Ac year family visit?

TexMex2022

Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2017
Messages
80
Recently when a bunch of family members asked me if they could come visit me on a weekend I was made aware that I know nothing about the Mid life. I am aware it’ll differ from Mid to Mid, that I don’t need to know everything, and I know I will learn what I need to along the way but I just want to give my family a straight answer of what my weekends will be like before I leave. That and possibly recommended times of the year when it would be best for people to visit Annapolis would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
 
Weekends can vary. You could have duty some weekends. That means no liberty as you will have watch. In between watch you usually sleep, study and even watch some movies while others are on libo. If it’s a football weekend, it can vary. You could have some liberty before the game, if it’s late enough, then come back for March over and the game. Liberty usually after the game until late (not sure on time these days but around midnight). You could earn some weekends, mostly for football wins. So if you are in good standing with academics, pro knowledge, PRT, conduct and no watch, you can have the weekend away from the yard. Normal weekend liberty for a Plebe is Saturday you can go off the yard from around 10 to midnight (a current mid can give exact times) and Sunday is yard liberty. Plebes can leave the yard to attend church if they wish. If family comes you can often request via a chit special privledges like Sunday liberty. The better you are doing, the easier these are to get. Sometimes special liberty can be earned for things too. I don’t think things have changed too much, but I am sure a recent grad or current Mid can adjust this as needed.
 
Semper Gumby ( Be Flexible ) is the word. Current Midshipman can give you the official policies, and it may be possible to get extra privileges by Special Request chit (‘Hoops touches on it above, and CAPT MJ was more specific in the recent thread about a wedding- your Chain of Command will support you if you are squared away ). However, even the best plans can get ruined by circumstances beyond your control - I can remember at least one visit from my girl friend (now wife) interrupted by mandatory remedial drill because our Battalion Officer wasn’t satisfied with our Prade performance. ( DW still refers to USNA as the “jail school” )
 
Tell your family to move to Annapolis. They can watch your noon formation EVERYDAY! :)
 
Be flexible. We visited quite a few times Plebe Year. Saturday’s and Sunday morning are about as much as you can expect. Still, they were great.
 
General advice for all plebe parents...Let the plebe settle in, get a feel for the rhythm of the place, and make recommendations on timing. The duty section and watch schedule will impact some weekends, as will the academic testing schedule. He/she needs to be able to get their studying done, for both academic and plebe knowledge. Don’t expect them to want to give tours of the USNA Yard as a plebe; they will want OFF.

Three-day weekends are a good pick. Saturday and Sunday are both town liberty (off-Yard days), with Monday being Yard liberty.

Taking plebe and buddies out for dinner after a football game is also good.
 
Last edited:
Visits are hard. My son just finished plebe year and while he had several 3 day weekends, liberty off the yard is different for plebes. Over nighters rare and must be banked to get. Even using VRBO and hotels now require a chit/approval in advanced. Also plan for the annual boat show in Oct as it is super uber busy and hotel prices jacked up and this lands usually on a 3 day weekend. My mid is an AE major and is super busy. I visited during PPW and Iday but that has been it other than him coming home for vacations as his spare time went to his GF when he had liberty. Just plan for your family if they want to visits they may only be able to see you on the yard and that may be limited. It is gumby flexible and that is the new life everyone has to accept. You can plan but it may change right before they get there and it usually is out of your control.
 
Visits are hard. My son just finished plebe year and while he had several 3 day weekends, liberty off the yard is different for plebes. Over nighters rare and must be banked to get. Even using VRBO and hotels now require a chit/approval in advanced. Also plan for the annual boat show in Oct as it is super uber busy and hotel prices jacked up and this lands usually on a 3 day weekend. My mid is an AE major and is super busy. I visited during PPW and Iday but that has been it other than him coming home for vacations as his spare time went to his GF when he had liberty. Just plan for your family if they want to visits they may only be able to see you on the yard and that may be limited. It is gumby flexible and that is the new life everyone has to accept. You can plan but it may change right before they get there and it usually is out of your control.

