Plebe Summer CO 27' (2023)

Do you find out about your Company and/or roommates before I-DAY? Some colleges announce roommates before you would start there so people can get in touch with each other. But then again USNA is N*OT COLLEGE.

I would assume that you have the same roommate for PS and for Plebe AC Year?
 
cbasalt1 said:
Do you find out about your Company and/or roommates before I-DAY? Some colleges announce roommates before you would start there so people can get in touch with each other. But then again USNA is N*OT COLLEGE.

I would assume that you have the same roommate for PS and for Plebe AC Year?
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You’ll find out your company before IDay, but not roommates. Each company does room changes differently. My daughter had same roommates all PS and is on her 3rd room move since the AC year started. But like I said each company is different.
 
cbasalt1 said:
Do you find out about your Company and/or roommates before I-DAY? Some colleges announce roommates before you would start there so people can get in touch with each other. But then again USNA is N*OT COLLEGE.

I would assume that you have the same roommate for PS and for Plebe AC Year?
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Nope bonding over those first few days together will be organic and you have nothing you need to plan together (like who is bringing the mini fridge) like normal colleges. DH helped his new roomie when he puked the first day of plebe summer. They took turns playing Louis Armstrong's "It's a Wonderful World" once the ac year started before bed every night to help remind each other they got through another day. 20+ some odd years later they are still inseparable best friends and he's the godfather to our oldest.
 
Can anyone here speak to the plebe summer experience with a NAPSters perspective? Wondering if PS is an "escalation" from what was experienced at NAPS or if it "just another day at the office" (so to speak) after having been through a year at NAPS.
 
I can only give my perspective from 30 years ago.

I had already gone through Army basic and advanced training, and was stationed in Germany (and Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Storm) when I got my NAPS offer. The Army had to release me from my enlisted contract as an E-4. I flew back to Annapolis (my home town) and reported to NAPS a week late, and enlisted into the Navy. They wouldn't transfer my rank, so I was back down to an E-1. First strike ........

NAPS was a three week crash course in being a sailor, so nothing like basic. And since I missed a week, it was even more chill for me. I thought NAPS was actually kind of a joke as a 20-yearold prior - with a ton of attitude and really cocky. It was pretty easy for me (your mileage may vary). They made me a midshipman candidate company commander for the first trimester as a prior.

But I was already on the fence about wanting to continue about halfway through the year. That didn't help me walking onto the Yard the day early that priors reported. That first day was super chill. Got my room, stowed my stuff, got ready for I-Day. I-Day was still an experience, but I was more smiling and like, "Okay, more shenanigans."

The summer was also pretty easy. Another day at the office compared to all of the other sh-t I had seen in the previous three years (think SCUDS getting blown up over your head periodically, and having two of your unit's aircraft crash - on the same night - in a really bad sandstorm). My heart just wasn't in it, however. As I said, I had kinda already checked out before I got there. Even though my performance was good, and I looked out for my company-mates whenever I could, I decided to bail. I couldn't see myself in a military career anymore.

There are a lot more success stories. So maybe they can chime in.

Oh, and for the record, DORing at that time was one of the dumbest and incredibly shortshighted things I've ever done.
 
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I can only respond to your second bullet, be cause DW and I answered the mail from DD.

1) DD wished she, (or her parents), had gone to the midstore or contacted them by email to purchase a second set of Std USNA PT gear. You will get a pair issued to you but a second set can be drying out while you are getting the other set wet, cold and dirty.

2) DD wished she had taken a second pair of running shoes (maybe an old pair) with her when she went to Iday; just move the insoles back and forth: see cold-wet-dirty above.

3) DD wished she had taken some dry-shampoo with her to clean up her hair just a little when time didn't otherwise allow.

4) DD would tell plebe parents to take a box of stuff......... cookies, calf sleeve, ankle support, liquid bandage, mole skin Etc with them and mailed it to their plebe from the annapolis post office before they headed home. It will still take a while to reach the plebe but its quicker than waiting to mail the box from home.

5) This one is mine but I am sure DD would endorse. Look for "liquid IV" on amazon. Best powereded Hydration water addative I have everused; DD too. Tastes a little like sweetend sea water; no stimulants, wow does it work! I live my life on the edge of dehydration all the time and this stuff works. Pack some in that first care package. Maybe even take a packet or two/3/4 withyou in a pocket, they can only take it away on IDay, and I know hydration supplements are allowed, or at least they were in 2015.

Sheesh has it been that long?
 
Just Dad said:
1) DD wished she, (or her parents), had gone to the midstore or contacted them by email to purchase a second set of Std USNA PT gear. You will get a pair issued to you but a second set can be drying out while you are getting the other set wet, cold and dirty.
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Wow have things changed. We were issued something like 4 sets of USNA PT gear - shorts and reg T Shirt (Blue Rim) so we always had some drying and others to wear.
 
