Lost or missing items
- Thread starter Saynomore
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Yes, buy renters insurance. Great step toward adulting — knowing how to protect your assets. DD got a great policy from USAA. Costs about $15/month. She pays for it, because they’re her assets. Very proud that it took just one conversation to help her see the wisdom of it.
Sorry to hear -- have heard it's been crazy inside Bancroft the past couple of weeks with all of the moves.
While this is not going to be helpful with his current, acute situation, if your DS is a plebe and you are not yet familiar, I would definitely recommend that going-forward you check out renters insurance from USAA or NFCU (in partnership through GEICO.)
Specifically, I know USAA offers a special heavily discounted renters insurance program designed and offered to SA students.
It took me a couple of calls to find an agent who was aware of the special program/offer -- and even then, it took some work to ensure that the coverage I was purchasing (including some supplemental additions) was adequate to cover electronics (computer, tablet etc.) So again, make sure you are dealing with an agent who is familiar -- or is willing to do the research - to find the specific USAA Service Academy renters insurance program before enrolling your son.
In all, it's about $100 per year, but covers pretty much everything including uniforms, sports equipment and my electronics -- relatively inexpensive peace of mind.
While this is not going to be helpful with his current, acute situation, if your DS is a plebe and you are not yet familiar, I would definitely recommend that going-forward you check out renters insurance from USAA or NFCU (in partnership through GEICO.)
Specifically, I know USAA offers a special heavily discounted renters insurance program designed and offered to SA students.
It took me a couple of calls to find an agent who was aware of the special program/offer -- and even then, it took some work to ensure that the coverage I was purchasing (including some supplemental additions) was adequate to cover electronics (computer, tablet etc.) So again, make sure you are dealing with an agent who is familiar -- or is willing to do the research - to find the specific USAA Service Academy renters insurance program before enrolling your son.
In all, it's about $100 per year, but covers pretty much everything including uniforms, sports equipment and my electronics -- relatively inexpensive peace of mind.
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+1 to @20USNA23. My additional take as a parent: Make sure the mid does the research and makes the purchase, not mom and dad. Again, an important step to adulting. Took DD all of 30 minutes to do online research, consult with me re coverage level, then make the buy. And it was quite satisfying for her.
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And I'd recommend that YOU not call to check it out. Your mid NEEDS to step up and do this him or her self. IT'S THEIR STUFF! They are adults and what's more, they will be mentors to others soon if not now. They should be fully capable of researching the insurance and then getting it. A big part of what USNA is supposed to teach them is accountability and responsibility. If Mom and Dad are pulling strings and doing the background work then they aren't managing their personal life. This is part of the whole adulting process. Now it is certainly a good thing to push your kids to DO the research and GET the insurance but beyond that, it needs to be them.
Thank you for the advise. I will pass it on to him.
No need for the condescending response. He called home and voice his frustration. I thought posting a question would generate on response which I could pass on to him. I thought that it is what this forum was for. I guess I was wrong. Thanks for making a new member welcomed!!!
Old Navy BGO
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Good advice about Renter's insurance from a big picture perspective, but is that really relevant to the issue at hand ? What is it that is missing ? How material ? I would never recommend getting an insurance company involved for minor, immaterial losses.
My first recommendation is to let the Chain of Command know -start with Squad Leader at the time of moves. Are things just getting lost, or is someone taking advantage of the situation and pilfering Classmates belongings. I would certainly hope not, but maybe this is time for a good room inspecction ?
If uniforms, etc. that just got lost in the shuffle, they should have an Alpha Code stenciled -- if these have been stashed somewhere, they should be retrievable.
My first recommendation is to let the Chain of Command know -start with Squad Leader at the time of moves. Are things just getting lost, or is someone taking advantage of the situation and pilfering Classmates belongings. I would certainly hope not, but maybe this is time for a good room inspecction ?
If uniforms, etc. that just got lost in the shuffle, they should have an Alpha Code stenciled -- if these have been stashed somewhere, they should be retrievable.
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...not to mention Halsey. This last summer is a perfect response to “why do I NEEED renters insurance?” (Emphasis added...my sons own inquiry as a plebe).
Add hurricane rains....hopefully it all survived ok
Add hurricane rains....hopefully it all survived ok
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Sorry that you felt it condescending, it was not my intention. Junior Officers need to be ready to lead others when they are commissioned and the way to do that is to start leading themselves as early as possible. I'm a former senior Naval Officer and current college professor who also raised four kids into functioning adults and perhaps my experiences in those worlds influence how I see things. Hey, feel free to do as much as you want for your mid.
Did not ask for your resume or approval. Go try and cyber bully someone else. For those who responded with great advise thank you.
usna1985
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I'm sure your DS is not the only mid with missing items. I have no doubt there is a procedure/process for mids to follow if stuff is missing. Your DS should figure out what that is via his chain of command. In the end, if he can't find stuff and he needs it, he'll need to re-purchase it.
