Indoc prep Advice requested

HonorKP

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Apr 15, 2018
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I just received Indoc prep instruction via email (login book), but more info adds more confusion to my prep planning. Could anyone please help on the following?

1. "White" running shoes for Indoc: what brand or kind do you recommend? I ready have colored shoes broken in for my feet, but do I need to buy "white" color only? How many pairs?

2. Physical prep instruction for Indoc does NOT include pull-ups. Do I need to prepare for pull-ups too? The prep instruction does include sit-up, push-up and running though.

3. Travel expenses reimbursement: how far does USMMA covers? Airfare, lodging and taxi from the airport? We live thousands miles from KP. We already bought air tickets before we receive the Indoc reporting instruction, so that do we need to refund the ticket and repurchase?

Thanks a bunch in advance.
 
1. White tennis shoes are preferred, but lots of kids have white with Blue and/or gray accents. Just don't show up in neon colors. You do not want to draw attention to yourself.
For my kids, one pair was enough. If you need a second pair, you can pick them up at Christmas break. The less you bring with you to INDOC the better!
2. My DD was never asked to do pull ups during Indoc. Lots of pushups and even more setups. The amount of running depends a lot in the weather. The hotter the weather the less you will run.
3. Not sure about travel reimbursement. We had KP make the flight arrangements for us and it was seamless. They paid and we did not have to worry about reimbursement. I know they do not reimburse for lodging. As I recall, there is a phone number for travel questions in your materials.
 
1. White tennis shoes are preferred, but lots of kids have white with Blue and/or gray accents. Just don't show up in neon colors. You do not want to draw attention to yourself.
For my kids, one pair was enough. If you need a second pair, you can pick them up at Christmas break. The less you bring with you to INDOC the better!
2. My DD was never asked to do pull ups during Indoc. Lots of pushups and even more setups. The amount of running depends a lot in the weather. The hotter the weather the less you will run.
3. Not sure about travel reimbursement. We had KP make the flight arrangements for us and it was seamless. They paid and we did not have to worry about reimbursement. I know they do not reimburse for lodging. As I recall, there is a phone number for travel questions in your materials.

Thanks as always!
 
KP uses the “Good Low” US Navy PRT standards as their pass fail for fitness. These vary by gender and age.

For males 17-19 the minimum passing scores are are:
62 curl ups
51 push ups
1.5 mile run 11:00

Candidates will perform the PRT a day or two into indoc but this is not an official score. They will also do the body composition analysis - BCA here too. The ones that count are at the end of indoc when the regiment reforms.

Candidates who fail either the PRT or BCA on the official test will be assigned to Performance Enhancement Program - PEP. This program includes mandatory additional PT sessions with weekly PRT and BCA. To get off PEP, one must pass both the PRT and BCA for two weeks straight.
 
I just received Indoc prep instruction via email (login book), but more info adds more confusion to my prep planning. Could anyone please help on the following?

1. "White" running shoes for Indoc: what brand or kind do you recommend? I ready have colored shoes broken in for my feet, but do I need to buy "white" color only? How many pairs?

2. Physical prep instruction for Indoc does NOT include pull-ups. Do I need to prepare for pull-ups too? The prep instruction does include sit-up, push-up and running though.

3. Travel expenses reimbursement: how far does USMMA covers? Airfare, lodging and taxi from the airport? We live thousands miles from KP. We already bought air tickets before we receive the Indoc reporting instruction, so that do we need to refund the ticket and repurchase?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

@HonorKP it does get confusing. As for the shoes, last year even the NEX shoes were dark grey with blue accents. If your shoes are grey, put in white laces and keep them. If not, stick with subtle colors in the range of white/grey/blue and you’ll be good. There were a range last year and as far as I know no one was called out. Look at last year’s Indoc video and you’ll see what I mean. Search YouTube for USMMA Indoc 2021 and you’ll find it.

We also bought our own air tickets. KP reimburses, in accordance to military travel guidelines, airline cost, baggage fees (there’s a guideline for this), and transport directly to KP from airport. I believe they accept LGA, LGA, and EWR as acceptable to fly into. Our son submitted his air ticket only as we didn’t take him directly to KP and it was a couple of months and it was deposited directly into his NFCU account. You will want to open up one. Great deal if you open one and parents do as well as a ‘referral’ from plebe and $50 gets put in each account. Heck, have your plebe specify my son as referring and they can both get another $50!
 
Travel reimbursement

When you student checks in they will be asked to document their (not yours) airfare, taxi, train, mileage, tolls, etc to get to the campus. After a few months, the payment will be automatically paid into their US Navy Federal Credit Union account they set up.

Since we drove, I gave my son the mileage information and had him memorize it. They will be stressed at check in so pound it in their head to ask for reimbursement for travel and what it cost.
 
