Holy Shnikies!

J

Just Dad

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iu


I'm going to be back East for work in Sept. and I figured to drop in on DD for a 1 parent visit and catch the FB game with ECU that weekend.
I dropped by the CBS 130 Football Poll, (didn't even know who ECU was). While there I checked out USNA's ranking---92nd in the nation. I went back up the page to check out the top 25 (Go Dawgs!). On the way up the page I passed Army ranked at ----#30! Ahead of TCU,USC, Stanford, Ole Miss, Florida St., Huston, Memphis,-Etc.. It's gonna take some stars aligning to allow CL2020 to experience a win over army in their 4 years at USNA. Buuut then, thats why they play the games (see Houston 2016)

I do have a serious question. Can anyone tell me about, or vector me to info on, the life of a Mid in the VGEP program 2nd semester of their 1C year? Are participating Mids just required to return to USNA before the gate closes? or does the Navy keep a tighter string on em while they are in DC?

Best to you all, especially the new PPs, (thats Plebe Parents BTW). I don't post as much anymore, (I've figured out I never really had that much to add to the knowledge base that resides here). I do still swing by every day or so to read up on great young men and women who are willing to take "a road less traveled by" in the form of the USNA, and the parents who raise them. Always makes me smile; thank you.

Note to new Fly-In USNA families: 1 parent visits are cheaper, easier to schedule, easier logistics/costs, and DD loves having Mom or Dad all to herself for a day or two. She's grown so fast over these years and seems to have more to say to Dad/Mom seperately than she would to us both. As DW and I view it, for parent purposes if one of us is with DD both of us are. On DD's end she sees Mom or Dad 3 or 4 weekends at USNA over the course of the year. We'd be lucky to make it out there once or twice a year if we had get my wife and I both out there for every visit. This was obvious to me from the jump, but DW took some convincing. So, for fly over and West Coast DHs and DWs who haven't considered traveling for fun separately for 2o odd years ----think about it.
 
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VGEPers have a lot of autonomy. It’s why they also have to have high conduct, PRT and other scores, besides GPA. USNA has to trust them. They basically keep their own schedule. Most attend morning formation unless they have early class, disappear most the day, return whenever. They still usually have PE and their leadership capstone class to take, so most schedule that on days they don’t have other classes. If they have special needs for hours, they run a chit up. Most will be a Mid in Rank for that semester. Then again I have seen varsity athletes balance VGEP and it’s baffling how they can, but then again they got there because of that amazing ness. My room mate was VGEP. She was around a lot because she wanted to. Second semester firstie year is a blast. You want to be around your friends and enjoy the ride, but there is time to do that too.
 
Several years ago, senior Army/WP folks decided to put an emphasis on football, pretty much saying they'd do what it took to win. We can all debate the merits of that approach (for another time, definitely for another forum), but it appears to be working.
 
usna1985 said:
Several years ago, senior Army/WP folks decided to put an emphasis on football, pretty much saying they'd do what it took to win. We can all debate the merits of that approach (for another time, definitely for another forum), but it appears to be working.
Click to expand...

Tell us what you know. Names of senior Army and West Point folks? Decisions made?
 
Just Dad said:
iu


I'm going to be back East for work in Sept. and I figured to drop in on DD for a 1 parent visit and catch the FB game with ECU that weekend.
I dropped by the CBS 130 Football Poll, (didn't even know who ECU was). While there I checked out USNA's ranking---92nd in the nation. I went back up the page to check out the top 25 (Go Dawgs!). On the way up the page I passed Army ranked at ----#30! Ahead of TCU,USC, Stanford, Ole Miss, Florida St., Huston, Memphis,-Etc.. It's gonna take some stars aligning to allow CL2020 to experience a win over army in their 4 years at USNA. Buuut then, thats why they play the games (see Houston 2016)

I do have a serious question. Can anyone tell me about, or vector me to info on, the life of a Mid in the VGEP program 2nd semester of their 1C year? Are participating Mids just required to return to USNA before the gate closes? or does the Navy keep a tighter string on em while they are in DC?

Best to you all, especially the new PPs, (thats Plebe Parents BTW). I don't post as much anymore, (I've figured out I never really had that much to add to the knowledge base that resides here). I do still swing by every day or so to read up on great young men and women who are willing to take "a road less traveled by" in the form of the USNA, and the parents who raise them. Always makes me smile; thank you.

