If your 4C/plebe is ready to quit ....

MidCakePa said:
Worth remembering the saying about time at SAs being broken into three “equal” parts: plebe summer, plebe ac year, the final three years.

So yes, pandemic conditions stink — and they stink at every college. But if a plebe can stick it out for one more semester, they’re literally two-thirds through the experience, with some of the best stuff still to come!
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SO TRUE!! Next years are so much better...dont quit now. You can quit, but not today (and hopefully not the next week, etc).

Just booked my own back....got their report times. Unfortunately, they both have to leave a day early, as report times are staggard and early in the day. CANT believe it's almost over....
 
justdoit19 said:
. Unfortunately, they both have to leave a day early, as report times are staggard and early in the day..
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How are they handling those logistics? For I Day, they were allowed in a day early. Are they for Spring? DS has similar issue.
 
justme said:
How are they handling those logistics? For I Day, they were allowed in a day early. Are they for Spring? DS has similar issue.
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My son mentioned to me he might have a ride down with friends going to Loyola in Baltimore the day before. He said he might grab a hotel overnight. So I don’t think they are allowed in a day earlier.

I was planning on driving. So hopefully it all works.
 
From what I hear, the Plebes are going to get to do PROTRAMID this summer. And, from what I've heard from those that have done it, it's not to be missed. My youngster is not happy that they will be missing it :-(
 
I have no skin in this game, but something in the back of my mind tells me there is great hope that after surviving this year's 4/C year, these guys are going to find the next 3 years to be the best of any SA experience. They have truly had to embrace the suck and when this thing lifts, they are going to truly savor the normalcy of the norm.
 
justme said:
How are they handling those logistics? For I Day, they were allowed in a day early. Are they for Spring? DS has similar issue.
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Staying with sponsor. Or friends family. Worst case, an Airbnb room.

Not sure if they can report early? Seems to me to defeat the purpose. But there are going to be lots of Mids that are going to be in a similar situation.
 
milmomsomeday said:
I have no skin in this game, but something in the back of my mind tells me there is great hope that after surviving this year's 4/C year, these guys are going to find the next 3 years to be the best of any SA experience. They have truly had to embrace the suck and when this thing lifts, they are going to truly savor the normalcy of the norm.
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I agree. Just embrace the suck a few more months and the rest is easy by comparison.
 
Way late to the conversation but...
First off, one of my ds's best friends is a sophomore "regular" college and struggling to complete his classes online living off-campus but in the same town. Definitely NOT the same "college life" he experienced before Covid19. He's currently dreading going back but looking forward to one day returning to normal campus life. His other good friend was here on leave from the army. He graduated high school last year and is working to become a combat engineer. He had lots of stories of hardships he encountered these last several months, but also let my son know that, so far, he thinks the experience is entirely worth it, and would do it again if he had it to do all over. Third friend is a current plebe who acquired Covid19 while at the academy. While he didn't get anything worse than a case of the sniffles, he did not enjoy the return to quarantine and the, once again, removal from physical activity. He was a wrestler in high school and revels in being ultra-fit; for him, the hardest thing about these Covid times is being restricted from brutal workouts, lol. Nonetheless, he's still ready to go back and he had plenty of stories about fun stuff to share with ds.

It's all a matter of mindset and the ability to make the best of what you've got at hand. That is the best skill any parent can teach their kids whether or not they choose to make the military their home.
 
Ours didn't want to bother command or uppers with request to go a day early due to flights from West coast area. He is going a day ahead and will stay with a family friend then report during his specifically designated time. The time has gone too fast for sure. He managed 43 days total of ROM, isolation, and then ROM again so he can do this, he is a pro at this point. Not necessarily loving the process but resigned to getting through it to get back to the people and classes he likes.
 
@HikerMom , ok, I have to admit, my DD is on that spectrum that is doing really well on all measures, and "found her people". Accepted into Academy Scholars Program, club sport, theatre/dance, good friends with roommates. Missed her club sport friends so several of them celebrated New Years at an equidistant city where they had indoor & outdoor of her club activity.

But we still reward on the process, not on the outcomes, and the habits and positive mindset will carry her through when bad times happen, and for any Cadet this will likely happen. She's ready to go back, and mentioned it's going to be much tougher starting in Stage 5, harder classes, and the long stretch to Recognition. She's not saying "oh i'm so happy!" but who would when you have mom, home cooking, no school, etc? She and a handful of those in Q&I into the winter break were allowed to return between 3-6 days later. She immediately turned it down. The question isn't are the happy to return, but are you ready.
 
I am out of the loop on this stuff now too; but I do follow your folks and your DDs/DSs. I have a question. What is the situation they are going back to. Do they return to something a little more normal with the potentiail of a return to COVID restrictions, or are they headed back to the same restrictions in place back in Oct. Nov.?
 
USNAhopeful2025 said:
Any feedback on the rats from militarymom’s post? Is this common in the dorms? Yuck!!!
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Yes it is. My DS hears them all the time when he's sleeping at night and so do a lot of other mids apparently. My DS's company mate caught one that was almost as big as a small cat.
 
justdoit19 said:
You/he is right. It wasnt like this a last year. At all. Food at King Hall, together, is not what they are experiencing in styrofoam clamshells. But guess what? State college XX here has cold yucky food in clamshells. And sometimes they run out. So these issues aren’t unique to USNA. Or any college.

