Ideally, but not when I was there. In a lot of ways my plebe year was the least restrictive and I thought the most fun.
Huh? Your plebe year was "least restrictive?" That cannot possibly be true.
You had many more responsibilities as a plebe than you did as a youngster. I would have to say youngster year is probably the
least restrictive year at the academy - mostly because they get many of the perks of an upperclassmen without the inherent responsibilities.
By the time you are a 2nd class you are getting much more liberty and over-nights. And yet, you are not burdened with the responsibility of running the Brigade as the firsties are.
OK, sure,
some firsties have significant responsibility, but it is just
different than the responsibilities of a plebe - but no less time consuming. Even with that, there are some firsties whose responsibilities are almost nonexistent. The Wardroom Officer? C'mon! And some firsties are nothing more than a Man-in-Ranks, they're not even a squad leader!
There is no question about it - plebes are
significantly more restricted. You said "in a lot of ways my plebe year was the least restrictive." It might be fair to say "in a
few ways," but certainly not "in a
lot of ways." And to characterize plebe year as "the least restrictive" I do not think gives a very accurate view of the overall academy experience.
Chopping, squaring corners, sounding off, always in uniform, chow calls, plebe rates, reading newspaper articles, taking Plebe professional quizzes, come arounds, less liberty, higher standards and more frequent inspections of room and uniform condition, no TV, oftentimes no music, restricted media privileges, maintaining bulletin boards, can't use
this ladder, can't use
that door, can't walk on
this sidewalk, still eating with a stiff back and using only 3-inches of your chair, "request permission to shove off, sir," standing more watches, overall closer scrutiny, etc ...
There's a
reason there is such elation when Herndon is conquered.
Along these lines, I sometimes found the academic year to be such a grind that, even as an upperclassman, I occasionally found myself looking back
fondly on Plebe Summer as the "good 'ol days." But that doesn't mean it was less "restrictive." Usually it means, "I'd rather have to memorize the Laws-of-the-Navy and learn to march than to write a 15-page research paper that is due in one week or study for my Thermodynamics final."