Any advice for parent of MID going to board

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vmtony

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Apr 26, 2023
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Just joined this forum.
Hi Everyone,
My MID just informed me that he got boarded for failing PRT twice. Last PR failed was by less than 5 seconds. He is getting the docs he needs ( character statements, character witness). He is a 3c right now, so last chance.

Any suggestion to a parent what we can do and advise?
 
Is he taking advantage of extra training offered (or required)? I know the the Mids tasked with assisting those that need help, take it seriously (Mine is one of them and gets up extra early to work with them). The support is there!!

Is he tending to his nutrition/health habits?

Could he be self sabatoging? On purpose?

No need to answer, but he will know what he needs to do in order to remedy his current situation.
 
justdoit19 said:
Is he taking advantage of extra training offered (or required)? I know the the Mids tasked with assisting those that need help, take it seriously (Mine is one of them and gets up extra early to work with them). The support is there!!

Is he tending to his nutrition/health habits?

Could he be self sabatoging? On purpose?

No need to answer, but he will know what he needs to do in order to remedy his current situation.
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Yes, he is taking advantage, even consulting sports doc on the yard for mental preparartion.
What can he do to make the case for retainment successfully.? He has the heart at right place.
 
As a 3/C, your son will be evaluated not only on his trends in the PRT to date, but potential to consistently pass in future. This is a requirement to graduate, and regular PRTs in the Fleet are part of the life, year in, year out. USNA will separate 3/C midshipmen they believe are in real danger of not passing as a 2/C and being involuntarily separated WITH the very real risk of monetary payback required after having signed two-for-seven obligation contract at the start of 2/C academic year. Every year, midshipmen are separated for this reason, and 3/C are particularly closely looked at in the spring.

The review board will look at everything, and evaluate the case per policy, precedent and the individual case. They will look at any extenuating circumstances, whether the mid took advantage of every form of assistance and made this a priority.

It is all in his hands now. He can be a great mid with good academic, honor and military aptitude, but this is one of those must-do’s to graduate. As I noted, USNA is reluctant to allow 3/C struggling in this area to take on the service obligation as a 2/C.

If the worst happens, and he is not retained, he will have 2 years of free college under his belt, with all the potential he had before to excel in a new path. This is an administrative proceeding, so it stays at USNA. There is even potential to go to another commissioning program, if he is able to consistently pass the PRT without trouble. If he is separated, there will be a form with various recommended/not recommended blocks for future military service.

I wanted to lay this out candidly. We have had at least 3 good mids separated as 3/C from our USNA sponsor family for a history of failure to pass the PRT.

I know this is hard to watch. Excruciating, most likely. Just love him and let him work it through.

And welcome new member of barely 40 minutes - so sorry this is what you are dealing with.
 
justdoit19 said:
Is he taking advantage of extra training offered (or required)? I know the the Mids tasked with assisting those that need help, take it seriously (Mine is one of them and gets up extra early to work with them). The support is there!!
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^^^ THIS ^^^

USNA gives failing mids a lot of opportunities to recover, and a lot of support to do so. The remedial PRT training sessions are there to help mids not just pass the next one, but to also excel physically beyond graduation. DD was a coach for one semester. She was surprised how many failing mids did NOT take advantage of this program — either half-assing it or blowing it off completely. Encourage your mid to take any and all help that’s available.
 
Thank you.
He is taking advantage of all opportunities ( morning BTT, sports doc consultation , character coach). On character front, helps out lot of MIDS struggling in academics as MGSP, has excellent support and rapport with academic advisor.

Now since it is 1 week before board, what can he do to come out successful. Any stories of MIDS who have come out of it successfully? What have they done going into these boards.
 
Why can't people get it through their heads that physical fitness is a non-negotiable requirement for ALL commissioning programs?

How many more posts like this must we endure? WHY don't parents, applicants, and cadets/mids seem to understand?

GWU PNS recently posted a post titled "At the Risk of Sounding Sarcastic..." that addresses individuals who can't follow directions.

The saddest thing is that this is a slow burn....these kids have had months and even years to get themselves into the minimum condition to pass their branch's fitness test.
 
vmtony said:
PJust joined this forum.
Hi Everyone,
My MID just informed me that he got boarded for failing PRT twice. Last PR failed was by less thansd 5d seconds. He is getting the docs he needs ( character statements, character witness). He is a 3c right now, so last chance.

Any suggestion to a parent what we can do and advise?
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Were the roommates and squad members helping at all?
Since plebe summer, my
DS always talked about helping each other during PRT even sacrificing the timed run.
 
JohnMcLane said:
Why can't people get it through their heads that physical fitness is a non-negotiable requirement for ALL commissioning programs?

How many more posts like this must we endure? WHY don't parents, applicants, and cadets/mids seem to understand?

GWU PNS recently posted a post titled "At the Risk of Sounding Sarcastic..." that addresses individuals who can't follow directions.

The saddest thing is that this is a slow burn....these kids have had months and even years to get themselves into the minimum condition to pass their branch's fitness test.
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This sort of thing really saddens me to read.

This parent doesn’t need a lecture from you about their mid.

