Hangout: USNA Induction Day / I-Day Class of 2028: Thursday 27 June 2024

[USMCfam]

Here is what I am bringing so far to I-DAY. I thought I’d put this here so people can correct me or maybe take a couple things I am bringing. I’m a guy.

Black Compression Shorts- Nike Pro Men’s Dri-Fit Fitness Shorts

White Underwear- Nike Dri-FIT Ultra-Stretch Micro Men’s Boxer Brief

White V-Neck- Nike Dri-FIT Essential Cotton Stretch Slim Fit V-Neck Undershirt 2 Pack (Sold out on Nike, get them online at Kohls)

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 Black/White

Styptic Pencil for shaving (I just found out what this is but apparently they work really well and when you have to do quick shaves it will probably come in handy

Small Face Wash (They will probably decent body wash and I won’t have hair so I’m just bringing the face wash I know works for me)

Phone/Charger

Paperwork

I bought a lot of the clothing. NOT cheap. I was in desperate need of underwear anyways though and it was an excuse for my mom to buy it. My strategy is to bring about 6 pairs of underwear, 3 pairs of compressions, and then 4 V-Necks with me in my I-Day Backpack. I am going to put the rest of clothes in my first care package that I will drop in the mail the day before I-Day and have it delivered to me.

I am going to plan 2 care packages total that I will pack myself ahead of time in order to make it easy for my parents. The first one I will drop off in mail day before I-day and second one will be around the 3-4 week mark depending on what I am feeling when I talk to my parents on the phone.

I’m just gonna put some nutter butters, these really good bars called off the farm bars, a bunch of nature valley bars, and maybe some other snacks and then the clothes in the first package.

It doesn’t really matter what brand you go with IMO whether it be UA or Nike. I have tried both through the years and I find Nike tends to be better, especially in the baseline Drifit vs UA tech line. I don’t have experience with the Naval Academy but I do have extensive experience in the outdoors and long endurance races where gear matters. I really think it’s necessary to have the proper gear meaning no cotton. The nike gear dries very fast and wicks moisture well. It is practically the same price so I would choose it over UA.

Done a lot of running. Done a lot of races. Tried a lot of shoes. Nikes are cool. They are **** for longevity of your body. If you get fitted and scanned, there is a very high chance you will get fitted with a brooks shoe. They may not be as stylish but they really are the best trainers. I have flat feet so I need the support but adrenaline GTS really are the go-to shoe for anyone that needs a reliable, supportive, daily trainer. If you have bad foot problems, invest in orthotics.

Here’s a couple questions I had for the group:

1. Can I get away with a couple nutter butters
2. Can I have a lacrosse ball or something similar to roll out feet and ankles. What about icy hot?
3. Can I bring my own razor/Do I want to?
4. What’s an item you guys are bringing on I-Day or an essential snack you are putting in your care packages?

Great choices. Just mail the clothing- no need to carry it on I-Day. Put the snacks in the care packages, too. Get one priority mail shoebox size (a Target plastic shoebox will fit inside to contain snacks from critters). For the rest use the flat rectangle priority boxes. Some fav snacks are Welch’s fruit snacks, vitamin c gummies, beef jerky, LiquidIV, energy gel stingers, protein bars, granola, dried fruit. If you have a favorite razor, bring it- just nothing electric. A lax ball is fine.

 

[Capt MJ]

Yes ma'am, us now-3/C (!!) specifically prescribed *cotton* undergarments for CORTRAMID, or at least those of us who got the COTRAMID East packing list. @OiledPancakes I wrote this in another post, you wear what the Navy tells you to wear, even if there is something "better" you know about. For PS, everyone wears the same shoes and socks (pretty good socks) and underwear and compression shorts and sports bras, eats the same food, uses the same notebooks and pens and body wash and deodorant and toothpaste. You get a chance to go to the Mid Store, I think? about 2-3 weeks in? Worry more about being the best you can as much as you can, getting yourself in the mindset of helping out your shipmates no matter what, and learning actionable things from your many mistakes. Check my earlier posts.

