Initial PRT failed: What's next

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onWestCoastC02025

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Hi,

DS is in PS at USNA. We were relieved to receive a phone call and his letter. He mentioned that he failed his initial PRT but will get to take again at end of PS.
So how does this works if he passes this next PRT or fails next PRT.? Would he get another chance during AC year if he fails the next PRT?

Thank you everyone. DS is loving it there, plans to be part of sailing team.
 
Should he fail at the end of plebe summer, he’ll be put on a remedial fitness program. It includes focused work during the ac year, under the close guidance and monitoring of upperclassmen assigned to help them pass the PRT when it comes around again in a few weeks. DD was one of these 2/C trainers last year and said with dedication and commitment, one can improve dramatically. Look at it less as a failure but as an opportunity for dramatic improvement.
 
It’s also not incredibly unusual. They are exhausted. May not be in their peak health (plebe hack). Sleep deprived. So don’t be concerned. There usually is improvement from 1st to subsequent PRT’s during plebe summer. But, as @MidCakePa said, there are programs to get them there if they don’t pass.

The amount of support available in all things at USNA is pretty spectacular. It’s hard to actually fail!
 
If he fails again, he’ll likely be put on a mandatory remedial fitness program. That will get him into shape and he should able to pass the next test without issue. The only real drawback is that it’s an additional time commitment on an already busy schedule.
 
In addition to all the notes above, he will quickly learn he doesn’t want to be in that group known as perennial strugglers with the PRT and having to do mandatory remedial work. The PRT is a part of military life the rest of his career. He will have to identify his weaknesses and devote the time in personal workouts to ensure he keeps his performance above the minimums.

He will figure it out.
 
shock-n-awe said:
If he fails again, he’ll likely be put on a mandatory remedial fitness program. That will get him into shape and he should able to pass the next test without issue. The only real drawback is that it’s an additional time commitment on an already busy schedule.
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Just talked to 2C MIDN, one was assigned to help MIDN who struggled with PRT. They said the first PRT during PS really doesnt matter...but the second one will. If one fails the 2nd PRT, he/she will be required to do the mandatory remodel work (as Capt. MJ posted). He/she may also loos some Liberty time. He will get there!
 
onWestCoastC02025 said:
Hi,

DS is in PS at USNA. We were relieved to receive a phone call and his letter. He mentioned that he failed his initial PRT but will get to take again at end of PS.
So how does this works if he passes this next PRT or fails next PRT.? Would he get another chance during AC year if he fails the next PRT?

Thank you everyone. DS is loving it there, plans to be part of sailing team.
Click to expand...
38% of the current plebes failed the Initial PRT. After a a summer of training, I suspect that number will be less than 5%. Your DS will be fine. The PS physical training works.
 
shock-n-awe said:
If he fails again, he’ll likely be put on a mandatory remedial fitness program. That will get him into shape and he should able to pass the next test without issue. The only real drawback is that it’s an additional time commitment on an already busy schedule.
Click to expand...
Note that the remedial fitness program during Ac year used to conflict with sports time to buh-bye to any potential sports until PRT is passed.

Note: the OP mentioned that the son wants to sail. When I graduated, the course records for the USNA obstacle course both male and female were members of the Intercollegiate (small boat) Sailing Team. Most of us worked out relentlessly during our winter offseason and whenever we could get them in in Spring and Fall. I was close to the limit as a new plebe but never failed and got better throughout my time at USNA.
 
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USNA will get your son ready …. It is possible that he went out too fast in the first few weeks of plebe summer and blew all of his energy in this heat and humidity. Your son will figure it out and get it right.

There is no reason to get all worried about it, cuz there is too much to look forward to, like the great sale opportunities on your favorite stonks in the comings days, weeks, and months … back the truck up.
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Happy Sunday folks,
@MidCakePa , @Capt MJ, @OldRetSWO
I do not know how to address this because I do not what it means. I want to offer some advice but do not know.

Got a letter from DS, it seems he was counseled twice by senior enlisted leader. He was told his Military Bearings are worst and he might not survive plebe summer. It’s on top of the fact that he failed PRT and his swim test. He was sick and in isolation for 2-3 days.

What is Military Bearings?
He is standing tall and holding his groundCan he still be separated?
 
Military Bearing is singular. It just means how he carries himself and the confidence (or lack thereof) that he projects.

This is nothing that you should worry about and nothing you can control. They want Plebes to succeed during Plebe Summer. They are not being too hard on him. They are getting him to conform to the standard. It will work out. He will be tested again and again and he will have doubts that he is cut from the right cloth to hold a position there. It's normal. He will get through it and he will emerge a better person for it.

If they didn't do this drink-from-a-firehose style of training, the Plebes would not have the tools that they need to successfully get through the academic year to come. The Detailers have a big job and six weeks is precious little time in which to do it. The quality of Plebes that they turn out reflects upon their leadership abilities, so they understandably want their Plebes to do it all a little bit better, faster, and harder than the others.
 
