Class of 2022 - Commissioning is Friday May 27, 2022

WT Door said:
I was introduced to Caipirinha by a Brazilian submarine officer and wife in Rio atop Sugarloaf Mountain. It was at mid-day with Annapolis type heat. Not one, but two. Yowsers! Commissioning Week has a wonderful vibe all around with non-stop activities. Beware of those Caipirinhas or other concoctions, or maybe not ... ;). It's a week to be celebrated. Good luck to all those planning for the big event! Oh, and bring ear plugs when the Blue Angels fly.
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I had 2 Capairinhas. Or maybe they had me. Yowsers most definitely.
 
Oh. I like cachaça and anything that involves muddling limes.
 
Had a tour of the "Cisne Branco" (the White Swan) one year in Newport for Tall Ships. Love those Tall Ships. They did not serve a welcome aboard.
 

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They are holding an event in Annapolis called Commissioning 101 in conjunction with President’s Day weekend on Feb 19, 2022. At this event more specific details will be shared regarding Commissioning week and policies surrounding attending events. This may not be easy for families to get to but if you happen to be in town, you can use the registration link that should be available by the end of this week. They will also video record this event and provide the PowerPoint presentation and make it available for all parents to view on the website shortly after the event.

Dates regarding Commissioning week (as they are listed on the USNA global calendar).
5/18 Youngster Luau
5/21 Ring Dance
5/23 Herndon
5/25 Blue Angels
** Spring Break is from March 12 – 20 (expires on 1800 on the 20th)

Here’s a link to the Yard Arm Newsletter (https://www.usna.com/parents/newsletters). You can find updated info on events and information regarding USNA and USNA Alumni Association. This is a quarterly newsletter and will have an updated one in March.
 
Also there is such a thing as The Academy Families Travel Network.
This is a great network for military families that open their house to other families/mids/cadets when they are traveling at no cost. Remember this network is for our kids, mids and cadets, but it is also for us to use as we travel the country visiting our kids. It's sort of an "AirBnB" for couch surfers who need a place to stay for a night or two, and it's free.

If you haven't heard of it and want to know more, contact your local parent's club.
 
I have attended the “commissioning week 101” presentation three times now…once live (for my own info), once virtual as part of the Parent Officers Club training, and also the last 2021 virtual event for grad parents (thinking it would contain info specific to altered ‘21’s commissioning. Which it didn’t. It was the same as the other two presentations with the caveat ‘TBD, but this is how it was done in the past’).

It’s good. It’s also the EXACT same presentation. Same slides, same person, same info. And available on their website. 24/7. So….do not feel like if you miss this event, that you miss the presentation about commissioning. Linked below. And the rest of the event is visiting booths. And other presentations that were ‘sales pitches’ for the presenter. Ie: USAA financial planning.

The entire event is like a ‘career fair’ of different vendors. Food, photog, gifts, catering, etc. All of which you can find without attending. You visit different booths set up and gather materials. It’s nice to go to if you are there, but, imo, not mandatory. And more of a sales pitch open house with vendors. Good info, yes. But the MEAT of commissioning info was taped, and available on USNA.edu site.

Sharing! Links are the slides and video, and book. Towards the bottom.

 
THParent said:
Also there is such a thing as The Academy Families Travel Network.
This is a great network for military families that open their house to other families/mids/cadets when they are traveling at no cost. Remember this network is for our kids, mids and cadets, but it is also for us to use as we travel the country visiting our kids. It's sort of an "AirBnB" for couch surfers who need a place to stay for a night or two, and it's free.

If you haven't heard of it and want to know more, contact your local parent's club.
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Yes my DW just learned of this from a post on the "Mid Moms and Dads" FB page. Looks like an awesome network. We have already registered as a "host" family and looking forward to our first visitors.
 
MidCakePa said:
@justdoit19, great gouge! Thanks.
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And if you do attend, have your Mid run over. The samples are AHHHmazing…if they are allowed bc of Covid this year. Crab dip. Desserts. BBQ. You get the picture. Also, at the end, leftovers are scooped into clamshells. Which can be grabbed to go (for the Mids, of course 😉 ). Vs them tossing the food. Don’t be shy!!
 
THParent said:
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Very clever how the 50 year link in the chain between '72 and '22 is woven into the design of the class crest. I thought the chain was connected to the anchor, but apparently it isn't.

For some trivia, the Class of 1922 graduated a midshipman named Hyman G. Rickover. Admiral Rickover is known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy." 2022 Mids have spent some time in Rickover Hall during their four years. That's a hundred year graduation connection!
 
A few thoughts. Keep track of who the graduation speaker will be -- the more "important" he/she is, the more security and the longer the lines. Arrive early! Early means several hours early. Every year, the march on starts and throngs of people are standing in long lines outside the stadium.

Late May in Annapolis can mean almost any type of weather. It can be in the low 70s with low humidity or close to 100 degrees with 90% humidity. It can be very sunny and you'll be in the sun all morning. Bring water (you may also be able to buy it in the stadium but am not sure), a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen.

Bring binoculars. My understanding is that only grads will be allowed to sit on the field (in the past, some parents and VIPs could sit there as well). You'll be a distance away so hard to find your mid without help.

Parents -- unless photography is your passion, designate someone other than you to take pictures. You want to enjoy the ceremony -- live in the moment. When you're trying to focus the lens and get the perfect shot, you suddenly realize that you didn't actually "enjoy" this moment of achievement that you helped so much to make possible.

Bite the bullet and pay for the "official" pictures (from a private company) and video (I assume this is still done). I GUARANTEE that their pictures will be better than yours. Pres. Reagan was our speaker and he (at the very last moment) decided to shake hands of all graduates. I have a great picture of my shaking his hand that I'm looking at as I type. It is one of my proudest moments and had we not paid for the official photos (which, in our case, had to be done in advance), I would never have had it. I also have video of the ceremony and the entire week. Some of my classmates didn't get any of it and wish they had.

Depending on where you live and your particular circumstances, consider holding a "party" in your home town after graduation. This advice may be a bit dated b/c in our day, the number of graduation tix was limited to 10 per mid and there was no such thing as live streaming. My parents did a lunch right after graduation (agree to book early) for the attendees. Maybe a week later they had a lovely party (think of wedding reception w/o the wedding) at a venue where we lived for all those who'd supported me but who couldn't be there in person. I wore my uniform and had plenty of time to talk to people, etc. post the stress and excitement of commissioning week . Just an option.
 
usna1985 said:
I have a great picture of my shaking his hand that I'm looking at as I type. It is one of my proudest moments .... . I also have video of the ceremony and the entire week.
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^ Hey, I have the same photo ! To bad the video is on VCR -- I need to get it converted to a CD before its too late.

usna1985 said:
unless photography is your passion, designate someone other than you to take pictures
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^ That's me .... DW is our family photographer , she loves her cameras and loves looking at pictures later. I live in the moment and rarely carry a camera (or use my phone camera), and frankly don't look back at pictures very often.
 
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