New Student Indoctrination (Summer 2019)

candide72 said:
Does anyone know much about what it’ll be like? Is it supposed to be closer to Plebe summer? Are they giving you your uniforms then?
Click to expand...
They give you a packing list that includes black or blue swim shorts, white towels, laundry bag, mole skin for blister protection from boots, etc. They arrived on a Sunday and yes they received uniforms, water bottle equipment,
Tshirts, etc. It was a tough few weeks, similar activities to Plebe summer. They stay up on watch, do laundry, target shooting, fire fighting exposure, swim tests, gas masks, inspection, all things physical, and drills. Enjoyed getting the opportunity to ask questions and discovered NROTC was a right fit for him.
 
My DS just got an email with dates and a to-do list prior to NSI. Also contained within is the invite/option for parents to attend Indoc-Day and/or the graduation ceremony. Thoughts on attending? Anyone from last year's trial NSI go?
 
I can't comment on last year's indoc. My son's school did their own freshman orientation, the week before other freshman were to move in, some years ago. It was pretty tough but it was also a terrific bonding experience for the new midshipmen. This is something I'm afraid the current indoc will lack since the battalions don't train as a unit.

In any case the meeting that corresponds to "indoc" day was pretty informative and the PNS gave us an overview of what the kids would be going through after they had left for gear issue. Graduation was nice but the most impactful thing was seeing the incredible changes in DS that occurred in a short five days. There were a lot of sea stories at dinner that night.

While I thought it was terrific I doubt it would be worth an extremely long trip or even a short flight. If you are going and want to pick just one I'd go for graduation, but I'm just guessing (he typed as the Marine helo flew over the house).
 
@MinnMom: we parents weren’t really given the option. Several of the parents who lived near enough to drop-off did get to see their kid, but it was a hurried drop situation as described by them. Sounds like your class will be having a much more formal situation... Nice!

@kinnem: NROTC Summer Indoc is in addition to the unit orientations, not replacing those. It’s to jump start Navy knowledge.

I probably sound like a broken record: it really was great! DS’ unit has retained all its 4y scholarship MDN (they all participated). DH & I met many of their parents this past fall and it sounded like all the MDN got so much out of it (and agreed it was tough/demanding). It really will make you feel a part of the Navy.

And Moms? Pretend you don’t hear the Colorful Salty Language when they return. It wore off after a good night’s sleep! But wow.... hahaha THAT enrichment was a bonus surprise, i guess!
 
@kinnem and @5centsmom thank you for the input... having attended graduation at MCRD San Diego, I understand the transformation, but question the necessity after only 3 weeks (versus 13 weeks). It's a bit of a drive and we will be making the same trek again a month later to drop DS off at school. Guess I'll play the 'wait and see' game on the chance more information surfaces. We would have our DS take the flight options to/from instead of driving him to NSI.

Another question re: parent Q&A and making friends in the 'same boat' - I'm in a couple of Marine Parent FB group pages. Is there any such thing for NROTC parents? to learn, and make friends as we move along this journey? Having one enlisted, I understand quite a bit already, but this track of entry into serving is still a bit foreign to me. TIA! :)
 
@MinnMom I don't know of any NROTC parent groups, but I haven't looked for any. There are a couple groups I belong to but they are really geared at enlisted folks. I would add that there are a lot of Marine Parents here, many former military, several of whom were officers. It's one of the things that kept me hanging out here. They are easy enough to pick out in most cases and are always willing to shed light on the intricacies of Marine life, both as a midshipmen and as a officer. Semper Fi!
 
Same as kinnem, no NROTC parents group that I’m aware of, Marine or otherwise. And like kinnem again, i’ve found a lot useful here, especially in interpreting what little DS feels he can share (I think he was born OPSEC, to hear him tell it). Did meet other parents of his unit once he began in the fall, and we communicate. Sorry can’t be more helpful.

Once the communication is established btwn the unit and your MDN candidate there will be plenty ‘o emails, forms to fill out etc. Your kid will be in direct contact so there’s nothing for parents to do except run around helping them get stuff taken care of. I’m trying to remember what all that was but from my perspective it was all trivial.

Those errands included more med forms, getting measured at a tailor, verifying an account at his bank for direct deposit, and probably something else I’m forgetting (we could do most of the measuring but one, and I didn’t want to risk something being wrong and an expense to fix it).

There may have been a purchase for the Indoc packing list: a white towel, but wait to see what they ask for. DS mentioned some of the lads had shoe shine kits, but I don’t think it was on the list. DS didn’t want to draw attention to himself by straying from the list...

Break in your running shoes in advance.

