Plebe Summer cover change from 'Dixie Cup' to traditional 'Midshipmen' cover

JudgeGuy

JudgeGuy

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DW saw some pics posted of our DS Plebe leaving mass yesterday and we noticed he was not in the same 'I-Day' work whites uniform. He had dress black shoes on, a black sailor "tie" and his cover was not a 'Dixie Cup', but the traditional Midshipmen (officer) cover.

Is there any meaning to these changes? Made it to 3rd week:D ? Qualified in some task memorized? Or is it just a timeline thing where at week 3 they change over to this uni for 'semi-formal' events like parades or religious services.

Just curious...

It was nice seeing some pics of him. Phone call last week was great! He jokingly said "I absolutely love it 10% of the time, sucks the rest, but I embrace the suck :cool:"
Had some funny stories about 'course correction'. Said the trainers and detailers are all great.
 
JudgeGuy said:
DW saw some pics posted of our DS Plebe leaving mass yesterday and we noticed he was not in the same 'I-Day' work whites uniform. He had dress black shoes on, a black sailor "tie" and his cover was not a 'Dixie Cup', but the traditional Midshipmen (officer) cover.

Is there any meaning to these changes? Made it to 3rd week:D ? Qualified in some task memorized? Or is it just a timeline thing where at week 3 they change over to this uni for 'semi-formal' events like parades or religious services.

Just curious...

It was nice seeing some pics of him. Phone call last week was great! He jokingly said "I absolutely love it 10% of the time, sucks the rest, but I embrace the suck :cool:"
Had some funny stories about 'course correction'. Said the trainers and detailers are all great.
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Nothing new, there are several uniforms worn during Plebe Summer depending on the activity. White Works Alpha "Worn during Plebe Summer as prescribed by OIC of Fourth Class Regiment."
 
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JudgeGuy said:
DW saw some pics posted of our DS Plebe leaving mass yesterday and we noticed he was not in the same 'I-Day' work whites uniform. He had dress black shoes on, a black sailor "tie" and his cover was not a 'Dixie Cup', but the traditional Midshipmen (officer) cover.

Is there any meaning to these changes? Made it to 3rd week:D ? Qualified in some task memorized? Or is it just a timeline thing where at week 3 they change over to this uni for 'semi-formal' events like parades or religious services.

Just curious...

It was nice seeing some pics of him. Phone call last week was great! He jokingly said "I absolutely love it 10% of the time, sucks the rest, but I embrace the suck :cool:"
Had some funny stories about 'course correction'. Said the trainers and detailers are all great.
Click to expand...
There had to be something to "earning" it, because there were a few, not many, but a few, that were still in the dixie cup, not tie and tennis shoes. Even though they were all marching together to and from church. I have no idea what the "earning it" requires, but there was a differentiation.
 
HopefulDad2026 said:
There had to be something to "earning" it, because there were a few, not many, but a few, that were still in the dixie cup, not tie and tennis shoes. Even though they were all marching together to and from church. I have no idea what the "earning it" requires, but there was a differentiation.
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Might be other reasons that certain plebes weren’t in Alphas. Could be issues during uniform issuance, some injury preventing wearing that uniform and others that more informed can relay.

All in all, it’salways nice to see them in a different uniform, but being that USN has about 12 different combinations, it almost becomes the norm.
 
There isn't really an "earning it" to White Works Alpha. It is just the dress uniform for Plebes until they get their Summer Whites. They are worn primarily for PS Parades and some other formal events that occur during PS. The two most probable reasons for some being out of uniform are either supply related (like they didn't have their size or something) or medical (maybe a foot injury that requires tennis shoes). Tennis shoes are a no-go for Alphas, so White Works Echo (typical PS uniform) is the only other option.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
There isn't really an "earning it" to White Works Alpha. It is just the dress uniform for Plebes until they get their Summer Whites. They are worn primarily for PS Parades and some other formal events that occur during PS. The two most probable reasons for some being out of uniform are either supply related (like they didn't have their size or something) or medical (maybe a foot injury that requires tennis shoes). Tennis shoes are a no-go for Alphas, so White Works Echo (typical PS uniform) is the only other option.
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All of this! It’s part of the path. We all wore them. They finally had the rest of the uniform issued such as black shoes and cover, learned to wear the neckerchief. Also, learning how to wear and care for a uniform.
 
I will say that there are some uniforms that I wish the Navy would bring back and others that I wish they'd get rid of, but that'd be a whole other thread. For the curious, some good ones to google are Service Dress Blue Yankee, Service Dress Khaki, Tropical Whites, and Aviation Working Greens.
 
Wow..all this over variants of White Works.... way to much overthinking going on.

Wait until someone sees Plebes in White Works Batman ...... or is that one of those that has gone away forever ?
(White works Batman was White Works with the old Rain Cape , and Rain Cape Case worn as a cover . It was usually reserved for use when Uniform Races got out of hand, and degraded into a free for all).

Do Plebes still do uniform races ? Changing one uniform to another under timed conditions (and a lot of stress/yelling). Detailers rationale was that it would help you get up and operating quickly in the event of General Quarters aboard ship, but the life lesson is I can still get dressed and out of the house in minutes for any event.
 
