Commissioning week from an extended family perspective

[newtonsapple]

We are a veeeeery extended family. The future Ensign (or 2nd Leutenant as the case may be) has a pretty sizeable immediate family. We definitely don't want to even imply that we should be considered for events for which the Mid has limited tickets.

Which events during the week are worthwhile to attend either without tickets, or with tickets to which the Mid will have "unlimited" access, so that we don't impose?

We plan to be upfront about it with the parents so that nobody stresses unnecessarily.

 

[THParent]

The only event that I am aware of which requires a ticket is the actual commissioning ceremony in the stadium. All other events are open to the public if you can legally gain access to The Yard (Real ID at the very least, DBIDS Card, or Military ID).

It has been a few years, but I recall there being static displays of various military hardware sprinkled around The Yard, including helicopters and V22 Osprey tilt-rotor craft. If you make it out to Hospital Point really early (before they close down access to The Yard for security) on the day that The Blues do their air show, it's a wonderful place to watch super hornets fly directly over your heads.

We did a cook out with various libations. We attracted quite a few MIDNs that day.

 

[justdoit19]

Many events of the week do not require tickets. USNA really puts on a show!! There will be a “comissioning week guide” that will show which are ticketed events, and which are not. Maybe you could find last years, as a reference. Or someone will link. But googling should get you to it, or the general comissioning week parents info on USNA’s website.

The biggies that come to mind, are the Supes garden party, and perhaps other very specific events (ie an athletic dinners). But there will be lots for everyone to attend.

Commissioning is a ticketed event, but only the ‘company seating area’ is limited ticketed seating. You can ask xxx tickets for general seating, which is awesome and wonderful seats. No worries at all (unless it’s storming and the event is moved indoors, and then each Mid is only allowed two. Period. But this has happened in recent memory).

Don’t worry about this. Go. Enjoy the week. So much to see, do, and experience. You will be busy and exhausted. Congrats to your future officer.

 

[justdoit19]

The only event that I am aware of which requires a ticket is the actual commissioning ceremony in the stadium. All other events are open to the public if you can legally gain access to The Yard (Real ID at the very least, DBIDS Card, or Military ID).

It has been a few years, but I recall there being static displays of various military hardware sprinkled around The Yard, including helicopters and V22 Osprey tilt-rotor craft. If you make it out to Hospital Point really early (before they close down access to The Yard for security) on the day that The Blues do their air show, it's a wonderful place to watch super hornets fly directly over your heads.

We did a cook out with various libations. We attracted quite a few MIDNs that day.

(A little birdie told me your cook out was epic )

 

[MidCakePa]

Other than the graduation and commissioning event, the only other limited-access event that comes to mind is the Supe's garden party. Truly a great event. But probably best done with a few people. DD was intent on introducing us to officers and SEL who had helped her along the way. Those were done in threes and fours, which allowed for great and personal conversation.

(I believe the ball also required tickets. We came, we stuck around for a bit, we left. It was packed, loud and a bit chaotic keeping track of people. We'd had dinner with DD and her sponsor family earlier, so felt like we'd gotten our "money's worth" for that evening.)

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Yeah, the garden party is limited to just a few tix. Other than commissioning, we did not have any need for tickets to anything.

We didn't even need tix for the Mom-Prom. And it was so packed there was barely any room to move by a half hour in or so, and when we left, there were still people coming!!