Summer Cruises

ck15

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Dec 11, 2015
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Is it true USNA mids get two cruises instead of the one cruise NROTC mids receive? I know the main three cruises are CORTAMID/PROTRAMID, enlisted cruise/YP cruise, and your specialized 1/C cruise. However, can USNA mids go through mountain warfare school, airborne school or other schools?
 
USNA Mids do two training blocks per a summer vice one. There are opportunities for things like dive school and jump school although they are usually very small in number and can include screeners for selection. The number of slots available can very depending on funding. The ones you listed are the traditional type cruises that are required training and can include fleet cruises, Leatherneck, Mini-BUDS and probably a few others I forgot. The other block can be a variety of items such as jump school, dive school, internships, summer seminar or STEM detail, Plebe Summer detail, weapons detail for Plebe Summer, NOLS, sailing, and others that I can't remember. YPs have jumped around as being mandatory as a 3/C to not being mandatory and done as an upperclass, not sure where they fall now. There is lots of info on the USNA website on summer training. Not sure about mountain warfare... When I was there we didn't have spots for this, but there could be now.
 
Son did mountain warfare between 3C and 2C (screener required), a variety of LRECs pop up too--YPs are not mandatory.
 
Hoops, COmom, what is meant by "screeners"? Does it mean mids apply and are selected based on certain criteria? Does academic / overall performance ranking determine what a mid can do during summer block training?
 
Screeners referred to in here are 1-2 day long physical and mental tests. Essentially to get selected for mini-BUDS the SEALs on the yard will run the Mids through a day or two of lots of crazy PT. each type of screener has its own length and what is in each of them, but none of them are easy. Yes, class rank can come into play to get selected for summer training. It really can come into play for LREC, internships, choice is ships, etc. Look at the USNA website under summer training and there is tons of info within the instructions. Also once you get there the upperclass will teach you all this.
 
Dive School is no longer on the list unfortunately. Airborne, Mountain Warfare, etc. are eligible only to those who complete the MARSOT screener which has become increasingly more difficult and competitive over the years. The only physical screeners on the Yard are MARSOT, EOD, and SEAL.
 
It seems to change every few years! 2 of my years there we had Airborne and Dive. Then 2 years neither were an option. They had the same 1 day screener. Mountain Warfare wasn't an option. I have done that and jungle warfare when I was in the Marines... I could of lived without either! EOD didn't have a screener when I was there and MARSOT didn't exist. So for those kids lurking... Things change year to year, never know what they will offer. Just keep your options open and talk to your upperclass, they know all the ins and outs.
 
A constant of military life: change.
 
My son is NROTC and completed CORTAMID last summer. His Unit command discussed his 2nd cruise just before the Christmas break. They wanted him to start thinking about what he wants to do this summer. He is thinking about applying for jump school and subs for his 2nd cruise. They don't start talking about it for another month or so but when he lets me know I will circle around.
 
DD did YP and cruise first year. This past summer did cultural in Latvia and PROTRAMID. Next summer hoping for internship and power flight.
 
During Christmas DS talked about summer block. He has no interest in taking summer school (unless required) and - in my opinion - every intention to select the training courses that have the likelihood of maximizing his summer break. Not that he's lazy, but I think it's short sighted for him not to take summer school and/or apply for training opportunities. He did say he was interested in being a NASS leader and a sub cruise.
 
There are a few Mids that attend Cadet Field Training (CFT) at West Point. It's a mandatory 4-week ground combat training for cadets during July between Plebe and Yuk year. I think the Mids that choose it are interested in the Marines later on. Not sure how it's selected at USNA.
 
Can they take make up classes there at USNA?

Not quite sure what you mean by "make-up classes" in this context. During regular ac year, if mids are traveling for sports and activities, they are responsible for working with instructors to get assignments, stay current with coursework and take missed tests.

Summer school is either voluntary or involuntary. It is a 3-week block. If a mid is in academic trouble, he/she may be directed to repeat the course during summer, if the Academic Board determines they should get another chance, or lighten their ac year course load by taking courses during the summer.
Many mids take summer school voluntarily, to get ahead on their matrix to set them up for the VGEP Master's program which starts spring of 1/c year (search other threads), to support a double major, to ease ac year course load for various reasons, etc. Many decide the quiet summer school routine, while intensive in one subject, gives plenty of time to work out, relax, do water sports, explore the local area, enjoy beach weekends on the Eastern Shore, play golf, especially if they find their hometown friends scattered and not much to do back home. The Yard is relatively quiet in June, then gets busier. The summer schoolers are all together in one wing of Bancroft Hall, with summer campers, plebes, transients and other summer blocks elsewhere. Caveat: involuntary mids typically have less liberty than voluntary mids.

Plebes usually can't imagine sticking around USNA for school the first summer, though many do, especially if the Chem and Calc Plebe Killers run true to form. ;)
 
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Not quite sure what you mean by "make-up classes" in this context. During regular ac year, if mids are traveling for sports and activities, they are responsible for working with instructors to get assignments, stay current with coursework and take missed tests.

Summer school is either voluntary or involuntary. It is a 3-week block. If a mid is in academic trouble, he/she may be directed to repeat the course during summer, if the Academic Board determines they should get another chance, or lighten their ac year course load by taking courses during the summer.
Many mids take summer school voluntarily, to get ahead on their matrix to set them up for the VGEP Master's program which starts spring of 1/c year (search other threads), to support a double major, to ease ac year course load for various reasons, etc. Many decide the quiet summer school routine, while intensive in one subject, gives plenty of time to work out, relax, do water sports, explore the local area, enjoy beach weekends on the Eastern Shore, play golf, especially if they find their hometown friends scattered and not much to do back home. The Yard is relatively quiet in June, then gets busier. The summer schoolers are all together in one wing of Bancroft Hall, with summer campers, plebes, transients and other summer blocks elsewhere. Caveat: involuntary mids typically have less liberty than voluntary mids.

Plebes usually can't imagine sticking around USNA for school the first summer, though many do, especially if the Chem and Calc Plebe Killers run true to form. ;)
Just the info I was looking for! Thanks,

Go Navy!
 
As a Mid who did summer school twice... It's great! Once was involuntary and the other voluntary. Some Mids want and need that summer break. And that is totally fine. As an athlete, being able to take a 4 credit engineering class and take myself from 18-22 credits as a basketball player... Amazing opportunity! Once we get conference play we sort of have a set routine for play. It allowed me to keep from having classes on certain days that I am normally on the road. Prevented me from missing classes more than anything. It also allowed a focused month of pre-season conditioning. Summer school was actually rather fun and they are lenient with Liberty.
 
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