Plebes Dropping Already

If you google usna flikr, they do have several public photos of swim tests, class work, hose stations, etc. The paid pics are 10x as many or more, though.
 
DD always said that 3RD year was a breeze. Upper Class was concentrated on Plebes. No more chop and other crap. Get through Herndon and it is clear sailing.
 
I haven't seen my DS in anything but a serious face in the photos so far, but that's pretty typical. I loved looking at the photos from the confidence course - seeing some holding others up at the end, many covered in mud from head to toe but still with a smile on their faces, a few shouting what I have to believe was "Beat Army!", but all embracing the suck and the teamwork. As much as I enjoyed seeing the pics of other kids (#yourmidismymid), I can't wait to see pics of my DS's company out there! The platforms pics were hilarious as well - from the fearless faces to the "wait, how far is it to the surface?" faces - they were all fantastic to see for this Mama! I did see 3-4 on crutches and one in an arm sling, I think. Seems a little early for injuries!
 
whataluckymom said:
I haven't seen my DS in anything but a serious face in the photos so far, but that's pretty typical. I loved looking at the photos from the confidence course - seeing some holding others up at the end, many covered in mud from head to toe but still with a smile on their faces, a few shouting what I have to believe was "Beat Army!", but all embracing the suck and the teamwork. As much as I enjoyed seeing the pics of other kids (#yourmidismymid), I can't wait to see pics of my DS's company out there! The platforms pics were hilarious as well - from the fearless faces to the "wait, how far is it to the surface?" faces - they were all fantastic to see for this Mama! I did see 3-4 on crutches and one in an arm sling, I think. Seems a little early for injuries!
Click to expand...
I wasn't going to post it here but at Walter Reed the other day I saw a Plebe with a cast and sling on his right arm. Big strapping young man. He was walking out to wait on his ride back to the yard.
 
There are two paid photo programs who are allowed to shoot the evolutions: Thornton and Alumni Association. Both are NASBD vendors.

Beyond that, there is the free USNA Flickr program (gets some shots of some things, but not every plebe, every company), and a reliable photographer who does amazing work and contributes his albums to the main FB parent pages.

Following official USNA pages, as well as the parent pages on FB will give you those free photos (hit and miss, though, seeing your person). Joining the 2 paid professional programs WILL get you great shots of YOUR person. The best opportunity to see your person is joining them both. Expensive, but worth it imo. Plus they both support the brigade financially.
 
Devil Doc said:
I wasn't going to post it here but at Walter Reed the other day I saw a Plebe with a cast and sling on his right arm. Big strapping young man. He was walking out to wait on his ride back to the yard.
Click to expand...
Sounds like the one I saw in the pics - looks like he's back with his company!
 
BTW...for readers, it's normal every year to have Plebes hobbling along on crutches, splints, sitting on the bleachers watching their company mates do stuff. This year, there could be COVID mateys right along with them. Don't be alarmed, it's normal. And they receive fantastic care! A pretty cool maturing experience where their company mates take care of them, too. It is indeed another bonding experience.
 
Many who report in thinking they are fit are not prepared for the constant go-go-go, “chopping” on hard linoleum floors, constant physical demands for stamina, strength, endurance. It’s a lot different than doing a workout a day and being done.

Add to that the ladders (stairs) in Bancroft. Plebes will be going up and down those things multiple times a day. Mids don’t use elevators unless “broken.” I am proud to say I never used a Bancroft elevator either when I was a BattO, which I sometimes regretted in those non-AC days when I went up to my companies in the higher decks.

And then there are “chit surfers,” who, sadly, maximize an ache or pain to get some relief. Your plebe will tell you about them.

@Kierkegaard when you have a minute, let me know if plebes still chop up and down the ladders. How’s your voice? 😉
 
Last edited:
Ah yes. We saw many a "Broken Plebe" on crutches when we went to the PRT before Parent's weekend back in '18.
 
The photographers see a lot of the cool events. Which leads to more smiles. What parents don’t see are the times in the hall of Mother B. That is where the real ‘fun’ occurs, the mental challenges and chaos occurs. Things like the E Course are hard physically and mentally, but it’s also fun. Damage control, educational (heck after the last few weeks we know how important that is), team building, and fun. Spending an hour doing uniform races and constant PT while being screamed at... not fun. On push up 200 in the last 30 minutes... not the highlight of the day. Oh then drill gets cancelled due to rain and now they have 2 additional hours of that so more push ups, uniform races, flutter kicks, room inspections.