Your investment of precious personal time here to help those who are starting this journey is a hallmark of servant leadership. BZ.

You are starting first day of your 3/C year in fine style,

 

[IronmanDaremo]

NROTC units go on CORTRAMID. USNA midshipman go on PROTRAMID.

 

[OiledPancakes]

Great choices. Just mail the clothing- no need to carry it on I-Day. Put the snacks in the care packages, too. Get one priority mail shoebox size (a Target plastic shoebox will fit inside to contain snacks from critters). For the rest use the flat rectangle priority boxes. Some fav snacks are Welch’s fruit snacks, vitamin c gummies, beef jerky, LiquidIV, energy gel stingers, protein bars, granola, dried fruit. If you have a favorite razor, bring it- just nothing electric. A lax ball is fine.

Energy gel stingers would be awesome but I bet they would be confiscated. Definitely gonna get some liquid IV or LMNT (probably liquid IV cause the sugar will help with energy). I saw vitamins are not allowed as well so I don’t know exactly what that includes. Definitely going to take the above advice to just mail all the clothes and lacrosse ball. I think the only thing I’ll send besides the clothes is the styptic pencil and the lax ball.

 

[OiledPancakes]

Yes ma'am, us now-3/C (!!) specifically prescribed *cotton* undergarments for CORTRAMID, or at least those of us who got the COTRAMID East packing list. @OiledPancakes I wrote this in another post, you wear what the Navy tells you to wear, even if there is something "better" you know about. For PS, everyone wears the same shoes and socks (pretty good socks) and underwear and compression shorts and sports bras, eats the same food, uses the same notebooks and pens and body wash and deodorant and toothpaste. You get a chance to go to the Mid Store, I think? about 2-3 weeks in? Worry more about being the best you can as much as you can, getting yourself in the mindset of helping out your shipmates no matter what, and learning actionable things from your many mistakes. Check my earlier posts.

But as far as uniforms go, it seems they are pretty lenient with what you wear underneath (compression shorts, underwear, v necks). And running shoes.

I am only going to wear the stuff as long as people in my squad also brought the good stuff. I would feel wrong to wear something better than the people around me. I will just give some of the clothes to my roommate(s) so we can all benefit.

 

[PlebeNoMore27]

NROTC units go on CORTRAMID. USNA midshipman go on PROTRAMID.

I can't even believe I made that mistake sir! Typing on my phone still no excuse, have to model attention to detail for the plebes to be.

But as far as uniforms go, it seems they are pretty lenient with what you wear underneath (compression shorts, underwear, v necks). And running shoes.

I am only going to wear the stuff as long as people in my squad also brought the good stuff. I would feel wrong to wear something better than the people around me. I will just give some of the clothes to my roommate(s) so we can all benefit.

Well...sort of. You will learn the uniform regs when you get here. Just giving the gouge. I don't have to be right about everything (or anything for that matter!). Heck they might make changes I know nothing about. Do what you're gonna do!

 

[OiledPancakes]

I can't even believe I made that mistake sir! Typing on my phone still no excuse, have to model attention to detail for the plebes to be.

Well...sort of. You will learn the uniform regs when you get here. Just giving the gouge. I don't have to be right about everything (or anything for that matter!). Heck they might make changes I know nothing about. Do what you're gonna do!

Hey, I’m here for any advice you want to give me. You’ve gone through this and recently so all your intel is good.

 

[Beeswax]

Hey, I’m here for any advice you want to give me. You’ve gone through this and recently so all your intel is good.

