No Thanksgiving break

Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard

5-Year Member
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Jan 26, 2017
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It’s official, the Brigade will not leave for Thanksgiving, though there will hopefully be opportunities for liberty so mids can go to their sponsors or home if they live close. This is based on all the constraints around ROMing everyone who comes to Bancroft, plus the risks associated with traveling. A lot of people were hoping we could break for Thanksgiving and just finish online and not return until January, which would have made sense since classes are online anyway. But it sounds like the Supe and Dant really want the Brigade in the stands at Army Navy this year. People are disappointed but at the end of the day I’m sure everyone with Fleet experience can recount all the special days back home they had to miss. Just gotta take it on the chin.
 
Is it true the finals will all be done before the Army Navy game? So midshipmen can leave from the game?

Are there going to be tickets available?
 
You win some, you lose some. This is tough considering some of us have been on the yard everyday save 8 hours since July 5th. I don’t envy the plebes either.

We’ll just have to make the most of it. I hope we’re able to take an overnight or at least get off the yard for the holiday. I’m looking forward to a Friendsgiving.
 
My plebe sounded a bit defeated today. Not going to lie. The convo Re football optics versus brigade morale came up. I dug in with the reality of CDC and DOD and Maryland state data running the show. And the fact that this is the world we live in. No date you’re given is guaranteed and no promise made may be kept. It is the military, despite also being college. I felt like the hard ass bad guy affirming the bad news. Ten minutes later, and he is texting me about overseas programs in block one that he is applying for and potentially qualified for. Redirection is everything. Perspective is as well. When we said, “till we see you again”, June 29 I assumed it was December at best. Anything else is a gift in this mom’s mind. But it will be one helluva hug.
 
sorry to hear about Thanksgiving. At least the classes now have something in common with the classes who, as a matter of routine, did not have Thanksgiving or Spring Breaks, as my DH notes.
 
Better this than what other colleges are going through, e.g. completely online and/or off campus. At least mids are getting some semblance of a real college experience, N*ot College style. It won’t be the last Thanksgiving they miss at home — part of the military life they’ve chosen. As parents, our best tack is to support and reinforce their choice and path. Wringing hands does no one any good, especially when done on Facebook as many parents are doing now.
 
Thanksgiving has never been a big deal in our family. We were surprised that our DS came home for it as a Plebe. He hitched a ride with a Firstie who lived in our state, so that worked out. He stayed on The Yard for Thanksgiving last year, though.
 
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Thanksgiving is overrated ... and Turkey is not nearly as good as a Prime Rib at Christmas.

I try to take off all of December and half of January if possible ....

The late Uncle Don ... everyone called him Uncle Don ... a church elder, and bricklayer by trade ... wouldn’t work from November to April Fools day. He said it was more important to “Trap, Hunt and Fish” in the cold months.
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I think the bigger issue with this, is the part @Kierkegaard mentioned about it appearing that the reasoning is to keep mids there for army navy. Not actually being home for a holiday. Mids were hopeful. And now that is gone.

I get it. The alternate plan of coming home for Thanksgiving and staying until 2nd semester is now just that: the alternative. And so it APPEARS that they are choosing optics over morale. I can see it. They aren’t allowed in the stands for any game, except for the “big one”. And attending that game takes away the opportunity to be home. That’s what I’m hearing is more the issue than actually missing the holiday.

The “good news” in this is that final exams are moved up, to finish before army navy. So it would make sense that holiday break would commence immediately after the game? So an extra week-ish of semester break?

And the other piece to focus on, is that there is ONLY a couple weeks after thanksgiving until 1st semester is DONE.

Y’all are so close. Days are long, but weeks fly by.

BTW, we are having Thanksgiving in Annapolis this year. First time.

What is the scuttle butt on overnight leave? Have Mids been earning overnights, to be used when allowed? Doesnt each class normally automatically have them to bank, based upon their class? Or are those suspended presently?

Hang in there...normal is coming!!! Someday!!
 
Why can't Navy puts the Mids in the stands for home games? Municipal or state rule?
 
We visited our plebe this weekend and just booked a hotel for Thanksgiving break. He told us that there is no overnight liberty. Liberty is TBA for Thanksgiving, Saturday and Sunday. It would be great if they could leave for Christmas break right after Army/Navy but who knows where it will be. I think Philly is still not allowing large gatherings. I'm glad he'll be home for a longer Christmas break.
 
Soldiergriz said:
Why can't Navy puts the Mids in the stands for home games? Municipal or state rule?
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County. AA (And a few others) didn’t move to phase 3 when MD did a few weeks ago. Usna filed for a waiver that was denied.

Maybe next home game? I’m fascinated and amazed at the protocols and way that football is being managed. Successfully for the most part. High schools and college conferences that had cancelled are reinstating. So there is a possibility! It’s a constantly evolving situation.
 
Skipper07 said:
Ensure your plebe realizes that if he goes on an LREC he is ineligible to study abroad later on. It is not communicated well but MIDN can only do one international program.
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Thank you, I will convey that info.
 
I can't imagine an Army-Navy game without the mids and cadets in the stands. That would only make it "just another game" to me.
 
Imagine the look if the Army-Navy Game is played as planned. Stands 1/4 full per state and city mandate, light snow blowing in the frigid wind, the two teams getting fired up on the field, the cadets of West Point resplendent in their gray capes, marching on with their amazing esprit des corps...and then...this from the PA announcer:

“Ladies and gentlemen, there will be no march-on by the Brigade of Midshipmen, because the midshipmen decided they’d rather be home now than be here to not just support their football team in the game that matters most, but also represent the Navy and Marine Corps that they aspire to someday lead. On behalf of the brigade, the Superintendent sends his regrets. Now, please rise for the playing of our national anthem...”

Call it optics if you like, but let’s see what this scenario does for morale.
 
justdoit19 said:
And so it APPEARS that they are choosing optics over morale. I can see it. They aren’t allowed in the stands for any game, except for the “big one”. And attending that game takes away the opportunity to be home. That’s what I’m hearing is more the issue than actually missing the holiday.
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It is really sad to hear of ANY Midshipman thinking that way. Army-Navy isn't just a football game,
 
I hope they are there.

I hope WE are there. For the first time!! Got our tickets!

I hope there are lots of plebe pushups.

I hope Navy Sings Second 🙌
 
Most mids these days don’t care that much about football games. Many still enjoy watching, but not enough to prefer it to getting time off. There’s no scenario where only one school’s students would be present, it would either be both or neither. Either way there probably won’t be march on because of social distancing. If the Brigade and Corps do show up it will be carefully orchestrated to maintain the 6 ft apart. Transporting the students is another logistical nightmare if we’re going to keep 6 ft apart on the buses. IMO there’s a chance that the entire Brigade and Corps won’t be there. The view of much of the Brigade though is that it is just a football game. A special football game that celebrates a historical rivalry, but still just a game. It is important because it puts the Academies in the public eye in a really awesome way, and keep us relevant to all the politicians and donors who attend, and these things may be important, but mids don’t really care about that stuff. They’re viewed much the same way as parades.
 
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