Northstream
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2010
- Messages
- 92
Any insight what you would have sent if you had just known she needed X, or maybe Y?
Hind sight is always good for the rest of us
Hind sight is always good for the rest of us
Care Packages, Wish I Had Sent?
- Thread starter Northstream
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2009
- Messages
- 884
Are you asking for Plebe Summer or Academic Year?
for Academic year:
white pillow cases. plain, no frills.. They are issued one. and can't get it in the wash cycle for inspection. uses spares on daily basis and saves issued pillow case for inspection.
bleach pen
tide stick
cliff bars
cliff shots
lint brush
portable, hand held steamer
face soap
kit to repair eyeglasses
index cards and small file box for index cards
these have been the winners for my plebe
for Plebe Summer, don't send index cards and file, steamer, lint brush, or face soap.... everything else was needed and appreciated.
for Academic year:
white pillow cases. plain, no frills.. They are issued one. and can't get it in the wash cycle for inspection. uses spares on daily basis and saves issued pillow case for inspection.
bleach pen
tide stick
cliff bars
cliff shots
lint brush
portable, hand held steamer
face soap
kit to repair eyeglasses
index cards and small file box for index cards
these have been the winners for my plebe
for Plebe Summer, don't send index cards and file, steamer, lint brush, or face soap.... everything else was needed and appreciated.
PLEBE SUMMER:
Try to drop off your first care package the day before or the morning of I-Day.
I highly recommend the individual packs of drink mix that can be poured into water bottles. The water in Annapolis tastes like crap in general, but the old pipes at the academy are especially bad about leaching into the water. I really liked Propel because it tastes good and it mixes clear so it can't stain your White Works like Gatorade can.
Send shout wipes, you get issued some but it's always good to have more. I found Tide pens to be almost completely worthless compared to shout wipes or bleach pens.
Chafing can be a problem that gold bond can't always solve, I liked having body glide for that.
Clif bars, powerbars, and the like are awesome to get. Don't forget about homemade cookies.
I grew to appreciate having magic erasers, swiffer dusters, and various kinds of tape (duct, masking, packing). They all made cleaning and moving easier.
AC YEAR:
Make sure you don't have a crappy cell phone that doesn't have media and email capabilities, you will thank yourself later in the AC Year when you can play games in some down time to unwind and you were able to get emails on the go without being back at your computer (chopping up stairs to check your email really blows). My roommate almost got fried earlier this year for not doing something in response to an email he received while at class and didn't read until it was almost too late.
COOKIES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look into getting magazine subscriptions. I get Scientific American, Time, The New Yorker, and the Atlantic Monthly delivered to my PO Box at the post office. You don't always have the time to read everything but it is important to stay informed and it gives a good source for the current events articles that you will rate knowing as a plebe.
PRINTER: You will probably want to just get a printer on PPW, you can either get one at staples or officemax in Annapolis or you cant buy a printer at the Midstore.
There isn't much that you need from home that you can't buy from the Midstore, I highly recommend such conveniences as...
a.) An electric razor, they are great time savers in the mornings. Personal preference here, this is the one I own and it works great. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-ES8...MY9Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1304316364&sr=8-2
b.) A small clip on fan for the cubbiehole above your rack such as this one, http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HACP7B...P4WO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304315215&sr=8-1
c.)Your own personal pillow, the issued ones suck and offer almost no support. I've grown quite fond of my brookstone memory foam pillow, during the ac year you really don't have to worry about upperclass taking that stuff away b/c they understand how important sleep is and that you should be doing whatever you can to get as much sleep as possible in during the hours you are allowed to be in your rack (2200-0630).
d.) Going along with that, I also recommend getting a sleep mask. You will be living in a room with at least 2 other people who will likely being doing things at different times of the night. Make sure their work doesn't interfere with sleeping. I like this one http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary...Z6FK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1304315847&sr=8-6
f.) Something to consider a little ways down the line is to get a second monitor, it is very common here to have more than one connected to your computer. I got my second after Christmas and it has been awesome. It makes doing much of the computer based homework we do here less cumbersome and time consuming. I got a good deal on newegg, check there. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009255
g.) For Christmas I asked for a good multitool, they are very handy to have around due to their versatility.
Try to drop off your first care package the day before or the morning of I-Day.
I highly recommend the individual packs of drink mix that can be poured into water bottles. The water in Annapolis tastes like crap in general, but the old pipes at the academy are especially bad about leaching into the water. I really liked Propel because it tastes good and it mixes clear so it can't stain your White Works like Gatorade can.
Send shout wipes, you get issued some but it's always good to have more. I found Tide pens to be almost completely worthless compared to shout wipes or bleach pens.
