NASS Question---is the MRE right before CFA routine, or a fluke?

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DS texted a photo of his MRE for the meal right before the CFA Sunday at this week's NASS session. He knew they have MRE at one meal as part of the NASS experience, but it seemed odd timing to do that right before CFA? We wondered if this was intentional "stress experience" because they had trash cans strategically placed for candidates for throwing up (many). He thinks it's funny, but is looking forward to SLE next week so he can get the run time he knows he can do if he's not trying not to throw up in the final lap.
 
We wondered if this was intentional "stress experience" because they had trash cans strategically placed for candidates for throwing up (many).

I can assure you that USNA is not trying to stress the NASS participant before the CFA. NASS is not intended to "weed out" or stress candidates. If anything, the objective is the opposite. I don't know what the schedule at NASS is like, but I would expect it is jam packed with things to do, and if they are eating MRE's instead of King Hall, I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with scheduling and expediency.
 
Last year when I was at NASS we had an MRE prior to the CFA and during Mock Sea Trials as well. Most of the people I knew, including my roommate and I only ate some of the MRE and once again, no one I knew threw up during the CFA.
 
DS texted a photo of his MRE for the meal right before the CFA Sunday at this week's NASS session. He knew they have MRE at one meal as part of the NASS experience, but it seemed odd timing to do that right before CFA? We wondered if this was intentional "stress experience" because they had trash cans strategically placed for candidates for throwing up (many). He thinks it's funny, but is looking forward to SLE next week so he can get the run time he knows he can do if he's not trying not to throw up in the final lap.

My DD is there and mentioned it. I thought it made sense though because the MRE's would provide them with the nutrients they need without causing them to be too full off a regular meal and they wouldn't overeat before their CFA. But that's a total assumption on my part, not based off any prior experience. :)
 
MREs have all the essentials someone needs to endure heavy physical stress. That's why they are given to soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors in combat.

Understood, but this is the first MRE a NASS attendee has ever eaten and by design, MRE is very calorie-dense. not a typical choice for a training meal before an event. Does anyone know-- does the NASS schedule always include the MRE meal right before the CFA in order to intentionally stress the candidates? Or was this just a coincidence?
Last year when I was at NASS we had an MRE prior to the CFA and during Mock Sea Trials as well. Most of the people I knew, including my roommate and I only ate some of the MRE and once again, no one I knew threw up during the CFA.

LOL.....thank you for this most helpful reply! DS will be at my brother's near the Pentagon between NASS and flight out to SLE and he will explain that. (along with stories of beating armadillos to death in SEAR school).
 
I don’t know why they give them MREs before the CFA but honestly this isn’t a big deal. Might be timing with meals. Very few people eat an entire MRE. I know these are hungry teenagers and can probably demolish one, but really many will pick at it. Part of evaluating the situation and make a decision on what is best for them.
 
Agree 100% that USNA isn’t trying to stress anyone out and therefore this isn’t worth stressing about. USNA is trying to provide a positive taste (pun intended) of plebe life. There’s no weeding out happening at this point.

All the yelling — that’s yelling lite. The PEP — that’s PEP lite. The Sea Trials — that’s Sea Trials lite. The point is to have a good time and think about applying.
 
By the way, had they not eaten MREs, they could’ve easily eaten King Hall fare. Say, chicken strips and french fries. Not sure that’s good for CFA either.
 
They can also retake the CFA if they are dissatisfied with their scores. Agree with many above on their points... a huge part of the military is learning to deal with change, not having control and getting comfortable being uncomfortable. I get these are high school kids and SS isn’t even close to what USNA or the military is like, but it gives a glimpse for a candidate to evaluate... is this right for me? Is not having control something I can handle? Wet and sandy for 4 hours... is that something I can see myself doing for days, weeks, months?
 
It also sounds like the CFA is being made out to be a highly arduous thing and to be honest, during my time in the Navy, I saw folks who made the same big deal out of the PRT. Neither is a really tough test for kids who are mostly athletes. Seriously, the CFA is not akin to an Ironman Triathlon or the like.
 
To be completely honest, the MRE was a complete non issue for me. We were all hungry enough to just suck it up and eat it, and I didn't feel much effect on my performance during the CFA. Besides, I felt like if I went to USNA eating an MRE a few times would be one of the easier things to get by.
 
It also sounds like the CFA is being made out to be a highly arduous thing and to be honest, during my time in the Navy, I saw folks who made the same big deal out of the PRT. Neither is a really tough test for kids who are mostly athletes. Seriously, the CFA is not akin to an Ironman Triathlon or the like.
Perhaps though, I'm out of step with today's realities.
I'm reminded that when I went to USNA, EVERYBODY wore the issued athletic shoes during Plebe Summer. These were low top Keds with somewhat thick soles and were not in any way a running shoe but its what we all wore. Same thing with underwear, we all wore the issued stuff so there was no concern about color, etc. Even if someone had managed to bring in something nicer, they had us too terrified to even think of wearing something else.
One of the best ways to get through Plebe Summer is to blend in/not stick out and the best way to NOT get noticed is to look like everybody else. Want to have that newly allowed fancy hairstyle? Sure go ahead but it makes it much easier for upperclass to zero in on you or describe you to others. Fancy whizbang running shoes? different colored underwear that shows through? Same thing. Whether it is allowed or not, I think it is a BAD IDEA in terms of Plebe Summer.
 
Lemon Pound Cake.

Mmmmm.
 
Last year when I was at NASS we had an MRE prior to the CFA and during Mock Sea Trials as well. Most of the people I knew, including my roommate and I only ate some of the MRE and once again, no one I knew threw up during the CFA.
Thank you! All in all, puking up the MRE at the end of the run didn't cost him overall...I just heard that he got the Outstanding Candidate award. I was sure my SIL heard wrong and it was the Platoon award, but it was the #1 overall out of the NASS session certificate
 
DD attended USAFA Summer Seminar couple years ago. When they did the heavy-duty physical training, large trash cans were spread out around the area. She said they were put to good use, as the high elevation hit some kids hard. Quite a few lunches lost that day.
 
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