I-Day USNA 2021 Field Reports: Share!

Actually, the Class of 2021 is about 40 plebes too big, according to congressional mandate. They had a higher yield than expected which resulted in the higher class size.

Agreed...I think 2016 with 1211 was another recent one in the higher end of the range. In recent years, size seems to have been in 1100's range with outliers in low 1200's and high 1000's.

Once 2021 settles in, Admissions will post a class portrait or snapshot of the stats. Google "USNA Class of 2020 portrait" for an example:
https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf
 
I wrote this on a blog and this it's appropriate here:

We concluded one of the, longest, happiest and saddest days of our lives. Bittersweet to say the least. When I saw DS's shaved head, all I could see was him as a baby. That's when it hit me hardest and I was overcome by emotion. We were leaving our son in the hands of someone else to take over the next stage of his transition to adulthood. Interlopers on the process of parenthood. Now, someone else was going to have dominion over my child. We will no longer be the primary authority in his life. He has left the nest and will only be a visitor to this place we call home. A four year weaning process cut down to 30 minutes. The emptiness of his familiarity will be profound, but all growth comes with cost. I know that time will moderate this new normal.

He's entered a world that will provide extraordinary opportunity and risk. A place that will push him like nothing he has ever experienced, but will make him a man like no other place can. It was his decision to do this, and we are at peace with it in addition to being proud. A remarkable individual, who is at a school filled with people just as remarkable. Not special people, but extraordinary people. Selfless, smart, leaders, and I truly believe the best this country has to offer. How lucky they are to have one another and how amazing they will be on this journey together. He's in the right place. Our Service Academies maintain an expectation and value system of excellence, the only constant in a free society of variables. Where our political parties and leaders, media, institutions and many facets of society have failed to maintain civility across the spectrum, these people give me hope and renewed conviction that indeed we are still the greatest nation that has ever existed. We are the shining light on the hill, and it is they that carry the torch.

None of us set out to raise superheroes, just a better versions of ourselves. Help them learn from our mistakes while letting them learn from theirs. Our DS, like all three of our children, is an amazing kid, but we didn't do it alone. He had God given talents that we as parents helped nurture and maximize. But he was surrounded by people who genuinely cared for him and conditioned him to be his best self. In addition to blood relatives, our extended family at Church, summer league swim team, and year round club team (old and new) have been a blessing. The coaches and teachers DS has been exposed to have been paramount in helping develop his intellect and moral character that permeates the soul. And his friendships that he developed, were just as diverse as anyone and all great young people that we are proud of. He represents a piece of each of them that have touched his life.

So, as I step off this soap box, I say thank you to all who have helped DS on this path, but we are no where near finished yet. This is just a new beginning for him, a journey of a lifetime. May God Bless America and all those who keep her safe. GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
 
I dropped off DD on I-Day and heard the words of wisdom from The Sup and really hope that DD would heed those words that "everything has a purpose" and if he figures that out he will succeed. On the other hand, DD sister is now so intrigued and excited about her prospect for class of 2023 that she virtually dropped of her Ivy's league schools aspiration. But I cautioned her to keep her options open as USNA is not for everybody even for a hyper-competive person that she is. She is a competitive DI athlete as a junior in high school with high grades and ACT.
 
I dropped off DD on I-Day and heard the words of wisdom from The Sup and really hope that DD would heed those words that "everything has a purpose" and if he figures that out he will succeed. On the other hand, DD sister is now so intrigued and excited about her prospect for class of 2023 that she virtually dropped of her Ivy's league schools aspiration. But I cautioned her to keep her options open as USNA is not for everybody even for a hyper-competive person that she is. She is a competitive DI athlete as a junior in high school with high grades and ACT.
You'd be amazed at how many kids follow their siblings to USNA. In a way , its a good thing, because they go with their eyes wide open.
 
Don't know if she wants to sail but I have heard that the MMA &/or the maritime academy grads have excellent career opportunities. A father of one told me that his DS, an MMA grad, was 23 y/o living in VA with no dept, $ in the bank, & working/at sea 10 months a year. This dad had 3 out of 4 kids go to the SA's; 2 boys to the MMA & the his DD to the Marines after USNA. I guess she was the tough one! Also one of the MMA grads was the son of a ranking Navy officer (can't remember the rank, below admiral, but it was up there). It would be interesting to know what other career naval officers thought of the MMA & if they would want their own kids to pursue that career. Lastly as you know, there are the other SA's she may wish to consider. Just saying..
 
