Please Post something about Plebe Summer that is Positive

Patriots47

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Jun 25, 2018
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Please tell me some kids at the end of Plebe Summer say something other than “It’s TERRIBLE”....anything????
 
There is lots of positive... the transformation, working as a team, growing as an individual, pushing yourself, sense of accomplishment when it’s done, and the humor (it is dang funny), doing military things (range, obstacle course, endurance course). And to those reporting this week, this part won’t make sense until September or October... life is fairly simple. As hard as Plebe Summer can be... it isn’t the academic year. It’s the sole thing to focus on. You are told where to be, when and what to wear. Yes, you fail at it a lot. But in the scheme of things, life is simple Plebe Summer. The academic year is harder is many ways.
 
There is lots of positive... the transformation, working as a team, growing as an individual, pushing yourself, sense of accomplishment when it’s done, and the humor (it is dang funny), doing military things (range, obstacle course, endurance course). And to those reporting this week, this part won’t make sense until September or October... life is fairly simple. As hard as Plebe Summer can be... it isn’t the academic year. It’s the sole thing to focus on. You are told where to be, when and what to wear. Yes, you fail at it a lot. But in the scheme of things, life is simple Plebe Summer. The academic year is harder is many ways.

Thank You so much for reply! Makes alot of sense!
 
There is no one in uniform, going back to Phoenician galleys, the Chinese treasure fleet and Zheng He, and before, who hasn’t complained. No doubt Noah’s crew groused.
It’s a cultural thing.

Um - “The chaplains’ donuts were awesome.”
“Parade practice got rained out.”
“It’s over, and OMG, the ac year is crushing me, so much worse. I got more sleep during PS. I have 4 more years of this?!”
 
There is no one in uniform, going back to Phoenician galleys, the Chinese treasure fleet and Zheng He, and before, who hasn’t complained. No doubt Noah’s crew groused.
It’s a cultural thing.

Um - “The chaplains’ donuts were awesome.”
“Parade practice got rained out.”
“It’s over, and OMG, the ac year is crushing me, so much worse. I got more sleep during PS. I have 4 more years of this?!”

Plebe: I don’t have a car. I can’t ride in anyone else’s unless it’s permitted for 4/c. I am so stuck on the Yard.
Youngster: I still can’t have a car, and I have to run around looking for rides.
2/c: I have a car, but I hate having to park at the Stadium, and pay for it, and walk back to the Yard if I can’t get a ride.
1/c: I have a car. It is such a pain to park way out on Hospital Point on the Yard when I get back from my weekends.
Ensigns: I can’t believe how far I have to park from the ship, and the line to get through the gate every morning.
Captains: I’m not working as a principal EA at the Navy Staff at the Pentagon, so no parking pass for me, I have to walk 4 blocks to the Metro.

1-Star Admiral: I’m at the Pentagon with a general pass but no assigned slot, so I have to leave home 45 minutes early to get anywhere near the building.

3-Star Admiral: I have a numbered slot, but my classmate Jerry had a higher Order of Merit than I at USNA, so he is technically senior. He’s 4 slots closer to the door.

4-Star Admiral: I never get to drive anymore.
 
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Suck it up boot camp. That's called paying your dues. Someday because you put up with the suck, you will be able to be making monumental decisions in the world's greatest Navy or whatever slightly inferior branch you wind up in. [emoji3] Go Navy........Beat Army !

Truth of the matter though, it's a process that is time tested to make you the best that the nation has to offer to enable the country to maintain it's position in the world and maintain the best political experiment yet seen. Embrace the challenges ahead. Go forth and do great things.
 
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Plebe: I don’t have a car. I can’t ride in anyone else’s unless it’s permitted for 4/c. I am so stuck on the Yard.
Youngster: I still can’t have a car, and I have to run around looking for rides.
2/c: I have a car, but I hate having to park at the Stadium, and pay for it, and walk back to the Yard if I can’t get a ride.
1/c: I have a car. It is such a pain to park way out on Hospital Point on the Yard when I get back from my weekends.
Ensigns: I can’t believe how far I have to park from the ship, and the line to get through the gate every morning.
Captains: I’m not working as a principal EA at the Navy Staff at the Pentagon, so no parking pass for me, I have to walk 4 blocks to the Metro.

