‘25 PS so far

LT360 said:
Thanks all for the continued advice and PM's. For us newbies we know that there will be struggles and by the time we hear of them they will have moved on. Just good to know that the emotions and concerns I have are not anomalies.

Now are they really through halfway? Tomorrow represents 3 weeks from I-Day and just over three weeks from PPW. However as others have pointed out, PS continues after PPW until Reform.

Other questions---do they move rooms during PS? or only move after PS for the AC year? How do they pick roommates for AC year?
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I think that they only move rooms once after PPW and before "Hello Night". That's the night in which they meet the upperclassmen/women in their Company. I also believe that they have some input as to whom they room with for the AC year.

When you drop them off after PPW is over, traditionally they will be greeted with blaring Christmas music. This is to remind them that they probably won't see you again until Christmas. It's another in a long list of good-natured mind games.
 
My 2/C son went through PS only two years ago, and next week he will be a second-set detailer. The tranformation is hard to for me to even comprehend at times.

The one thing I repeated to my son before his PS is that EVERYONE at USNA went through PS, including the detailers. They all have experienced the highs and lows. They know the worries and fears of a plebe. These detailers were specifically chosen to turn these civilians into Midshipmen, and every year they do an outstanding job. Now hopefully my son will continue the tradition.

USNA truly wants each appointee to succeed. But it was never meant to be easy.
 
THParent said:
Oh, I forgot to add that "AC year" is pronounced "Ack Year", not "Ay-Cee Year". I found this out the hard way, with an eye roll. :rolleyes:
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🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Here’s another one: Rowe Blvd, the Main Street past the Navy Stadium which turns into Bestgate Rd., as it heads toward the mall area, is pronounced locally as “rhymes-with-ow-not-owe,” the o as in “bow to the Queen” as opposed to “wear a bow tie.”

Impress your friends.

So funny about Ac year. It always put me in mind of Bill the Cat.
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Devil Doc said:
Awesome post considering you only average one per year.

Come back and write more often.
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Teufel Doc, hope you don't begin to regret this statement, but you asked for it. As a parent, Marine, employer, etc. I want and need to see struggle. I cannot truly understand who and what you are without knowing how you deal with adversity. Do you shut down and quit? Do you dig in and fight? Do you want to succeed at your endeavor? You either signed up for it or asked for it, but somehow you ended up here. Are you the unicorn who never has or never will struggle or have you just not ever truly tested yourself? Nowadays we want to prevent our children from the experiences of the world's harsh realities, but the success or the satisfaction from accomplishing something from either failure or the brink of it is so incredibly rewarding and necessary to build character. I want to see my kids fail or struggle so I know what kind of person I've unleashed on the world and take the last opportunity to counsel them, I'm running out of time, they're gov't property now. I hope they measure up, can work with others, can lead with and for others. We won't know until they've had to endure something difficult. Struggle is good and we as parents should look at it as a benefit as to how we raised them to see how they accept/deal with it, adapt to it and move past it. Some have already experienced it in Plebe Summer, some will escape PS without having had to, but IT WILL come at some point. Anything worth having is (or should be) difficult. These Plebes are earning something worth having, it should be difficult and we should hope that it is difficult. With the guidance of senior leadership and especially with the help of their NCO's, these Plebes will one day be leading Sailors and Marines, they better have been prepared to deal with failure, this is the 1st step in that process because they will be expected to pull through hard times and bring their guys out the other side. The kids will be fine, they're in the best place on this planet for the lessons they are learning and will learn. Trust them, trust leadership (even when it's ugly). It's a little funny, but once you get through PS (as a parent) you realize that this is the easy part. It doesn't necessarily get harder, but it's a different hard. Some things look fun from a distance, inside the storm it's a whole other perspective. Again, trust your kids to be great and to do great things.
 
Question for those who have experience on the Yard. A parent in a FB group had seen some pictures with the Guidon flag completely rolled tight. Not an unintentional failure to show the flag and corresponding Company number, but neatly and tightly wrapped in the close position, while marching.
Other Companies had their flags out and blowing in the breeze. Can anyone advise if this means something?? I didn't know the answer and told the parent I would ask those in the know. TIA.
 
tanndonn said:
Teufel Doc, hope you don't begin to regret this statement, but you asked for it. As a parent, Marine, employer, etc. I want and need to see struggle. I cannot truly understand who and what you are without knowing how you deal with adversity. Do you shut down and quit? Do you dig in and fight? Do you want to succeed at your endeavor? You either signed up for it or asked for it, but somehow you ended up here. Are you the unicorn who never has or never will struggle or have you just not ever truly tested yourself? Nowadays we want to prevent our children from the experiences of the world's harsh realities, but the success or the satisfaction from accomplishing something from either failure or the brink of it is so incredibly rewarding and necessary to build character. I want to see my kids fail or struggle so I know what kind of person I've unleashed on the world and take the last opportunity to counsel them, I'm running out of time, they're gov't property now. I hope they measure up, can work with others, can lead with and for others. We won't know until they've had to endure something difficult. Struggle is good and we as parents should look at it as a benefit as to how we raised them to see how they accept/deal with it, adapt to it and move past it. Some have already experienced it in Plebe Summer, some will escape PS without having had to, but IT WILL come at some point. Anything worth having is (or should be) difficult. These Plebes are earning something worth having, it should be difficult and we should hope that it is difficult. With the guidance of senior leadership and especially with the help of their NCO's, these Plebes will one day be leading Sailors and Marines, they better have been prepared to deal with failure, this is the 1st step in that process because they will be expected to pull through hard times and bring their guys out the other side. The kids will be fine, they're in the best place on this planet for the lessons they are learning and will learn. Trust them, trust leadership (even when it's ugly). It's a little funny, but once you get through PS (as a parent) you realize that this is the easy part. It doesn't necessarily get harder, but it's a different hard. Some things look fun from a distance, inside the storm it's a whole other perspective. Again, trust your kids to be great and to do great things.
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👏 👏 👏 👏