While in DTA for a business dinner last night with colleagues at the Iron Rooster (of course), I told them to keep an eye out for family units walking around with a teenager looking a bit deer-in-headlights, possibly sporting some USNA gear. Easy to spot and increasing in number! Colleagues were intrigued by I-Day, all things Navy, and enjoyed their after-dinner 25 cent windshield tour of the Yard. The tents were going up on Hospital Point, and all the signs were there about the arrival of another class.

Colleagues were also amazed by the bond that develops among SA classmates, stronger than "regular college." DH recounted that on 6 June every year, his I-Day anniversary, he and over 60 classmates in the area gather at the Columbarium to toast departed classmates and share memories. And they are properly equipped to toast...

Best of luck to Plebes To Be and families, and please share your experiences. You'll have questions and concerns, quite possibly, but the grad family on here will have great insights for you.

Our 1/c sponsor daughter detailer is READY! Stocked up on gel inserts and throat lozenges. Bwah-ha-ha.
is she going to be a squad leader first semester?
 
You'd be amazed at how many kids follow their siblings to USNA. In a way , its a good thing, because they go with their eyes wide open.
I noticed that this past weekend. My youngest dS will be a high school sophomore, he tried to act cool but you could tell he was highly impressed. Hell, he bought more than I did at the Mid Store!
 
My son is also in his early 20's and living in Florida with no debt and making great money. He is a graduate of a Maritime Academy. Gets his ship when he can and plays golf the rest of the time. Not a bad life as USNR and two weeks in San Diego as active duty reserve. D1 athlete as a HS junior? Recruited maybe? DD = He?
 
We had a blast on I-Day, especially the unusually temperate weather...our new Plebe was surrounded by 5 USAFA grads, 4 Stanford grads, and 2 MIT's and we all found it to be absolutely first class. Not sure if that 45 minute thing at the end of the day is humane or cruel, but DS was still smiling/joking...I awoke the next morning right on the crack of 5 am knowing what that first day is like, at least from the USAFA perspective...couldn't be more happy that he's finally under way and not stressing on it any more. For all but one day every year, we'll all be cheering Navy! Good thing they don't play Stanford...hahaha
 
USNA2021 Dad, that one day a year may change too! Hubby and I are both USAFA '88 and we have 3, yes 3, that went USNA. With our 2014 grad, we had a good rivalry on AF v Navy game day his plebe year, and we still cheered for AF, but soon we found ourselves rooting for Navy (I know!) because our mids were there and they reaped the benefits of the win! I always wear spirit gear from both teams on game day, lol
 
I wrote this on a blog and this it's appropriate here:

We concluded one of the, longest, happiest and saddest days of our lives. Bittersweet to say the least. When I saw DS's shaved head, all I could see was him as a baby. That's when it hit me hardest and I was overcome by emotion. We were leaving our son in the hands of someone else to take over the next stage of his transition to adulthood. Interlopers on the process of parenthood. Now, someone else was going to have dominion over my child. We will no longer be the primary authority in his life. He has left the nest and will only be a visitor to this place we call home. A four year weaning process cut down to 30 minutes. The emptiness of his familiarity will be profound, but all growth comes with cost. I know that time will moderate this new normal.

He's entered a world that will provide extraordinary opportunity and risk. A place that will push him like nothing he has ever experienced, but will make him a man like no other place can. It was his decision to do this, and we are at peace with it in addition to being proud. A remarkable individual, who is at a school filled with people just as remarkable. Not special people, but extraordinary people. Selfless, smart, leaders, and I truly believe the best this country has to offer. How lucky they are to have one another and how amazing they will be on this journey together. He's in the right place. Our Service Academies maintain an expectation and value system of excellence, the only constant in a free society of variables. Where our political parties and leaders, media, institutions and many facets of society have failed to maintain civility across the spectrum, these people give me hope and renewed conviction that indeed we are still the greatest nation that has ever existed. We are the shining light on the hill, and it is they that carry the torch.

None of us set out to raise superheroes, just a better versions of ourselves. Help them learn from our mistakes while letting them learn from theirs. Our DS, like all three of our children, is an amazing kid, but we didn't do it alone. He had God given talents that we as parents helped nurture and maximize. But he was surrounded by people who genuinely cared for him and conditioned him to be his best self. In addition to blood relatives, our extended family at Church, summer league swim team, and year round club team (old and new) have been a blessing. The coaches and teachers DS has been exposed to have been paramount in helping develop his intellect and moral character that permeates the soul. And his friendships that he developed, were just as diverse as anyone and all great young people that we are proud of. He represents a piece of each of them that have touched his life.

