. And emphasize NOT to try to smuggle anything in--it's not worth the hassle. Dd had a company mate in a lot of trouble for something his mom thought would not be noticed...
 
heartcross ... would you consider adopting me?:wink: Your faithful pen-paling could be a real boost if/when I get sent to the cooler.:thumb:

Wow, you must be sustaining the snail-mail office and stamp-printing biz in your town! :band:

P.S. Do you happen to work for Playtex?:rolleyes::topic:
 
The local parents' club suggests mom get a supply of postcards, stamp them, and print some questions with multiple choice answers so the mid only has to X the desired response and drop the card into the outgoing mail - however it is being handled in the company.
They also recommend a shoebox size plastic box to mailing food, cleaning supplies, clothing, etc.
I strongly recommend you make contact with the parents' club in your area and ask for some guidance. My observation has been that they are really happy to help parents deal with all the exigencies of becoming parents of plebes at NAVY. Try it; the local dues are less than $50 per year.
 
For plebes, there are normally two opportunities to write letters home:
1. During the "personal" time at night, which really isn't so personal...it's more of taking a quick shower, doing writing assignments, or other plebe duties.
2. On Sunday mornings, when there is much more down time.

Otherwise, plebes will practically be busy every other moment. To candidates, if you plan on writing a decent letter home, I would recommend on Sundays.
 
My Plebe son wrote several times to us and also to his girlfriend. Sometimes the letters were short and sometimes 2-3 pages long written over the course of a couple of days.

One time he completely stumped his detailers:

DS was coloring a picture for his girlfriend with colored pencils from the midstore.

Detailer walks by the open door and does a double take.
PLEBE, what are you doing, PLEBE?
Sir, Coloring. Sir!
Detailer walked away, muttering 'I don't even know what to do with that!"
 
haha Singaporemom! That must have brought a smile to your Plebe's face! It certainly brought one to mine. :thumb:
 
Love it Singaporemom!
We got some letters that were 6 pages long

(ok ok, they were written on 2x4 inch memo pad paper, so maybe 10 words per sheet, LOL)
 
I'm getting ready for Plebe Summer and I was wondering about the mail too. My dad already said I shouldn't expect him write and I highly doubt any of my friends can be bothered so I think I'll be lucky if my sister sends me anything :( I thought it might be possible for me to just write to my sister and she could just tell my friends through something easier like email... She'd probably like doing that.
I loved your Singaporemom, that will probably be me too.
 
Sent - 12-20 letters, mostly short with photos.

Received - 1 short letter and 2 postcards. All said how busy he was.
 
Bean said:
I'm getting ready for Plebe Summer and I was wondering about the mail too. My dad already said I shouldn't expect him write and I highly doubt any of my friends can be bothered so I think I'll be lucky if my sister sends me anything :( I thought it might be possible for me to just write to my sister and she could just tell my friends through something easier like email... She'd probably like doing that.
I loved your Singaporemom, that will probably be me too.
Click to expand...

Bean, when you get your plebe summer address, PM me and I promise I will write you! :thumb:
I loved sending fun cards to our plebe last summer. We sent something every day from at least one member of the family, and that included the dog and both cats!
 
Ditto Positive Thinking...Bean, you might end up with more mail than anyone if the moms and dads here get involved! That is...if you want it. Just PM your info to me once you arrive!
 
Here's a third mom who will write you if you pm me your plebe summer address. Son is on the wait list for USNA. Hopefully I'll be writing to him too! We're a family with seven "kids", several adopted, so what's one more? A lot of us moms out there are proud of you and all the others for what you have accomplished!! Get ready for a full "mailbox"!!!
 
CAmom2015, MomoftheMagik, PositiveThinking thank you so much, that is very sweet.

One of my reasons for wanting to attend an academy was that I wanted to be a part of tight knit community that cared about each other. During my interviews they always allowed room for me to ask a question and I always asked some variation of "What do you enjoy most about the military lifestyle?" I kept getting the same answer: the people. I doubt that the Naval Academy will live up to all I have built it up to be but I am still confident its where I belong.

CAmom2015, I hope your son will be there with me on I-day. It sounds like you have a lovely family :) I hope you'll let me know how it goes for him. I am waiting to here if my best friend gets in, he got two nominations to USNA but they wanted to see his mid year transcripts but hasn't heard anything else yet.

PositiveThinking, the letters from the dog and cats made me laugh. I pictured getting letters from out saltwater fish, getting warped smelly paper in the mail.
 
Careful what you wish for BEAN!!! :) You've got a world full of parents just itchin to adopt you!! :) PM me your USNA address when you get it. I'll be in the US during the summer until mid July. I'll get some cards ready for sending out before I head back to China.... And any other Plebes/Mids out there with a similar situation. This applies to you, too!!:smile:

You're parents will get a letter from USNA informing them which 3 days you will be calling (I believe they were always on weekends). make sure your phone is full of phone numbers of people you would like to speak with. Sometimes it's difficult to stay at home the entire day waiting for the call, so have back up numbers...even from people on this forum if necessary.

BEAN, you are being very proactive and upfront about your feelings. This will help you get through plebe summer. You are already figuring out your way and finding the resources that you need. Excellent.
 
I dug back into this forum, after several years off, and here was the letter writing post! Yeah, I'm still writing. The Navy girl has been getting them for 10 years now. She's now an instructor out in San Diego, still flying. My AROTC kid had to take a medical discharge due to injuries, but my AFROTC kid is finishing up his sophomore year. And here we go again, with the last one.
 
Bean said:
I'm getting ready for Plebe Summer and I was wondering about the mail too. My dad already said I shouldn't expect him write and I highly doubt any of my friends can be bothered so I think I'll be lucky if my sister sends me anything :( I thought it might be possible for me to just write to my sister and she could just tell my friends through something easier like email... She'd probably like doing that.
I loved your Singaporemom, that will probably be me too.
Click to expand...
I'll write you too! PM me your address once you have it.
 
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