AND, it’s much safer. For themselves and others, to discover this about themselves at this point, rather than later.

Of course it’s ‘hard’ to watch those we love struggle. But it’s necessary. They have to learn that they will be ok through tough times. That it may be tough. Ugly. Difficult. But it’s a moment in time that will pass. And someday be a memory. A story.
 
Heatherg21 said:
Question for those who have experience on the Yard. A parent in a FB group had seen some pictures with the Guidon flag completely rolled tight. Not an unintentional failure to show the flag and corresponding Company number, but neatly and tightly wrapped in the close position, while marching.
Other Companies had their flags out and blowing in the breeze. Can anyone advise if this means something?? I didn't know the answer and told the parent I would ask those in the know. TIA.
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I know why other training commands do it.
 
tanndonn said:
Teufel Doc, hope you don't begin to regret this statement, but you asked for it. As a parent, Marine, employer, etc. I want and need to see struggle. I cannot truly understand who and what you are without knowing how you deal with adversity. Do you shut down and quit? Do you dig in and fight? Do you want to succeed at your endeavor? You either signed up for it or asked for it, but somehow you ended up here. Are you the unicorn who never has or never will struggle or have you just not ever truly tested yourself? Nowadays we want to prevent our children from the experiences of the world's harsh realities, but the success or the satisfaction from accomplishing something from either failure or the brink of it is so incredibly rewarding and necessary to build character. I want to see my kids fail or struggle so I know what kind of person I've unleashed on the world and take the last opportunity to counsel them, I'm running out of time, they're gov't property now. I hope they measure up, can work with others, can lead with and for others. We won't know until they've had to endure something difficult. Struggle is good and we as parents should look at it as a benefit as to how we raised them to see how they accept/deal with it, adapt to it and move past it. Some have already experienced it in Plebe Summer, some will escape PS without having had to, but IT WILL come at some point. Anything worth having is (or should be) difficult. These Plebes are earning something worth having, it should be difficult and we should hope that it is difficult. With the guidance of senior leadership and especially with the help of their NCO's, these Plebes will one day be leading Sailors and Marines, they better have been prepared to deal with failure, this is the 1st step in that process because they will be expected to pull through hard times and bring their guys out the other side. The kids will be fine, they're in the best place on this planet for the lessons they are learning and will learn. Trust them, trust leadership (even when it's ugly). It's a little funny, but once you get through PS (as a parent) you realize that this is the easy part. It doesn't necessarily get harder, but it's a different hard. Some things look fun from a distance, inside the storm it's a whole other perspective. Again, trust your kids to be great and to do great things.
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I second the above! 🙋‍♀️
All of my co-workers and family kept telling my DS that they would not be worried about him after he walked through GATE 1 for the 1st time on June 29, 21 because he would be in the best place on this planet in which to grow and be challenged beyond his imagination!
 
tanndonn said:
Teufel Doc, hope you don't begin to regret this statement, but you asked for it. As a parent, Marine, employer, etc. I want and need to see struggle. I cannot truly understand who and what you are without knowing how you deal with adversity. Do you shut down and quit? Do you dig in and fight? Do you want to succeed at your endeavor? You either signed up for it or asked for it, but somehow you ended up here. Are you the unicorn who never has or never will struggle or have you just not ever truly tested yourself? Nowadays we want to prevent our children from the experiences of the world's harsh realities, but the success or the satisfaction from accomplishing something from either failure or the brink of it is so incredibly rewarding and necessary to build character. I want to see my kids fail or struggle so I know what kind of person I've unleashed on the world and take the last opportunity to counsel them, I'm running out of time, they're gov't property now. I hope they measure up, can work with others, can lead with and for others. We won't know until they've had to endure something difficult. Struggle is good and we as parents should look at it as a benefit as to how we raised them to see how they accept/deal with it, adapt to it and move past it. Some have already experienced it in Plebe Summer, some will escape PS without having had to, but IT WILL come at some point. Anything worth having is (or should be) difficult. These Plebes are earning something worth having, it should be difficult and we should hope that it is difficult. With the guidance of senior leadership and especially with the help of their NCO's, these Plebes will one day be leading Sailors and Marines, they better have been prepared to deal with failure, this is the 1st step in that process because they will be expected to pull through hard times and bring their guys out the other side. The kids will be fine, they're in the best place on this planet for the lessons they are learning and will learn. Trust them, trust leadership (even when it's ugly). It's a little funny, but once you get through PS (as a parent) you realize that this is the easy part. It doesn't necessarily get harder, but it's a different hard. Some things look fun from a distance, inside the storm it's a whole other perspective. Again, trust your kids to be great and to do great things.
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Very good advice here, IMO. Plebe summer can be a real shock for a parent, especially non-military parents. For many parents when their child is struggling there is a natural reaction to feel the urge to try to "fix it" for them. We had two kids go through 4th class military systems (SA and SMC). We had that urge a few times to want to step in and "help" but we had no idea what they were really going through, so all we could do was listen. Turns out that not "helping" was the best help anyway. They made it through and are better for it. Both are now junior officers and yes, it is harder for us parents in many ways.
 
