General Questions for 2021

Hey, I'm a sponsored prep cadet here at Marion Military Institute. I had a few questions..
What is the cell phone policy for plebes during the school year?

What are the chances I will be placed in band company if I do not play an instrument?

I have yet to hear back from kp, but I believe they will be sending mine and 9 others appointments soon, I was wondering if you've heard any word about that?

Thank you for your help!

The chances that you're placed in band company without playing an instrument are pretty low, but it could happen since they are always short of people.

Cell phone policy next year will most likely be you won't have it for most of your first trimester, and you'll probably get it back after that. For my class, we basically didn't have it for a full year.

How do the sponsored prep kids generally do academically and regimentally?

Sponsored preps are usually not the best academically, but that isn't a hard and fast rule. I do know a couple of sponsored preps who are smart, it's just the minority. Regimentally, sponsored preps sort of have a head start on that, so the transition is a lot easier, but they hate becoming plebes again after they already went through that at NMMI or MMI. But then again, the school is changing the plebe system a lot for next year to make it less of a plebe system.
 
What are the chances I will be placed in band company if I do not play an instrument?

If you want to be in Band Co., be sure to mention that during when you're checking in for Indoc. If you end up with a "B" on your hand, you're in. There are several people with little to no musical experience in Band Co. They usually put those folks in the percussion section and teach them to twirl their sticks. The good thing about Band Co. is if you're struggling with your course work, the entire company is practically made up of academic tutors.
 
What are the chances I will be placed in band company if I do not play an instrument?

If you want to be in Band Co., be sure to mention that during when you're checking in for Indoc. If you end up with a "B" on your hand, you're in. There are several people with little to no musical experience in Band Co. They usually put those folks in the percussion section and teach them to twirl their sticks. The good thing about Band Co. is if you're struggling with your course work, the entire company is practically made up of academic tutors.

What about color guard and rifle drill team? Do you need to state your interest in either of these two at Indoc?
 
WI-Dad20/21 Are you sure you can request to be in BandCo on day 0 of Indoc? Historically, the company assignments were/are done well before the plebe candidates show up and as you started the check in process you were/are told, you are in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or Band Co and you went to (ran to) your company area (your new home) on Barney Square.

Azmilmom, I truly don't know about rifle/drill team but I believe that you can sign up for them, just not sure if it is on day 0 or during Indoc.

Again things change each year...but plebe year will still be a bunch of fun...not
 
What are the chances I will be placed in band company if I do not play an instrument?

If you want to be in Band Co., be sure to mention that during when you're checking in for Indoc. If you end up with a "B" on your hand, you're in. There are several people with little to no musical experience in Band Co. They usually put those folks in the percussion section and teach them to twirl their sticks. The good thing about Band Co. is if you're struggling with your course work, the entire company is practically made up of academic tutors.

What about color guard and rifle drill team? Do you need to state your interest in either of these two at Indoc?
Assuming things haven't change toooo much ... Plebes will get exposed to all of the regimental extracurricular activities during indoc with the opportunity to sign up.

I would suggest to anyone to strongly consider limiting their non-athletic extra curricular activities. I know there is a bunch of stuff that seems pretty cool and it can be tempting to sign up for all of them. I never heard a graduate say "I regret not doing drill team plebe year. I feel like only having done it for three years is a real weak spot on my resume" but I have seen many potential classmates leave prior to graduation for having focused on the extra and not enough on the curricular.
 
WI-Dad20/21 Are you sure you can request to be in BandCo on day 0 of Indoc?

What about color guard and rifle drill team?

@BuckeyeGuy - I believe you are correct and company assignment is based on your USMMA application. My 2020 DS was pretty confident he'd be in Band Co. and showed up to Indoc with his trumpet on his back. Sorry for the confusion.

@azmilmom - As @KPEngineer said, the Plebe Candidates will have the opportunity to sign up for extracurricular clubs during a "club day" where many of the clubs have information booths set up on the square. That's where they'll find out about color guard and drill.
 
WI-Dad20/21 Are you sure you can request to be in BandCo on day 0 of Indoc?

What about color guard and rifle drill team?

@BuckeyeGuy - I believe you are correct and company assignment is based on your USMMA application. My 2020 DS was pretty confident he'd be in Band Co. and showed up to Indoc with his trumpet on his back. Sorry for the confusion.