Oiled Pancakes - one thing I don’t see talked about too much is the humidity in Annapolis. If you’re coming from a low humidity climate, it can take some getting used to. The big thing during Plebe summer is to get used to drinking fluid regularly, especially if you are not acclimated to a Humid climate. Second thing is music - we are huge music junkies in our house. When DS went through Plebe summer, your own music is gone. We actually mailed off song lyrics to favorite songs or for inspiration with our letters during plebe summer. Your mileage may vary on this. Finally - care packages with snacks, etc are great to receive. But, depending on how your family rolls, tell them not to get cutesy with what they send or you’ll be on the receiving end of some unwanted attention.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Energy gel stingers would be awesome but I bet they would be confiscated. Definitely gonna get some liquid IV or LMNT (probably liquid IV cause the sugar will help with energy). I saw vitamins are not allowed as well so I don’t know exactly what that includes. Definitely going to take the above advice to just mail all the clothes and lacrosse ball. I think the only thing I’ll send besides the clothes is the styptic pencil and the lax ball.

You seem determined to send yourself clothing even though you've been told time and time again that you should not. Do you understand that its not just what you're wearing but also what is IN YOUR ROOM when you get a room inspection? A lot of folks seem to try to give themselves an edge of some sort by bringing vitamins, special shoes, special clothes, etc despite being told over and over again that you should bring your paperwork and a phone with charger.
I never had a styptic pencil and neither did my son. . . somehow we survived. I'll let you in on some additional info, old school, they didn't allow special running shoes except for the track team during practice/meets. We were issued all-purpose Keds, you might call them cross trainers or basketball shoes but we wore them as a uniform. . . uniform as in everyone wore them and we wore them for all four years including Pep, Obstacle Course, Boxing, etc. Believe it or not the survival rate was pretty high and I don't even know of any severe overuse injuries.

Save your extra clothes for AT LEAST parents weekend but remember that as a plebe, you still get inspected a lot and having too much stuff is a handicap.

 

[USMCfam]

Energy gel stingers would be awesome but I bet they would be confiscated. Definitely gonna get some liquid IV or LMNT (probably liquid IV cause the sugar will help with energy). I saw vitamins are not allowed as well so I don’t know exactly what that includes. Definitely going to take the above advice to just mail all the clothes and lacrosse ball. I think the only thing I’ll send besides the clothes is the styptic pencil and the lax ball.

No, they are actually encouraged and sold in the MidStore. You just can’t have the caffeinated version during Plebe Summer. Your detailers encourage EmergenC and similar basic OTC immunity boosters. There is so much funk that goes around and some things you miss if sick are one and done. They want you as healthy as possible.

 

[OiledPancakes]

You seem determined to send yourself clothing even though you've been told time and time again that you should not. Do you understand that its not just what you're wearing but also what is IN YOUR ROOM when you get a room inspection? A lot of folks seem to try to give themselves an edge of some sort by bringing vitamins, special shoes, special clothes, etc despite being told over and over again that you should bring your paperwork and a phone with charger.
I never had a styptic pencil and neither did my son. . . somehow we survived. I'll let you in on some additional info, old school, they didn't allow special running shoes except for the track team during practice/meets. We were issued all-purpose Keds, you might call them cross trainers or basketball shoes but we wore them as a uniform. . . uniform as in everyone wore them and we wore them for all four years including Pep, Obstacle Course, Boxing, etc. Believe it or not the survival rate was pretty high and I don't even know of any severe overuse injuries.

Save your extra clothes for AT LEAST parents weekend but remember that as a plebe, you still get inspected a lot and having too much stuff is a handicap.

I was not aware people were saying not to send clothes. I haven’t really seen this advice yet. Many say not to bring clothes on I-Day but I have seen a lot suggesting to send good 4-way stretch underwear and compressions in a care package.

 

[OiledPancakes]

No, they are actually encouraged and sold in the MidStore. You just can’t have the caffeinated version during Plebe Summer. Your detailers encourage EmergenC and similar basic OTC immunity boosters. There is so much funk that goes around and some things you miss if sick are one and done. They want you as healthy as possible.