WolfPackGrunt said:
@LT360 I also have a '25 plebe. In my letters to DS I try to redirect to the positive, and mostly try to fill the letter with things that will give his mind a break from PS (e.g. memes, a joke or two, what we've been up to (even what I consider mundane- he'll probably appreciate it, I think...), what's going on in the news (I try to only share positive or funny news stories). I also try to orient him to evolutions or events that are upcoming that I believe he will "enjoy", and call out important milestones (like less than a month to PPW, or soon- less than 3 weeks to PPW). I agree to what was mentioned above, by the time we get a letter our plebes are almost assuredly on to the next challenge and have succeeded in making it one more evolution and or one more day etc. So long as you are not getting a call from your plebe in Tango Company, everything is probably going as expected. I wish you and your plebe the very best!
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I tried the "only positive" thing last year as well. I kept writing DS about how delicious our recent meals were, how much later we could sleep in working from home vs commuting, how much more comfortable the dog looked after taking over his bedroom, how his younger brother had gone three whole days since last scratching DS' car he left behind, how much fun his friends all looked like they were having in social media posts, etc. I am fairly sure it helped him.
 
brewmeist said:
My 2/C son went through PS only two years ago, and next week he will be a second-set detailer. The tranformation is hard to for me to even comprehend at times.

The one thing I repeated to my son before his PS is that EVERYONE at USNA went through PS, including the detailers. They all have experienced the highs and lows. They know the worries and fears of a plebe. These detailers were specifically chosen to turn these civilians into Midshipmen, and every year they do an outstanding job. Now hopefully my son will continue the tradition.

USNA truly wants each appointee to succeed. But it was never meant to be easy.
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As a firstie I am very proud of how the 2/C and 3/C detailers in my company have stepped up and embraced their new roles. I have seen a strong degree of professionalism and genuine concern for each plebe’s needs.

I do wonder sometimes whether I agree with having a majority of the company-level detailers being 2/C and 3/C instead of firsties, but this still seems to be working. It also creates more of a leadership dynamic within the detail staff, where 2/C and 3/C look to the firsties, most of whom have done plebe summer last year, for guidance.
 
Kierkegaard said:
As a firstie I am very proud of how the 2/C and 3/C detailers in my company have stepped up and embraced their new roles. I have seen a strong degree of professionalism and genuine concern for each plebe’s needs.

I do wonder sometimes whether I agree with having a majority of the company-level detailers being 2/C and 3/C instead of firsties, but this still seems to be working. It also creates more of a leadership dynamic within the detail staff, where 2/C and 3/C look to the firsties, most of whom have done plebe summer last year, for guidance.
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I have seen detailer duty cycle around among the upper classes at least 2-3 times in the last 25 years. Similar to the shotgun/don’t shotgun after plebe year pros and cons, there is merit to each approach.

Interestingly, my DH reports his detailers in the latter half of the 20th c. were the newly-commissioned ensigns and 2nd lieutenants. All other mids were off the Yard for leave or training, with just a few in mandatory summer school. A little bit of basket leave, no cushy stash TADs, and straight into the detail for real-time leadership and training. The upper classes met the plebes for the first time at Reform. No doubt there are pros and cons that go with that method.

I am glad to see the Brigade coming together to heal up the leadership bald spots left by the pandemic and always appreciate your perspective.
 
Kierkegaard said:
As a firstie I am very proud of how the 2/C and 3/C detailers in my company have stepped up and embraced their new roles. I have seen a strong degree of professionalism and genuine concern for each plebe’s needs.

I do wonder sometimes whether I agree with having a majority of the company-level detailers being 2/C and 3/C instead of firsties, but this still seems to be working. It also creates more of a leadership dynamic within the detail staff, where 2/C and 3/C look to the firsties, most of whom have done plebe summer last year, for guidance.
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sent you a PM..
 
One Day, down the road, you will look at the pictures from I-Day and pictures from the next four years and then when your Mid was a Detailer and then Graduation Day and then an officer after graduation and say "that went by fast". Just enjoy the ride. Brought the album out today.
 
Heatherg21 said:
That letter he sent home is epic. I can still see it. I read the blog before our son decided to apply. It made me wonder how the heck we could navigate it all. Reading his blog helped me help my MIDN.
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So where do you find his blog?
 
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