4C Parade on 7/16

fishbowl

5-Year Member
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Jan 22, 2010
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163
Looking for some advice. I saw on the calendar that Plebes do their first formal parade at Worden Field at 9:30 on the 16th weather permitting. We are within reasonable driving distance and are thinking about going. I know we dare not try and get the attention of our Plebe, but was wondering whether former Plebe Parents have attended the parades or just gone on the Yard to try and catch a glimpse of their Plebe before PPW. Advisable or not?
 
Where is the calendar that has the scheduled events? Thanks!
 
http://www.usna.edu/PAO/

On the top under Announcements is the link to a word document showing the summer scheduled events on the yard.

Our Plebe summer, the parades were in the afternoon and there were many visitors who attended including Plebe Parents. The big thing is keep your distance, if you see your Plebe Do not make eye contact or acknowledge that you even see them. Detailers many times have a "sense of humor" when it comes to observing parents who spot their Plebes. You do not want your Plebe to be the recipient of that humor.
 
http://www.usna.edu/PAO/

On the top under Announcements is the link to a word document showing the summer scheduled events on the yard.

Our Plebe summer, the parades were in the afternoon and there were many visitors who attended including Plebe Parents. The big thing is keep your distance, if you see your Plebe Do not make eye contact or acknowledge that you even see them. Detailers many times have a "sense of humor" when it comes to observing parents who spot their Plebes. You do not want your Plebe to be the recipient of that humor.

It's pretty hard for a detailer to tell which Plebe some ogling parents are ogling. Unless, of course, the parents are jumping up and down and screaming, "Billy! Over here! Billy!!!" ... and who would do that?

Don't make "eye contact"?

Hell, I say get up there and let their platoon march by and get a close look. Your Plebe will will love it, the firsties will probably not know who you are, and, even if they did - they usually find stuff like that funny. Anything "punitive" will be in good humor.

After all, it is a public parade.

However, I wouldn't talk to any of the upperclassmen, not part of the parade, walking around with clipboards. For all you know, they may be a squadleader in your Plebe's company. In fact, it may be your Plebe's squadleader.

Talking with upperclassmen is far riskier than simply trying to get an up-close view of your Plebe in formation.
 
I would have loved to attend a parade last summer. I think Memphis's advice is spot on.

The only situation I can think of where a parent might opt not to attend is if their kiddo is barely hanging on...wanting to come home. Seeing Mom and Pop might be difficult.

My son is on the yard now, block 2 sailing. He reports some plebes are struggling mightily physically. He wondered out loud why someone would show up at USNA so totally out of shape. I shall remember next spring to continue to emphasize to appointees to run, run, run and then run some more.

He also reports Tango Company is up and running and appears to have a bunch of members. For those who do not know, Tango is where a plebe who wants/thinks he wants to go home spends a few days. Either getting past the wanting to go home or out-processing. My youngster reports there seems to be a fair number of Tango kids in the dining hall....they are somewhat "walled off" from the rest of the brigade.

So, if your son or daughter is dying of homesickness and struggling, attending the parade might not be a great idea.
 
Had an upbeat first call today and asked our Plebe if it was OK to attend parade. Reply was something along the lines of "sweet, just don't make eye contact with me or try to get my attention". We can follow those orders.
 
Had an upbeat first call today and asked our Plebe if it was OK to attend parade. Reply was something along the lines of "sweet, just don't make eye contact with me or try to get my attention". We can follow those orders.

Exactly! Your Plebe is wise beyond his years.

Like he said, just don't make it too obvious WHO you are looking at.

There's over 40 Plebes in a platoon. There are 30 platoons. There's a fat chance that the firsties (who also have their "eyes in the boat") will notice WHO you are looking at - especially if you are in a location where you're watching all the platoons march by. You might want to dispense with your 2014 paraphernalia, however. i.e. Don't wear your "Proud mother of a 2014 midshipman" t-shirt. :smile:

If you want to worry; worry about that firstie who is not in the parade and is standing by your side with a clipboard.

