Do most mids get class rings?

D

ders_dad

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Our soon-to-be 2/C DS say he has no interest in getting a class ring - too expensive and he will never wear it because it “sends a bad message to those around him after commissioning”. I get the expense but I don’t get the second part.

We probably can help defray some of the cost for a ring (sounds like they are more expensive than engagement rings) - worried he may be passing on an important tradition for not so good reasons.
 
Some don’t wear them even after getting them. But the second reason, I disagree with. You can wear your ring daily and no one has an issue with it, it’s about performance and attitude in the fleet. If you are not good at your job, cocky and have a bad attitude… and happen to wear a ring daily, it will be mentioned. If you are good, no one will care. I wear mine for special events or when I happen to be in a full suit for bigger meetings at work. I do not wear it day to day. Bottom line - It doesn’t send a bad message, unless you suck as an officer. You can have pride in your school, it’s okay too. In fact I want Mids and grads to have pride, I want us to be involved in helping select the next generation of officers as BGOs and MOC boards, I want us to demand more of each other and what we have or had. Off soap box.
 
I’m a mom. My guy said the same (what 18-22 yr old has experience with wearing rings). He just had his first event where he could wear it , amd he was super proud and glad he had them.

He and I both agree, for him, doing it over again, he would have only ordered the ‘combat’ ring. It’s more his style, and he just likes it better! And much cheaper.

I also have a friend, whose son did not get either. He is fine. Graduated last year. His mom still wishes he had one. And he MAY at some point going forward...

There are ways to make them more affordable. I guess that would be my advice. To get one, and lessen the options to lessen the cost (if that’s a consideration). My sons ‘combat’ ring is silver (in color, maybe pewter?), no diamonds, stone is ‘granite from Bancroft hall, which I believe is actually stone from the same quarry as Bancroft...not chipped out of the walls 😂. But the thought, memories, symbolism, bold/sweat/tears that are represented in that ring are pretty cool. And he has already worn it once, just last week. He said that it was a cool thing, connects him to his classmates.

So obviously my vote is yes. But I’m a mom, with an understanding that things like this are more important years removed from usna. Vs today.

He should at least talk to the reps. They are not more expensive than engagement rings. You pay for certain features...the type of stone, adding diamonds, the type of gold, a ring box...to increase price. They are sales people, and my guy said it’s easy to get talked into up charges. But you can keep costs down. Mine did. Even more so by purchasing only 1.

He will *probably* get a little motivation from his peers designing theirs. On a FaceTime with my guy, a bunch of dudes were in the room all excited and talking about what they were going to do. So that may help his decision as well.

This was the first ‘big’ purchase my Mid made with his career starter loan. You son will have that available to him as well.
 
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The “ring people” will happily sell a grad a ring 50 years later. Feelings about the ring can change over time. Let it go, and let your mid make the decision they want.

As a “non-grad,” I never felt a SA class ring sent a bad message in and of itself. Only the person wearing it is capable of that by living up to the SA grad stereotype.
 
Gen. David L. Goldfein, former AF Chief of Staff, was an '83 USAFA graduate. He did not get his ring until 2019 along with the 2020 USAFA class. In short, he said he could not afford a ring during his Academy tenure. But, he wanted to celebrate it with, what he considered was "his class" (2020). He began his duties as COS (2016) when the Class of 2020 started and ended the year they graduated (2020).

So, as Capt MJ said, your DS can get a class ring at any time in the future, maybe when he feels it will mean more to him.
 
Capri120 said:
Gen. David L. Goldfein, former AF Chief of Staff, was an '83 USAFA graduate. He did not get his ring until 2019 along with the 2020 USAFA class. In short, he said he could not afford a ring during his Academy tenure. But, he wanted to celebrate it with, what he considered was "his class" (2020). He began his duties as COS (2016) when the Class of 2020 started and ended the year they graduated (2020).

So, as Capt MJ said, your DS can get a class ring at any time in the future, maybe when he feels it will mean more to him.
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That’s a NEAT story.
 
What's the "average" cost of a ring (granted, that the price can be excessive with precious metals/stones)?
 
WolfPackGrunt said:
What's the "average" cost of a ring (granted, that the price can be excessive with precious metals/stones)?
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Rings can range a lot but I would say most mids fall somewhere between $1200 and $2000.

Very seldom does a mid not get a ring at all. However, some mids choose to get a ring made out of Lustrium instead of Gold. The Lustrium ring, commonly referred to as the combat ring, cost $400 is you don't get a gold ring, and it cost about $150 if you get it in addition to a gold ring. Most mids that get a gold ring get a combat ring as well.

Class of 2022 Ring Catalog:

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United States Naval Academy 2022 Class Ring Catalog

Read United States Naval Academy 2022 Class Ring Catalog by Jostens on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. Start here!
issuu.com issuu.com
 
Capri120 said:
Gen. David L. Goldfein, former AF Chief of Staff, was an '83 USAFA graduate. He did not get his ring until 2019 along with the 2020 USAFA class. In short, he said he could not afford a ring during his Academy tenure. But, he wanted to celebrate it with, what he considered was "his class" (2020). He began his duties as COS (2016) when the Class of 2020 started and ended the year they graduated (2020).

So, as Capt MJ said, your DS can get a class ring at any time in the future, maybe when he feels it will mean more to him.
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Here's a video to go along with my previous post. And, yes, if you notice the ring on the outside of the white gloves; it is not "in reg", but most of the seniors did this :benny monkeysmilies:

 
Wife and Daughter skipped some scheduled event and wandered over to the where the "ring people" were setting up (not Daughter's idea). As it was slightly before they officially opened there were only a few Mids and parents there. Go Early. When we passed by later it was mobbed. Daughter rarely wears her ring but is glad she got it when she did.
 