@azmilmom - As @KPEngineer said, the Plebe Candidates will have the opportunity to sign up for extracurricular clubs during a "club day" where many of the clubs have information booths set up on the square. That's where they'll find out about color guard and drill.

Thanks, wasn't sure if color guard/rifle drill was a club type thing or something else. :)
 
KP2020mid, I will be attending USMMA this June and was just wondering how the course exemptions worked. I already have a lot of college credit as I am a sophomore at NMMI. I was reading the logging in packet for class of 2019 and it said that there was a limit to 12 credits of exemption, however, I called the registrar and they said this was not true. Thanks for your help.
 
KP2020mid, I will be attending USMMA this June and was just wondering how the course exemptions worked. I already have a lot of college credit as I am a sophomore at NMMI. I was reading the logging in packet for class of 2019 and it said that there was a limit to 12 credits of exemption, however, I called the registrar and they said this was not true. Thanks for your help.
There is some kind of limit since you have to keep a minimum course load of 12 credits in order to maintain your status as a full time student.
 
KP2020mid, I will be attending USMMA this June and was just wondering how the course exemptions worked. I already have a lot of college credit as I am a sophomore at NMMI. I was reading the logging in packet for class of 2019 and it said that there was a limit to 12 credits of exemption, however, I called the registrar and they said this was not true. Thanks for your help.
There is some kind of limit since you have to keep a minimum course load of 12 credits in order to maintain your status as a full time student.

If you don't have the 12 hours, they either just front load the courses, or you take electives.

About rifle/drill team, you can step up and participate in that whenever you want, I wouldn't worry about that at all on day 0 of indoc.
 
What kind of rates do plebes have to memorize during Indoc? Rank insignias, mission statement, etc..?

Just hoping to get a head start :)
 
What kind of rates do plebes have to memorize during Indoc? Rank insignias, mission statement, etc..?

Just hoping to get a head start :)
and Chain of Command, Fight Song, Alma Mater ... this only scratches the surface
 
Menu of the Day, Uniform of the Day, How to parallel generators, all of the squares, walkways, buildings, Mission. . . all kinds of stuff. A few things I actually still remember after nearly 40 years. . . . but most I do not. Oddly enough, I don't recall having to remember the 11 General Orders. . . Ah, Plebe Knowledge. . .
 
Got it! Thank you!

Are the 11 General Orders included in the rates we need to know or are those exclusively for the armed forces?

definitely know the superintendent's name, how to do a square, mission, alma mater, general orders, leadership traits, the fight song for sure, our core values, the stuff about buildings and all comes later for the PKTs. They don't really test that stuff during indoc. Maybe watch a couple of videos about rifle drill, which is a lot of indoc. It really is worth memorizing some of this before hand, saves you the humiliation, although some would say that adds to the experience...
 

Kings Point Victory

We're marching down the field to victory
Men of the Grey and Blue
We've got the ball, our opponents must fall,
So hit' em hard, hit' em hard
RAH, RAH, RAH,
We'll raise a banner to the Mariners
Victors on land and sea.
Gridiron men of the Merchant Marine.
Its a Kings Point Victory.
RAH, RAH, RAH!!!!!



USMMA-Kings Point Alma Mater
Oh, Stately, strife born Alma Mater
The sound flows softly at thy feet
And sunset strikes across its waters
As silver notes invoke retreat.
Now dim the paths and trees in darkness.
The stars above our way appoint.
We'll Sleep secure aboard 'til morning.
God steer thee well, Kings Point!"
 
Kings Point Victory
We're marching down the field to victory
Men of the Grey and Blue
We've got the ball, our opponents must fall,
So hit' em hard, hit' em hard
RAH, RAH, RAH,
We'll raise a banner to the Mariners
Victors on land and sea.
Gridiron men of the Merchant Marine.
Its a Kings Point Victory.
RAH, RAH, RAH!!!!!



USMMA-Kings Point Alma Mater
Oh, Stately, strife born Alma Mater
The sound flows softly at thy feet
And sunset strikes across its waters
As silver notes invoke retreat.
Now dim the paths and trees in darkness.
The stars above our way appoint.
We'll Sleep secure aboard 'til morning.
God steer thee well, Kings Point!"

If you learn any of this stuff before indoc, don't be "that guy" who shows off in front of everyone around you. Your classmates will not be happy with you and you will be sorry.
 
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