I-Day + 2

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chipsnqueso

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I saw I-Day is Thursday, June 27. We are going for a weekend to Annapolis 28-30 June. If I get up real early on Sat, June 29, would we be able to see the plebes workout on Rip Miller/Farragut Fields? Is that allowed? Do they have noon formation? Thanks!
 
I wouldn't think so. They are fairly relaxed about parents coming to watch the PRT before Plebe Parents Weekend (roughly 6 weeks after I-Day), but I would think that they might resist the idea of parents showing up to Plebe-spot, only 2 days after I-Day.

With that said, if you are there on the yard and you happen to be sitting in the bleachers drinking coffee (before they get there) and just happen to see them doing their morning PEP workout, then no harm no foul, right? It's even money if they ask you to leave.

If you walk in that unGodly early, be prepared for a strange look or two and to answer some questions at the gate, like "what is your reason for visiting this morning"?

I think my DS said that they were up at 0500 and on the field by 0530, during PS.
 
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I would avoid trying to see PEP on Day 3. PEP isn't open to visitors and I think the detailers would shoo away any parents (or other visitors) who are in the PEP area.

IF they were running, you might catch a glimpse if you happened to be wherever they decided to run that day. But remember, there are nearly 1200 mids, most of whom look alike and they tend to be grouped by ability (vs. by company). So it would be very tough to pick out your mid.

I don't think plebes have outside noon meal formation the first couple of days -- at least we didn't -- because they aren't yet experienced enough with marching, etc. to make it look decent. However, things could well have changed.

Go home. Get on with your lives. Enjoy yourselves. PPW will come faster than you think.
 
I'm with @usna1985 above. I was trying to soft-peddle it - because some parents may ask for advice here - but still end up doing what they want.
It really is best to stay away until PPW.

If you sign up with the Alumni Association, you will have scads of photos to look through, to find your Plebe. Last year, there were 6 full albums of I-Day photos posted. They will probably go to the Obstacle Course that weekend, and the Alumni Association will post hundreds of photos just for that.
 
I recall some parents posting literally the next day viewing PEP. You need to let the process do its job. Being anywhere your Plebe could see you is just not productive to that (in my opinion). Last thing you want is your Plebe to see you and have a reaction. Resign yourself to Waldo hunting and sending notes of encouragement. PPW will be here before you know it.
 
I read the OP a little differently ....no mention of being parents or dropping their kid off, but rather just happened to be in Annapolis that weekend and wondering what they are able to see. Nonetheless, my advice would be to give the Plebes a wide berth.

Maybe someone closer can comment on whether the Visitor Gates are even open at 0'dark thirty, but I can't imagine that watching PEP is worth getting up that early. (Maybe before Parent's weekend, there might be a little more comradery and team work, but on I+2 its going to be gaggle of scared kids).

Same with Noon Meal formation -- Frankly, I don't recall the first couple days of Plebe Summer, it was kinda a blur. I guess at sometime the Plebes will be out in public, but I would be surprised if they were out on I+2.
 
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Sorry, should have explained. I am not a plebe parent. Just in town for the weekend, have my DoD ID, and was going to go for a morning run and was hoping to catch the plebes doing their thing as the sun came up!
 
chipsnqueso said:
Sorry, should have explained. I am not a plebe parent. Just in town for the weekend, have my DoD ID, and was going to go for a morning run and was hoping to catch the plebes doing their thing as the sun came up!
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If you do go, wave "hi" to my DS - he'll be the one in the white t-shirt with the blue rim collar. Can't miss him.
 
If you have a DoD ID and want to run, go for it. You will see them out there. They are hard to miss. You can’t miss their smell either. Worst smell on earth... 1,200 Plebes.

@ders_dad, you forgot to mention with the short hair also!
 
chipsnqueso said:
Sorry, should have explained. I am not a plebe parent. Just in town for the weekend, have my DoD ID, and was going to go for a morning run and was hoping to catch the plebes doing their thing as the sun came up!
Click to expand...

With your ID, you could drive on through Gate 8, the 24-hour gate, park in non-restricted space over near the Visitor Center, run an “outer” or an “inner,” adjusted for construction and flying by where they do PEP. Hint: seawall along football practice fields, if I recall correctly.

The Main Gate and Security don’t open until 0600.

https://www.usna.edu/PAO/events/information.php

https://www.mapmyrun.com/us/naval-academy-md/

https://www.mapmyrun.com/us/naval-academy-md/usna-inner-loop-route-64813230

https://www.mapmyrun.com/us/naval-academy-md/outer-run-loop-united-states-naval-acade-route-21774860

Class of 2022 typical Plebe Summer sked, scroll down to see daily, including PEP:
https://www.usna.edu/NewsCenter/2018/06/Class of 2022 Induction Day - June 28.php
 
Can't reiterate enough: Parents, please stay clear of PEP and other plebe summer activities for the first couple weeks at the very least. Wait until PPW.

