Plebe Summer Care Packages

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CoMom26

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I was wondering if someone could tell me specifically what is acceptable for care packages during Plebe Summer? What's the best type of "box" to use? I've heard no bigger than a shoe box but does that mean actually using a shoe box for the care package or can we use a flat rate USPS box? I don't want my DS to get in trouble because I didn't do it right.

Thanks for sharing your experience!
 
Shoe box size is appropriate, they will have limited space so take the advise given to you by your Plebe. You will receive guidelines prior to them reporting and these things will be covered in I Day Parent briefings as well. I would follow what your are told. You will receive odd requests. Mine wanted specific under wear and compressions shorts sent. Snacks must fit in a sealed container they are issued so they do not attract unwanted visitors.
 
CoMom26 said:
I was wondering if someone could tell me specifically what is acceptable for care packages during Plebe Summer? What's the best type of "box" to use? I've heard no bigger than a shoe box but does that mean actually using a shoe box for the care package or can we use a flat rate USPS box? I don't want my DS to get in trouble because I didn't do it right.

Thanks for sharing your experience!
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BIG hint: ‘regional’ rate boxes are cheaper than the flat rate ones. At least from the Midwest. Often, you have to ask for them at the counter specifically. I got a bunch when going through plebe summers. And labels. Just had to ask. And the small…a little shorter than a shoebox…is perfect.

Remember detailers will be picking and hauling them from the post office to company spaces. They need to be able to lift them 😂
 
I remember during PS years ago it was a "standard" 14"x 8"x 5" shoe box. As @Old Enlisted Marine states above, go with what you are officially told in written communication from USNA and do not deviate. When your MIDN opens his/her care package, said opening is supervised by a Detailer, so nothing on the contraband list should make it into that box.
 
All great advice above. I have a couple of things to add.

First - if you're sending any letters in your box, seal them in an envelope. Otherwise they will likely be read (and maybe out loud) by the Detailers.

Second - what is allowed by some companies may not be allowed by others - and what is allowed by first set of Detailers may not be allowed by second set Detailers. Semper Gumby. Definitely stay away from anything officially that isn't allowed, but be prepared for inconsistencies even if you send something you think fits the bill. We sent Gatorade Protein Bars - first set Detailers confiscated them and second set allowed them.
 
Lots of good advice so far. You will see lots of discussion on PS care packages in this forum. Look for class of '25 Plebe summer thread. We actually sent a box on our way out of DTA the day after I-Day. We mainly sent protein bars, fruit snacks, granola bars, mixed nuts.

Avoid contraband---pay attention to the Clif bars as some varieties have caffeine which was not allowed last year.

Also note that packages and letters can take awhile to be delivered.

There were rumors of Detailers randomly helping themselves to stuff or reading letters, but DS did not witness any of that. For the most part they check for contraband and move on. The taking of personal property for ones gain is not generally accepted. Nor is reading someone's private mail.
 
There was a thread on here some time ago about this subject and a detailer responded and said they would never "help themselves" to anything. It would be a clear honor code violation and would not be looked upon kindly. Contraband of course will be confiscated.
 
LT360 said:
There were rumors of Detailers randomly helping themselves to stuff or reading letters, but DS did not witness any of that.
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Huursoldaat said:
There was a thread on here some time ago about this subject and a detailer responded and said they would never "help themselves" to anything. It would be a clear honor code violation and would not be looked upon kindly. Contraband of course will be confiscated.
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^ Absolutely , and I would also suspect that any detailer who "helped himself" to goodies, with the Plebe's "consent" would also be disciplined . Plebes are in no position to say no to a Detailer.

Another helpful hint is to cover the care package in motivational stickers like "Go Army" :) (I cringe even typing those words). That's certain to get extra attention from the detailers. (I recall there was a story on SAF a few years ago where a Plebe's "friends" got together and sent him a care package that attracted some unwanted attention.
 
Here is the paragraph that describes what is considered contraband from the Plebe Summer Operating Procedures for the Cass of 2025.

"Items that offend the sensibility of naval service and are prejudicial to good order and discipline are considered contraband. Specific contraband items include pornography, tobacco products, medication, knives, weapons, over-the-counter medicine, caffeinated beverages, etc. Items such as weightlifting magazines, men’s lifestyle/fitness magazines, etc. that are borderline pornographic are not appropriate for the training environment of Plebe Summer and violate the spirit of this definition"

I had plebes who were sent packages that weighed 40+ lbs and it was fine as long as it didn't contain any of the items listed above. Packages are inspected during Plebe Summer but letters are not.
 
DW discovered USPS flat-rate boxes during DD's plebe year 2016. "As Long As It Fits In The Box". I have pushed the sides of a her stretched tight USPS pre-paid boxes together so she could get the flaps taped down many times. I have dropped off embarrassingly heavy packages (like she'd filled them with gold bullion) at the post office. Note at least in our local PO prepaid boxes can be dropped off in a specific area w/o having to wait in line. DW started sending these off to DD in PS 2015. Seven years latter we are still using them; the address has changed to a CVN, but we are still using them.

Question: Is it really just "caffeinated beverages" that are precluded in the guidance? I mean there is caffeine in a lot of stuff, (shot-bloks come to mind)

Forgive me, but reading Temple's post (above) the thought that came to mind as I read the list of precluded items was: "Why in the world would anyone who cared enough about a given plebe to send them a care pkg during plebe summer ----- send them Porn?!?!"

My next thought took me to one of the best movies of all time

 
CoMom26 said:
I was wondering if someone could tell me specifically what is acceptable for care packages during Plebe Summer? What's the best type of "box" to use? I've heard no bigger than a shoe box but does that mean actually using a shoe box for the care package or can we use a flat rate USPS box? I don't want my DS to get in trouble because I didn't do it right.

Thanks for sharing your experience!
Click to expand...
Last summer we debated the "best box" question, toggling between various boxes before settling on the free official USPS O-SHOEBOX (you can order a pack of 10 online, free from USPS). From a USNA parent group, we then learned about Pirate Ship, an online commercial shipping middleman, that yielded significant discounts on anything moving through USPS or UPS. Most of our shipments were under 7 lbs and qualified for "USPS Cubic Pricing" that's reserved for mass shippers and provided "Priority" 2-3 day service at a significant discount. I simply enter the "ship to" info for our DS, specify the box size & weight, print the label, slap it on the box, and hand it over the counter. DS gets an auto-generated email with a tracking number. No issues to date.
 
I have heard a story of a Plebe receiving an old gas mask during PS. The Plebe's older Sib, who was a USNA grad, sent it to her. She ended up having to wear the mask for the whole day after she received it!
 
I sent my son a tube of this stuff during Plebe Summer, knowing full well that there was a chance that his Detailer may be female.
As it turned out - she was - and turned a shade of red when she watched him unpack his box.

I talked to her at Plebe Parents Weekend when we went to his Company area. She said that it was the funniest moment of Plebe Summer for her, but it killed her not to be able to laugh in front of him. She said that when she found out from my Plebe that his Dad is a Marine, she just said to herself "Well of course he is".

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THParent said:
I sent my son a tube of this stuff during Plebe Summer, knowing full well that there was a chance that his Detailer may be female.
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We sent DD a Barbie doll, a can of escargot and some chopsticks, knowing full well she might have to open it in front of her detailers. A little levity goes a long way at plebe summer.
 
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