Picking the date for a special occasion

DKTKT

DKTKT

5-Year Member
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Feb 7, 2017
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201
So I have found some related threads, but none quite on point. (Sorry if I missed something.)

Our DS has been accepted for class of 2023, and his sister has recently become engaged. Sister would like to optimize the chances that her brother can be there. Any advice on picking a date for the wedding? Getting to the wedding will require significant travel (flying out of state). Appreciate any insights.
 
- Winter holiday (Christmas). He will not know his exam schedule until fall. He can leave after his last exam. Everyone has to be back on the same day in the New Year.
- Thanksgiving. Tight squeeze. They start classes early on Wed to get a full class day in, and he can leave after LMO (last military obligation), but usually midday. He has to be back on Sunday by a specific time, not yet published. It has varied over the years.
- Spring break. A full week in March. Those dates are the same for everyone, and may already be on the public calendars.
- Intersessional leave. This is a highly variable handful of days between the last of a mid’s
second semester exams and before different dates for each class before Sea Trials, Comm Week, etc. Dicey.
- Summer leave. He will have at least 3 weeks of leave during the summer, and he gets to ask for the block he wants (summer training and leave are broken into blocks). There is no guarantee he will get that block, and even if he does, there is a chance it may get swapped.

No doubt others will have thoughts.
 
Your best bets are the “fixed” leave periods: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break. Summer is very tough because the training schedule can change at the drop of a hat. Mids can hear in March that they’ll be training Blocks 1 and 3, only to learn a couple months later that it’s really 1 and 2 or 2 and 3.

At least for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break, there are set dates for when leave starts and ends. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on your mid’s extracurricular activities. For example, varsity athletes in fall sports may have very limited time off for Thanksgiving. Or right now, during Spring Break, the Glee Club is touring Hawaii. But again, the dates are relatively predictable.

Note: Posted simultaneously with @Capt MJ. As usual, her details are very helpful.
 
If the wedding is on a Saturday afternnon/evening and the location is within one time zone, it might be doable during the ac year, especially second semester. Your DS would need to be academically sat and would have to put in a chit, but it’s at least possible. I know a kid who was allowed to leave the Friday before spring break to see his dad promoted. USNA does try to get people to life events when possible.

Nonetheless, agree the best time is spring break or winter break. Or intercessional in May after exams and before Commissioning Week.
 
Congrats @DKTKT. We are in the same boat (see what I did there?)! My Mid just found out his summer block schedule, and we are trying to throw together a Hawaii wedding this summer [emoji51]...Knowing he may not ultimately be able to attend but crossing fingers and stuff!!
 
justdoit19 said:
Congrats @DKTKT. We are in the same boat (see what I did there?)! My Mid just found out his summer block schedule, and we are trying to throw together a Hawaii wedding this summer [emoji51]...Knowing he may not ultimately be able to attend but crossing fingers and stuff!!
Click to expand...

One of our sponsor mids was unable to make a sister’s wedding. She had a “flat daddy” made of herself and shipped it to another sister. It showed up in family photos, attended the wedding rehearsal dinner, ceremony and all social events, and in general made for a hilarious presence. Absent sister face-timed a toast.
 
Capt MJ said:
justdoit19 said:
Congrats @DKTKT. We are in the same boat (see what I did there?)! My Mid just found out his summer block schedule, and we are trying to throw together a Hawaii wedding this summer [emoji51]...Knowing he may not ultimately be able to attend but crossing fingers and stuff!!
Click to expand...

One of our sponsor mids was unable to make a sister’s wedding. She had a “flat daddy” made of herself and shipped it to another sister. It showed up in family photos, attended the wedding rehearsal dinner, ceremony and all social events, and in general made for a hilarious presence. Absent sister face-timed a toast.
Click to expand...
That is epic! :cool: We once had a special occasion my brother-in-law missed, so we had a cousin stand in for him in our family photos with a bag over his head; this sounds WAAY better. ;)
 
The amount of weddings I have been to that we have a human size cut out or face on a stick is pretty amazing. It’s part of military life and a way to remember those who are deployed, take some fun photos and incorporate them into the big day.
 