OldRetSWO said:
Wow have things changed. We were issued something like 4 sets of USNA PT gear - shorts and reg T Shirt (Blue Rim) so we always had some drying and others to wear.
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Yeah I’m not sure how accurate that comment was. We were issued at least 6 shorts and blue rims.
 
cbasalt1 said:
To share an idea from a poster on the West Point feed, I wanted to make a thread regarding all things plebe summer. Basically a hot spot for Plebe Summer discussion, advice and stories. This will keep this kind of clutter out of the Words of Wisdom - for Plebe Summer (Parts I and II) thread. Not that I am overthinking PS or anything, just want to soak up as much info as possible. Some starter questions I have:

  • What do you wish you had known before going to PS?
  • What is something you wish you had brought to PS or something you did bring that proved to be very useful?
  • What is the worst part of PS?
  • What is the best part of PS?
  • How do you get through really tough days?
  • Is there something you wish you had done to prepare before PS? Or did you do something to prepare that made things easier?
  • What does the average day look like in the first half of PS? The second?
  • (Thanks to @newcadet2027 for the question Ideas)
I also dare breach the topic of studying Reef Points before PS. I know some people morally forbid this, some think it is useful, and some advise it. I'd love more thoughts on this.

Ill also link this for any other 27'ers who stumble upon this thread, as I found this link very helpful:

www.usna.edu

Plebe Summer Home

Plebe Summer Home page for Plebe Summer at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jun 16 11:08:37 EDT 2023.
www.usna.edu

Thanks for any advice, knowledge and wisdom.
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If you search up in this forum you’ll find the answers to all those questions. It’s been talked about over and over for years.
Do not overthink. Your kid will never be ready enough for I Day and neither would you.
 
OldRetSWO said:
Wow have things changed. We were issued something like 4 sets of USNA PT gear - shorts and reg T Shirt (Blue Rim) so we always had some drying and others to wear.
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I'm not the best source for what's issued on I-day, I was standing on the other side of the door. Just relaying DD's comment
Navy_Simp said:
Yeah I’m not sure how accurate that comment was. We were issued at least 6 shorts and blue rims.
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Sorry, didn't intend to mislead. I do know that DD has commented that an extra set of PTgear would have ment that she wouldn't have had to put on wet-cold-dirty PT gear. I guess I assumed she'd been given just 1 set.........perhaps she was referring to a need for Set #7? I don't know how many Plebes were given in 2015. Just trying to relay her "Send along extra PT gear" message.

I was just out in DC on business last week. DD is at ONI untl June, so I got to spend a few days with her. We talked about this very thing.
 
I think I was given at least 5-6 pairs I’d shorts and 10+ blue rims. Also reversible mesh jerseys and tons of ****e t shirts. I think we got laundry 2 x per week Plebe Summer but you sweat and shower so much I am sure another 5 shirts would have been used. I think once laundry got moving and we were in the routine I remember it being fine.
 
Just Dad said:
I can only respond to your second bullet, be cause DW and I answered the mail from DD.

1) DD wished she, (or her parents), had gone to the midstore or contacted them by email to purchase a second set of Std USNA PT gear. You will get a pair issued to you but a second set can be drying out while you are getting the other set wet, cold and dirty.

2) DD wished she had taken a second pair of running shoes (maybe an old pair) with her when she went to Iday; just move the insoles back and forth: see cold-wet-dirty above.

3) DD wished she had taken some dry-shampoo with her to clean up her hair just a little when time didn't otherwise allow.

4) DD would tell plebe parents to take a box of stuff......... cookies, calf sleeve, ankle support, liquid bandage, mole skin Etc with them and mailed it to their plebe from the annapolis post office before they headed home. It will still take a while to reach the plebe but its quicker than waiting to mail the box from home.

5) This one is mine but I am sure DD would endorse. Look for "liquid IV" on amazon. Best powereded Hydration water addative I have everused; DD too. Tastes a little like sweetend sea water; no stimulants, wow does it work! I live my life on the edge of dehydration all the time and this stuff works. Pack some in that first care package. Maybe even take a packet or two/3/4 withyou in a pocket, they can only take it away on IDay, and I know hydration supplements are allowed, or at least they were in 2015.

Sheesh has it been that long?
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Great advise. But let me highlight. I do Liquid IV myself. Love it. But there is 1 type with caffeine. Great resource for PS just make sure is the ones wo caffeine.

