'02 hit the nail on the head. People, you do not need to be calling the Business Office to understand your mid's pay, held pay, etc. Within each company is a framework for the mids to utilize to get it all figured out. Your children are adults now, adults who are training to be officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps. They are learning to depend upon and help each other. They do not need to be calling the folks for an explanation of their pay.
Sending a child to USNA is entirely different than sending one to State U. I have a second year vet student son and a youngster at USNA. I can tell you I was much more involved in older son's college years than my mid's. The kids at USNA are on a fast track to adulthood compared to those at State U. Which is all part of the grand scheme of training them as officers!
While I do understand it might be nice to know how it all works, you can know this for certain: it will change, no matter what "it" you are talking about. My mid mentioned that he has been told several different things about held pay and his scholarships (he went in with $9000)......he got some held pay earlier this month. I did remind him earlier in the year to watch his pay statement for two scholarships which were sent to USNA at the conclusion of his first semester. Your mid, like mine, receives lots of emails that instruct him or her on what they need to know. They do not have the time to share all this with dear old mom and dad. It is important, very important, to let them figure it all out. They have the resources to do so.
While I am on this soapbox, let me also mention travel. I see parents on here all the time wanting to plan mid's transportation to airport, even plan where mid is going to stay when they are off on summer training cruises. Let them handle it on their own. Again, they have the resources. USNA expects them to fly to say, San Diego, for a summer training cruise and figure out how to get to the base, where to report, etc. Mom does not need to make hotel reservations, etc. Defeats the purpose. I would advise making their plane reservations for Thanksgiving and /or Christmas when they tell you when they are able to return home. They are awfully busy during ac year and that can be helpful for mom or dad to do.
As far as BWI, my mid has flown in there maybe 6 times returning to Annapolis. Each and every time, he planned on super shuttle, but each and every time someone offered a ride to Annapolis. They travel in uniform, so at BWI, there have been other mids, sponsor parents, Annapolis residents, alumni, etc. always offering rides. Your child is now a member of a "club" where the members look out for one another!
So, instead of worrying about who's paying for their haircuts, where their scholarship monies have gone and how they are going to get to the airport, put your energies into writing them letters, sending photos, care packages and following Navy football this fall! Heck, plan a trip and go see a game in Annapolis, it is spectacular!
But, don't count on spending time with your plebe. Consider it a bonus if you get to do so. Even if he/she thinks they are free of watch or other duties the weekend you are coming, all that can change in the blink of an eye. And it won't matter one whit that mom and dad are in town. Semper gumby. Always flexible. You will have some pleasant surprises.......hubby and I flew in on a Friday, hoped to see plebe Friday evening on yard, he said "No way." So we are in DTA, just being served a beautiful meal when he calls "Meet me and my buddies in Dry Dock....they let us out for a couple hours....let's get pizza!" Hubby races to rental car to get our ID's, I eat a lobster in two bites and we jog to the yard. Had a fantastic evening listening to three plebes talk non stop about life at USNA. Same weekend, Navy beat Air Force and they were granted an overnight, their first. So he spent the night with us in our hotel room which had one bed. (Get two beds if you go for football, so you are prepared!) Our next visit was for Army/Navy game. Of course we had tickets way in advance. He drew watch and had to return to the yard on the first bus out of Philly. We did get a breakfast Sunday morning with him before we had to head to BWI. So, you never know.
It is a fantastic, wonderful, roller coaster ride of an educational experience. Inspiring and frightening all at the same time.
Sending a child to USNA is entirely different than sending one to State U. I have a second year vet student son and a youngster at USNA. I can tell you I was much more involved in older son's college years than my mid's. The kids at USNA are on a fast track to adulthood compared to those at State U. Which is all part of the grand scheme of training them as officers!
While I do understand it might be nice to know how it all works, you can know this for certain: it will change, no matter what "it" you are talking about. My mid mentioned that he has been told several different things about held pay and his scholarships (he went in with $9000)......he got some held pay earlier this month. I did remind him earlier in the year to watch his pay statement for two scholarships which were sent to USNA at the conclusion of his first semester. Your mid, like mine, receives lots of emails that instruct him or her on what they need to know. They do not have the time to share all this with dear old mom and dad. It is important, very important, to let them figure it all out. They have the resources to do so.
While I am on this soapbox, let me also mention travel. I see parents on here all the time wanting to plan mid's transportation to airport, even plan where mid is going to stay when they are off on summer training cruises. Let them handle it on their own. Again, they have the resources. USNA expects them to fly to say, San Diego, for a summer training cruise and figure out how to get to the base, where to report, etc. Mom does not need to make hotel reservations, etc. Defeats the purpose. I would advise making their plane reservations for Thanksgiving and /or Christmas when they tell you when they are able to return home. They are awfully busy during ac year and that can be helpful for mom or dad to do.
As far as BWI, my mid has flown in there maybe 6 times returning to Annapolis. Each and every time, he planned on super shuttle, but each and every time someone offered a ride to Annapolis. They travel in uniform, so at BWI, there have been other mids, sponsor parents, Annapolis residents, alumni, etc. always offering rides. Your child is now a member of a "club" where the members look out for one another!
So, instead of worrying about who's paying for their haircuts, where their scholarship monies have gone and how they are going to get to the airport, put your energies into writing them letters, sending photos, care packages and following Navy football this fall! Heck, plan a trip and go see a game in Annapolis, it is spectacular!
But, don't count on spending time with your plebe. Consider it a bonus if you get to do so. Even if he/she thinks they are free of watch or other duties the weekend you are coming, all that can change in the blink of an eye. And it won't matter one whit that mom and dad are in town. Semper gumby. Always flexible. You will have some pleasant surprises.......hubby and I flew in on a Friday, hoped to see plebe Friday evening on yard, he said "No way." So we are in DTA, just being served a beautiful meal when he calls "Meet me and my buddies in Dry Dock....they let us out for a couple hours....let's get pizza!" Hubby races to rental car to get our ID's, I eat a lobster in two bites and we jog to the yard. Had a fantastic evening listening to three plebes talk non stop about life at USNA. Same weekend, Navy beat Air Force and they were granted an overnight, their first. So he spent the night with us in our hotel room which had one bed. (Get two beds if you go for football, so you are prepared!) Our next visit was for Army/Navy game. Of course we had tickets way in advance. He drew watch and had to return to the yard on the first bus out of Philly. We did get a breakfast Sunday morning with him before we had to head to BWI. So, you never know.
It is a fantastic, wonderful, roller coaster ride of an educational experience. Inspiring and frightening all at the same time.
)...and, he was counting the days until Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break... Friday on the phone he told me that he made Glee Club and is looking forward to traveling with them over Spring Break. He wasn't at all concerned about not coming home that week. As a mom, well I'll miss him, but I couldn't be happier that he is already beginning to feel at home. I know we'll still have days when he is tired, stressed, fed up, but these positive moments make it tolerable for all of us! (Oh, he also got his printer and all his school materials, set up the dentist appointment and found out where to keep his guitar, of course. 
)