Good luck ‘26!

Well my ‘24 is on the yard and he can confirm that indeed girlfriends and younger siblings seemed to be those that were suffering from allergies. He said by and large parents seemed to be keeping it together. I hope to attend next year, just to say I’ve experienced it once. Even if it isn’t for my own kid. Maybe I’ll adopt some plebes or rep our parent club. So happy for those that just started this adventure.

And the ‘I DO’ was heard in Bancroft.
 
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2022: I-Day

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (June 30, 2022) The U.S. Naval Academy welcomes the midshipman candidates, or plebes, of the Class of 2026 during Induction Day 2022. I-Day marks the beginning of a demanding six-week indoctrination period called Plebe Summer, intended to transition the candidates from civilian to...
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More photos.
 
Interesting…was this the first year that the shoes weren’t all white? Looks like they were grey.

Edit: also no pull carts this year? 🤣
 
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They were strict this year about staying behind the lines during the march into Bancroft and I loved it. No parents were allowed to follow the plebes. I just think it makes for a much more dignified event.

Of course I couldn't help but notice the CC who was marching on the wrong foot...
 
usnabgo08 said:
Interesting…was this the first year that the shoes weren’t all white? Looks like they were grey.

Edit: also no pull carts this year? 🤣
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Can confirm the shoes were gray brooks. And yes no hand carts. DS said carrying the bag was really tiring.
 
Gray shoes instead of pure white court shoes with white works… the horror! USNA at Large is going to have to cover this hard hitting change.

Hope everyone made it through I Day. I know night one is always a tough one in the hall, but they will adapt quickly. The good news is their first Sunday and then the Fourth is right behind it. They will get their first ‘break’ then.
 
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The just-graduated Ensigns were trying to gaslight my son saying that you just get to go up to your room after you leave your parents, square it away, and go to bed.

Yeah, I had already prepped him for what was coming once the doors closed. He was not falling for that crap. ;)

Oh, and totally observed a weird trend I never noticed in the past. At least HALF of the male Ensigns I saw were sporting a Goose style mustache. It was comical.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
The just-graduated Ensigns were trying to gaslight my son saying that you just get to go up to your room after you leave your parents, square it away, and go to bed.

Yeah, I had already prepped him for what was coming once the doors closed. He was not falling for that crap. ;)

Oh, and totally observed a weird trend I never noticed in the past. At least HALF of the male Ensigns I saw were sporting a Goose style mustache. It was comical.
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They earned that mustache privilege. Took them 4 yrs. My new ensign is sporting his proudly and I think it’s handsome. Maybe you saw him 😉
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Not saying they didn't. I'd just never seen the sheer multitude of young officers with them!
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After graduation, I stayed behind as a coach and I think that the vast majority of us were sporting mustaches during that summer.
 
Heatherg21 said:
@Rarely27, I introduced the idea of USNA to our son when he was just 9. When he earned his appointment and accepted I was overjoyed and had a heavy heart. What had I done??? Was this right? Would he be happier at a 'regular' college? We would see him more, he would have 'fun' and not get yelled at. He could sleep in, bring his laundry home, and I could cook for him. Wouldn't regular college be safer? And not come with a commitment?

All of that ran through my head. And then I saw how overjoyed he was. Then he had his own, holy smokes, this is a big deal and definitely 'N*ot College'. But, he is living his life and has had opportunities I can't even describe. And it isn't over yet. He has more opportunities in front of him than had he taken the other path. The road more traveled.

When he flew out alone for I Day, it began the separation in terms of visits. 168 days went by before he flew home and we got our hugs. We made it, you adapt. Now, for the second summer in a row, he has elected voluntary summer classes so, between those and 2 training blocks, he won't be home. It will be a year in-between visits home. And we are too far away to visit often. I am overjoyed to be flying out for the 2/C Parent Weekend, and to know that in August, he will stand with his classmates and sign their 2 for 7's.

I know tomorrow will be tough, and emotional for all of you. Just remember that your tears somehow morph into tears of pride and the sad part gets a little smaller and lessens over time. You raised someone who is willing to do hard things, to take the road less traveled, and to stand firmly (with wobbly knees) in T-Court and bellow, "I DO!". That is something to be immensely proud of. Soak it all in, you will all be in the hearts of those who have gone through it with their own kiddos.
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Thank you. Just now sitting at the hotel I’m able to read. Thursday was a wonderful and emotionally charge day. You are right, when we spot her after the ceremony a sense of Pride overtook me. She was smiling, she was calm. It gave me peace. We met a lot of wonderful people over the last couple of days, and I need to note a difference, some parents dropping off have other children at home, some like us this was the youngest one, the last one to fly away from the nest. This makes a difference
One less day today and counting. My Lord is giving me strength, I’m going to need a ton of it when my airplane takes off, I’m going to need it when I’ll walk into that empty home and when I pick up her room. I will have busy days during the next couple of weeks and before I know august will be here. And life will go on
 
Rarely27 said:
She was smiling, she was calm
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I'm guessing you weren't the family next to me out on Stribling. Their daughter was in melt down. I heard it happens and indeed it does. I could see her approach her Mom and when they saw each other the daughter just broke up and spent most of the hour in tears. I am sure it was a difficult and emotional day for many Plebes and I hope the young lady has settled down and is doing ok.
 
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