Good Advise here; my daughter is a member of CL2020.
#1) I remember looking out over the class of 2020 as they stood in ranks waiting to go into Bancroft and thinking ---"Wow the smaller guys in this class look in pretty rough shape, while the larger Male Mids seemed to be taking IDay more in stride": DW made the same observation. Looking back it makes sense, the duffel bag plebes carry around all IDay is 50% of one kids weight and 20% of another’s. Taking the point further, it wouldn't hurt a plebe's perspective during IDay to have been yelled at by a HS football coach for a solid week in football camp, or to have completed a year at NAPS, or to have acquired one additional year of maturity at that Plan-B college.
Over Christmas break DD and I were talking and I asked if some plebes carry advantages into Plebe Summer. She stopped, thought and said "sure, anyone can get through PS, but definitively some plebes have it easier just based on body type or experience".
I am sure plebes2b and parents of Class 2021 have taken note of the advice from people who have "been there" that "YOU DON'T WIN PLEBE SUMMER".
I haven't been there, but I think its fair to add this: I'd want my son or daughter going into IDAY to have a strong understanding that different kids will have different advantages during IDAY and PS. In those first 5-6-7 days when I understand PS is its worst, I wouldn't want my 17yr-18yr old kid fresh out of HS to look around and figure that he/she wasn't gonna make it because they see physically stronger people around them, or NAPS kids who can hold-bearing while they can't, or 22yr old Plebes who are not as shaken-up by the life change of IDay. I would'nt want my kid to be embarrassed or feel weak because they cried and others didn’t. I know that PS stresses "Team" and works to reinforce that all plebes are good enough. I'm just saying I'd want my plebe to know on going into IDAY that others won't cry, others will test better, others will run faster, others will "hold it together" longer, others will be physically stronger. "Get ready to be in the bottom 25% of something---the Navy picked the whole package".
#2) Speaking of crying, pay attention to Hoops: "roughly 75% crying that first night". On IDAY as soon as we found some privacy for her, my DD cried. She wasn't scared, she wasn't angry, she wasn't frustrated, she didn't feel sorry for herself----it was just the shear enormity of the change in her life in a single day. She'd had a great childhood; and snap, that part of her life was over, and in 15mins she would wave goodbye to Mom and Dad as "Mom and Dad" forever. There are some times when anyone would "squirt a few" (If I had a DS I want that message sent loud and clear BTW).
#3) I have posted this before, but I think its would be helpful for some plebes2b and parents.
https://jorules.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/some-words-for-the-cadre/
(hope I got the insert right --- if not, Google "some words for the Cadre"). It’s a look at how one detailer viewed PS, how seriously he took it and what it feels like on the Detailer side of things. I think the perspective is valuable; (same class as Hoops ....right?).
#4) Parents of plebes2b, the opportunity that the USNA provides is absolutely awesome, but it comes with a price for many parents. Your kid gets a unique education, he/ she won't study 'International Tree house Construction Standards' their first year, they learn to Box. If they get an A in boxing, (mark me), it will come with a ton pride. My DD can take a punch---and she knows it; a huge advantage for her relative to other young women. The trade-off is that all this growth happens very quickly and far away from your oversight/participation. While you marvel at the growth, you may also find that specific inquiries and offers of advice are met with "its really not your concern". You don't get 3-4 years to grow into/adjust to this new reality----you get a couple of months. I know my DD is doing well not because she felt the need to tell mom and dad; I just happened to find her name published in a Google search. Big changes for parents too. You just have to Roll with it, but I'd feel free to vent here you will find support from other parents in the same boat.
GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS------USNA CLASS OF 2021