Generally, mids at USNA don't need renters' insurance b/c, under normal circumstances, their stuff shouldn't be lost. In 4 years at USNA, I can't recall losing anything of any value. These past 6 months haven't been normal circumstances. That said, if the stuff missing is clothing or towels and the like, and the amount isn't great, insurance won't do a lot (value of used clothing is virtually nil).
At the end of the day, there isn't much you can do other than be generally supportive -- OldRetSwo is correct that mids need to start figuring out for themselves how to handle adversity.
Generally, mids at USNA don't need renters' insurance b/c, under normal circumstances, their stuff shouldn't be lost. In 4 years at USNA, I can't recall losing anything of any value. These past 6 months haven't been normal circumstances. That said, if the stuff missing is clothing or towels and the like, and the amount isn't great, insurance won't do a lot (value of used clothing is virtually nil).
At the end of the day, there isn't much you can do other than be generally supportive -- OldRetSwo is correct that mids need to start figuring out for themselves how to handle adversity.
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I have been thinking about this. Mids left in March, for break. They left their rooms “as is”. Fully intending to be back after 10 days.
Then COVID. Cannot imagine 4,400 rooms of stuff to deal with!! Honestly? It’s amazing that Bancroft was packed up and hauled to a whole different location as well as it was.
A thankless job...having moved before, it’s awful.
Impressive.
Thank you. Yes he is going to figure it out on his own. Yes he is more than capable. Yes this is a new learning experience for him. I Simply posted a question about advise to pass on to him. I do not see the need to lecture new parents who post simple questions about how he or she needs to figure it out on there own. We are well aware of the journey they are embarked on.
shock-n-awe
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Same thing happened to my DS at USMA. I told him he needs to find his stuff or he will be buying the replacements. He was frustrated that there was not a better organized way of locating things from his company. I told him to use his chain of command and be resourceful. Use it as a leadership detail imagining it could be an enlisted soldier in his platoon one day in the big Army. How would you help your soldier?
He did eventually find his stuff, not sure if it was due to his resourcefulness or luck. He does not have renters insurance to my knowledge, but I have not mentioned it to him. Parents should offer advice to our kids when needed. Knowledge being passed down is exactly what is being taught at the SA’s.
I think oldretSWO was actually trying to help, but was maybe a little heavy on the “Caps” key and blunt advice with no ill will intended. People like to emphasize that our kids are at premier leadership institutions and they need to adult. And adult they will when they commission!
They will all figure stuff out and your kid will too!
Thank you for the response and sharing your experience.
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Im a mom. So no knowledge other than that. I suspect that word of mouth will help him...this is a new “problem”, so probably no “normal” way it’s done. Other than what one would “normally” do, which is his chain of command.
I believe I read somewhere that there will be a method of filing for lost, stolen or damaged items. I suspect this will be shared at some point as I’m certain your Mid isnt the only one experiencing this related to this massive moving. So my advice would be to pay close attention to emails and info coming out. My older Mid said everything is to be out of Halsey this weekend...so perhaps after that.
I really feel like asking here, about how to deal with it, isn’t going to get you good info to share. Because it’s a new/unique issue. And nothing is ‘normal’ at all presently.
Good luck to him. My own ‘24 is missing stuff as well, as he was in his first room initially, with all his boxes of stuff, and for moved right away into isolation. Had to leave most of that stuff. Then they (not him) changed rooms, people he hadn’t even met were charged with moving his stuff. Now more has been issued, that he missed, and he is on his own to get it all sorted out after moving to company space. He has no clue where some of his things are. So I feel for you. NOTHING is easy this year.
I believe I read somewhere that there will be a method of filing for lost, stolen or damaged items. I suspect this will be shared at some point as I’m certain your Mid isnt the only one experiencing this related to this massive moving. So my advice would be to pay close attention to emails and info coming out. My older Mid said everything is to be out of Halsey this weekend...so perhaps after that.
I really feel like asking here, about how to deal with it, isn’t going to get you good info to share. Because it’s a new/unique issue. And nothing is ‘normal’ at all presently.
Good luck to him. My own ‘24 is missing stuff as well, as he was in his first room initially, with all his boxes of stuff, and for moved right away into isolation. Had to leave most of that stuff. Then they (not him) changed rooms, people he hadn’t even met were charged with moving his stuff. Now more has been issued, that he missed, and he is on his own to get it all sorted out after moving to company space. He has no clue where some of his things are. So I feel for you. NOTHING is easy this year.
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Thank you. I appreciate your insight. I will pass on the information.
usna1985
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No one is lecturing. You are hearing from people who have been through life as a mid-- and graduated. No, we didn't endure Covid. But each of us endured our own challenges. We offer advice to mids and parents based on those experiences. Nothing more.
Kierkegaard
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Not quite sure how the move to isolation is handled—Was he tasked with moving his own stuff, or was he immediately brought to isolation and somebody else brought his things? He’s going to have to think critically here and retrace all his steps. If I was in that situation I would also check with the new occupants of those previous rooms and ask if they saw anything left behind when they moved in. That’s definitely not unheard of.