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I’m sure those who’ve actually been there, done that (@Capt MJ, @OldRetSWO, @NavyHoops among them) will have first-hand perspective. But as a fellow parent, knowing you have a phone call and PPW approaching, I offer this:

Wait to hear the full story directly. Moods and attitudes change swiftly. It’s likely not exactly as it seems, not because your mid means to mislead, but because of the heat of the moment. Suggest you counsel your mid that they got feedback, which is a gift that should be unpacked and acted on. That USNA is deeply invested in their success. And that USNA will do all it can to help them succeed if they’re duly motivated to do so.

Beyond that, it’s in their hands. Provide positive vibes, encouragement, support. Do not let them make excuses or point fingers. Focus them on what they’re going to do differently. They will feel that much more satisfied when it’s all resolved by their own doing. And they’ll come out of it better and stronger.
 
Your DS is struggling with aspects of Plebe Summer, not the end of the world. He will be fine. Failing the initial PRT is not that big of deal. Plenty of Plebes do. 99% pass at the end of the summer. I think the lesson learned is that USNA has a measurement for the PRT and if someone struggled with a part or parts of it, they need to take notice and ensure they are continually training. The hand holding ends after Plebe Summer and they must realize and prioritize certain things. Plebe Summer swimming is really meant to be a measurement and familiarization. Nothing to sweat. He will have to work at it when swimming comes around during the academic year.

As far as bearing… it’s been mentioned above. It really comes down to his disposition, attitude and ability to be unflappable during times of stress. For some Plebes, they struggle with this. The first 3 weeks of the summer are tough, it’s a tear down. New detailers are now there and it’s sort of a fresh start. They start to see the light at the end of the tunnel and have some ‘fun’ stuff like the baseball game. This set of detailers job is to build them back up and prepare them to join the brigade. He will start to find victories and be better at things. It takes some longer than others. Bottom line, this is on him. Just be supportive and encourage. Every person admitted to USNA can graduate. We all made it, so will he. Those who succeed during the academic year are those who figure out time management, put away social media and get help early in any subject they struggle in.
 
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I'll just add to the above. . . Been there, done that. Your son will survive if he does not quit. Work on the physical stuff that he failed and get up to a passing score. They won't kick out for physical tests for a very long time as they give a lot of chances to remediate and improve. Try harder on the Bearing stuff including plebe rates, marching, etc and he will make it through.
 
Ill speak to this from a perspective of a mom, who had a plebe struggle...differently, but still struggle. It’s a MENTAL challenge, grind, more than anything. The physical will work itself out. But they have to decide that they will get back up, and continue. Never give up. Not take it personally. IMO, this is where the sports analogies kick In. On a football team, you get knocked around. But you make adjustments, figure out your weaknesses, and keep going. In your mind, you dont give up, you keep going. And going. And going. Thats grit. Your Coaches are there to help you. They are invested in you. Counsel you. As long as you are Coachable, they work with you. Alll towards the end goal. Which may not even be winning that game, but rather winning that game to win the Championship at the end of the season. And your teammates are there to pick you up when you fall. Literally and metaphorically.

These are the biggest opportunities for self growth! When the decision is made to ‘never give up the ship’. As a parent, it’s hard to get those letters. Or have those conversations. But, remain positive, supportive and stoic. Let them vent. Your call today may be completely void of any discussion about any of this as that moment has passed and is old news. Or, it could be the ‘I quit, i cant do this’ call. Where you say ‘yes, you can’, ‘I believe in you’, ‘you GOT THIS!!’, and ‘YOU ARE ALMOST DONE’ (with plebe summer...). If it ends up to be the latter, offer them to hang in there...the next phase is quite different from this one. Big time.

I’m not sure if plebes know this or not, but they will only have their firstie detailers going forward. Everyone else is changing companies. BTW...my ‘struggler’ is thriving. THRIVING. Home now, and the stories he tells. He misses his homies immensely. Is a different person. Seriously having the time of his life and is the envy of his friends (i mean, he drove (is that the right word??) a nuclear submarine, a ship, launched grenades, flew an airplane.....also sailed up and down the Coast, and mingled with famous people). Never could have convinced me this would be him, a year ago. HANG IN THERE!! And honestly, his perspective when he wrote that letter was probably skewed a bit, and not the whole story. In the big picture.

Cant wait for the calls. Hoping yours is good! And if its not, find a battle buddy if you need one. This, too, shall pass!!
 
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As a parent, you will even wonder if they made the right choice at some point. Usually, it's after that first Christmas break and they are absolutely dreading going back to The Yard. Yes. It happens.

Later on - they start looking forward to getting back - because all their friends that they have been through thick and thin with, are there.
 
Thank you everyone for the words of wisdom. This really helps to give further guidance.
DS is looking forward to academic year, but things have not just gone his way. We knew some of his weakness going but glad he is able to identify them now and working on improving.

Thank you and will update this thread on how the call goes today.
 
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