1-Star Admiral: I’m at the Pentagon with a general pass but no assigned slot, so I have to leave home 45 minutes early to get anywhere near the building.

3-Star Admiral: I have a numbered slot, but my classmate Jerry had a higher Order of Merit than I at USNA, so he is technically senior. He’s 4 slots closer to the door.

4-Star Admiral: I never get to drive anymore.

Hummmmmm Don’t know if that helped
 
Suck it up boot camp. That's called paying your dues. Someday because you put up with the suck, you will be able to be making monumental decisions in the world's greatest Navy or whatever slightly inferior branch you wind up in. [emoji3] Go Navy........Beat Army !

Truth of the matter though, it's a process that is time tested to make you the best that the nation has to offer to enable the country to maintain it's position in the world and maintain the best political experiment yet seen. Embrace the challenges ahead. Go forth and do great things.

That helped!
 
It's all positive! Plebe summer is chock full of experiences very few others in the world get. Physical training at 0530 (while difficult at times) makes you a stronger person both physically and mentally. Damage control, obstacle courses, weapons training, sailing, drill, marching, rate memorization, are all unique experiences that make you a more rounded, educated and mentally stronger individual. And while plebe summer may be taxing or overwhelming at times, it is a summer of experiences... and experiences make a person who they are. Remember, while many of your peers are sitting around the rest of the summer doing nothing, you are gaining experience each and every day! It's all about frame of mind!
 
I want to cycle back on NavyHoops comments regarding humor... I fully admit I have no familiarity with a service academy experience, but both my son and I have been through Uncle Sam's induction process. When you are not the brunt of a Drill Instructor, Detailer, or whomever's focus, the situation can be pretty funny. Find the presence of mind to chuckle (inside, of course) at the situation. Look for the "big picture" of what you are experiencing and measure time in increments rather than days. Get to lunch, then dinner, then breakfast...

No matter what you have to endure, rest assured you will be bragging to anyone who will listen about how hard you had it. In fact, THAT is what I think is the most positive aspect of any induction program. The bonding of your combined experience relative to others. Plebe summer 2018 will be yours forever.
 
It's all positive! Plebe summer is chock full of experiences very few others in the world get. Physical training at 0530 (while difficult at times) makes you a stronger person both physically and mentally. Damage control, obstacle courses, weapons training, sailing, drill, marching, rate memorization, are all unique experiences that make you a more rounded, educated and mentally stronger individual. And while plebe summer may be taxing or overwhelming at times, it is a summer of experiences... and experiences make a person who they are. Remember, while many of your peers are sitting around the rest of the summer doing nothing, you are gaining experience each and every day! It's all about frame of mind!

So for our 8 hour ride down to Annapolis I am going to share all these replies with my incoming Plebe Son [emoji4]...Much appreciated!
 
Through all the apparent, supposed and very real drudgery of plebe summer, your mid will probably learn that they’re capable of much more than they thought they were. That their previous limits were self-imposed. That maybe the sky is, in fact, the limit.
 
Here you go ...
If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat ... (especially with 56 years of wisdom behind me) !

Seriously, embrace the suck....it really isn't that bad, and looking back, it was great !
 
My Mid (Plebe Summer 2017) did fine. He enjoyed the variety of experiences, bonded with his company-mates, and quickly learned that each person brings their own set of strengths and weaknesses. They feel a great sense of accomplishments by Plebe Parents Weekend and are proud to wear their new Whites. It truly is a formative experience - embrace it!

When we left the Yard on PPW my Mid commented on how slowly everybody in the real world walked!

Good luck to your Mid!
 
They can't beat you, and they can't stop time!
Seriously though, they will be so proud of their accomplishments by parent's weekend. I bet you will hear more positive than negative. They will enjoy the baseball game they get to go to in their summer whites, they will have a blast when they get to go sailing, they will enjoy the damage control station, and they will make friends for life.
 
My Mid (Plebe Summer 2017) did fine. He enjoyed the variety of experiences, bonded with his company-mates, and quickly learned that each person brings their own set of strengths and weaknesses. They feel a great sense of accomplishments by Plebe Parents Weekend and are proud to wear their new Whites. It truly is a formative experience - embrace it!

When we left the Yard on PPW my Mid commented on how slowly everybody in the real world walked!

Good luck to your Mid!

TY so much..all the replies have been super helpful!
 
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