Head start for plebe summer

B

bcb

5-Year Member
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Mar 2, 2014
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In addition to physical preparation, I'd like to get a head start on memorization. What should I work on memorizing before I Day?

Thanks,
B
Class of 2018


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There's always this discussion before PS. The general consensus on SAF is that you shouldn't prepare in that aspect. Let Plebe Summer do its work and you'll be fine. If you study before hand, it will be obvious that you prepared and it will make you seem snobby and make your classmates look bad.

But if you really, really want to, then memorize the first 8 laws of the navy, the rifleman's creed, the man in the arena, invictus, the qualifications of a naval officer, marine corps and navy enlisted ranks, the 11 orders to the sentry, and the chain of command. Again, though, it's not really recommended.
 
Just let the process unfold there. The point is not knowing this stuff (well, sort of), the real point is the process you go through. Why defeat the training process? And in fact you won't. You will pay a price in any case.
 
I agree with both of you; but starting with an overview (not actually memorizing the book at this point) is useful. From practical experience, know-nothings don't fare too well during plebe summer either.
 
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Ah, the yearly reef points memorization debate...

My two cents, if you are reading reef points and other publications to just read it and become somewhat familiar, I don't see an issue. On the other hand, if you study for 4 hours a day trying to memorize everything....well then, IMHO, you are defeating part of the purpose of plebe summer.
 
of ALL parts of plebe summer (and the list is endless) my son had the most trouble with quickly memorizing rates. He had a copy of reef points months before leaving for plebe summer but didnt bother to look through it. During plebe summer his three phone calls home comprised of him telling tales of woe from getting into trouble for not memorizing reef points fast enough. His mid summer rankings were low, he was frustrated, he felt terrible.

Over Christmas when he was home midway through plebe year, I reminded him of this and asked if he should have indeed memorized reef points before hand. He replied "Naaaah. I probably should have, but I am glad I enjoyed my last summer instead."
 
My DS had the Reef Points ahead of time...but did even open the book...just like Vista's DS. When you get your big packet time around April from USNA, there will be a section that you are required to know for I-Day...make sure you know that!!! I think my DS son would say run...run...run...you can never run enough before I-Day!!! Focus on the physical side of the preparation...the memorization will come soon enough...
 
First three General Orders, the mission, and Navy/USMC ranks.

First two are the "required rates" anyway, and plus the ranks so you don't look dumb on I-day when interacting with military personnel.

The rest? Don't worry about it. The point isn't so much knowing the information as much as it learning to memorize any information efficiently.
 
+1 to what Nuensis said. That, and maybe try to memorize a few menus and then recite them out loud and REALLY FAST (okay, just joking ... sort of) :smile:
 
nuensis said:
First three General Orders, the mission, and Navy/USMC ranks.

First two are the "required rates" anyway, and plus the ranks so you don't look dumb on I-day when interacting with military personnel.

The rest? Don't worry about it. The point isn't so much knowing the information as much as it learning to memorize any information efficiently.
Click to expand...

Also agree that Nuensis is right on. The rates memorization during PS really helped my DS once he started the academic year--was able to memorize lots of information quickly from all that practice. (memorized only what was in the PTR packet before PS)
 
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