C/O '26 parents - place to commiserate and share. Roller coaster for the next 3 years!

Ahhhh…so nice to have to not deal with covid. Both of my guys had fantastic opportunities cancelled. International LREC for my 22, as well as firstie cruise and protramid. All cancelled.

Never take these amazing opportunities for granted!
 
… so rollercoaster transformed into a gratitude journey.
… tidbits from the yard.

/Spring Break/
* Friday. DS Ran 10 miles before coming home.
* Saturday. We lifted weights in Halsey Field House and saw the Football Coach there. Outside the gate, there was a Marathon-like race complete with a semi-funky band playing in the rain. Since most roads were blocked going to gate 8, we had an unplanned sightseeing tour all the way to gate 1. Later that evening, he went out with his friends to Arundel Mall. I’m just amazed about his friends from the yard: Mids, book store staff, logistics-supply personnel.
* Sunday. Aborted a Date due to weather. Flood warning on the yard; blocked starting in Alumni Hall all the way to the backroads of Morocco. Assembled a brand new IKEA Bed/Frame since the old one is getting small (and super stinky according to his mom and got rid of it). The D+ grade in Probability-Statistics proved useful since the assembly instructions were written in a foreign language. He crashed out soon thereafter and his mom woke him up and asked why there were so many extra parts, nuts, bolts laying around. “Oh, the Swedish are very generous,” he responded.
* Monday-Tuesday. Home. Celebrated 21st birthday… with a Chinese Dinner takeout and a cake.
We watched Top Gun 2 and Annapolis back to back. Chatted the whole way as if watching a documentary drama. DW could not figure out the constant chatter. During one of the bar scenes with naval aviators, I blurted about two bars (referring to the 03 rank-railroad track; Captain/Lieutenant). “Oh..., don’t hangout much in bars,” was the response. Ok, good to know. The Severn was super glossy today.
* Wednesday-Saturday. Florida. Joined 4 Midshipmen.
——-‘——-‘——-‘——-‘——-‘———‘——
/Summer Cruise/
* Location-TBD. Requested Pearl Harbor.
* 2nd block-Surface. +- 3 weeks.
* 3rd block-Leave. Dates pending on cruise date. +-3 weeks.
* 1st block-YP. If YP is the same route as last year
(rough seas —> NY) then he will have a mini-vacation again because he stayed with his friend in Manhattan; other Mids stayed in hotels.
-——-‘—-—-‘—-—-‘—-—-‘—-—-‘—-—-
/Community/
* Higher Grace moment. On the drive to the gym, out of nowhere he just blurted another branch-community. I advised him to talk to authorities on the yard. He had been talking to them. I’m sure the cadre(s) will guide him through the training evolutions. And I am contributing to the Land Component skill sets-tactics.

For C/O 2026 Friends:

 
severn said:
... so part of his leadership development was dealing with higher ups. I think if you are in the military 🎖️ business long enough, you will have one or two or three Commanders who are just borderline conduct unbecoming (smart enough not to get a UCMJ investigation {layman's terms a total jack@$$}).
Plebe Spring Semester, he made a D- in Naval History and while making mostly A's including Calculus. He just couldn't see eye to eye with this fellow. I've guided him most of his life so I know where he is coming from. And I surely knew the type of leader the professor was. The type I don't want to meet in BWI or I'll deal with him. A parent from C/O '25 mentioned that this professor was just fired. At this early on his military journey, I don't really mind if he only stays for 5 years after graduation. Life is too short and there's no need to be subjected to tyrannical and maniacal military commanders.
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Dealing with this almost an HR report coworker now. Total a$$hat and so disrespectful and unprofessional. He has now been referred for coaching and mentoring to align with our company culture and human decency. I’m hesitant to believe he will change. Old dog old spots. This is his third career.

It’s one thing to turn yourself inside out to achieve goals and maintain positive culture. But to do that for someone that doesn’t buy in makes you question everything.

