In your downtime when you're not running, doing abs, and doing pushups, and since you won't be cramming Reef Points because the Navy store isn't selling it online any more, here are two books that I highly recommend for any incoming plebe who wants to have a sense of the "real" history of the institution was, in the sense of what it used to be like to be a mid about 45 years ago (and it was quite clearly tougher, not saying it was better though). Something to think of when you're tempted to feel sorry for yourself when the detailers are playing games with your squad in Bancroft. Both of these are available on Amazon.
1. The Return of Philo T. McGiffin: Funny-but-serious novel about a plebe in the late 1960s who is not too big, not too smart, and not too brave, but is desperately trying to make it at USNA. By David Poyer.
2. A Sense of Honor: Much more serious novel set at USNA, also in the late 1960s. Mids learning what it means to be a man of honor against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. By James Webb, later Sec'ty of the Navy and a U.S. Senator. Kinda heavy on testosterone but in a good way. Will make you want to be a Marine (which is good
).
Good luck to all of you. You can do more than you think you can.
1. The Return of Philo T. McGiffin: Funny-but-serious novel about a plebe in the late 1960s who is not too big, not too smart, and not too brave, but is desperately trying to make it at USNA. By David Poyer.
2. A Sense of Honor: Much more serious novel set at USNA, also in the late 1960s. Mids learning what it means to be a man of honor against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. By James Webb, later Sec'ty of the Navy and a U.S. Senator. Kinda heavy on testosterone but in a good way. Will make you want to be a Marine (which is good
).Good luck to all of you. You can do more than you think you can.