I have two there. A plebe and an upperclass. My plebe spent 25 consecutive days in iso...alone. So I get it. My upperclass is locked in like a plebe. I get it!

The way I would manage this as a parent, is to make them understand what they are giving up in exchange for a few weeks of comfort (assuming your person is going to stay home). Bc if they go anywhere else, it will be a similar experience. At least it wont be a normal, fantastic experience.

I would talk to them about the upcoming summer trainings that should be occurring (my oldest flew helicopters and shot huge guns off a boat in a pretty cool country), that their peers won’t be doing. IOW It’s worth the sacrifice and wait.

I know that food, at least, should be improving. I heard the director of King Hall speak to this. He said he hopes to have dining indoor (and therefore better food) by February. Things will be improving.

It’s a shame, imo, to give up especially after already going through the hard part....with changes coming, on the horizon! 2nd semester, they have stuff to look forward to: signing up for summer trainings. Sea trials. Herndon. Declaring their major. Plebe restrictions begin to decrease. They will be choosing roommates. Selecting (better) rooms for next year. Applying for leadership responsibilities. Hopefully, liberty will open us. 2nd semester is better than 1st. My oldest, and his buddies, laugh when I mention the ‘dark ages’. It doesn’t affect them. It’s all the same. So this may not be a thing for yours, either. There are a few long weekends, and we are planning trips out there...hopefully getting them off the yard for a little R&R. It’s manageable.

Have to keep the big picture in mind. And this, too, shall pass.
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Sorry for the late response and thank you for your post . I do hope that this next semester will be more enjoyable and so happy to hear they will be eating indoors soon. My DS said he's used to isolation now but the transition will certainly be tough after the comforts of being at home for several weeks. Thankfully they had a long nice break...back to the grind
 
Just Dad said:
I am out of the loop on this stuff now too; but I do follow your folks and your DDs/DSs. I have a question. What is the situation they are going back to. Do they return to something a little more normal with the potentiail of a return to COVID restrictions, or are they headed back to the same restrictions in place back in Oct. Nov.?
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Headed back to the same. At least for now. They will have a period of ROM. Classes beginning online, at least initially. They also have no Spring break.

The big difference from last semester is the St John’s piece. There was a large group there (maybe 300? Not sure the number). But that’s not an option this semester. So local (35 mile) upperclass that can, are “commuting”. They are still looking to find places (sponsors, friends, family) for more (via Gazette). All due to the loss of housing in Bancroft that’s being used for COVID protocols.
 
Just Dad said:
I am out of the loop on this stuff now too; but I do follow your folks and your DDs/DSs. I have a question. What is the situation they are going back to. Do they return to something a little more normal with the potentiail of a return to COVID restrictions, or are they headed back to the same restrictions in place back in Oct. Nov.?
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@Just Dad may have inquired more about USNA, but for those interested in what USAFA is doing, you can go to public facebook page "U.S. Air Force Academy" and there are 2 informative posts with pictures. The most recent is leadership all getting Covid tested. The other post has pictures and a description of the return process. The difficulty is getting on base. Uber/Lyft are not allowed in so getting from Southgate/Northgate. So Cadets are scrambling for approved shuttles and rides onto base.

And with that i'll tie my post back to our OPs issue.

Here is one more perspective:
If the issue applies to the ENTIRE CADET WING, then my only role is to provide moral support, not to undermine USAFA's leadership or question any one decision (especially now when no one has ever experienced these world events), because they made ONE decision that trumps all - her offer of acceptance! Train your DD/DS to catch themselves when in a downward spiral, and to always process glass is half full. Venting is ok, excuses are not. As a parent, know the difference, and parse what your DS/DS is saying and what they mean. Of course it's hard. But in every aspect some Cadets are succeeding and thriving - spectacularly - so the right question to ask is NOT what is wrong? but What can you do to succeed and what do you want me (the parent) to do? I personally have no patience for ENTIRE CADET WING issues. My job ends at Northgate - literally and figuratively. If you want something, i'll either be there waiting in the parking lot, or get that package almost there. It's her job to thrive within the Academy.
 
USNAhopeful2025 said:
Any feedback on the rats from militarymom’s post? Is this common in the dorms? Yuck!!!
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The rats are common occurences, according to my now ensign. I sent him mouse and rat traps during plebe year. It is my understanding that if a mid catches a live rat/mouse, the rodent is selected for one of the following by the mid: sub school (flush); parachute school (flung out the window of an upper deck Bancroft dorm room. There was a third option as well, which I don't remember.
 
Sandydesert said:
The rats are common occurences, according to my now ensign. I sent him mouse and rat traps during plebe year. It is my understanding that if a mid catches a live rat/mouse, the rodent is selected for one of the following by the mid: sub school (flush); parachute school (flung out the window of an upper deck Bancroft dorm room. There was a third option as well, which I don't remember.
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I forgot to add that during either his 3/C or 2/C year, a large rat apparently scurried out into the open of a mid's room, where at least one mid had selected Marines and the bayonet was within easy reach of the mid.....
 
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