Plebe Mail

[Pierre680]

I've been looking for a while on here about this but I haven't been able to find it.

I'm an appointee for the class of 2023 and while we're heading to Annapolis in about a month, my family and friends were wondering how we know where to send mail. I know it gets sent to the academy but I saw a guideline that says to include the company number and some other info. How do family and friends get to know this if I'm unable to communicate with them about where to send mail?

 

[THParent]

Some time before I-Day, you will be assigned an address at which you will receive mail just during Plebe Summer.
It will be something like this;

MIDN Jane Doe
D Company 9 Platoon 4 Squad
Annapolis, MD 21412

After Plebe Summer, you will get a P.O. Box number for regular mail, with a slightly different address (Adding "1 Wilson Road") for packages. They know what they're doing, so trust in the system. They will get you the information when you need it.

 

[justdoit19]

Something to keep in mind, stuff sent right away takes a minute to get sorted. So the normal time for mail has a couple days added on.

Also, it’s good to refresh millennial mailing skills. DS’s GF mailed him cards, with pictures, etc stuffed in them. Put a stamp on it and dropped it in a box. DS kept writing and asking her to write. Why wasn’t she writing (actually this still makes me a little sad...can’t imagine what was going through his mind...)?

It took a MONTH for her to receive the letter “return to sender for insufficient funds...” back, figuring out the mystery.
Then all the other ones quickly returned to her mailbox....She had been over weight on all of them.

No comment on how I felt about it [emoji849]. And DS’s mind was settled with the first phone call.

She said she didn’t know it would need more than one stamp....

 

[MidCakePa]

Because many mid parents decide — much to my dismay and probably to their mid’s horror — to post pictures of correspondence on Facebook, I’m amazed at the broad range of “letters” during plebe summer. Everything from eloquent multi-page expressions in fine script to mere stick-figure drawings above a scrawled caption. DD’s stuff fell squarely in between.

Says a lot about about a few things: (1) How much formal communication skills have deteriorated in the age of memes, Snapchat and emojis. (2) How the trials of plebe summer can unleash a torrent of emotions into eloquent print. (3) How the nature of parent-child communications varies so broadly that it reminds me that despite the sea of sameness you see on I-Day — whiteworks and Dixie cups as far as the eye can sea — each of these plebes has a unique story.

 

[Gabe_]

We want to give out pre addressed stamped envelopes to DD friends, at her grad party, so they can send letters during Plebe Summer to her. When are P2B given Co and Platoon info? Can we address to the Champlains for now or is that for care packages only?
Thanks!!!

 

[MidCakePa]

You’ll learn 2-3 weeks before I-Day. Suggest you don’t send to chaplains. They’re not in the business of delivering mail. That’s for “Any Mid” letters.

 

[justdoit19]

We want to give out pre addressed stamped envelopes to DD friends, at her grad party, so they can send letters during Plebe Summer to her. When are P2B given Co and Platoon info? Can we address to the Champlains for now or is that for care packages only?
Thanks!!!

We had notecards and envelopes scattered about the tables. Asked people to jot down words of encouragement, etc. and then had a basket to collect them.

During PS we sent a few in each package or letter. We had a lot. Plebe year is over, and I still have some left! Asked DS to open them when he needed encouragement, and he never needed them. Thinking I may save them until commissioning now.

 

[Capt MJ]

We want to give out pre addressed stamped envelopes to DD friends, at her grad party, so they can send letters during Plebe Summer to her. When are P2B given Co and Platoon info? Can we address to the Champlains for now or is that for care packages only?
Thanks!!!

Do not send to Chaplains for a specific mid, that’s if you’re in the mood to support AnyMid.

Good posts above about the timing and a way to gather notes from family and friends to include.

https://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/info.php

 

[Proudmama1103]

We did the same thing as his Graduation open house. Collected a ton of notecards and sent them throughout the summer with other letters and care packages. Enlist the help of relatives to send notes, interesting news articles, funny jokes (they need to have some in their back pocket), etc. Also, make sure to have your Plebe save everything and save all their letters. They make for good reading after Plebe year has passed. Also, send some addressed and stamped envelopes with note cards in the care package. Their time is VERY limited during the summer.