Oh! And DS & others had trouble the week before departure loading stuff up to DoDMERB... do the forms asap and get things loaded or emailed back so your kid isn’t sweating it like mine was.
 
MinnMom said:
Looking for any insight on dates for the 'must attend and complete New Student Indoctrination during summer prior to reporting to your assigned unit'... as I've culled through these threads, I see that this may only be the second year of this requirement. I'm not finding anything more specific, however, about the timeframe.

My DS has committed to an international mission trip this summer and before we make another payment (that will not be able to be refunded after 31Jan), I'm hoping to see if there will be a conflict.

Anyone?
Click to expand...

Any word on who shroud / could be contacted to possibly request a NSI session (1 or 2) ? Same situation here. Humanitarian effort planned already and would love to avoid date conflict. Call my ROTC officer at college or ROTC office in Fl. ?
 
ScreamingEagle2023 said:
MinnMom said:
Looking for any insight on dates for the 'must attend and complete New Student Indoctrination during summer prior to reporting to your assigned unit'... as I've culled through these threads, I see that this may only be the second year of this requirement. I'm not finding anything more specific, however, about the timeframe.

My DS has committed to an international mission trip this summer and before we make another payment (that will not be able to be refunded after 31Jan), I'm hoping to see if there will be a conflict.

Anyone?
Click to expand...

Any word on who shroud / could be contacted to possibly request a NSI session (1 or 2) ? Same situation here. Humanitarian effort planned already and would love to avoid date conflict. Call my ROTC officer at college or ROTC office in Fl. ?
Click to expand...

My DS contacted his OSO at the college of attendance to alert them of the request/conflict. That said, he hasn't received any confirmation on date of attendance.
 
MinnMom said:
ScreamingEagle2023 said:
MinnMom said:
Looking for any insight on dates for the 'must attend and complete New Student Indoctrination during summer prior to reporting to your assigned unit'... as I've culled through these threads, I see that this may only be the second year of this requirement. I'm not finding anything more specific, however, about the timeframe.

My DS has committed to an international mission trip this summer and before we make another payment (that will not be able to be refunded after 31Jan), I'm hoping to see if there will be a conflict.

Anyone?
Click to expand...

Any word on who shroud / could be contacted to possibly request a NSI session (1 or 2) ? Same situation here. Humanitarian effort planned already and would love to avoid date conflict. Call my ROTC officer at college or ROTC office in Fl. ?
Click to expand...

My DS contacted his OSO at the college of attendance to alert them of the request/conflict. That said, he hasn't received any confirmation on date of attendance.
Click to expand...

Hopefully, they (NROTC / NIS coordinators can be flexible on the NIS dates...
 
I haven't received an NSI session yet. I told my unit when I emailed them and they said nothing of it.
 
ScreamingEagle2023 said:
Any word on who shroud / could be contacted to possibly request a NSI session (1 or 2) ? Same situation here. Humanitarian effort planned already and would love to avoid date conflict. Call my ROTC officer at college or ROTC office in Fl. ?
Click to expand...
When in doubt, default to following the chain of command. In this case I would contact your unit first. If, after a few attempts, that route fails then I would start calling Florida.
 
DS Received this from VT today:

National Scholarship Recipients,

The Navy Scholarship New Student Indoctrination in Great Lakes, IL has been canceled for all senior military colleges including Virginia Tech.

You are still required to conduct your Corps of Cadets orientation (July or August) and attend new cadet week (August 17-24) at Virginia Tech.

Hope that is helpful.
 
I am assuming that the travel for this will be paid for up front or will we get reimbursed?
 
Last year...(you folks gotta be sick of me saying this by now) DS was emailed a flight itinerary. He was told a very specific place to check in at O’Hare and they bussed a bunch of inductees from there to Great Lakes. So we did not book flights or pay anything. Wonder if it will be the same this year.

For those close enough to drive there were drop-off and pick-up instructions.
 
5centsmom said:
Last year...(you folks gotta be sick of me saying this by now) DS was emailed a flight itinerary. He was told a very specific place to check in at O’Hare and they bussed a bunch of inductees from there to Great Lakes. So we did not book flights or pay anything. Wonder if it will be the same this year.

For those close enough to drive there were drop-off and pick-up instructions.
Click to expand...
That's certainly how summer training is done when my young lad did it. I expect it will be the same here.
 
I totally sympathize with the newly NROTC parents. This was us last year, and a bunch of forum parents figured out together here how to interpret what our kids were saying to us. It’s alien to non-military people. And the kids are in contact with their new unit, not the parents.

Parents: just keep your kid asking questions of their unit. On their side, they don’t know what it is that you don’t know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top