First Phone call

H

helmsdown

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We received our first phone call from DD. I was a bit apprehensive wondering if it would be positive or "I just want to come home." Just like when we saw her toothy smile after swearing in, her tone set the mood today. She talked non-stop and overall is enjoying it as much as you can. Parts she said are a lot of fun but the mental part she could use less of. PEP isn't bad and she isn't sore although some in her company are. She asked us to stop sending food as she doesn't have time to eat it. She barely passed her first inspection and they are not allowed to sleep on top of the bed. "I am required to strip my rack everyday." She apparently has trouble making the bed or it takes too long.

She chose rowing for her summer sport and joined the choir at church. Now I can relax and enjoy the summer.

I want to thank everyone who has answered not just mine but the questions of others. You all have helped make this process better and easier to navigate.
 
Your DD will get LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of practice making her rack! The cadre thoughtfully provide rack races and "dead bugs" for just that purpose!

So pleased to hear she's adjusting well. Other parents: do not panic or fret if your DS/DD sounds hoarse or down in the dumps or even says s/he wants to come home. The process is unpredictable sometimes, but it works!
 
Glad she is doing well. Too much food is often heard and Plebe Summer they will strip their beds daily... we all did it multiple times a day! Part of the lesson that repetition is critical to the military. I don't think any of us passed our first inspection so she did well! As the weeks move on, Plebes realize they can handle anything physically. They can knock out a 100 push ups or whatever is thrown at them without an issue, the mesntal portion and drive
to perfection increases. Hope everyone got their call. As long ago said, don't stress too much of the call isn't as up beat, they will be just fine!
 
...barely passed inspection....

Just FYI DD failed a uniform inspection went back to her room - made no adjustments and then (to her surprise) was called to another uniform inspection which she passed with flying colors and congratulations for taking the time to get it right

Point being - sometimes it's just part of the game

Congrats on a good positive call
 
Capt MJ said:
I predict hoarse and rasping voices - "Plebe Hack" - within the next two weeks.

It's all Cops and Robbers. At graduation, everyone joins the Cops!
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Has anyone noticed the little bottles of Purell hand sanitizer they are wearing on their belts next to their canteen? Wondering if this is an effort to prevent the spread of "Plebe Hack"?? I just noticed it in some photos of them all standing out on the parade field making their phone calls, so did not have a chance to ask my DS about it. Pretty darn funny.
 
Hadn't noticed, but handwashing hygiene undoubtedly suffers during PS. Bugs imported from all over the country and foreign nations, cross-pollinated with air travel, shared surfaces everywhere, lots of close contact with others' exhalations, stress - recipe for a germ stew.
 
GoBigRed88 said:
Has anyone noticed the little bottles of Purell hand sanitizer they are wearing on their belts next to their canteen? Wondering if this is an effort to prevent the spread of "Plebe Hack"?? I just noticed it in some photos of them all standing out on the parade field making their phone calls, so did not have a chance to ask my DS about it. Pretty darn funny.
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They had them last year, too. I think The Hack is a main reason.
 
helmsdown said:
She barely passed her first inspection
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Define "barely passed"...If everything is not strewn across the room like a tornado hit, its a success ! No one really expects perfection the first time --like anything else its a learning curve, the upperclass are always going to find something if they want to. Besides establishing the expectation for cleanliness and material readiness that is necessary in the fleet, room inspections teach attention to detail. By the end of Plebe year, preparing for a room inspection becomes second nature.

I saw a funny picture on my Class Facebook Page last night...gaggles of Plebes out on Worden Field making their first phone call home. (They were out on the prade field so to ensure decent reception). You can imagine the comments from my classmates who went through Plebe year before cell phones were invented.
 
My DD had the Hack. She is SIQ for two days. On an antibiotic and an inhaler. She sounds good and actually said staying in there bunk is worse than being out with the company. She hopes to get cleared today.
 
If only they learned it for life. While at TBS my son and another NROTC guy tripled up with a USNA grad. The USNA grad was the biggest slob they've ever seen and most of their time prepping for room inspections was spent cleaning up his crap. Oh well. :rolleyes:
 
My roommates ar TBS were both ROTC grads and the bigger slobs! Oh man, I wanted to punch them. Then again we had maybe 2 room inspections there and the ROTC and PLC grads panicked while all the USNA and SMC guys sort of waited until the last minute and had it ready to go with no issues.

No one wants to be SIQ. Yes the sleep is nice, but the peer pressure or being labeled weak is not what anyone wants and therefore drives Plebes back into the action. Detailers know this and watch closely to ensure someone isn't putting themselves in harm by continuing.
 
NavyHoops said:
My roommates ar TBS were both ROTC grads and the bigger slobs! Oh man, I wanted to punch them. Then again we had maybe 2 room inspections there and the ROTC and PLC grads panicked while all the USNA and SMC guys sort of waited until the last minute and had it ready to go with no issues.

No one wants to be SIQ. Yes the sleep is nice, but the peer pressure or being labeled weak is not what anyone wants and therefore drives Plebes back into the action. Detailers know this and watch closely to ensure someone isn't putting themselves in harm by continuing.
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DD was put on SIQ and missed the parade. We did get a 4 page letter out of it and she is fine other than the hack. Apparently they are putting masks on them now to minimize the spread. She enjoyed the sailing and made it to the top of the rope climb which seemed like an accomplishment based on her tone. She also gave us a run down of her squad members. I was still a bit worried about her but this letter put it all to rest until I hear otherwise.
 
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Glad you heard from her and she is doing well! Plebe hack will be settling in for tons of them. As far as spreading... it will happen. Just part of the exhaustion, 1200 people from every walk of the earth, sweating, nerves, in and out of A/C while sweat soaked. Part of the gig. The rope can be a challenge especially for women. Congrats to your DD for solving it the first run thru. It is all technique and not strength to get up it. Running the course once really doesn't give them the time to practice a ton. It's a taste of it and they will get other chances when their bodies aren't so wrecked to really work on it.
 
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