Plebes do get hurt. The young man with a broken arm. He definitely got hurt and no one will even question it. Those week 1 on crutches, a real injury, yes classmates will support. Those with shin splits a week into... honestly didn’t prepare. The first two weeks were light on their bodies. Its barely been a week of PS. Their classmates will help them out regardless, but this is how reputations start and are built. There are always chit surfers, and what those Plebes don’t realize is that short term break they are feeling right now from PT and the rigor will come back to haunt them in terms of reputation and acceptance as a team and player.

One thing I was thinking about... with all the masking and increase in hygiene, wonder if there will be less plebe hack than normal. Plus Plebe Hack tends to get real heavy around weeks 4-6 when bodies are more broken down. With Plebe Summer being shortened wonder if that will also play a role. Just something I was thinking about.
 
NavyHoops said:
The photographers see a lot of the cool events. Which leads to more smiles. What parents don’t see are the times in the hall of Mother B. That is where the real ‘fun’ occurs, the mental challenges and chaos occurs. Things like the E Course are hard physically and mentally, but it’s also fun. Damage control, educational (heck after the last few weeks we know how important that is), team building, and fun. Spending an hour doing uniform races and constant PT while being screamed at... not fun. On push up 200 in the last 30 minutes... not the highlight of the day. Oh then drill gets cancelled due to rain and now they have 2 additional hours of that so more push ups, uniform races, flutter kicks, room inspections.

Plebes do get hurt. The young man with a broken arm. He definitely got hurt and no one will even question it. Those week 1 on crutches, a real injury, yes classmates will support. Those with shin splits a week into... honestly didn’t prepare. The first two weeks were light on their bodies. Its barely been a week of PS. Their classmates will help them out regardless, but this is how reputations start and are built. There are always chit surfers, and what those Plebes don’t realize is that short term break they are feeling right now from PT and the rigor will come back to haunt them in terms of reputation and acceptance as a team and player.

One thing I was thinking about... with all the masking and increase in hygiene, wonder if there will be less plebe hack than normal. Plus Plebe Hack tends to get real heavy around weeks 4-6 when bodies are more broken down. With Plebe Summer being shortened wonder if that will also play a role. Just something I was thinking about.
Click to expand...


This piece of 'getting a reputation' was my plebe's biggest concern. he is a 3 sport athlete, competitive to the core. With the ISO/Observation situation, he is out. None of the fun stuff either. It'll kill him, and is his biggest concern to be 'healthy', and on the bench, not a team player. And getting that reputation. I'm sure it will work out...but I get what he was articulating. Not within his control. But yes, there are a lot of weird things surrounding all of this. There is even a plebe that stayed at home 2 extra weeks to isolate and arrived usna 2 weeks late, to isolate again. How much company bonding can be done virtually? Although maybe this generation is good at it. Hard to have a reputation either positive or negative (although negative would probably be the go-to) if not physically there. This all WILL be an interesting experiment.
 
I don’t think isolation will hurt him. It is something out of his control. Plebes know that. Plus once he jumps in there and establishes himself... they will realize he is a team player and there to be a part of it. He will be fine.
 
My DS's first round roommate during Plebe Summer last year was from NAPS and a recruited athlete - in great shape and maxed out his PFA. But he got horrible shin splints almost from the get go. So, it can happen to anyone - running on hard surfaces and possibly unfamiliar shoes can hurt even the most prepared. My DS said his roomate was almost in tears because of the shin splints but he wouldn't complain or quit until the detailers made him see the medical and he got put on a chit. I think how you deal with nagging injuries will say a whole lot to your fellow plebes.
 
Last edited:
justdoit19 said:
There are two paid photo programs who are allowed to shoot the evolutions: Thornton and Alumni Association. Both are NASBD vendors.

Beyond that, there is the free USNA Flickr program (gets some shots of some things, but not every plebe, every company), and a reliable photographer who does amazing work and contributes his albums to the main FB parent pages.

Following official USNA pages, as well as the parent pages on FB will give you those free photos (hit and miss, though, seeing your person). Joining the 2 paid professional programs WILL get you great shots of YOUR person. The best opportunity to see your person is joining them both. Expensive, but worth it imo. Plus they both support the brigade financially.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the infomation. Can you provide links to those sites?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top