Besides, there is nothing "illegal" about watching your Plebe march by in a PUBLIC parade. You are not breaking any rules and neither is your Plebe.

The firsties completely understand that there are parents of Plebes in the crowd. It's not that big of a deal. Secretly, the firsties love it.

It's not like you're having secret meetings with your Plebe in the restroom of the Midstore. That's against the rules! :smile:
 
Also thinking about going to the parade this Friday. However, we don't yet have a yard pass! I assume you need this to get through the gate? We were at the Sponsor's meeting last Thursday and another local mom/dad we spoke with had received theirs that day.

So help me out with the passes thing.
I believe all sponsors receive a pass so they can pick up/drop off plebes. Even if you are not a sponsor, do you still get a yard pass just for being a plebe parent? Of course this would be redundant if you're getting a sponsor's pass too.

Have any new plebe parents, or new sponsors received their yard pass yet?

Lastly, our plebe, who we had a really good call with on Sunday, :thumb: asked for us to come to the Sunday services at the Chapel, and to bring his gf. QUESTION: I assume that if we did spot him before or after church services, we would be FORBIDDEN to go up and chat with him, as would his gf be. Just don't want to make a dumb and costly goofup!! :confused:
 
QUESTION: I assume that if we did spot him before or after church services, we would be FORBIDDEN to go up and chat with him, as would his gf be. Just don't want to make a dumb and costly goofup!!

Affirmative, this is not allowed.
 
Also thinking about going to the parade this Friday. However, we don't yet have a yard pass! I assume you need this to get through the gate? We were at the Sponsor's meeting last Thursday and another local mom/dad we spoke with had received theirs that day.

So help me out with the passes thing.

The Parent Parking Pass is only necessary for you to drive onto the Yard. If you don't yet have it, just park at the stadium and walk/shuttle to the Yard, or park in one of the town garages and walk on. To walk onto the Yard, all you (and anyone 16 or older) need is a government-issued photo ID.

Lastly, our plebe, who we had a really good call with on Sunday, :thumb: asked for us to come to the Sunday services at the Chapel, and to bring his gf. QUESTION: I assume that if we did spot him before or after church services, we would be FORBIDDEN to go up and chat with him, as would his gf be. Just don't want to make a dumb and costly goofup!! :confused:

Only go to chapel if you and gf can sit there and not make contact with your Plebe. If he will be happy to see you without other contact, fine. He is NOT allowed outside contact except for USNA-specified circumstances (i.e., designated phone call times and letters) until Plebe Summer is over. He could end up in significant trouble if he makes contact with you (for disobeying a direct order). It is not unheard of for a Plebe to be denied Town Liberty over PPW for disobeying this rule. It happened to a 2012 Mid (not mine, thank goodness) for making contact with his family on the Friday AM of PPW, only a few hours before he would have been free for the weekend.
 
jomass, new plebe mom here, and we got our PPW packet, with our parking pass, etc, yesterday. If you haven't received yours yet, I'm sure it will be there soon!
 
Also thinking about going to the parade this Friday. However, we don't yet have a yard pass! I assume you need this to get through the gate? We were at the Sponsor's meeting last Thursday and another local mom/dad we spoke with had received theirs that day.

So help me out with the passes thing.
I believe all sponsors receive a pass so they can pick up/drop off plebes. Even if you are not a sponsor, do you still get a yard pass just for being a plebe parent? Of course this would be redundant if you're getting a sponsor's pass too.

Have any new plebe parents, or new sponsors received their yard pass yet?

Lastly, our plebe, who we had a really good call with on Sunday, :thumb: asked for us to come to the Sunday services at the Chapel, and to bring his gf. QUESTION: I assume that if we did spot him before or after church services, we would be FORBIDDEN to go up and chat with him, as would his gf be. Just don't want to make a dumb and costly goofup!! :confused:

Were you talking about attending church on any Sunday, or PPW? I would think that going to church with his gf would be on the list of things not to do unless it is PPW. I can't imagine him not being able to make eye contact with gf....:shake:
 
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