Chafing can be a problem that gold bond can't always solve, I liked having body glide for that.
Clif bars, powerbars, and the like are awesome to get. Don't forget about homemade cookies.
I grew to appreciate having magic erasers, swiffer dusters, and various kinds of tape (duct, masking, packing). They all made cleaning and moving easier.
AC YEAR:
Make sure you don't have a crappy cell phone that doesn't have media and email capabilities, you will thank yourself later in the AC Year when you can play games in some down time to unwind and you were able to get emails on the go without being back at your computer (chopping up stairs to check your email really blows). My roommate almost got fried earlier this year for not doing something in response to an email he received while at class and didn't read until it was almost too late.
COOKIES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look into getting magazine subscriptions. I get Scientific American, Time, The New Yorker, and the Atlantic Monthly delivered to my PO Box at the post office. You don't always have the time to read everything but it is important to stay informed and it gives a good source for the current events articles that you will rate knowing as a plebe.
PRINTER: You will probably want to just get a printer on PPW, you can either get one at staples or officemax in Annapolis or you cant buy a printer at the Midstore.
There isn't much that you need from home that you can't buy from the Midstore, I highly recommend such conveniences as...
a.) An electric razor, they are great time savers in the mornings. Personal preference here, this is the one I own and it works great. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-ES8...MY9Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1304316364&sr=8-2
b.) A small clip on fan for the cubbiehole above your rack such as this one, http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HACP7B...P4WO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304315215&sr=8-1
c.)Your own personal pillow, the issued ones suck and offer almost no support. I've grown quite fond of my brookstone memory foam pillow, during the ac year you really don't have to worry about upperclass taking that stuff away b/c they understand how important sleep is and that you should be doing whatever you can to get as much sleep as possible in during the hours you are allowed to be in your rack (2200-0630).
d.) Going along with that, I also recommend getting a sleep mask. You will be living in a room with at least 2 other people who will likely being doing things at different times of the night. Make sure their work doesn't interfere with sleeping. I like this one http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary...Z6FK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1304315847&sr=8-6
f.) Something to consider a little ways down the line is to get a second monitor, it is very common here to have more than one connected to your computer. I got my second after Christmas and it has been awesome. It makes doing much of the computer based homework we do here less cumbersome and time consuming. I got a good deal on newegg, check there. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009255
g.) For Christmas I asked for a good multitool, they are very handy to have around due to their versatility.
Much has been written here past years about plebe summer care packages.
I will add one thing to comments above. We arrived in Annapolis two days before I-Day. I mailed that first package in a shoebox size Rubbermaid tub from DTA post office the day before I-Day. I was concerned about mailing it too early......BTW, you cannot hand deliver the first care package, even though you are there on the yard.....
So, we left Annapolis the day after I-Day and drove to Texas, arrived home on Saturday after a Wednesday I-Day. Monday, I sent second package.
The second package, mailed in Texas, arrived BEFORE the one mailed from DTA the day before I-Day. Moral of the story, don't worry about mailing the first care package too early.
One other addition: safety pins. Son and his roomies pinned their sheets tightly so they didnt even have to straighten them day to day. Slept on top of the sheets.
Body Glide is a life saver for the mids. Can be tough to find, so hunt it up now.
Sam's or Costco has boxes of individually packaged nuts, trail mix, snack bars, even Clif Bars now, you can get the boxes, and assemble your packages from them weekly. Chocolate is not a great idea, for obvious reasons. They don't need junk food anyway!
I will add one thing to comments above. We arrived in Annapolis two days before I-Day. I mailed that first package in a shoebox size Rubbermaid tub from DTA post office the day before I-Day. I was concerned about mailing it too early......BTW, you cannot hand deliver the first care package, even though you are there on the yard.....
So, we left Annapolis the day after I-Day and drove to Texas, arrived home on Saturday after a Wednesday I-Day. Monday, I sent second package.
The second package, mailed in Texas, arrived BEFORE the one mailed from DTA the day before I-Day. Moral of the story, don't worry about mailing the first care package too early.
One other addition: safety pins. Son and his roomies pinned their sheets tightly so they didnt even have to straighten them day to day. Slept on top of the sheets.
Body Glide is a life saver for the mids. Can be tough to find, so hunt it up now.
Sam's or Costco has boxes of individually packaged nuts, trail mix, snack bars, even Clif Bars now, you can get the boxes, and assemble your packages from them weekly. Chocolate is not a great idea, for obvious reasons. They don't need junk food anyway!