Yes, to the second pair of broke in sneakers hopefully in a different color so you can recognize your mid in pictures

Yes to mailing a package with other things from Annapolis post office.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Oh, and for the record, DORing at that time was one of the dumbest and incredibly shortshighted things I've ever done
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I love how you never shy away from your past. You are completely upfront and acknowledge that you feel you made a mistake. I'm a big believer that our mistakes make us who we are today. And look at you. a father of a midshipman.
 
If we were all willing to openly discuss our pasts and the things we might have done differently, boy howdy the influence we could have on those who come after us.

Hubris and pride and the risk of ‘social media’ influence downtrends lead people to not be honest or authentic.

I applaud @IronmanDaremo and others who are honest about their life choices and the outcomes.

Learning material for all.

I might have to hire an editor or publisher to write or discuss all of my left turns.
 
Welllll ....... there is something to be said for candor in certain situations. Probably why I'm still not an SES yet!
 
A different view on Reef Points...

One of my son's friends had a grandfather who graduated USNA in 1960. He was a destroyer skipper and retired as a CAPT. He was a great mentor to my (now 1/C) son. At one of their meetings, the grandfather advised my son to get a copy of Reef Points. He advised my son to read it occasionally to get a heads-up. No memorizing or anthing like that. Just casual reading. My son had never even heard of Reef Points at that point.

It didn't give him any real advantage, but it did help relieve at least some of the stress before attending Plebe Summer.

Am I suggesting that you purchase a copy? Not at all. I'm just saying it not a bad thing if you do. If USNA did not want people reading this prior to Plebe Summer, they wouldn't be selling it in the gift shop.
 
My current plebe would say FRIENDSHIPS are key to a successful PS. Our DS related to us that the first week of PS he just had an attitude of "I'm big, tough, strong, and I don't need anyone to help me through this. I can do this on my own." The detailers would shout out that his company mates were his "new family now" and DS would think "these people aren't my family. I don't know them. They don't know me. Some of them talk funny (different accents from around the country). Some of them smell bad. Etc... " Ironically, DS also admits that he cried in the shower several times that first week because he felt so lonely and wondered what the heck he had just gotten himself into...

After the first week, he and his roommate started chatting at night after lights out. They soon became fast friends. Their circle of friendship grew quickly to include other company mates. Now his favorite quote is "nothing bonds people together like shared suffering!" Those relationships eased the suffering of PS and created many moments of laughter and even a little fun. DS was shocked by the depth and value of face to face friendships made in just 7 weeks--especially with no electronics to distract you from getting to know each other. I know that was his favorite part of Plebe Summer. DS has recently sponsored several high school recruits who come on visits to USNA and he tells them to "Be positive. Smile often. Learn to lean on others when you are feeling weak and lift and encourage others when you are strong."
 
brewmeist said:
A different view on Reef Points...

One of my son's friends had a grandfather who graduated USNA in 1960. He was a destroyer skipper and retired as a CAPT. He was a great mentor to my (now 1/C) son. At one of their meetings, the grandfather advised my son to get a copy of Reef Points. He advised my son to read it occasionally to get a heads-up. No memorizing or anthing like that. Just casual reading. My son had never even heard of Reef Points at that point.

It didn't give him any real advantage, but it did help relieve at least some of the stress before attending Plebe Summer.

Am I suggesting that you purchase a copy? Not at all. I'm just saying it not a bad thing if you do. If USNA did not want people reading this prior to Plebe Summer, they wouldn't be selling it in the gift shop.
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I have my dad’s reef points and other issued nautical and navigational books. DS left them on his book shelf. They are still there, and it has become my home office. I seem to have made my home office a sort of USNA themed place.

I have Bob Peterson prints framed and for my birthday last year our DD printed and framed pics from the USNA alumnus site encompassing my dad’s years and my grandfather’s years. Cool stuff.

Nothing wrong with perusing the book.

@bigmack , again a very valuable post. Your DS is killing it and getting the big picture stuff. And you as a plebe parent have taken it in and supported him and handled your own emotions beautifully. The loving and letting go is hard.

And you, as a plebe parent are contributing very sage, calm, meaningful posts to the forum. Bravo Zulu.
 
cbasalt1 said:
Do you find out about your Company and/or roommates before I-DAY? Some colleges announce roommates before you would start there so people can get in touch with each other. But then again USNA is N*OT COLLEGE.

I would assume that you have the same roommate for PS and for Plebe AC Year?
Click to expand...
Nope, DS found out roomates the night of I-DAY. Then new ones at the start of academic year, and then a 3rd set after Christmas break. He said some companies have 2 roommate moves a semester.
 
NEED HELP.
Does anybody know the exact start and finish dates of Plebe Summer, and then specifically Plebe Parent Weekend.
I have: beginning date (Induction Day) June 29th, 2023
Plebe Parent Weekend August 10,11, and 12. - or is it 11,12 and 13?
 
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