Closing Ceremony NASS

What should parents wear to this that attend?

Also, I noted that the hotel I am staying at has a shuttle to the Academy. Will this be sufficient transportation to get to the ceremony?

It says they only give two pair of shorts to cadets. Should they pack extras?

Thanks so much!

What do you mean by sufficient transportation? Any transportation works.

IMO, casual attire is fine. It’s not like a graduation or anything. You will be a spectator. Unless you get called up on stage for one of the few LOA’s they seem to offer, take a picture and post on their social media.

I don’t remember only two pair of shorts provided to participants (they are never cadets. That would be an AF thing). But whatever they say in the instructions is what happens. No don’t pack extras as they cannot wear them. DO pack a garbage bag, for all the gross, wet and dirty clothes they will return with.

Weathergirl12 said:

What should parents wear to this that attend?

Also, I noted that the hotel I am staying at has a shuttle to the Academy. Will this be sufficient transportation to get to the ceremony?

It says they only give two pair of shorts to cadets. Should they pack extras?

Thanks so much!

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If you are taking taxi, Uber or shuttle to USNA, you will probably be dropped at the Gate 1 Walk Gate. You will walk in, pass through Security, and walk to the venue. You’ll have to allow time for that. If you know where the closing event is held, tell us, and we can estimate the walk time.

I’ve attached a link to a USNA map.

NASS attendees are simply HS students, not midshipmen (USNA and USMMA) or cadets (USMA, USAGA, USCGA).

This link has the map but also ID requirements. Not all state driver’s licenses meet the criteria.

https://www.usna.edu/Visit/Directions.php

Pack extra socks, spandex, underwear, and sport bras(if needed). They will definitely need extras of those.

Weathergirl12 said:

What should parents wear to this that attend?

Also, I noted that the hotel I am staying at has a shuttle to the Academy. Will this be sufficient transportation to get to the ceremony?

It says they only give two pair of shorts to cadets. Should they pack extras?

Thanks so much!

Click to expand...

As a parent, I did not go to the closing ceremony. I am sure my DS got 3-4 shorts from NASS last summer, he could not wear anything else.

IMHO unless they are picking you up anyway, there is really no reason for your parents to attend the closing ceremony. I did have to pick my son up by car so I did go but it was very anticlimactic. Just my opinion.

Capt MJ said:

If you know where the closing event is held, tell us, and we can estimate the walk time.

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My information for when DD went to Summer Seminar is 5 years old, but the closing ceremony at that time was held in Alumni Hall. If it's still held there I would say allow 10 minutes to walk from gate 1 and maybe 5 minutes from gate 3. This is assuming a reasonable pace for someone unfamiliar with the Yard. If you haven't seen the Yard and it's a nice day I suggest going early and walking around a bit. If I recall correctly when DD went, in her paperwork to report was a temporary pass that allowed us to drive on to the Yard (via gate 8) and park behind Dahlgren for drop off and pick up. This may well have changed since then with the construction currently going on.

IMO the closing ceremony is interesting but definitely not a big deal or a requirement to see, so don't sweat it if you can't go. I was more interested in seeing what DD said about the experience than anything said at the closing ceremony. By the way, what she said was "I am definitely going here if I can get in." She graduated and commissioned less than two weeks ago.

Weathergirl12 said:

What should parents wear to this that attend?

Also, I noted that the hotel I am staying at has a shuttle to the Academy. Will this be sufficient transportation to get to the ceremony?

It says they only give two pair of shorts to cadets. Should they pack extras?

Thanks so much!

Click to expand...

High probability that this is too late now, but for 2019 Session three and next year's parents.... if you DO decide to go (we didn't travel to be there) allow more time that you planned. My sister-in-law and nephew who live in northern Virginia wanted to go to the closing ceremony before picking up my DS. They got there late due to traffic snarl, and they walked in 5 minutes after the awards. I had told her there was something like a 1 in 600+ chance of him winning anything. Murphy's law, he got the "Overall Outstanding Candidate" award and nobody from our family was in the room.

You only need extra shorts if you sleep in them.