Plebe Q&A

[moho]

Yeah it’s in the title. SAF was a great community to me bar one exception so I hope to be able to give back at least a little by sharing some experiences to anyone who’s interested.

There’s lots of questions in other threads about what our training is like nowadays and how it compares to training in the past so those are welcome too. Shoot away.

 

[navy/airforce-hopeful man]

Yeah it’s in the title. SAF was a great community to me bar one exception so I hope to be able to give back at least a little by sharing some experiences to anyone who’s interested.

There’s lots of questions in other threads about what our training is like nowadays and how it compares to training in the past so those are welcome too. Shoot away.

Do you know anyone with dietary restrictions? Were accomodations provided during them during plebe summer?

 

[moho]

Do you know anyone with dietary restrictions? Were accomodations provided during them during plebe summer?

I’ve definitely seen vegetarian! One of my squadmates is vegetarian and they accommodated over the summer, same goes for religious dietary restrictions. I don’t think they can do vegans though.

 

[Capt MJ]

Do you know anyone with dietary restrictions? Were accomodations provided during them during plebe summer?

To explore additional info at the primary official source:

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Info page for Midshipmen Development Center at USNA.edu. Updated Wed Aug 09 12:38:00 EDT 2023.

www.usna.edu

King Hall, the main midshipman dining facility, also has a dietitian assigned.

 

[severn]

Yeah it’s in the title. SAF was a great community to me bar one exception so I hope to be able to give back at least a little by sharing some experiences to anyone who’s interested.

There’s lots of questions in other threads about what our training is like nowadays and how it compares to training in the past so those are welcome too. Shoot away.

Dates of Thanksgiving break?

 

[DutchAmerican]

Dates of Thanksgiving break?

You could go to USNA Calendars, but it is 11/22 after LMO until 11/26

 

[Capt MJ]

USNA Calendars link below. Academic calendars are very handy.

USNA Calendars

USNA Calendars page for Public Affairs Office at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jul 14 13:14:14 EDT 2023.

www.usna.edu

For Thanksgiving - usually - classes start early on Wednesday, and all 5 periods are done by midday. Check out of company area and off they go, with a specified return time on Sunday. The return time has varied over the years. There is also - usually - a requirement to have flights land 2 hours earlier than leave expiration time, to allow for unplanned delays. No one checks this - unless the mid is late. Then they have to produce their flight schedule to show they complied.

On leave status, civilian clothes can be worn, drivers can drive, and 21 year olds can drink. They will be given direction on what they can wear departing and returning from leave.

The return time thing is -worthy. It will edge later and later over a few years, because the Dant is being generous, and hey, why not. Then, all it takes is The Post-Leave Muster Cluster From Hell, where return time was set for 2200, but it’s 0300 and there isn’t an accurate muster count yet, due to late arrivals, midshipmen foolishly fibbing and reporting friends are back when they are not or thoughtlessly committing honor offenses by signing them in, and warm bodies do not match reported head count or actual end strength. Dant is icy-furious, DepDant is volcanic, BattOs are driving company officers to get it right, company officers have their company commanders by the figurative scruffs of their necks, and it’s sunrise over the Severn before the muster is correct. On Monday. A miserable night. Of course, the next year, return time is 1800.

 

[moho]

USNA Calendars link below. Academic calendars are very handy.

USNA Calendars

USNA Calendars page for Public Affairs Office at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jul 14 13:14:14 EDT 2023.

www.usna.edu

For Thanksgiving - usually - classes start early on Wednesday, and all 5 periods are done by midday. Check out of company area and off they go, with a specified return time on Sunday. The return time has varied over the years. There is also - usually - a requirement to have flights land 2 hours earlier than leave expiration time, to allow for unplanned delays. No one checks this - unless the mid is late. Then they have to produce their flight schedule to show they complied.

On leave status, civilian clothes can be worn, drivers can drive, and 21 year olds can drink. They will be given direction on what they can wear departing and returning from leave.

The return time thing is -worthy. It will edge later and later over a few years, because the Dant is being generous, and hey, why not. Then, all it takes is The Post-Leave Muster Cluster From Hell, where return time was set for 2200, but it’s 0300 and there isn’t an accurate muster count yet, due to late arrivals, midshipmen foolishly fibbing and reporting friends are back when they are not or thoughtlessly committing honor offenses by signing them in, and warm bodies do not match reported head count or actual end strength. Dant is icy-furious, DepDant is volcanic, BattOs are driving company officers to get it right, company officers have their company commanders by the figurative scruffs of their necks, and it’s sunrise over the Severn before the muster is correct. On Monday. A miserable night. Of course, the next year, return time is 1800.

I am genuinely shocked how close we already are to Thanksgiving. I-Day fees like it was 2 years ago and 6 weeks ago at the same time.

 

[justdoit19]

I am genuinely shocked how close we already are to Thanksgiving. I-Day fees like it was 2 years ago and 6 weeks ago at the same time.

…just wait until Firstie year!!

There is a saying ‘days are long, month fly by’.

It’s true.

 

[PSIG]

What do you think is most challenging for you as a plebe, academic, military obligation, time management, people, food, restriction, etc? What is your most favorite thing at the academy?

 

[urbansailor]

The most challenging part has definitely been time management. I never used planners before but they are basically mandatory to survive here. I've also found myself signing up for stuff, or being signed up, only to realize later that I have a conflict. My favorite part has been my friends i've made here between my sports team and my company. Going through all these struggles together really makes us close.

 

[moho]

What do you think is most challenging for you as a plebe, academic, military obligation, time management, people, food, restriction, etc? What is your most favorite thing at the academy?

Hopefully I never have to answer the part about restriction (#Free19)!

The food is pretty bad, but I get to eat it with my squad, who I respect and get along with very well, so it's not that bad. The most challenging part is you can't turn it off. There is no going home after your ROTC commitments because your life, until leave, is basically a military obligation. Managing your time so you don't burn out is critical - some of my classmates are already burning out.

 

[PSIG]

Hopefully I never have to answer the part about restriction (#Free19)!

The food is pretty bad, but I get to eat it with my squad, who I respect and get along with very well, so it's not that bad. The most challenging part is you can't turn it off. There is no going home after your ROTC commitments because your life, until leave, is basically a military obligation. Managing your time so you don't burn out is critical - some of my classmates are already burning out.

Glad to see you are doing well @moho . Great attitude!