DS got a ring this year. He considered a "combat" ring, but decided that he doesn't really like wearing rings (he never has) and will just wear his on special occaisions in dress uniform.

I have always worn a wedding ring, but my gold one is in the safe and I wear a gold-tone silicone ring every day.
 
Temple17 said:
The Lustrium ring, commonly referred to as the combat ring, cost $400 is you don't get a gold ring, and it cost about $150 if you get it in addition to a gold ring.
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DD's class ring, fancy gold version, is "in the shop." So for the commitment dinner last Friday, she wore the combat version. Sent us a photo, along with the message that "it's awesome!" And indeed it is. For those who'd rather not spend big, the combat version -- along with the great memories of struggle and triumph that it represents -- is more than adequate.
 
ders_dad said:
say he has no interest in getting a class ring - too expensive and he will never wear it because it “sends a bad message to those around him after commissioning”
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Four ships and three times stationed with the Marines. I've worked with lots of naval and Marine officers and nobody gives a rat's patootie what kind of jewelry they wear. I've only heard the term "ring knocker" a couple times in 26 years not on TV or in a movie. A class ring is the same as where an officer attended college. Nobody cares.
 
I got a ring. To this day, I wear it every day when I am outside of my home (don't wear any rings, including wedding ring, at home). Always wanted one and have always worn it as a personal reminder of the accomplishment of making it through USNA at a time when 25% overall and 35% of women didn't graduate.

I never cared what other people thought about my wearing it. I saw folks wear rings from civilian universities, wear wedding rings, wear no rings. Personal preference and had no bearing on how I viewed them. Their actions were what counted, not what they wore on their fingers.

I realize $1200 seems like a lot of money for a mid. However, in a few short months, they will be earning ~$60k per year (including housing allowance). And, when you amortize it over the 60+ years you'll wear it . . . well, they're probably spending $20k+ on a car they'll drive for 4-5 years max.

I don't understand the concept of a "combat ring" especially in addition to a "traditional ring." Maybe b/c we didn't have them in our day. I guess I can see someone who wants a cheap ring doing it. But why you'd buy two rings is beyond me. If it's not a good idea to wear your regular ring (real combat, situation where it could be stolen or damaged), just don't wear a ring period.

I think every 2/C should do what he/she wants and can afford. However, as parents, it might help to remind them that life is a LONG journey. Yeah, they could get a ring later, but they probably won't (the example above being an exception).

[As an aside, in our day, if you didn't want to order a ring, you had to go visit the Dant and explain your choice. Not many made that trip.;) You also could charge your ring to your Mid account in our day (and didn't get your leftover money until graduation) so no cash up front was required.]
 
I think the combat ring is clever marketing that has been accepted as a norm. DH never wore jewelry of any kind while deployed or flying, laughs about the combat ring concept. I’m not sure when the “combat ring” pitch was first made, but Jostens, Balfour and other “ring people” happily and smartly marketed the “combat” descriptor, which is certainly part of the charm designed to appeal to purchasers.
 
usna1985 said:
I got a ring. To this day, I wear it every day when I am outside of my home (don't wear any rings, including wedding ring, at home). Always wanted one and have always worn it as a personal reminder of the accomplishment of making it through USNA at a time when 25% overall and 35% of women didn't graduate.

I never cared what other people thought about my wearing it. I saw folks wear rings from civilian universities, wear wedding rings, wear no rings. Personal preference and had no bearing on how I viewed them. Their actions were what counted, not what they wore on their fingers.

I realize $1200 seems like a lot of money for a mid. However, in a few short months, they will be earning ~$60k per year (including housing allowance). And, when you amortize it over the 60+ years you'll wear it . . . well, they're probably spending $20k+ on a car they'll drive for 4-5 years max.

I don't understand the concept of a "combat ring" especially in addition to a "traditional ring." Maybe b/c we didn't have them in our day. I guess I can see someone who wants a cheap ring doing it. But why you'd buy two rings is beyond me. If it's not a good idea to wear your regular ring (real combat, situation where it could be stolen or damaged), just don't wear a ring period.

I think every 2/C should do what he/she wants and can afford. However, as parents, it might help to remind them that life is a LONG journey. Yeah, they could get a ring later, but they probably won't (the example above being an exception).

[As an aside, in our day, if you didn't want to order a ring, you had to go visit the Dant and explain your choice. Not many made that trip.;) You also could charge your ring to your Mid account in our day (and didn't get your leftover money until graduation) so no cash up front was required.]
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We had a class of "77' guy in my company who had to go to explain to the supe why he wasn't getting a ring. He might have been the only one in the whole class and was 4.0 academically in an era when that was almost unheard of.
 
Combat rings were rare in our class. I can’t even think of anyone who got one. Not sure how it works now, but we had $500 taken out of our Mid pay to go towards a ring. Anything above that was out of pocket. I know gold is much more expensive than ‘my day’ but a Mid could get a cheap gold ring for about that. We also had to visit the Dant if we declined a ring.
 
And lest we leave any money lying on the table, Google “Jostens USNA Class Crest jewelry.” Pins, tie tacks and bars, cuff links, pendants, charms, etc. I gave DH a pair of the cuff links in antiqued gold like his ring for his 25th reunion. You will see some ladies walking around Annapolis, particularly at parades or football games, awash in class crest pins - their own, a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a DD or DS, a grandparent.

One of our sponsor mids gave his mom the pendant on his Commissioning Day. Tears all around.

The USNA Alumni Assn took over the whole ring business and the contract a few years ago. USNA itself has to approve the class crest design and motto. I think USNA realized it couldn’t be involved in forcing people to buy jewelry or the perception of doing so.
 
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