Northstream
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2010
- Messages
- 92
WOW
thanks for all the great info, the voices of experience!
anyone else? any female preferred items? My wife is making me print this out right now
thanks for all the great info, the voices of experience!
anyone else? any female preferred items? My wife is making me print this out right now
DON'T Bring those things with you or send them to plebe summer, wait until parents weekend for things like that.
female items
Black compression shorts for everyday of week. DD wanted to wear those whenever wearing man sized gym shorts. Also, she continues to wear them under uniform as a way to keep all shirts straight.
If she cuts her hair short and then decides to let it grow she will need some slick goop to hold in place to meet military spec. They sell at Walgreens. Very funny trip to NJ beauty salon where some very East Coast ladies helped fix her up during parents weekend. They were fascinated by her and she was fascinated by them. Also, lots of bobby pins.
Duct tape also works to hold sheets.
Simichrome for polishing. Ordered on Amazon.
Later on send pjs from home. Too feel like home DD would put them on under issued military sweats. Send female scented body wash and febreeze. I asked why she wanted all this Febreeze and was told the guys can really stink so when we cant stand it we Febreeze them.
Be prepared to resend everything a size smaller later. DD went wearing size small mens and now wears boy size undershirts.
Black compression shorts for everyday of week. DD wanted to wear those whenever wearing man sized gym shorts. Also, she continues to wear them under uniform as a way to keep all shirts straight.
If she cuts her hair short and then decides to let it grow she will need some slick goop to hold in place to meet military spec. They sell at Walgreens. Very funny trip to NJ beauty salon where some very East Coast ladies helped fix her up during parents weekend. They were fascinated by her and she was fascinated by them. Also, lots of bobby pins.
Duct tape also works to hold sheets.
Simichrome for polishing. Ordered on Amazon.
Later on send pjs from home. Too feel like home DD would put them on under issued military sweats. Send female scented body wash and febreeze. I asked why she wanted all this Febreeze and was told the guys can really stink so when we cant stand it we Febreeze them.
Be prepared to resend everything a size smaller later. DD went wearing size small mens and now wears boy size undershirts.
Here's the lowdown on phones
USNA has wifi in certain areas of the yard (academic buildings, library) and you can get your wireless devices on the USNA network. Supposedly I have heard that you can take your device to IT and they will wipe it clean and install it onto the network. Not really an option for most people and really limited in usefulness considering we were issued netbooks anyway.
I recommend two things...
1.) Have a good multimedia phone, a lot of people have iphones or similar smartphones. I'm not telling you to break rules and rate media...I'm just saying that during the ac year your company training staff will almost never take your cell phone away so it's a relatively safe place to keep things like music and videos so that when you go on MO's or to your sponsors you can have something to pass the time with. Also, don't go and blow hundreds of dollars on a new phone if it isn't a good idea for you financially but in the limited number of possessions you have at USNA a good phone can make a big difference.
2.) I recommend that you have a wireless data plan for your phone if only to get email when on the go. Having data for checking other things is great too, I read current event articles with a Time Magazine app on my blackberry in between classes. The only thing with this is that you need to forward your USNA email to something like a gmail account because it's a pain to have to login through the browser all the time.
I was talking about have dual monitors earlier...here's my setup
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nIM4LU_3hrE254nicRUWQvnGqBIee5-8msvmQinG5Zk?feat=directlink
Any more questions, feel free to ask.
USNA has wifi in certain areas of the yard (academic buildings, library) and you can get your wireless devices on the USNA network. Supposedly I have heard that you can take your device to IT and they will wipe it clean and install it onto the network. Not really an option for most people and really limited in usefulness considering we were issued netbooks anyway.
I recommend two things...
1.) Have a good multimedia phone, a lot of people have iphones or similar smartphones. I'm not telling you to break rules and rate media...I'm just saying that during the ac year your company training staff will almost never take your cell phone away so it's a relatively safe place to keep things like music and videos so that when you go on MO's or to your sponsors you can have something to pass the time with. Also, don't go and blow hundreds of dollars on a new phone if it isn't a good idea for you financially but in the limited number of possessions you have at USNA a good phone can make a big difference.
2.) I recommend that you have a wireless data plan for your phone if only to get email when on the go. Having data for checking other things is great too, I read current event articles with a Time Magazine app on my blackberry in between classes. The only thing with this is that you need to forward your USNA email to something like a gmail account because it's a pain to have to login through the browser all the time.
I was talking about have dual monitors earlier...here's my setup
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nIM4LU_3hrE254nicRUWQvnGqBIee5-8msvmQinG5Zk?feat=directlink
Any more questions, feel free to ask.
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2009
- Messages
- 884
Gave second monitor to DS for his bday..... he's a happy plebe, especially since it has speakers!