This is what is said about care packages in the 2028 PTR:

• Please limit the size of the shipping container to no larger than a shoe box. All food should be shipped in an airtight container.
• All items should be single serving and non-perishable. There are no refrigerators in Bancroft Hall for food storage.
• No medications, vitamins, or pre-workout are allowed.
• Junk food is highly discouraged during Plebe Summer.
• The regimen of plebe summer is a controlled training environment and requires adherence to a healthy diet. Due to health concerns and storage limitations, excess junk food that cannot be stored or consumed immediately will be disposed of.
• Some suggestions for things to include in care packages:
  Individually wrapped granola bars or energy bars.
  Powdered sports drink mixes, NO CAFFEINE OR ITEMS WITH CAFFEINE IN THEIR INGREDIENTS.
  Letters from home.

It says no vitamins in care packages. I don’t know what to make of this. I might just send a basic multi and if I have to throw it away, then I have to throw it away. I don’t know if it’s gonna ruin my career for sending a multi vitamin haha. Just wanted to put these rules here for anyone that didn’t read it in the PTR. I’m definitely bringing my nutter butters.

 

[PlebeNoMore27]

I was not aware people were saying not to send clothes. I haven’t really seen this advice yet. Many say not to bring clothes on I-Day but I have seen a lot suggesting to send good 4-way stretch underwear and compressions in a care package.

Hey dude, just gonna put this out there. Your posts here on SAF make you seem like you know a lot about a lot, and if you show up with that attitude you are gonna get creamed. Not just by the detailers either, your squad and platoon. You have to have some humility and be teachable. You have to be willing to shut up and listen first, like I mean without anyone telling you that first - more as a habit. You have to be more interested in what other people think and where they are coming from. You will still get the chances to shine and be the expert at things you really are an expert about. But, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. (<-- I didn't make that up) Not trying to yuk your yum, just pointing out something that may be helpful in the long run.

 

[Capt MJ]

This is what is said about care packages in the 2028 PTR:

• Please limit the size of the shipping container to no larger than a shoe box. All food should be shipped in an airtight container.
• All items should be single serving and non-perishable. There are no refrigerators in Bancroft Hall for food storage.
• No medications, vitamins, or pre-workout are allowed.
• Junk food is highly discouraged during Plebe Summer.
• The regimen of plebe summer is a controlled training environment and requires adherence to a healthy diet. Due to health concerns and storage limitations, excess junk food that cannot be stored or consumed immediately will be disposed of.
• Some suggestions for things to include in care packages:
  Individually wrapped granola bars or energy bars.
  Powdered sports drink mixes, NO CAFFEINE OR ITEMS WITH CAFFEINE IN THEIR INGREDIENTS.
  Letters from home.

It says no vitamins in care packages. I don’t know what to make of this. I might just send a basic multi and if I have to throw it away, then I have to throw it away. I don’t know if it’s gonna ruin my career for sending a multi vitamin haha. Just wanted to put these rules here for anyone that didn’t read it in the PTR. I’m definitely bringing my nutter butters.

“No vitamins in care packages.” What is it that you can’t figure out about that one? Not an auspicious start to approaching a lifestyle ruled by MidRegs for 4 years and Navy Regs after that.

But kudos to you for the energy and focus you are putting into prep work, and I mean that sincerely. As you rely on your experience of technical clothing and outdoor activity, don’t become “that plebe” who is somehow the resident expert on all the “good stuff.”

 

[Capt MJ]

Hey dude, just gonna put this out there. Your posts here on SAF make you seem like you know a lot about a lot, and if you show up with that attitude you are gonna get creamed. Not just by the detailers either, your squad and platoon. You have to have some humility and be teachable. You have to be willing to shut up and listen first, like I mean without anyone telling you that first - more as a habit. You have to be more interested in what other people think and where they are coming from. You will still get the chances to shine and be the expert at things you really are an expert about. But, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. (<-- I didn't make that up) Not trying to yuk your yum, just pointing out something that may be helpful in the long run.

See my post.


