Block #1 schedule question

J

Just Dad

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I am thinking of changing my handle to “High Maintenance USNA Parent”-----I could use some more information/opinion from you folks who have “been there”.

Rather than try to craft specific questions, and risk missing the info I’m looking for I’m just going to give you all the circumstance I am trying to address.

Our USNA DD has advised us that she has put in for “Summer Seminar” (block 1); Cruise (Block 2); Leave (Block3).

Our USNA DD says that she is fairly confident that she will get her Summer Seminar posting. The Plebe’s grades are now beyond my “need to know” but I know she is in the top half of her class, and likely in the “top 25%-30%”. She also says that USNA has been recruiting Mids for Summer Seminar. Between the two data points my Plebe thinks the odds of doing summer seminar are pretty good.

Daughter #2 is in many respects a twin to our USNA DD. Adopted from China she is deeply connected to her nuclear family and is Jones-ing badly for her sister. I wondering if shipping her back to Annapolis in May/June to see her sister and DC might make sense. IF the USNA DD would have some reasonable amount of time to spend with her.

I was thinking that Daughter #2 could spend a day or two in Annapolis, during the week and the two girls could head into DC for a Weekend together. Here are the questions I can think to ask.

1) Is there any kind of break between the end of the academic year and the start of Block #1 that we could take advantage of?

2) Are summer blocks more 9-to-5ish (allowing the two girls time in the evening mid-week before heading out for the weekend)?

3) Does anyone know the specific dates for start/end of each block? (or do they float some)? Note do these dates exist for Summer Seminar.

4) Would Summer Seminar as a Block #1 posting allow us to take advantage of 4th of July weekend in DC?

5) Is there something critical I forgot to ask, or you think I should know about? (last deposition question)

I know everyone is focused on admissions this time of year but any info on this subject would be helpful.

BTW I did google around on this bit and couldn't find definitive answers. I may be needy, but I'm not lazy.


Thanks
 
With luck, some recent summer seminar detailers or parents of will check in with current info. If summer seminar runs into the weekends for turnover between sessions, your DD will be working. If there are evening events for NASSters, detailers will be working. The NASSters are not left alone all night, so someone has the duty. It's a job, though considered a cushy deal.

Your DD, once she knows she is on the detail, will attend briefings. She can also talk to current youngsters and former NASS detailers about how liberty works for detailers, both weeknight and weekday. That is where the real gouge will come.

Let your DD figure out a plan that might work. They do get liberty, of course, but they are essentially babysitting the NASSters. Many of our sponsor mids were NASS detailers, and we would get same-day calls they had a Wed night off till midnight or a Saturday overnight, and had to be back by noon on Sunday, or similar. Then, someone could get sick, and those plans would evaporate.

Block 1 essentially starts on Comm Day Friday afternoon. Block 1 folks are checking in for various summer blocks, Block 0 folks are checking back in, Summer School starts Monday. Briefings occur Sat and Sun at Block starts.

It's always a bit chaotic. I was the Summer Programs officer for two summers when I was a BattO. After graduation, it was a sprint back to Bancroft as the Brigade dissolved, company areas were secured, officers and senior enlisted reported for their summer jobs after wrapping up ac year company business, mids checked in for sailing, YPs, summer school, other training blocks. I moved out of my ac year office to the BattO's office in the wing where Summer Programs lived. NASS staff set up in another wing. Sports campers were in another. Another wing or two gets prepped for PS staff and incoming class. Bedlam.

So...best advice. Let your DD do the heavy lifting on determining her likely availability.


Keeper links to USNA calendars:

https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Calendars-Events/Anchor-Dates.php

https://www.usna.edu/PAO/calendars.php


There is something called "intersessional leave" - an informal break between end of last exams and whatever the plebe schedule demands. Again, your DD will figure it out.
 
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Concur, only your daughter will know her schedule. Best bet is probably the timing between graduation and the start of Block #1, but your DD would know the timing of that and what her availability is.
 
DD did O BLOCK and sailed 44'S to Newport after Plebe Year and met with her sister (sounds like your #2). She loved it but they missed Herndon. Then again she thought that was a plus. They will know their schedule but keep checking the Calendar. Had leave but I don't remember when it occurred after other Blocks. Had Bataan for Fleet Week in Boston but the Captain told the Mids to get lost for the week so she spent some time with her former High School friends and roomates.
 
If your Plebe is working Summer Seminar or a Detailer for Plebe Summer - hoping to visit with them during their free time is not a great option. Those roles in particular tend to require the Mid to be on site 'baby sitting' full time. If they are working a course during Plebe Summer vs in a Company, their evenings may open up.

If your Plebe is working Summer Seminar, I would not make plans expecting to see them.
 
DS was a NASS detailer last year and was busy to the point he'd miss meals during NASS - hence a phone call home to ask for $ on his yard card so he can eat out of the vending machines. I am not sure if he had any free time between sessions.
 
I wouldn't even begin to explore the issue until there is confirmation of being selected to NASS detail (as CaptMJ stated...LOTS can change in the interim). If I recall, there are between 2-3 NASS detailers per company and company officers/admissions have the final say on selection. Good grades are important but there could be other factors that go into selection.
 
@Just Dad, the two links from CAPT are important: I frequently refer back to them.

4th of July weekend is in Block 2. Two years ago DD was on her summer cruise on USS Stennis. COD onto the flight deck from San Diego while ship was conducting training ops in SoCal. She transited back to homeport in Bremerton and guess where DD and friends spent their Fourth of July 4-day weekend? Seattle!

Edit: COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) is the use of aircraft to ferry personnel and cargo, etc from shore.
 
ktnatalk said:
@Just Dad, the two links from CAPT are important: I frequently refer back to them.

4th of July weekend is in Block 2. Two years ago DD was on her summer cruise on USS Stennis. COD onto the flight deck from San Diego while ship was conducting training ops in SoCal. She transited back to homeport in Bremerton and guess where DD and friends spent their Fourth of July 4-day weekend? Seattle!

Edit: COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) is the use of aircraft to ferry personnel and cargo, etc from shore.
Click to expand...

Well then she will move out here one day. Once they've been here they always come back! ;) I did a little work on the Stennis For JWIDs when she was in Norfolk years ago. The Jacksonville too as I recall.
 
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