Here is some nomenclature that may help those of you getting ready to embark on Plebe Summer. This will also help the parents when they attempt to cyberstalk their midshipman via the internet. You have to get good at reading those guidons (i.e. flags).
The Plebes going through Plebe Summer are referred to as the "4/C Regiment". That includes
all the Plebes in the class.
The Regiment is broken into 15 Companies. Each Company is given a letter designation.
A = Alpha Company
B = Bravo Company
C = Charlie Company
and so on ... all the way up to Oscar Company.
When you see them marching around, you will see a flag with that letter on it. Those yellow flags are called guidons. That guidon will always be out in front of the company as they march.
But each Company is comprised of
two platoons.
Alpha Company, for instance, is comprised of 1st and 2nd platoon.
Bravo Company is comprised of 3rd and 4th platoon, and so on.
There is a guidon for each of those platoons. So, each company will have three guidons, one out in front representing the whole company and two additional guidons representing the individual platoons within that company.
It is not uncommon, however, to have a single platoon marching around the Yard with just their platoon guidon.
All this nomenclature is temporary and is unique to the Plebe Summer structure.
Once Plebe Summer is over, the letter designations for the companies go away. There will no longer be an Alpha or Bravo Company.
Their Plebe Summer platoons will end up being their company for their rest of their stay at the academy (unless they decide to juggle it up).
So, platoons become companies!
Therefore, a Plebe who is in Echo Company, 10th platoon will end up in 10th Company once Plebe Summer is over and the academic year begins. Also, at that time, the "4/C Regiment" is disbanded and they are all integrated into the Brigade of Midshipman which includes
all midshipmen of all classes.
Because of the Plebe Summer experience, Plebes of "sister companies" will know each other very well. Many of those relationships continue even though they are no longer in the same company. For instance, the members of the 16th company will be more familiar with the members of the 15th company than they will with members of the 17th company. That's because 15th & 16th company, during Plebe Summer, comprised Hotel Company.