I think this may be an overarching issue with military and Government leadership.
NavyHoops said:
I was forced to do Detail my 1/C summer. I hated it. It’s exhausting, you are ‘on’ every second, you get sick from Plebes, they smell. I hate yelling. I also had a fellow 1/C company mate die while he was on leave. I was the senior person from my company on the yard at the time with a new Gunny and Company Officer who had never met my classmate. Calling my classmates, pulling his room mates off cruise, coordinating a uniform for a funeral, shipping his stuff home and everything that went with that was an experience (not sure I even have words to this day). It was quite the summer. It took me several weeks into the academic year to recover physically and mentally from 3-4 weeks.
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I just caught this. I’m so sorry. And what a difficult thing to navigate as a novice leader. And with so many responsibilities on your plate. I can’t imagine grieving personally while dealing with protocol and notifications. A very difficult thing to have navigated. And I’m sure you deserved a hug or five and many a breakdown when you had ten seconds to do so.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Two months until yours takes that next step @Heatherg21 !! I can't even begin to imagine the excitement and nervousness you and your family are experiencing.
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As a fellow 24, I can say it is very similar to the look an average deer gives you as they sprint 10 feet ahead of your car going 60mph and contemplating whether they are going to clear it or splatter.
 
justme said:
As a fellow 24, I can say it is very similar to the look an average deer gives you as they sprint 10 feet ahead of your car going 60mph and contemplating whether they are going to clear it or splatter.
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I’ve been through it before. BUT, still all the feels, as with the first time. Maybe less FOMO. And I will have better shoes this time 🙄

I’m more excited I think for my fellow parents, who have yet to experience a BIG USNA EVENT with their Mids. I feel like we have been waiting forever to participate WITH our Mids, in something like this (No Iday, Herndon closed). Iday and commissioning are the biggies. Finally, ‘24 will have their moment. I super happy for my fellow parents who haven’t had an experience, yet.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
You guys really needed a roller-coaster thread. ;)
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Not really. The rolller coaster was parked and not moving. Pretty meh.

Unless you mean ‘get off our thread’ 😬…but to circle back, ‘26 don’t ever take the opportunities for granted. Make the most of them. They aren’t guaranteed.

BUT it’s ‘24’s claim to fame. And they made it. And persevered. And are better for doing through it. It’s going to be a great week. Finally.
 
My DS told us that he is going to be a detailer - but that information is very new so his summer blocks are changing. He has an internship to do research, detailing, and cruise. I have a feeling when things get figured out, we will be lucky to see him this summer. I agree with the parents that have gone before - never know what challenges you're going to face so attitude is critical. I'm working on my attitude because I miss him. :sadwavey:
 
... so FYI only.
... USNA Summer Training Information.

* FY 23 USMC PTE Options.
+ Marine Air Ground Task Force. {Note: from earlier discussion, this is the only training evolution where a rising 3/C is allowed to participate; alternative to YP}. Midshipmen will be assigned a junior Marine Officer as a running mate and experience the daily battle rhythm of Marines in a particular unit.
+ Marine SECFOR. Security Forces is offered to Midshipmen who express an interest in a Marine Corps commission. Must have MARSOT screener.
+ Marine Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC). MWTC is offered to Midshipmen who express an interest in a Marine Corps commission. Must have MARSOT screener.
+ RTAP
+ MARSOC/Recon
+ MCIWS
+ MAI
+ MAI-T
+ FFI
+ Army Airborne. Must have MARSOT screener.
+ USMA Cadet Field Training (CFT). Located in the wilderness by the no-name river.


* Summer Training Block Dates
Block 0. 13-23May
Block 1. 28May-21June
Block 2. 24June-19July
Block 3. 22July-14Aug
 
Can't believe classes are done on May 1!! Kid told me his exam schedule, but I already forgot it. ;) Looks like he will have about 5 days of intercessional/ad-hoc leave between when he finishes and commissioning week stuff begins. Then, Block 1 leave, at least so far.

Damn, this year flew by.
 
Sure did!! I just bought my guy tickets to come home during his intercessional leave. IDC that I will see him only a week later for commissioning week. I’ll take any time I can get with my fam.

My oldest is PCSing internationally. So we also have a whole fam trip planned one last time this summer. Spending the bank, but someday we won’t have the opportunity to gather all together. So we take advantage of every moment we get.
 
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Quick visit with the dude this weekend so we could bring him down his running shoes, which he left over Spring break by accident. Just grabbed some ice cream and popped in a few shops with the littlest dude and wifey. Nice, chill visit.

He's still working past his break-up with his GF, but at least he doesn't seem to be in the mindset that he should leave anymore. :eek2:

3/C in his company have their pro-know test today, I think (or whatever they call it as Youngsters). He didn't seem to stressed about it.
 
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