HopefulDad2026 said:
There had to be something to "earning" it, because there were a few, not many, but a few, that were still in the dixie cup, not tie and tennis shoes. Even though they were all marching together to and from church. I have no idea what the "earning it" requires, but there was a differentiation.
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Not sure where you are getting this information from but is inaccurate
 
Rarely27 said:
Not sure where you are getting this information from but is inaccurate
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As far as people being in different uniforms, there are pictures in many locations demonstrating exactly what I said. Regarding the "earning it" it was an uninformed assumption on my part hoping that someone would correct me. Others did explain my flaw and explained where I was wrong, not just that I was wrong.
Usnavy2019 said:
There isn't really an "earning it" to White Works Alpha. It is just the dress uniform for Plebes until they get their Summer Whites. They are worn primarily for PS Parades and some other formal events that occur during PS. The two most probable reasons for some being out of uniform are either supply related (like they didn't have their size or something) or medical (maybe a foot injury that requires tennis shoes). Tennis shoes are a no-go for Alphas, so White Works Echo (typical PS uniform) is the only other option.
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Thanks for providing the insight here. Much appreciated.

Old Navy BGO said:
Wow..all this over variants of White Works.... way to much overthinking going on.

Wait until someone sees Plebes in White Works Batman ...... or is that one of those that has gone away forever ?
(White works Batman was White Works with the old Rain Cape , and Rain Cape Case worn as a cover . It was usually reserved for use when Uniform Races got out of hand, and degraded into a free for all).

Do Plebes still do uniform races ? Changing one uniform to another under timed conditions (and a lot of stress/yelling). Detailers rationale was that it would help you get up and operating quickly in the event of General Quarters aboard ship, but the life lesson is I can still get dressed and out of the house in minutes for any event.
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Yes, per a letter from DS, they are still having these. At least in his company. He mentioned getting into and out of uniforms 5 or 10 times in a row, so much so that you work up a sweat just doing it, and getting screamed at the whole time. Fun!
 
Mention of uniform races reminds me of identical twin (down to tone of voice and identical red name tags) sponsor mids, who were detailers at the same time. With diabolical intent, they were assigned to platoons that were usually nowhere near each other. Uniform races became bwah-ha-ha events for flummoxed plebes who had no earthly idea how Midn 2/C X managed a speed-of-light uniform change, literally banging on doors within seconds wanting to know why the plebes were so slow, and already in the new prescribed uniform. Hilarious. The world finally leaked out, as these things do.
 
Wait until someone sees Plebes in White Works Batman ...... or is that one of those that has gone away forever
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I've heard it's gone the way of the dodo bird. Apparently, plebes can only be asked to change into official uniforms. It's sad in a way -- WW Batman was SO memorable. Some of the other combos were great and added a touch of humor to the event.

I agree that it was one of the things we did over PS that has had a great and positive effect on my life. Being able to change quickly (especially as a woman) is a terrific skill.

While you're going through PS, you think that 95% of the stuff is stupid and useless (uniform races and chow calls come to mind). Only years later do you realize that 95% was incredibly useful; 5% clearly was not!
 
DD has told me of days when she wore four or five different uniforms, with all the attendance changes — and that was as a firstie! For example, from workout to class to billet interview to club team to Forrestal lecture. The ability to do it quickly and accurately is underestimated as a plebe.
 
MidCakePa said:
DD has told me of days when she wore four or five different uniforms, with all the attendance changes — and that was as a firstie! For example, from workout to class to billet interview to club team to Forrestal lecture. The ability to do it quickly and accurately is underestimated as a plebe.
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I learned uniform race skills at OCS - a military and life skill. Do hair and brush teeth in shower, efficiently get into next uniform, mirror check and 5-second puff and fluff, and out the door.
 
Capt MJ said:
. Uniform races became bwah-ha-ha events for flummoxed plebes who had no earthly idea how Midn 2/C X managed a speed-of-light uniform change, literally banging on doors within seconds wanting to know why the plebes were so slow, and already in the new prescribed uniform.
Click to expand...
Good thing I'm reading this in the afternoon, I would have splattered my coffee (hat tip to the Coffee thread) I laughed so hard..... THAT IS REALLY GOOD !

I had one of a pair of identical twins in my Company.... His brother was in a Company very close to ours. During first week of Plebe Summer, we were sitting down in King Hall doing paperwork when the brother catches our Squad Leaders eye ...... he looks back and forth a couple times, then asks my Companymate whether he has a brother in the Class.....after the affirmative, Yes Sir ... he gets all serious and tell them both to not even thinking of switching ! Another of those Plebe Summer memories that far outshadows the yelling and screaming.
 
One our firsties during my plebe year had a twin who was a Woop. I heard rumors that they did a switcheroo at Army/Navy during their plebe year but I didn't see pics or other hard evidence. They did both go into the Medical Corps so they might have gotten Med School together.
 
So wearing work whites instead of the new Alphas isn't that big of a deal?
 
Sadly, Tropical Whites is no longer, either! I really wanted to see someone wear this.
 
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