 

[Proudmama1103]

Also, contact the Chaplin and help arrange for other families within your company to adopt the international Plebes. Many come from very far away and have very little support on top of what is already a very difficult environment. Once you know the Company, set up a Facebook page for the parents in that group. You will be amazed how everyone bands together Waldo hunting, helping each other, etc. We actually got about 8 of the Plebes to Be together the night before I-Day. Nice to already know, at least a little bit, the others that you will be sharing misery with.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Just a heads up/public service announcement. Packages mailed to your loved one over Plebe summer must have the proper markings or they will not be delivered. I’m enclosing an example of what I mailed to my niece a few years ago to save you from having a package “returned to sender”. I would hate for one of your bundles of joy to start out on the wrong foot at USNA.

 

[DKTKT]

Just a heads up/public service announcement. Packages mailed to your loved one over Plebe summer must have the proper markings or they will not be delivered. I’m enclosing an example of what I mailed to my niece a few years ago to save you from having a package “returned to sender”. I would hate for one of your bundles of joy to start out on the wrong foot at USNA.
View attachment 2311

Yeah, so what I am hearing is "Be sure to stick to the packaging tape with the sparkly unicorns!" LOL

 

[brewmeist]

Something to keep in mind, stuff sent right away takes a minute to get sorted. So the normal time for mail has a couple days added on.

Also, it’s good to refresh millennial mailing skills. DS’s GF mailed him cards, with pictures, etc stuffed in them. Put a stamp on it and dropped it in a box. DS kept writing and asking her to write. Why wasn’t she writing (actually this still makes me a little sad...can’t imagine what was going through his mind...)?

It took a MONTH for her to receive the letter “return to sender for insufficient funds...” back, figuring out the mystery.
Then all the other ones quickly returned to her mailbox....She had been over weight on all of them.

No comment on how I felt about it [emoji849]. And DS’s mind was settled with the first phone call.

She said she didn’t know it would need more than one stamp....

This did make me chuckle...

My dad was a postmaster. When I was growing up, we would have him hold mail that we were sending out if we weren't sure if it was too heavy. He was always 100% accurate to the postage needed just by holding it.

He passed away 10 years ago. He served in the Navy (South Pacific) during WWII. Graduated HS a semester early to enlist at the age of 17. Truly a part of the Greatest Generation.

I am sure he is looking down at my P2B son with pride, but how I wish he was here in person to be a part of all of this...

 

[ders_dad]

He passed away 10 years ago. He served in the Navy (South Pacific) during WWII. Graduated HS a semester early to enlist at the age of 17. Truly a part of the Greatest Generation.

I am sure he is looking down at my P2B son with pride, but how I wish he was here in person to be a part of all of this...

Same here with both of DS’s grandpas. I think of them a lot these days.

 

[justdoit19]

This did make me chuckle...

My dad was a postmaster. When I was growing up, we would have him hold mail that we were sending out if we weren't sure if it was too heavy. He was always 100% accurate to the postage needed just by holding it.

He passed away 10 years ago. He served in the Navy (South Pacific) during WWII. Graduated HS a semester early to enlist at the age of 17. Truly a part of the Greatest Generation.

I am sure he is looking down at my P2B son with pride, but how I wish he was here in person to be a part of all of this...

Oh boy....DONT forget the Kleenex on IDay! Brought a tear already!

My own grandma had two brothers in the navy. And a retired rear admiral nephew. She always talked with pride about their call to service. She, too, would be SO PROUD of my guy. She knows, but I would love to see her smile...

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Yeah, so what I am hearing is "Be sure to stick to the packaging tape with the sparkly unicorns!" LOL

Second niece (sister of the first one), will be a Plebe this summer with class of 2023. I don’t want her to feel left out...