My thoughts on (for?) the incoming class of 2017

USCGA13STN

10-Year Member
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Jun 29, 2010
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So as I sit here procrastinating yet more work which I should be doing (New Procrastination level unlocked: level Firstie), it occurs to me that I've been negligent in my duties of writing for the cadet blog program which helps me stay tied in with the incoming class. While I may not have time to write a full blog entry now, this outlet still helps me accomplish that same mission, so here goes nothing.

As you begin your journey, I just want to pass on some advice to you that I've picked up over the years, some things that have stuck out to me: Some I've learned the hard way, some I've picked up watching friends and some are just platitudes. In honor of the greatest class to ever grace the Academy, I give you 13 lessons I've learned as a member of '13.

1) Never alienate a friend, especially when you live with them for four years.

2) Nothing funny ever happens in swab summer. Your stories are not hilarious. Your memories are fooling you and if you ever tell that story to someone who is not an Academy kid they will stare at you and tell you you're crazy.

3) There is always time later to do your work, but there isn't always time later to hang out with a friend. So prioritize, but do it right.

4) There is NEVER a good reason to lie. To anyone. For any reason.

5) Cleaning for a formal room and wing is always better when you and your roommate blast the music and start late and end early... in the morning.

6) 3/c Summer on Eagle is what you make of it. If you really don't like it that much, block it out and just remember the port calls.

7) Every person deserves a chance to redefine themselves after 4/c year. This place does weird things to you that first year, so let people start new 3/c summer. Forget those grudges you held fourth class year, some of those people you hated with a passion, just might end up being your best friends.

8) Merchant Marine Academy is the worst school in America. Forget what Forbes says.

9) You will never stop being protective of "your" swabs.

10) You will never stop respecting and admiring your cadre... even when you get to be on a first name basis with them.

11) Cadating isn't always as bad as they say.

12) The longer you refuse to admit this place is your home, the longer you will be unhappy. That place where you grew up is just that, the place where you grew up. Home is where the Coast Guard sends you.

13) The mundane routine will soon fade, so that when you look back, all you remember are the highlights. The highest highs and the lowest lows... so make them count. Have an experience worth remembering. Make your memories now, so that 50 years down the road you can look back with fondness.

As you all get ready to embark on your journey I look back to my last month of my senior year and I think of where I've come since then. It's amazing the changes that can come along in four short years. Here I sit on the cusp of graduation. 14 weeks left in a 200 week training program and I almost envy you.

Almost... because for all the great memories and friends, one Academy experience in a lifetime is more than enough for anyone. Enjoy it. Remember it. Make it count.


Well, perhaps it was long enough to be a blog entry and who knows, I may steal it and turn it in later.
 
Well.... my first day with shirt-stays story from Swab Summer is pretty funny.....
 
Well.... my first day with shirt-stays story from Swab Summer is pretty funny.....
LITS to non-Academy friend: The first time we wore shirt stays we had to do it with gym shorts on so that our cadre could see that we were wearing them right and it was hilarious.

Non-Academy Friend: What are shirt stays?

:wink:
 
LITS to non-Academy friend: The first time we wore shirt stays we had to do it with gym shorts on so that our cadre could see that we were wearing them right and it was hilarious.

Non-Academy Friend: What are shirt stays?

:wink:

LITS to Non-Academy friend:

The first time we had to wear shirt stays we were in gym shorts. We used to put our hats in the back of our shorts. Well, on that first day I was more concerned about how to deal with those shirt stays than anything else when i went to the bathroom. As I finished I looked down and noticed something in the bottom of the bowl. It was a hat, covered in %$^&. I paniced. So after flushing the toilet a few times, I ran back into the hall, stood against the wall and stuck my hand (paw) out to get my cadres' attention. I said "Swab LITS' hat fell in the toilet." My cadre said "Ok, Swab LITS, and?" I said "Swab LITS didn't realize it until after the fact." Swab LITS' cadre sorta laughed but out of LITS field of vision. LITS cadre walked him to the gear head (closet) to pick up a trash bag, then walked to the head (bathroom) to pick up his cover (hat) in the bag, walked to the laundry room (while announcing to every platoons cadre on the way what happened, threw the hat in the laundry and came back a couple of hours to get it. As Swab LITS prepared to put the hat on his head, Swab LITS cadre said "now that's just gross, we'll get you a new one."

And that's when LITS found out "Always Look Before you Sit" (the real name I use for the story has a bad word in it).


Non-Academy friend: That's gross. And what are shirt stays?
 
LITS to Non-Academy friend:

The first time we had to wear shirt stays we were in gym shorts. We used to put our hats in the back of our shorts. Well, on that first day I was more concerned about how to deal with those shirt stays than anything else when i went to the bathroom. As I finished I looked down and noticed something in the bottom of the bowl. It was a hat, covered in %$^&. I paniced. So after flushing the toilet a few times, I ran back into the hall, stood against the wall and stuck my hand (paw) out to get my cadres' attention. I said "Swab LITS' hat fell in the toilet." My cadre said "Ok, Swab LITS, and?" I said "Swab LITS didn't realize it until after the fact." Swab LITS' cadre sorta laughed but out of LITS field of vision. LITS cadre walked him to the gear head (closet) to pick up a trash bag, then walked to the head (bathroom) to pick up his cover (hat) in the bag, walked to the laundry room (while announcing to every platoons cadre on the way what happened, threw the hat in the laundry and came back a couple of hours to get it. As Swab LITS prepared to put the hat on his head, Swab LITS cadre said "now that's just gross, we'll get you a new one."