Northstream
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2010
- Messages
- 92
How To Size
Some advised purchasing certain "female" clothing articles because the navy provides only male clothing.
Is this a good idea? How to size while expecting reduced body weight? For plebe summer or academic year? Do all companies allow?
thanks
Some advised purchasing certain "female" clothing articles because the navy provides only male clothing.
Is this a good idea? How to size while expecting reduced body weight? For plebe summer or academic year? Do all companies allow?
thanks
Snapdragon
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2011
- Messages
- 1
Thank you very much
To Singaporemom & Slammy01 and everyone who is posting the specifics about care packages for plebe summer and for the following academic year. I really appreciate all of the information. I want to help by sending just the useful things to help DS this summer and fall.
To Singaporemom & Slammy01 and everyone who is posting the specifics about care packages for plebe summer and for the following academic year. I really appreciate all of the information. I want to help by sending just the useful things to help DS this summer and fall.
MomoftheMagik
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2010
- Messages
- 403
Now that my officially-former Plebe is home, I asked him what was best in his care packages.
Here were his favorites, followed by some things he couldn't use:
PLEBE SUMMER
Fruit snacks
Protein bars
Shout wipes
Febreeze (apparently Plebes don't smell so good
)
Homemade cookies
(He couldn't use the drink mixes in his company. I bought a ton of them, and he ended up throwing them away. I know many companies allowed them, but 12 didn't.)
ACADEMIC YEAR
Fruit snacks
Gardettos
Dry cereal (I sent the little boxes in variety packs.)
Lint roller (for dark uniforms)
Bathroom wipes
Dusters
...and money in any way shape or form
(He asked me not to send energy bars after Plebe Summer, but I think that was just a personal preference.)
Also, as Slammy mentioned, he is now asking for a phone upgrade this summer.
By November, he pretty much knew what he needed/wanted and would communicate that to me. It was nice to know that I was sending what would really be useful to him. I always stuck in little surprises of my own as well, which he loved.
Here were his favorites, followed by some things he couldn't use:
PLEBE SUMMER
Fruit snacks
Protein bars
Shout wipes
Febreeze (apparently Plebes don't smell so good
)Homemade cookies
(He couldn't use the drink mixes in his company. I bought a ton of them, and he ended up throwing them away. I know many companies allowed them, but 12 didn't.)
ACADEMIC YEAR
Fruit snacks
Gardettos
Dry cereal (I sent the little boxes in variety packs.)
Lint roller (for dark uniforms)
Bathroom wipes
Dusters
...and money in any way shape or form
(He asked me not to send energy bars after Plebe Summer, but I think that was just a personal preference.)
Also, as Slammy mentioned, he is now asking for a phone upgrade this summer.
By November, he pretty much knew what he needed/wanted and would communicate that to me. It was nice to know that I was sending what would really be useful to him. I always stuck in little surprises of my own as well, which he loved.
For silly surprises: I got some "Pig Shooters" at Cracker Barrell........other silly toys that they can blow off steam with are fun to send once or twice a year. My 2/C likes the individual mac n cheese and tuna salad things. I finally triend one of the mac n cheese deals......ok.....I have always done that sort of thing "from scratch." Mine loves Clif Bars and Horizon Milk for after working out.
Also.....beef jerky, lip balm, nuts.....can make zip lock bags of nuts, dried fruit, yogurt covered raisins.......
Yes, they can get many of these items at the mid store.....but they get so busy in the ac year that you sending the stuff is really appreciatedl......
Once, on request, I sent sticky mouse traps. And they were used and worked.
Also.....beef jerky, lip balm, nuts.....can make zip lock bags of nuts, dried fruit, yogurt covered raisins.......
Yes, they can get many of these items at the mid store.....but they get so busy in the ac year that you sending the stuff is really appreciatedl......
Once, on request, I sent sticky mouse traps. And they were used and worked.
Don't forget that once PS is over, Plebes will be able to go to the Mid Store. Their prices are sometimes better and sometimes worse that what you would pay elsewhere, but it's not a bad deal when you factor in sales tax (none charged at Mid Store) and shipping. So you can also consider sending $ or putting money on a Yard Card.
The Yard Card is getting to be pretty useful. You can add money to your Mid's card on-line at any time. It can now be used not only at the Mid Store, but also for things like the washer-dryers (not for Plebe use) in Bancroft, and the coffee shop in the library. I think it can also be used in the food area in Dahlgren.
The Yard Card is getting to be pretty useful. You can add money to your Mid's card on-line at any time. It can now be used not only at the Mid Store, but also for things like the washer-dryers (not for Plebe use) in Bancroft, and the coffee shop in the library. I think it can also be used in the food area in Dahlgren.