Very Important! Opened a Navy Federal Credit Union account for our DS before he left home.
Just tell them that your DS/DD (Dear Son/Dear Daughter) will be attending the US Merchant Marine Academy.
That way we were on his Account. He has found that this was the best/safest way for him to get Cash at the ATM on campus.
He also had a USAA Account that he has found most useful while traveling.
Again just tell them that your Plebe has an Appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy.
 

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Follow cousmma. Navy fed is on campus. Easiest bank to use and very easy for mom and dad to transfer funds to as long as they are joint on the account. Usaa is also a must. Great cc for DS to have. And if you talk auto insurance cover for you during academy years usaa is unbeatable for midshipman
 
Navy fed is on campus. Even with usaa's certain number of free atm charges the fact that navy fed is there and it is a navy fed atm makes navy fed the choice for the cash account at least for us
 
I already have USAA, should I also get Navy Fed to be on the safe side?
I have both only cause I wanted to apply for Navy Fed's secured credit card which is pretty nifty. Besides, USAA has access to a lot of discounts and resources that you'll really appreciate. Get both. Trust me.
 
Navy fed is on campus. Even with usaa's certain number of free atm charges the fact that navy fed is there and it is a navy fed atm makes navy fed the choice for the cash account at least for us

. . . and it is a lot safer to get cash on campus before you leave . . .
 
Shoes - As understood during class of 2022 open house... they want shoes that fit. They prefer that they aren’t neon colors or too flashy, but if that is the shoe that will keep your feet and shins healthy , they want you to wear them. And bring 2 pairs so that you can alternate wearing them. Go to a running store and get good shoes and break them in before you arrive. This was per Helis.

Money - My ‘21 has USAA accounts with mobile deposit. He has never mentioned this set up was a problem. Also, Make sure USAA knows that you are going to USMMA because you have special offers. If you are on a USAA auto insurance policy you can be listed as deployed while at school. You can activate when home on break and driving. That can save a lot of money. This may be the same with other auto insurers as well. I wouldn’t know, but I would check into it.

Good luck!
 
If with usaa the midshipman is not considered "deployed". You are a midshipman at the academy. There is a special code that applies. You do not have to reactivate while at home. Coverage exists until graduation and you do not have to change coverage between school and home ans you do not pay for this with usaa You do not pay for the time you are home. It is a benefit of going to the academy. The call center usually does not understand what usaa does for the academy. You need to get to underwriting or to a manager in San Antonio in order to get the benefits correct. If they do not follow the above you need to elevate the call to a higher manager.
 
Very Important! Opened a Navy Federal Credit Union account for our DS before he left home.
Just tell them that your DS/DD (Dear Son/Dear Daughter) will be attending the US Merchant Marine Academy.
That way we were on his Account. He has found that this was the best/safest way for him to get Cash at the ATM on campus.
He also had a USAA Account that he has found most useful while traveling.
Again just tell them that your Plebe has an Appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy.

I'm wanting to make sure I understand this correctly. Does DS open the Credit Union Account and USAA account or we, his parents, open it with him on it too?
 
I'm wanting to make sure I understand this correctly. Does DS open the Credit Union Account and USAA account or we, his parents, open it with him on it too?
We went to Navy Federal (in our area) with our DS. He opened the account and we were Co-signers on the account so we could monitor it or make deposits for him.
The USAA account was the same. He had to open it and list us as co-signers. You do everything by phone with USAA 800-292-8302
 
Well there are different usaa's. Usaa federal savings bank is open to the public. Anyone can open an account. Then there is usaa insurance which has membership requirements. Those benefits run "down" from the member not up. So if son is a usaa member dad doesn't have the ability to coat tail. But son's wife and own son do. Then it gets more complicated because there are different carriers for the different groups. Usaa for officers or full members, garrison for some others. Etc. And it changes between home and auto--for example our auto is a different usaa co. Than home. Still all usaa though unless its an rv or classic car which is farmed out to a joint venture type arrangement.

With regards your question of single or joint bank account that is an individual call. We are joint on navy fed so we have access and its his daily use. The usaa credit card is also joint for the same reason. His other usaa accounts flipped to only him when he turned 18. Access works for us because it lets us add funds when needed without issue.
 
Well there are different usaa's. Usaa federal savings bank is open to the public. Anyone can open an account.

Wrong.

"You can take part in USAA products even if you don’t qualify for membership. You can still use the investment services that USAA offers, you can purchase life insurance from USAA, and you’re eligible to use their discounts; however, if you don’t qualify for membership, you’re not eligible for the auto, property, and other insurance products, and you cannot use the banking products."

You cannot just open a bank account without meeting one of the criteria for membership. Everyone at KP has a Navy Federal account, most have USAA. But I really prefer USAA. They've refunded me $10 ATM fees in 3rd world countries and the mobile deposit is great. Also refunded me overdraft fees when I accidentally overdrew my account.
 
Well ill be dam. You are right. Looked at the website and it changed in 2013 to be a membership required bank. Learn something new everyday.
 
Is it common for the parents to be on the account? Why is that helpful? I'm just curious why the parents need to be on the account.
 
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