And that's when LITS found out "Always Look Before you Sit" (the real name I use for the story has a bad word in it).


Non-Academy friend: That's gross. And what are shirt stays?


You sir, win all the interwebs for the day.
 
You sir, win all the interwebs for the day.

I was only happy my cadre didn't kill me. Two years later I realized how things looked through the eyes of the cadre. If only my kids (aka swabs) had done the same, then I could have sat them down and told them "The Parable of the Poopy Hat."
 
I was only happy my cadre didn't kill me. Two years later I realized how things looked through the eyes of the cadre. If only my kids (aka swabs) had done the same, then I could have sat them down and told them "The Parable of the Poopy Hat."

I've seen four separate R-Days and swab summers through 4 separate eyes... none of them were as hilarious as a 1/c cadet though.

Seeing cadre getting crazy, swabs being insanely dumb (OPS normal) and 3/c scurrying about trying not to run into anyone, it's a great thing to watch.

Also, I feel like that's a necessary parable for the running light.
 
I've seen four separate R-Days and swab summers through 4 separate eyes... none of them were as hilarious as a 1/c cadet though.

Seeing cadre getting crazy, swabs being insanely dumb (OPS normal) and 3/c scurrying about trying not to run into anyone, it's a great thing to watch.

Also, I feel like that's a necessary parable for the running light.

HAHAHA....nice!
 
I've seen four separate R-Days and swab summers through 4 separate eyes... none of them were as hilarious as a 1/c cadet though.

Seeing cadre getting crazy, swabs being insanely dumb (OPS normal) and 3/c scurrying about trying not to run into anyone, it's a great thing to watch.

Also, I feel like that's a necessary parable for the running light.

That same thing happened to one of the swabs in my swab summer company...haha
 
LITS to Non-Academy friend:

The first time we had to wear shirt stays we were in gym shorts. We used to put our hats in the back of our shorts. Well, on that first day I was more concerned about how to deal with those shirt stays than anything else when i went to the bathroom. As I finished I looked down and noticed something in the bottom of the bowl. It was a hat, covered in %$^&. I paniced. So after flushing the toilet a few times, I ran back into the hall, stood against the wall and stuck my hand (paw) out to get my cadres' attention. I said "Swab LITS' hat fell in the toilet." My cadre said "Ok, Swab LITS, and?" I said "Swab LITS didn't realize it until after the fact." Swab LITS' cadre sorta laughed but out of LITS field of vision. LITS cadre walked him to the gear head (closet) to pick up a trash bag, then walked to the head (bathroom) to pick up his cover (hat) in the bag, walked to the laundry room (while announcing to every platoons cadre on the way what happened, threw the hat in the laundry and came back a couple of hours to get it. As Swab LITS prepared to put the hat on his head, Swab LITS cadre said "now that's just gross, we'll get you a new one."

And that's when LITS found out "Always Look Before you Sit" (the real name I use for the story has a bad word in it).


Non-Academy friend: That's gross. And what are shirt stays?
Non Academy guy thinks this is hilarious!
 
LITS to Non-Academy friend:

The first time we had to wear shirt stays we were in gym shorts. We used to put our hats in the back of our shorts. Well, on that first day I was more concerned about how to deal with those shirt stays than anything else when i went to the bathroom. As I finished I looked down and noticed something in the bottom of the bowl. It was a hat, covered in %$^&. I paniced. So after flushing the toilet a few times, I ran back into the hall, stood against the wall and stuck my hand (paw) out to get my cadres' attention. I said "Swab LITS' hat fell in the toilet." My cadre said "Ok, Swab LITS, and?" I said "Swab LITS didn't realize it until after the fact." Swab LITS' cadre sorta laughed but out of LITS field of vision. LITS cadre walked him to the gear head (closet) to pick up a trash bag, then walked to the head (bathroom) to pick up his cover (hat) in the bag, walked to the laundry room (while announcing to every platoons cadre on the way what happened, threw the hat in the laundry and came back a couple of hours to get it. As Swab LITS prepared to put the hat on his head, Swab LITS cadre said "now that's just gross, we'll get you a new one."

And that's when LITS found out "Always Look Before you Sit" (the real name I use for the story has a bad word in it).


Waterdogmom literally cannot stop laughing out loud, and is grateful you shared this story so that DD may prevent this from happening to her this summer!
 
LOL about the poopy hat! My DD and two other girls got latrine duty at AIM. One of the toilets was clogged (and let's just say it was with the stuff that ruined your hat, LITS). With only minutes to solve the problem, the three of them decided to engage in a showdown of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" to determine which one would use her arm as a plunger. Fortunately, another girl lost, and I give that girl (whoever she was) serious props for living up to her "doody". :shake:
 
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