I think we should trademark That Plebe.

 

[PlebeNoMore27]

“No vitamins in care packages.” What is it that you can’t figure out about that one? Not an auspicious start to approaching a lifestyle ruled by MidRegs for 4 years and Navy Regs after that.

But kudos to you for the energy and focus you are putting into prep work, and I mean that sincerely. As you rely on your experience of technical clothing and outdoor activity, don’t become “that plebe” who is somehow the resident expert on all the “good stuff.”

@OiledPancakes the Captain is spot on as usual, and I should also have included that positive, about planning, in my critique. There is *definitely* plenty of need for good planners and thinkers like you during PS and beyond. Be the kind of guy that people *want* to listen to at those times!

 

[OiledPancakes]

@OiledPancakes the Captain is spot on as usual, and I should also have included that positive, about planning, in my critique. There is *definitely* plenty of need for good planners and thinkers like you during PS and beyond. Be the kind of guy that people *want* to listen to at those times!

Understood. I feel like I have been reading digesting so much information on this stuff that it’s hard not to want to spit it out whenever given the chance. I will try to be better at receiving information and listening instead of talking.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

I feel like I have been reading digesting so much information on this stuff that it’s hard not to want to spit it out whenever given the chance

There is far too much information on the internet (including SAF). All new Plebes need to know is included in the Permit to Report package. Trying to get ahead with gouge off the internet doesn't necessarily help, and in many cases can be detrimental. (If Detailers think someone is getting ahead with too much prior knowledge, they have ways to dial the pressure up).

As an aside, decades of Midshipmen made it through Plebe Summer without the benefit of gouge.

 

[USMCfam]

This is what is said about care packages in the 2028 PTR:

• Please limit the size of the shipping container to no larger than a shoe box. All food should be shipped in an airtight container.
• All items should be single serving and non-perishable. There are no refrigerators in Bancroft Hall for food storage.
• No medications, vitamins, or pre-workout are allowed.
• Junk food is highly discouraged during Plebe Summer.
• The regimen of plebe summer is a controlled training environment and requires adherence to a healthy diet. Due to health concerns and storage limitations, excess junk food that cannot be stored or consumed immediately will be disposed of.
• Some suggestions for things to include in care packages:
  Individually wrapped granola bars or energy bars.
  Powdered sports drink mixes, NO CAFFEINE OR ITEMS WITH CAFFEINE IN THEIR INGREDIENTS.
  Letters from home.

It says no vitamins in care packages. I don’t know what to make of this. I might just send a basic multi and if I have to throw it away, then I have to throw it away. I don’t know if it’s gonna ruin my career for sending a multi vitamin haha. Just wanted to put these rules here for anyone that didn’t read it in the PTR. I’m definitely bringing my nutter butters.

It’s the same guidelines as previous years. I’m just sharing the practical reality of the past recent years. You only need one airtight container, you don’t have room for multiples. One shoebox is good, then any other packages would just be refills. You will be able to communicate your wishes at the first phone call with your family. Plebe summer is a cess pool of germs. Some plebes arrive actively sick and symptomatic and are dropped in their companies. Flu, COVID, strep, colds, and plebe hack abound. Sick chits may land you in isolation in your room, but your roommates are still in there so eventually you infect them and then it infects others. The lack of sleep and close quarters just adds to it. Everyone does their best and your detailers want the best for you (even when it doesn’t seem like it at times). They’ll let you know. And regenerate your detailers are the ones making the trek to the mail room to haul mounds of packages. Don’t make them extra large or heavy.

 

[OldRetSWO]

As an aside, decades of Midshipmen made it through Plebe Summer without the benefit of gouge.

Or packages of "stuff" to make things easier/more comfortable

Think about the kids that are your age who are in Boot Camp, both USN and USMC and believe me they don't get to bring in the extra "stuff"
or for that matter ship it in. How about some thought about the people that you're going to be leading and trying for even a little while to understand their lives just a little bit.