So, as I step off this soap box, I say thank you to all who have helped DS on this path, but we are no where near finished yet. This is just a new beginning for him, a journey of a lifetime. May God Bless America and all those who keep her safe. GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
 
All in all a great day! My DS did have a bit of a scare during in-processing. He is college re-applicant who completed his DODmerb 2 years ago. When he got to medical on I-Day he took the test for color deficiency and failed. They asked if he had a waiver. He said no, he had passed it when tested 2 years ago. They gave him a 2nd test, which he also failed. They then told him that there are only a handful of waivers available to be used on I-Day and he would have to wait to see if they had one for him. He waited 3.5 hours before finally receiving word that his waiver request had gone up the chain and finally been approved. I can't quite imagine how stressful that 3.5 hours must have been for the poor guy. In my 30 mins with him after taking the oath he was literally giddy~I think primarily with the thought that after all the hard work to get there, it could have been yanked out from under him! I am so grateful that I was completely oblivious to what was going on in Alumni Hall ( I took a tour, shopped the mid store etc, etc). So grateful it worked out for my DS. He would have been devastated if they sent him home.

I'm assuming he will be tested for this again during Plebe Summer?
 
Even if they test him again this summer (doubt they do) the exam that matters the most is his pre-commissioning physical that happens at the beginning of 2/C year. This exam will determine what he is qualified for. Glad it all worked out.
 
Something different to pass down, my DS was a NROTC college-reapplicant who opted to report to Bancroft the night before I-Day (I-Day minus 1). And he was very glad he did. He was escorted to his actual room for plebe summer and unpacked the boxes that were waiting for him. Next morning they fed him breakfast and he headed to alumni hall for his 0615 report time.

This completely avoided the shuttle bus crowd. Seeing as how I was travelling with the grandparents, it made for any easier, stress-free morning for us as well. When we did arrive, the bus was filled with frantic plebes-2-be and parents getting all bent out of shape about their report time.

I realize this option is not for everyone. But if your DS or DD is a college reapp and you've already said goodbye to them the year or two before, it's an option worth considering.

Just a thought.
 
Even if they test him again this summer (doubt they do) the exam that matters the most is his pre-commissioning physical that happens at the beginning of 2/C year. This exam will determine what he is qualified for. Glad it all worked out.
Thanks NavyHoops. I'll let my DS know on our phone call Sunday not to worry about it for now. Just focus on getting through Plebe Summer! As others have said on this forum, I believe he is where he is supposed to be and it makes my heart full. So proud of all these kids for putting in the hared work to bring a dream to reality!
 
My wife and I were up on the right side of T-Court in Supe seating...the band started playing, the crowd started to cheer, the plebes started "marching"...and my wife let out an audible gasp...I thought for sure someone had passed out or left ranks...she said "look, it's him, he is the first one marching in!" Sure enough, there was my son, the first one to march in for the Oath of Office Ceremony, and in the first row, front left seat. Looked at him the whole ceremony...thought to myself..."I know you want to take a quick power nap but that would be bad form in front of the Superintendent"..:)
 
My wife and I were up on the right side of T-Court in Supe seating...the band started playing, the crowd started to cheer, the plebes started "marching"...and my wife let out an audible gasp...I thought for sure someone had passed out or left ranks...she said "look, it's him, he is the first one marching in!" Sure enough, there was my son, the first one to march in for the Oath of Office Ceremony, and in the first row, front left seat. Looked at him the whole ceremony...thought to myself..."I know you want to take a quick power nap but that would be bad form in front of the Superintendent"..:)
I watched the Swearing video the other night and the lull between marching in and when the dignitaries come in was rather long. You can see a number of heads slowly tilt forward only to snap back when the napper realized they'd dozed. I felt sorry for any kid that came from West of Central time.
 
You can see a number of heads slowly tilt forward only to snap back when the napper realized they'd dozed.

Might as well get an early start on the power nap/head snap thing. Not the first Midshipman to fall asleep in front of VIPS. I presume they still have Forrestal (Bore-US-All) lectures, where VIP/notable speakers come speak to the Brigade a few times each year. Used to be a running contest on which Speaker could keep the Midshipmen awake or put them to sleep, the LOG (Midshipman parody magazine) would run hilarious pictures of people crashed. Lectures were after Dinner, so it was often hard to stay awake with even the best speakers. Ross Perot was the only person I saw who kept the entire Brigade on the edge of their seats.
 
I'll never forget what my son told me when he went for his CVW a few years ago about how the mids had perfected the art of sleeping in class! He's a youngster now, and I've been afraid to ask if he worked on his skills in that department as a plebe.
 
I'll never forget what my son told me when he went for his CVW a few years ago about how the mids had perfected the art of sleeping in class! He's a youngster now, and I've been afraid to ask if he worked on his skills in that department as a plebe.

Darkened room + after lunch + untestable material + Death by PowerPoint format + seat in back + chin seated firmly in palm supported by other hand = Universal Military Nap Mode
 
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