Noon Meal Formation during PS

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blueplate99

USNA 21
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
Messages
88
Is the academy open to the public during Plebe Summer? Are people able to come watch noon meal formation//other PS things?
 
....but you won't be able to meet with and/or talk with your plebe if that is what you are really asking.
 
NMF and parade practice in the evening are the only things that will be relatively constant. Some of the other training (i.e. sailing, DC) takes place outside on the yard but different companies do these at different times during the summer and this schedule is not made available to the public.

Most training goes on indoors or at the naval station and is thus closed to the public. I don't believe they allow spectators at morning PT unless its over parents weekend. You'll see plebes marching around in formation any day of the week though.
 
BDHuff09 said:
NMF and parade practice in the evening are the only things that will be relatively constant. Some of the other training (i.e. sailing, DC) takes place outside on the yard but different companies do these at different times during the summer and this schedule is not made available to the public.

Most training goes on indoors or at the naval station and is thus closed to the public. I don't believe they allow spectators at morning PT unless its over parents weekend. You'll see plebes marching around in formation any day of the week though.
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Yes you can but please do not stalk or try to speak with your plebe! Spectators are allowed at morning PT but again you will only be able to try to pickout your plebe from a sea of nes who all look alike. IMHO Let your plebe do what they need to do to become acclimated to USNA. It is not usually an easy task.
 
parent said:
Yes you can but please do not stalk or try to speak with your plebe! Spectators are allowed at morning PT but again you will only be able to try to pickout your plebe from a sea of nes who all look alike. IMHO Let your plebe do what they need to do to become acclimated to USNA. It is not usually an easy task.
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Could not agree more..... the mids are trying to acclimate to a whole different way of life and the last thing they need is someone trying to get a glimpse of them during training..... it can and will distract them.
 
mjm said:
Could not agree more..... the mids are trying to acclimate to a whole different way of life and the last thing they need is someone trying to get a glimpse of them during training..... it can and will distract them.
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Not to mention the flack they'll catch if anyone finds out their mom or dad is sneaking peaks.
 
And for parents who live close enough... goes for Chapel services. That is where a lot of parents try to sneak in visits. Not saying anyone on here has that plan, but every year that first Sunday is packed with Plebe parents stalking their kids to the bathroom.
 
NavyHoops said:
And for parents who live close enough... goes for Chapel services. That is where a lot of parents try to sneak in visits. Not saying anyone on here has that plan, but every year that first Sunday is packed with Plebe parents stalking their kids to the bathroom.
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[emoji15] helicopter parents...

Granted I'll be at home stalking Lucky Bag...
 
Plus, I'm sure the plebe would be mortified if/when they found out. Don't tread on your relationship.
 
They are. They stress about it and think they are going to get in trouble.
 
blueplate99 said:
Is the academy open to the public during Plebe Summer? Are people able to come watch noon meal formation//other PS things?
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I agree with all posted above. We do live relatively close and popped up for a couple parades. I would add- it may not be wise to make a trip to see your kid at noon meal formation. Other company activities can pull them from noon meal formation. So, you could well show up and your kid's company is absent. And you won't know that in advance. Parades are a more reliable time for finding Waldo.
 
They'll release a schedule at some point to the public if they haven't already.... the formal parades are open to the public over plebe summer. According to the calendar I have access to they will be on July 14, 21, August 4, and 12 (PPW). It looks like the non-PPW parades are at 0930.
 
A couple of thoughts along the lines of those who have already commented. If you want to see things generally during PS, you can obviously walk onto the Yard in areas open to the public and see random plebe companies doing random things. You can attend noon meal formation and parades. Of course, you'll have ample opportunity to do this during PPW and throughout your kid's 4 years -- and for almost all of these times after PS, you will be able to meet with your DS/DD before/after the event.

What you can't do PS -- and shouldn't try to do -- is talk to your DS/DD. Your child will have three opportunities to phone home -- these are well published in advance. If there are any serious issues with your plebe (medical, seriously wanting to quit), the PS officer leadership will contact you. This is an excellent time to ground the helicopter and let your child be an adult.

If your kid sees you hanging around trying to take pix of him/her, your kid likely will be mortified and get flak from his/her classmates (at least this would have happened in my day). If it continues day after day to the point it becomes annoying to the detailers and the plebes, it would not surprise me if you are asked not to come onto the Yard. Remember the Yard is a military facility -- while guests are allowed, they don't have a legal "right" to be there.

Finally, if you just want to see your kid, the USNA Alumni Association (and maybe others) post s"official" pictures of various PS activities. They typically indicate which companies are captured -- most parents scour these faithfully every day.:)
 
usna1985 said:
Finally, if you just want to see your kid, the USNA Alumni Association (and maybe others) post s"official" pictures of various PS activities. They typically indicate which companies are captured -- most parents scour these faithfully every day.:)
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It was fun to Waldo hunt during PS. Sometimes you think it is your child only to find out just a girl with short hair! LOL! Spent hours just looking for a glimpse. The Alumni takes hundreds of great photos. Highly recommend signing up for the site. Also you can look for others in your Plebes class form your Local Club. :benny monkeysmilies:
 
The Lucky Bag is the USNA yearbook. They are massive and weigh a decent amount. The Lucky Bag has a Facebook page that they post pics about activities they are covering for yearbook. Huff, good luck lugging those around duty station to duty station!
 
And for your Navy trivia file:
Lucky Bag: Navy slang for the collection of gear adrift (misplaced stuff) found about the ship or unit, including contraband. The Master-at-Arms was responsible for inventorying it and posting a list, and times when non-contraband could be claimed by owners.
 
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