Naval Academy Club

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brewmeist

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Messages
1,465
For those parents who have joined in the past, is it worth the $150 annual membership?
 
LOL, I think we joined for the 4 years. We travel to the Yard for home FB games and DD plays softball so we are down there on average 10 times a year and eat in the club about 4. I am very fond of the Sunday brunches. I think Mids are allowed in without their parents once they are 3/c and above. Is it worth it? Probably not if calculate the cost of the buffets plus the membership but we joined and paid for everything else offered at the Yard.
 
I'm sure we'll join. I'd just end up spending it at the Midshipmen Store, anyway!
 
Interesting ... I just looked it up. I didn't know the old O'club was opened up to Parents/Families. Frankly, I can probably count on one hand the times I walked through those doors.

Unless you really like belonging to a Club, there is certainly no need to join. There are so many great places to eat in Annapolis that I simply couldn't imagine eating there...and even if allowed, the last thing your Midshipman will want to do when you visit is to eat in the Yard.
 
I think there is some nostalgia for me. I remember my parents taking us to the O club and it was a big deal.
All the Mids I have hosted at the Club (around 6) really enjoyed the brunch but I doubt that DD thinks about going there if we aren't there.
 
Been a Mid Parent for almost 10 consecutive years, never joined, never missed it.
 
Completely disagree. We joined last year and have eaten at the Naval Club with our Midn numerous times. We have been able to share a nice diner with him and a number of his friends at least 5 times so far when they were not allowed off-yard (particularly on Friday nights and Sundays). We have also had family and friends join in on the fun. I would highly recommend joining especially if you plan to visit your Plebe/Youngster during the AC year when their liberty is limited.
 
I think this is one of those read input from others and evaluate your family. Each family visits at different times and amounts. For some families... a pizza Dahlgren is just fine. If you can drive in for a visit when they only have yard liberty fairly frequently then it could be a great thing. I was happy when my parents stopped at subway and we would find a quiet space in Dahlgren and just talk while we ate subs. It really varies by family. As Mids we weren’t big fans of the club. We only went there on the one night a week we didn’t have liberty as 1/C and attempted to drink the place dry.
 
NavyHoops said:
As Mids we weren’t big fans of the club. We only went there on the one night a week we didn’t have liberty as 1/C and attempted to drink the place dry.
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As a Firstie, Friday nights had a few hours of buy one, get one free and that was a good incentive to patronize it but there were enough company officers and assorted other superior officers there that we really did not get comfortable and thus left pretty quickly once Happy Hour ended. Fast forward to last year and one of my classmates was the speaker at a Bore Us All (Forrestal) Lecture and a few of us dined there. I realized then that I had not been back since Happy Hours as a Firstie despite hundreds of visits back over the years.
 
It’s not one of those “must do” things if you have a mid at USNA. It’s a good option for some, others not.
 
Well... I was indecisive before, and now I'm REALLY indecisive! They had a table on I-Day. I think they were offering a discount if you signed up that day. I'm thinking it is a good venue if I bring my 92 yr old mom for a visit, but I'm sure my son would rather Moe's orherwise. Part of the membership allows access to eat at the golf course. I'll probably try it out for the year and see if it was worth it.
 
We joined and have used it a lot. Prices are very reasonable. Plus, it is a place you can take your Plebe (and Youngster) on a Friday night that is nice and comfortable on the Yard.
 
Plebes do not normally have Yard liberty on Friday nights, as they may have scheduled training. They have Yard liberty on Sundays, unless they are on watch. On three-day weekends, it’s Town Liberty Saturday and Sunday, Yard Liberty on the Monday. For 3/c, I’ve seen it go back and forth between Yard and Town for them on Fridays.

As always, just because something is a policy one year, does not mean it won’t change. Equally, some companies may not enforce regulations, or a special request chit may be granted for an occasional meal with out-of-town family members. All it takes is one change of a company officer, Dant or Supe to shift the playing field around. The wise Plebe will confirm if they have Yard Liberty on Friday night, or if they otherwise have Club privileges with visitors. Great training for the Fleet and Corps!

Don’t buy a Club membership assuming your Plebe will be free to go there with you on a specific day. They are responsible for knowing what their status is and what their rank rates.

Per USNA.edu, here is a good description of the various liberty types:

Yard Liberty – During Yard liberty, Midshipmen are authorized to participate in activities within the Yard. The Yard is the part of the Naval Academy inside the wall line and fence line that includes Gate 1 to Gate 8. Midshipmen shall not visit a sponsor’s home on the Yard. Plebes have Yard liberty from 0530 until 2000 (5:30 am to 8:00 pm) Sunday.
Town Liberty – Town liberty will commence at the discretion of the company commanders. Company commanders will publish their requirements for each class to earn town liberty during the week. Normally, liberty for plebes will be authorized on Saturday from 1200 to 2400 (12:00 noon to 12:00 a.m. midnight) and Sunday for religious services only from 0800 to 1300 (8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.) or begin after the last military obligation is completed, whichever is later. Plebes shall remain within the tri-city metropolitan area (Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Annapolis) during town liberty.
Weekend Liberty – With the company officer’s approval, Plebes may depart on Saturday not earlier than 12:00 noon or last military obligation and must return Sunday by first military obligation and no later than 1800 (6:00 P.M.).
 
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One thing they don't advertise is that the club is generally not open on the weekends or federal holidays. They are open on select Sundays for brunch but I would say about 50% of the times it would have been convenient to take our Mid (Plebe last year), they were not open. That said, when they are open, it is a great place to go and a good option to have besides the Drydock in Dahlgren.
 
Capt MJ said:
Plebes do not normally have Yard liberty on Friday nights, as they may have scheduled training. They have Yard liberty on Sundays, unless they are on watch. On three-day weekends, it’s Town Liberty Saturday and Sunday, Yard Liberty on the Monday. For 3/c, I’ve seen it go back and forth between Yard and Town for them on Fridays.

As always, just because something is a policy one year, does not mean it won’t change. Equally, some companies may not enforce regulations, or a special request chit may be granted for an occasional meal with out-of-town family members. All it takes is one change of a company officer, Dant or Supe to shift the playing field around. The wise Plebe will confirm if they have Yard Liberty on Friday night, or if they otherwise have Club privileges with visitors. Great training for the Fleet and Corps!

Don’t buy a Club membership assuming your Plebe will be free to go there with you on a specific day. They are responsible for knowing what their status is and what their rank rates.

Per USNA.edu, here is a good description of the various liberty types:

Yard Liberty – During Yard liberty, Midshipmen are authorized to participate in activities within the Yard. The Yard is the part of the Naval Academy inside the wall line and fence line that includes Gate 1 to Gate 8. Midshipmen shall not visit a sponsor’s home on the Yard. Plebes have Yard liberty from 0530 until 2000 (5:30 am to 8:00 pm) Sunday.
Town Liberty – Town liberty will commence at the discretion of the company commanders. Company commanders will publish their requirements for each class to earn town liberty during the week. Normally, liberty for plebes will be authorized on Saturday from 1200 to 2400 (12:00 noon to 12:00 a.m. midnight) and Sunday for religious services only from 0800 to 1300 (8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.) or begin after the last military obligation is completed, whichever is later. Plebes shall remain within the tri-city metropolitan area (Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Annapolis) during town liberty.
Weekend Liberty – With the company officer’s approval, Plebes may depart on Saturday not earlier than 12:00 noon or last military obligation and must return Sunday by first military obligation and no later than 1800 (6:00 P.M.).
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We were able to take our Plebe and his roommate to the Club for dinner on Friday several times. We just needed to make sure it did not interfere with the ProKnow tests.
 
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