Question about I Day

Trc98

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Dec 21, 2015
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I know it might feel too late to ask this, as some family and friends have already made travel arrangements, but you don't need tickets or anything for I-day right? It was wrong for me to not actually ask this question earlier, but since I was at I day last year it felt like really anyone with I.D. could have gotten on the yard. Am I correct in assuming this?

Thanks,
 
Yes. As long as you have a valid ID to get on the yard you can see the Oath.
 
http://www.usnabsd.com/for-visitors/

If you don't have DOD/CAC ID and are relying on a driver's license, see link above for those states whose driver's licenses do not suffice as primary ID. Security was tightened at all DOD installations in the past year.
 
The only thing we needed prepaid tickets for was the luncheon out on Hospital Point.
 
If family and friends have "already made travel arrangements" . . . well, OK. But please understand that the contact you will have with your plebe on I-Day is very limited. You drop him/her off at USNA early in the morning (sometimes VERY early as in 0630). You then basically don't see your plebe until the swearing in ceremony, which is around 1800 (6 pm). After the ceremony, you have about 30 minutes with your plebe. Then he/she forms up and marches into Bancroft Hall. And that's it.

It can be a LONG, HOT day for the parents/family. You can't drive onto the Yard other than to drop off your plebe in the morning. It's a long, hot walk from even the closest hotels and if you're staying further out, you probably will spend all day in the heat and humidity, if not rain.

The plebe is pretty stressed by day's end. And so are the parents. If the travel plans don't involve unrefundable air travel, consider whether it makes sense for lots of folks to attend. The better time is Plebe Parents WE or even football games, etc. It's a four-year journey.

The bottom line is to remember what is best for you plebe, not what is best for you and your friends/relatives.
 
Ditto 1985's comment - but truly NOT meant to discourage anyone, just to encourage realistic evaluation of the physical demands and logistics of a day of traipsing around uneven bricks and hot concrete in a town stuffed to the gills with nervous plebes, sweaty people and their vehicles. It's a marathon of a day after a nervous evening and restless night before, and rough on anyone with mobility issues, heat intolerance and potentially long periods of standing. Many park at the stadium to ride the shuttle buses back and forth. You may not be able to pick your plebe out at the oath ceremony over 2000-3000 other straining parents, friends and family. It's an exciting, crazy-making day. You are in the best position to judge, along with your plebe, how to make it the easiest for him/her.

Out on Hospital Point, there will be large festival tents. One is usually a courtesy shade tent with chairs and tables, one of the few places to sit down out of the heat. There are also Portapotties there. This is not a day to be dressed up: Dry-Fit shirts, shorts, sun hats, comfortable shoes.

Plenty of threads to read up on.
 
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You were at IDay last year? And attending this year? Apologize for the inquisition, just curious. So to echo the above comments, no tickets needed unless you plan on attending the picnic over by hospital point. We had extra family with us who sort of invited themselves but it worked out well. It is a long, exhausting and usually hot day-most especially for the Plebes. Just keep that in mind and make sure you have something for them to eat and drink after the oath.
 
You were at IDay last year? And attending this year? Apologize for the inquisition, just curious. So to echo the above comments, no tickets needed unless you plan on attending the picnic over by hospital point. We had extra family with us who sort of invited themselves but it worked out well. It is a long, exhausting and usually hot day-most especially for the Plebes. Just keep that in mind and make sure you have something for them to eat and drink after the oath.

Is the picnic at Hospital Point the same thing as the Superintendant's picnic?
 
You were at IDay last year? And attending this year? Apologize for the inquisition, just curious. So to echo the above comments, no tickets needed unless you plan on attending the picnic over by hospital point. We had extra family with us who sort of invited themselves but it worked out well. It is a long, exhausting and usually hot day-most especially for the Plebes. Just keep that in mind and make sure you have something for them to eat and drink after the oath.

Was there as a spectator last year, this year as a plebe.
 
Are there activities for parents & family like museum tours, book store visits, campus site seeing, etc.
Are there organized events to watch to pass time until swearing in ceremony?
 
Keep an eye on this link for I-Day sked to be posted soon:

http://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/iday.php

Search other threads for what has been done in the past: Navy Band Concert, Supe/Dant Brief, Museum open, etc. Shopping at Mid Store, of course, to snag the shirt with all the class names on it. Many drop DH/DS off in the early AM, skip the Yard stuff, go sightseeing elsewhere, nap at hotel, get lunch, dump car at Stadium, take shuttle in for Oath.
 
Are there activities for parents & family like museum tours, book store visits, campus site seeing, etc.
Are there organized events to watch to pass time until swearing in ceremony?

Yes and no. The MidStore (trinkets, not bookstore) is open. There is a museum on the Yard that should be open. There are organized tours for visitors (at a small cost) that I THINK run on I-Day but not sure. There is the picnic (small cost) and I think maybe a formal presentation for parents. But still a lot of "milling about time."
 
The plebe is pretty stressed by day's end. And so are the parents.......

I agree and good to remind other family/friends who want to attend I-Day this is NOT your typical college experience. Even some plebes who are 110% sure USNA is where they want to go, find I-Day extremely challenging and feel more comfortable sharing this with only their immediate family. There are plenty of other less stressful days when relatives/friends, etc. can visit.
 
When our son was a plebe, just my husband and I went with him when he reported on the morning of I day. The incoming plebes are usually stressed and focused on what is ahead, and we knew that while he would tolerate his parents being there, he would not appreciate a crowd. We took care to have all our discussions before the morning of I day, so all we had to do was accompany him to the Academy. After a few pictures, we said our good byes and off he went. My husband and I spent the day visiting the mid store and attending the parents picnic, neither of which I would categorize as essential. Later that afternoon, before the Oath of Office, there was a great presentation for families in Alumni Hall. The Superintendent, Commandant, Dean, and Athletic Director all spoke and it was enjoyable and informational. Our plebes brothers joined us for this and I would highly recommend this for parents and other family members who would be interested in attending. There was plenty of time after the presentation to stroll over to Bancroft Hall and Stribling Walk to get ready for the Oath of Office. At that time, other family members and our Plebes friends joined us and our Plebe was happy to have them all to send him on his way for Plebe summer. However you decide to handle I day regarding friends and family, I would suggest discussing it with your plebe in advance so there are no surprises on that day. And if he/she has certain wishes regarding family and friends, relay this information so everyone understands the situation. Good luck!
 
I know this has been covered before but I've read so many different things in different places...I understand DS could arrive with "just the clothes on his back" and plans to wear his broken in sneakers (which a current mid told him at the Welcome Aboard did not have to be "nearly all white" -- his are grey as it is nearly impossible to find more subdued sneakers at running stores!). I have also read he can bring his own calculator so he has it for placement exams, and that he can bring extra compression shorts to supplement what he is issued. He is rowing and sounds like they will be on the water even during PS based on email from coach...so I'd like to send him w/ extra compression shorts to accommodate that (or do I drop in the mail in Annapolis as a first care package). Sorry for the very novice questions :( (rowing pun not intended :))
 
They will issue enough compression shorts to get him through the first week without a problem. They won't start their sport period until a week or so into PS, so if you send a care package with extra shorts on/soon after I Day, he should be fine. (Note that the mail gets very backed up during PS, but packages seem to get processed first.)
 
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