My son maxes the PRT. And he has more compassion for his fellow mids to not tolerate anyone saying this to a struggling mid. And he has worked to help his peers with struggles - academic, military, pro knowledge, physical fitness.

This is a team.
 
I’m sorry your mid is going through this and by default, as a parent you are as well. The angst is real. Ignore snarky remarks posted previously.

There are plenty of reasons people may struggle with a PRT, too many to list. And you don’t need to share specifics here.

Sounds like they are doing what they can and taking advantage of additional opportunities made available to them.

I can’t speak to it personally but I would always say that when going in front of any board, owning why you are there is critical.

Helping others is awesome. Just make sure he isn’t helping others in lieu of working on his own deficiencies. Balance is key.

I wish good things for your 3/C.
 
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From another service, I did not really understand about being a good shipmate. I understood early plebe summer when my DS started telling me about how they're pushing each other during the
PRT timed run. He can max the run but would rather stay in the back and help his roommates and squad.


Heatherg21 said:
I’m sorry your mid is going through this and by default, as a parent you are as well. The angst is real. Ignore snarky remarks posted previously.

There are plenty of reasons people may struggle with a PRT, too many to list. And you don’t need to share specifics here.

Sounds like they are doing what they can and taking advantage of additional opportunities made available to them.

I can’t speak to it personally but I would always say that when going in front of any board, owning why you are there is critical.

Helping others is awesome. Just make sure he isn’t helping others in lieu of working on his own deficiencies. Balance is key.

I wish good things for your 3/C.
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.
Our daughter is a pace setter for her struggling friends and other mids …. She doesn’t train with them regularly because they couldn’t keep her pace …. They place struggling mids in workout programs according to their results.

During the PRTs, our daughter is always there to “Tow” her friends along… she is dangling the carrot …
.
 
Dr. Strange Love said:
.
Our daughter is a pace setter for her struggling friends and other mids …. She doesn’t train with them regularly because they couldn’t keep her pace …. They place struggling mids in workout programs according to their results.

During the PRTs, our daughter is always there to “Tow” her friends along… she is dangling the carrot …
.
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My son, post major injuries, needed all the help he could get mentally and emotionally. One buddy ran with him, others came and cheered him on to finish (possibly some sailor language was used), that is what shipmates do for each other.

I’d bet I could find some very appropriate quotes from Gates of Fire for this. And none of them would be belittling those trying to achieve something that isn’t always easy.
 
Performance boards involving retention or dismissal are the most intimidating thing a midshipman can face during their time at USNA. Seemingly everyone seated at the table has a glass of water in front of them except for the one being evaluated. Your DS may be given a chance to make a comment before the board’s final decision. If he truly desires to remain at the Naval Academy, he must project that desire. He has to confidently outline, in detail, what he intends to do now and over the remaining two years to pass the PRT on the first try. This may be a hard sell given his past performance. If retained, he should consider himself a lucky man. There will be added pressure going into 2/C year particularly after signing his 2/7 commitment papers. Your unconditional support will help your DS move forward after the final decision is made.
 
@vmtony, if your kiddo is doing MGSP they are doing something right, for sure.

I would think that the letters, character statements he can get from his chain of command will be key. Does he have a senior enlisted he has a rapport with? Mentors within his major? I would think that a good character reference could go a good distance.

I know it did when my son had a different kind of board.
 
JohnMcLane said:
Why can't people get it through their heads that physical fitness is a non-negotiable requirement for ALL commissioning programs?

How many more posts like this must we endure? WHY don't parents, applicants, and cadets/mids seem to understand?

GWU PNS recently posted a post titled "At the Risk of Sounding Sarcastic..." that addresses individuals who can't follow directions.

The saddest thing is that this is a slow burn....these kids have had months and even years to get themselves into the minimum condition to pass their branch's fitness test.
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This mid has already well surpassed run standards for the Navy and all other Navy commissioning programs; USNA just has even higher standards.

Not saying your point doesn't have at least some validity, just saying if this were NROTC, OCS, or the actual Navy, there would not be any problem.

The USNA standards are most difficult for the older MIDN, college re-applicants and fleet returnees, folks that sustained some injury, and athletes that maintain a heavy physique (rugby, football, etc.). It's not always as simple as choosing to be a fat-body. And it's always frustrating to know this would not be an issue literally anywhere else in the Navy.
 
nuensis said:
This mid has already well surpassed run standards for the Navy and all other Navy commissioning programs; USNA just has even higher standards.

Not saying your point doesn't have at least some validity, just saying if this were NROTC, OCS, or the actual Navy, there would not be any problem.

The USNA standards are most difficult for the older MIDN, college re-applicants and fleet returnees, folks that sustained some injury, and athletes that maintain a heavy physique (rugby, football, etc.). It's not always as simple as choosing to be a fat-body. And it's always frustrating to know this would not be an issue literally anywhere else in the Navy.
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💯%. D1 athletes can row or bike the run.

I have very not popular thoughts on these rule variations. Won’t waste the OP’s worthy post to opine on them.

Once in the fleet? Totally different PRT.
 
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