Do this for the sake of your plebe. Let them acclimate to plebe life without having to see you, deal with you, acknowledge you, know that you're out there watching. They're under enough stress that you don't need to add the "mom and dad are watching" stress. If you don't believe that's a big deal, think about how you felt when you were a teen or young adult and you thought mom and dad were hovering. Not pleasant, was it?

Please wait until PPW -- you'll survive, trust me. Meanwhile, spend your couple extra days in DC or Baltimore or Naptown or the Amish Market. Anywhere but the Yard.
 
It really does add stress. I can remember local Plebes freaking out about going to Chapel because their parents would be there. Oh and their parents always went there, so it wasn’t like Mom and Dad were trying to spy on them. We had a Plebe in my platoon who was from Annapolis and rented a house out the front gate. They had retired from USNA just recently. They took their evening walk with their dog on the yard nightly. He was always terrified of the detailers seeing his parents. Oh and all our detailers knew his big brother who had just graduated. It actually became a running joke and we created a song to say hello to Adam’s parents and dog whenever we saw them. So long story short... don’t. They can survive 6 weeks just fine. Just a thought... Marine boot camp is 13 weeks long. They get 1 phone call when they arrive that is a few scripted sentences. These are young adults the same age... if they can make it, so can some new Plebes... and the families.
 
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Sorry, should have explained. I am not a plebe parent. Just in town for the weekend, have my DoD ID, and was going to go for a morning run and was hoping to catch the plebes doing their thing as the sun came up!
Click to expand...

If you're a tourist (not a parent), I suppose you could try to go to the yard for PEP but . . . it's not open to tourists and they might suspect you're a parent, so I doubt you'd be allowed in the PEP area. On the roads, you MIGHT see theplebes m running. It depends on when they start the run (it varies by day), how long they run (it varies by day) and where they run (it varies by day).

If you're on the Yard during the main part of the day on I+2 and wait around long enough near Stribling Walk (the red brick walkways on the main part of the Yard), I can pretty much guarantee you'll see plebes. Various ones will be marching somewhere.
 
I probably would have had a visceral, emotional reaction to seeing my newly adult son in distress. Would not have been a good, positive experience.

Instead, I LOVED sitting here in my fantasy world, looking at the pics of him smiling and happy online.

I showed many of those pics to him during PPW. His response? Something like “wow they make it look like fun summer camp.” With an eyeroll.
 
THParent said:
If you walk in that unGodly early, be prepared for a strange look or two and to answer some questions at the gate, like "what is your reason for visiting this morning"?
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I've never gone onto a base when I wasn't asked that question, regardless of the time of day. My most frequent response is "I'm going to My Deli in QTown to get some bulgogi for lunch".
 
I had to look up "bulgogi"

Bulgogi, literally "fire meat", is a gui made of thin, marinated slices of beef or pork grilled on a barbecue or on a stove-top griddle. It is also often stir-fried in a pan in home cooking. Sirloin, rib eye or brisket are frequently used cuts of beef for the dish. AKA: "Korean BBQ Beef"
 
chipsnqueso said:
I saw I-Day is Thursday, June 27. We are going for a weekend to Annapolis 28-30 June. If I get up real early on Sat, June 29, would we be able to see the plebes workout on Rip Miller/Farragut Fields? Is that allowed? Do they have noon formation? Thanks!
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they did not do noon meal formation the first Friday after I-day last year ( plebe class 2022) they usually wait till the first Monday so the plebes get some practice in- and by then they have already witnessed a few and possibly bared a couple punishments already. My plebe was already wearing 3 name tags by Monday
 
ders_dad said:
chipsnqueso said:
Sorry, should have explained. I am not a plebe parent. Just in town for the weekend, have my DoD ID, and was going to go for a morning run and was hoping to catch the plebes doing their thing as the sun came up!
Click to expand...

If you do go, wave "hi" to my DS - he'll be the one in the white t-shirt with the blue rim collar. Can't miss him.
Click to expand...
:lolatyou: LOL, too perfect. I am actually a little concerned about recognizing P2B after the swearing in. :rolleyes:
 
DKTKT said:
:lolatyou: LOL, too perfect. I am actually a little concerned about recognizing P2B after the swearing in. :rolleyes:
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You'll learn how over time. I got so I could recognize pics of my son in NROTC lab with only the back of his head visible in the photo. :D
 
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