Note to new Fly-In USNA families: 1 parent visits are cheaper, easier to schedule, easier logistics/costs, and DD loves having Mom or Dad all to herself for a day or two. She's grown so fast over these years and seems to have more to say to Dad/Mom seperately than she would to us both. As DW and I view it, for parent purposes if one of us is with DD both of us are. On DD's end she sees Mom or Dad 3 or 4 weekends at USNA over the course of the year. We'd be lucky to make it out there once or twice a year if we had get my wife and I both out there for every visit. This was obvious to me from the jump, but DW took some convincing. So, for fly over and West Coast DHs and DWs who haven't considered traveling for fun separately for 2o odd years ----think about it.
Click to expand...

We took this approach last year and it was FANTASTIC!! I second.....
 
Perfect Hoops,
Thank you! DD has an adopted sister same grade in school, they went through everything together for 18yrs. 3 years ago they went separate ways for college and USNA has ment that they haven't seen much of each other. We are looking at sending Sis back East for a trip to DC and a visit while DD is still a mid. I was just trying to figure out if 2nd semester might allow them more time together than Sis traveling out there in the fall.

Re: football
I wasn't looking to start anything--if mods want to move the post, fine by me. That said, it IS common knowledge that Army has been diverting funds to support a program to position USMA to join the SEC in 2025. They have a long way to go football wise, but they are much closer in relative academic standards. A full run down on the program is rumored to be available on a server maintained in Ryan Mccarthy's basement, you can contact Platt River Networks Denver Colo. for further information.

Gwad I love College Football!
 
It’s an ebb and flow. USNA dominates. Then USMA dominates. As my dear brother who bled Navy blue and gold told me after the 2016 Army win “It’s not a rivalry unless both teams win.”
 
Firsties have a lot more liberty than the other classes. I am sure your daughter knows, but guessing she will be on weekend pretty much anytime she doesn’t have duty. They get liberty most nights of the week. Heck bring her to King Hall for lunch one day. A lot more flexibility, they know the system and how to maximize their time, VGEP or not.
 
Tell us what you know. Names of senior Army and West Point folks? Decisions made?
Click to expand...

It was fairly well reported in the press at the time. When I have some time (and am not in China where you can't use Google), I'll dig up the articles.
 
usna1985 said:
Tell us what you know. Names of senior Army and West Point folks? Decisions made?
Click to expand...

It was fairly well reported in the press at the time. When I have some time (and am not in China where you can't use Google), I'll dig up the articles.
Click to expand...

Ok, good - looking forward to it. Safe travels.
 
usna1985 said:
Several years ago, senior Army/WP folks decided to put an emphasis on football, pretty much saying they'd do what it took to win. We can all debate the merits of that approach (for another time, definitely for another forum), but it appears to be working.
Click to expand...

I'm not completely sure that Navy didn't make the same decision several years before that ..perhaps a little more surreptitiously; something has to explain the 14 year run. There is certainly a place for college athletics at the Service Academies, and I'm all for winning, but we should never forget the primary Mission.

Just Dad said:
That said, it IS common knowledge that Army has been diverting funds to support a program to position USMA to join the SEC in 2025.
Click to expand...
. The SEC ? Good luck with that! Unless the Army has different height and weight standards than the Navy, they will never compete over the long term -- sure, every once in a while a undersized Service Academy team knocks off a ranked team, but over the long run, the bigger, faster, deeper team is going to win. 'Bama is probably 3 deep with blue chip players at every skill position.
 
Just Dad said:
Perfect Hoops,
Thank you! DD has an adopted sister same grade in school, they went through everything together for 18yrs. 3 years ago they went separate ways for college and USNA has ment that they haven't seen much of each other. We are looking at sending Sis back East for a trip to DC and a visit while DD is still a mid. I was just trying to figure out if 2nd semester might allow them more time together than Sis traveling out there in the fall.

Re: football
I wasn't looking to start anything--if mods want to move the post, fine by me. That said, it IS common knowledge that Army has been diverting funds to support a program to position USMA to join the SEC in 2025. They have a long way to go football wise, but they are much closer in relative academic standards. A full run down on the program is rumored to be available on a server maintained in Ryan Mccarthy's basement, you can contact Platt River Networks Denver Colo. for further information.

Gwad I love College Football!
Click to expand...
"much closer in relative academic standards" :D
 
Capt MJ said:
@Just Dad Look for the 3-day weekends in Jan and Feb for longer visits.
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Thank you MJ

I do remember one of those weekends turning into a 4 day weekend back in Oct(?). 2016. DD had texted that she needed a visit ASAP early in her plebe year. Replied WILCO and headed out, (with an excellent bottle of tequila for the Sp Couple BTW). I still don't know what prompted DD to send up a flare, but we had a ball! That trip set up a pattern for visits that DW, DD and I have really enjoyed. Krazy to think that she is in her last year there---------- of course now she is sweating service assignment TYPE-A all the way.
 