Hotels do not require a chit. The revised MIDREGS says a chit is needed for booking an Airbnb or VRBO. This was instituted because of an issue with using those for house parties. Weekends are now no longer bankable, meaning that in the fall semester plebes will only be able to take an overnight the same night the meritorious weekend was granted, unless they earn one as an academic incentive at 6 weeks or 12 weeks (usually you need a 4.0 QPR, but depends on battalion).
 
Tell your family to move to Annapolis. They can watch your noon formation EVERYDAY! :)

The funny part of that is my grandmother was wanting to move but didn’t know where. Annapolis is now in her sights...
 
Visits are hard. My son just finished plebe year and while he had several 3 day weekends, liberty off the yard is different for plebes. Over nighters rare and must be banked to get. Even using VRBO and hotels now require a chit/approval in advanced. Also plan for the annual boat show in Oct as it is super uber busy and hotel prices jacked up and this lands usually on a 3 day weekend. My mid is an AE major and is super busy. I visited during PPW and Iday but that has been it other than him coming home for vacations as his spare time went to his GF when he had liberty. Just plan for your family if they want to visits they may only be able to see you on the yard and that may be limited. It is gumby flexible and that is the new life everyone has to accept. You can plan but it may change right before they get there and it usually is out of your control.

Hotels do not require a chit. The revised MIDREGS says a chit is needed for booking an Airbnb or VRBO. This was instituted because of an issue with using those for house parties. Weekends are now no longer bankable, meaning that in the fall semester plebes will only be able to take an overnight the same night the meritorious weekend was granted, unless they earn one as an academic incentive at 6 weeks or 12 weeks (usually you need a 4.0 QPR, but depends on battalion).


Maybe I was mistaken in the hotel chit but they did say they need to know even when they get a hotel room, recent change? Why is was it, same reason?
 
Maybe I was mistaken in the hotel chit but they did say they need to know even when they get a hotel room, recent change? Why is was it, same reason?
It has always been required for the Company Adj to know where you are staying if on weekend. I wouldn't worry about weekend lists and special requests chits yet. Stay focused on your 5m target. The small details will come with time.
 
Best advice is to make sure your parents let the mid decide when it is best for him/her to have weekend visits. Don't just drop in unannounced. Practices can also vary by company and you won't know about their expectations until after I day. The mid will also be in best position to know when they are busy with sports, military obligations, studying for exams.....etc. You can also find a number of older threads on this topic, but as mentioned above, certain details about current practices may be different from prior years.
 
As the OP has probably figured out, liberty for plebes is a juggling act. To be clear, they're not in a monastery and definitely get time off. However, at the same time, they're in a military school that is very tough academically. This means WEs can be consumed not only by stuff they are required to do (duty, football games, varsity sports practice) but also things they know they need to do (studying being the primary one).

It's tough when parents have to come a long way and pay a lot of money to see their plebe. Puts a lot of pressure on them. They want to maximize time with you and feel an obligation to do so, yet have to balance what is happening on the Yard, in their company, in their classes, etc. Thus, it's really a matter of going with the flow, especially first semester. Things definitely get better/easier after first semester and especially after plebe year.

The other thing I'll add is that, much as you are sitting at home missing your plebe, in almost all cases, he/she isn't having quite the same thoughts. First, the plebe has (hopefully) seen family at PPW. After that, there is so much going on -- upperclass showing up, classes starting, parades, football games, and on and on that your plebe will be fully engaged. Yes, he/she misses you and home -- but it's more of a "I just need a break for a few days" mentality than "I really need to see my parents/go home" point of view. Always try to see it from your plebe's perspective -- does he/she want/need to see you or do you need to see him/her? Not always the same thing.

There will be Thanksgiving, which is always a welcome break. If there's not time for your plebe to come home that long WE, consider coming to the greater Annapolis/Baltimore/DC area (assuming you can financially afford to do so).
 
Back
Top