You're both right re: NAPSters' uniforms on I-Day. They had to check in early Monday (civvies OK), then report in by 2200 in dress blues -- the wool ones. No Dixies @ NAPS these days.
Son was pretty calm (although he did reveal uncharacteristic excitement in the Mid store on Monday when he saw his name on the "Class of 2011" shirt).
Husband and I held up pretty well during the goodbyes, during the parents' activities on Wed., even when the plebes marched out in their whites. Then the F18s roared over Bancroft-- I swear less than 500 feet off the deck -- perfectly splitting the assembled crowd and tracing the Stribling path.
Thank God for a beautiful mother named Nancy who shoved Kleenex at me and at my husband -- I was too overcome to remember that I'd brought a ton. For me, it was "Welcome to the Navy, kids." For my husband, who flew USMC fighters during Vietnam, it was a reminder of lost friends and the very real dangers ahead.
When we were able to reconnect after the oath, son was still calm and collected. His closest NAPS friends had agreed on a mtg place for that time, and they loved seeing each other and posing in whites for a picture that mirrored a graduation shot from a few weeks ago.
Their stories included a female plebe who allegedly shaved her head before arrival, another who 'came on a dare' and 'hadn't decided' if she'd stay, and a cluster of kids who broke down in the morning and were allegedly sequestered someplace while cadre tried to figure out if they could be/should be salvaged (remember: I am getting these stories from 19 - 21 yr olds -- making no allegations re: veracity).
But oh, that heat. That humidity. I can't conceive of PT in those conditions.
Since son spent last year @ NAPS, I thought I'd be as calm as he seemed to be, but I can't imagine how I'm going to last 'til PPW.