Do most parents visit their mids during the AC year? This is something we have not planned on and I don't know if we could swing that, either alone or together (i.e mom and dad). I'd also be concerned that we would be an intrusion and/or distraction. But I'd feel pretty darn low if it was the expected norm and we were a bull-headed outlier.
 
ders_dad said:
Do most parents visit their mids during the AC year? This is something we have not planned on and I don't know if we could swing that, either alone or together (i.e mom and dad). I'd also be concerned that we would be an intrusion and/or distraction. But I'd feel pretty darn low if it was the expected norm and we were a bull-headed outlier.
Click to expand...

It certainly isn't an expectation when you have kids from all over the country. Visiting is probably more common now than when I was a Midshipman -- other than Parent's weekends Plebe and First Class Year and Graduation, I don't think my parents ever made a special trip. My Dad dropped by a couple times because he was in DC for business.
 
No no no! I don't think it's normal at all, certainly not expected. I own a business, that used to mean that I had no time. These days it means with both kids gone, I have "flexibility in my schedule"....(I can make it up on nights-n- weekends). I've made only only trip to USNA because I felt a need to. DD and I had such a good time together that I demanded DW do a similar trip. We just repeat it now because we have fun doing it.

Frankly, I could have titled that part of my post: "Holy -----! my DD is SOoo much more fun to be with when her mom is not around". If you get the chance, and you can swing it, maybe once over the time that your MID is at USNA try and get out to see Him/Her by yourself. My DD was moving so-fast, she had tons to say, tons of stories she wanted to tell and tons of things to laugh about; stories for Dad (she has others for mom). Away from distractions of home, the other parent, and the complexity that [DW+DH+DD] presents vs Dad+DD, each trip has been really fun. I will remember each trip, but 15yrs from now I'm not sure DD will. Now days I tell her when I will be in town and ask if she can fit me/us into her schedule, her newly retired mom just asks if she'd like a visit.
The trade-off both kids are gone.--- Hell, I had to buy a new dog becuse my wife needed an out-let for her possitive-n-loving attention!o_O

Note: According to DW no one should ever assume that anything I do is "proper, normal, adaquate, or expected"
 
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Just Dad said:
No no no! I don't think it's normal at all, certainly not expected. I own a business, that used to mean that I had no time. These days it means with both kids gone, I have "flexibility in my schedule"....(I can make it up on nights-n- weekends). I've made only only trip to USNA because I felt a need to. DD and I had such a good time together that I demanded DW do a similar trip. We just repeat it now because we have fun doing it.

Frankly, I could have titled that part of my post: "Holy -----! my DD is SOoo much more fun to be with when her mom is not around". If you get the chance, and you can swing it, maybe once over the time that your MID is at USNA try and get out to see Him/Her by yourself. My DD was moving so-fast, she had tons to say, tons of stories she wanted to tell and tons of things to laugh about; stories for Dad (she has others for mom). Away from distractions of home, the other parent, and the complexity that [DW+DH+DD] presents vs Dad+DD, each trip has been really fun. I will remember each trip, but 15yrs from now I'm not sure DD will. Now days I tell her when I will be in town and ask if she can fit me/us into her schedule, her newly retired mom just asks if she'd like a visit.
The trade-off both kids are gone.--- Hell, I had to buy a new dog becuse my wife needed an out-let for her possitive-n-loving attention!o_O

Note: According to DW no one should ever assume that anything I do is "proper, normal, adaquate, or expected"
Click to expand...

You will see all ranges on the spectrum of parents visiting. A big factor is geographical location. Super easy to visit if your a couple hours away, very challenging from the west coast. Also depends on the student. Some are more interested in having their parents visit (often) then others. Same with coming home for breaks. You’ll see Mids do all different things.

There is no right or wrong. Whatever works or is wanted by you family. I think there’s a lot of pressure, especially on the parent pages, to do xxx. We didn’t attend Herndon for example, but there were many that did. We probably would if we were close. We won’t miss 2/c weekend. Or commissioning.
 
ders_dad said:
Do most parents visit their mids during the AC year? This is something we have not planned on and I don't know if we could swing that, either alone or together (i.e mom and dad). I'd also be concerned that we would be an intrusion and/or distraction. But I'd feel pretty darn low if it was the expected norm and we were a bull-headed outlier.
Click to expand...

I knew a MID as well as a WP cadet whose parents visited only once during the entire four years for different reasons. There is no expectation...there is only the reality of what you can, or cannot do.
 
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