Capt MJ said:
- Winter holiday (Christmas). He will not know his exam schedule until fall. He can leave after his last exam. Everyone has to be back on the same day in the New Year.
- Thanksgiving. Tight squeeze. They start classes early on Wed to get a full class day in, and he can leave after LMO (last military obligation), but usually midday. He has to be back on Sunday by a specific time, not yet published. It has varied over the years.
- Spring break. A full week in March. Those dates are the same for everyone, and may already be on the public calendars.
- Intersessional leave. This is a highly variable handful of days between the last of a mid’s
second semester exams and before different dates for each class before Sea Trials, Comm Week, etc. Dicey.
- Summer leave. He will have at least 3 weeks of leave during the summer, and he gets to ask for the block he wants (summer training and leave are broken into blocks). There is no guarantee he will get that block, and even if he does, there is a chance it may get swapped.

No doubt others will have thoughts.
Click to expand...
I was wondering about Thanksgiving break and this is exactly what I was looking for. Is the early schedule on the Wednesday before Thanskgiving what they always do? Looking to make a reservation on a 530pm flight out of BWI and just want to make sure that will work. Also, if a sponsor ride to the airport is not an option, are their buses that run to the airport? Thanks for the gouge!
 
USUALLY t-day is a Wednesday evening departure. Usually being the key. It’s a crapshoot. The strategy we use, is purchasing when we think it will be, but with Southwest. So we can cancel/change without fees. The money goes back into our bank so to speak, if plans have to change. Which they do. Forevermore. Watch duty. Leave not granted. Etc, etc.

New year, new Supe. New Dant. But last year they had to be back at USNA by 6pm (with a scheduled plane arrival by 4pm) on the Sunday after T-day.

As a new mom last year, I was concerned about setting up a ride from BWI to USNA. I’ve since learned that they will find others Mids and ride-share an Uber. Or hop in another sponsors car for a ride. Especially on a compressed holiday such as T-day. Tons of Mids at BWI at the same time (hence to $$$ flights [emoji849]).
 
KirkcudbrightBorn said:
Capt MJ said:
- Winter holiday (Christmas). He will not know his exam schedule until fall. He can leave after his last exam. Everyone has to be back on the same day in the New Year.
- Thanksgiving. Tight squeeze. They start classes early on Wed to get a full class day in, and he can leave after LMO (last military obligation), but usually midday. He has to be back on Sunday by a specific time, not yet published. It has varied over the years.
- Spring break. A full week in March. Those dates are the same for everyone, and may already be on the public calendars.
- Intersessional leave. This is a highly variable handful of days between the last of a mid’s
second semester exams and before different dates for each class before Sea Trials, Comm Week, etc. Dicey.
- Summer leave. He will have at least 3 weeks of leave during the summer, and he gets to ask for the block he wants (summer training and leave are broken into blocks). There is no guarantee he will get that block, and even if he does, there is a chance it may get swapped.

No doubt others will have thoughts.
Click to expand...
I was wondering about Thanksgiving break and this is exactly what I was looking for. Is the early schedule on the Wednesday before Thanskgiving what they always do? Looking to make a reservation on a 530pm flight out of BWI and just want to make sure that will work. Also, if a sponsor ride to the airport is not an option, are their buses that run to the airport? Thanks for the gouge!
Click to expand...
*there* not their. Ugh!
 
justdoit19 said:
The strategy we use, is purchasing when we think it will be, but with Southwest. So we can cancel/change without fees.
Click to expand...
This strategy worked for DD for her time at USNA. I also agree that you need to be prepared for changes, not only due to USNA but also the airlines. For some reason BWI had a ton of changed and cancelled flights over the years DD traveled back and forth.

One good thing about dealing with all of this is that Mids get very good at handling travel arrangements. She has taken care of her own arrangements since early in Plebe year.
 
My mid missed his sister's wedding during plebe year. We realized the only time we could guarantee he would be home was during Christmas, or Spring break and those wouldn't work with other timing issues. He reminded her over and over that he had signed up for this and that we couldn't postpone life and wait for him because this would be his life for the next 20+ years. It was very mature for an 18 year old and he even sent her a special gift, but it's not called N*ot College for nothing. The sacrifices begin on day 1.

Side note... the photographer got some of the best photos of a sweet facetime call that will melt hearts for years to come.
 
I second known time off- Thanksgiving or Winter break. Other times are just too dicey.
If he’s a basketball player forget the above. Maybe thanksgiving?
 
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