Plebe Summer Items

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usnahopeful09

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Jan 30, 2018
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In the PTR, there is a list of things that are permissible to bring (e.g. toiletries). Do detailers confiscate everything on I-Day, and then return permissible items, or only confiscate prohibited items?

Thanks
 
I am by no means an expert as I am incoming class as well but I have anxiously read enough to realize it truly is more "pack light" and less of "freeze at night." I plan on bringing nothing other than myself, my wallet, my paperwork, and one good pair of running shoes. However, that's my anonymous, P2B, inexperienced, two cents.
 
I’m with Old Navy BGO. But perhaps a bit tougher: If you’re asking such a question at this early stage, I’m wondering about your fit for USNA. I don’t know you, so will give you the benefit of the doubt.
 
usnahopeful09 said:
In the PTR, there is a list of things that are permissible to bring (e.g. toiletries). Do detailers confiscate everything on I-Day, and then return permissible items, or only confiscate prohibited items?
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Not sure why you were getting the response you did. You will be allowed to keep what is necessary. Like Old Navy BGO said: pack light!
 
My understanding is that they go through everything but confiscate only prohibited items. You will get them back after PPW, if they are permitted during Ac Yr. If not, I believe you'll get them back with instructions to give them to your parents to take home.

There are lots of threads regarding what to bring PS -- which mostly boil down to bringing only what you absolutely need. Paperwork. Broken-in running shoes (which you should wear). Not much else -- toiletries to get you through the first few days (or the entire summer) will be provided. Your parents can mail you other stuff (including your favorite brands) from Annapolis before they leave town or immediately upon their return home -- you'll have it in a few days.
 
If you can; set up a logistics line that can get you stuff you figure out you need, and are allowed to have, as you move through PS.

Mole Skin, Cool towel, spray bottle/fan, shot blocks, electrolyte tabs for water, under wear (a DD thing I think), also sports bra (same, same), a protein bar or two if a meal is missed, a calf sleeve, Etc. All stuff we sent to DD during plebe summer. From our vantage point sending "care packages" things seemed to loosen up in terms of what Plebes were allowed to have as they settled into week 3-4-5 of PS, (DD said it what was allowed varied from platoon to platoon).

If you are a guy who is more "on your own" than other Plebes DON'T HESITATE (NOT EVEN FOR AN INSTANT) to ask a fellow plebe if you need something running socks, mole skin, Calf Sleeve as PS progresses. There are Parents at home that would like nothing better than to pick up and mail something that one of their plebe's squad mates needs-----you'll probably snag some cookies too.

I'm with Zeus, I think you asked a reasonable question
 
They are gonna give you tons of stuff from toothpaste/toothbrushes to deodorant to hand sanitizer to post-it notes. I just asked my Mid (now officially an upperclassman) and he said "bring shoes you like to run in, some of that body glide anti chaff stuff your Bible if you want one (he did) and some extra sliders." All else will be provided. Also the upperclassmen are already referring to the incoming plebes as "double deuce" I kinda like that
 
DD did not get a hairbrush. Other than that, everything else is provided. Mailed favorite brands the day before I-day. She did not receive packages or mail until after July 4th. Be mentally prepared for that.
 
One thing I’m not clear on: if we parents won’t hear
from them much during PS, how do they communicate to us what to maIL them?

Im the parent that isn’t worrying, and is sending him without much. And he isnt concerned either.

Curious how we will be notified though what To send.
 
Intent was not to criticize OP, so my apologies if it came off that way. As with anything academy-related — particularly for plebe summer and plebe year — the prudent course seems to be: do what they allow, don’t do what they don’t allow.
 
justdoit19 said:
One thing I’m not clear on: if we parents won’t hear
from them much during PS, how do they communicate to us what to maIL them?
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Well...they don't...till first phone call at about the 2 week point if I recall
And maybe a letter but they don't have much time to write at first
They can buy almost anything at the mid store but they don't get much time to go there at first either.
Lots of food and gatoraide type stuff is available. My Mid and his plebe summer roommates had a running gag where they grabbed an extra gatoraide at every opportunity and stashed them in their room. They had over 100 when they called it off and slowly consumed the evidence.
 
justdoit19 said:
One thing I’m not clear on: if we parents won’t hear
from them much during PS, how do they communicate to us what to maIL them?

Im the parent that isn’t worrying, and is sending him without much. And he isnt concerned either.

Curious how we will be notified though what To send.
Click to expand...


DD is an athlete and was able to pack a bag for her locker room. Things we knew to send were protein/granola bars, peanut butter, healthy snacks. She wanted face lotion, face wipes, baby wipes, floss sticks, and a few other toiletries. I sent extra sports bras, spandex, a small fan, and pictures. Every plebe is different, send was they want or what you want them to have.

You also get 3 phone calls.
 
Candy, sugary foods, and junk food will be confiscated if mailed. Sun lotion or sunscreen will be needed. As DS told me right before his Iday " Mom, stop worrying. USNA has a saying- Someone could show up for Iday wearing nothing but a pair of underwear. They give the plebes everything the plebes need".

Definitely bring a copy of all paperwork-including a copy of immunization records. Paperwork has been known to go astray. If they lost the copy of your immunizations and you don't bring a copy with you, they will give you the immunizations then and there. You don't want to start PS with sore arms.
 
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Plebes will be issued absolutely anything and everything they will need on I-day. Three phone calls will be scheduled during plebe summer. The official dates and "guestimated" times will be announced on I-day and posted online too. Even though plebes don't have much free time, some companies like my DS's, required plebes to write home at least once. So, you may get a few lines indicating what they need/want. I would also agree with other posters that suggest packing a first care package now, and mail it on I-day. This way you and your P2B can plan what is to be included (healthy snacks, gatorade powder, plastic boxes to keep mice out of snacks, extra pair of broken-in running shoes, shout wipes, etc.) Keep in mind that it may be quite a few days before plebes actually get packages. Each company deals with mail differently. Plebes will have to open packages in front of detailers, and any non-approved items will be confiscated. Regarding midstore shopping-- it could be several weeks before plebes actually get a chance to go to the mid store. My DS's company didn't go to the store until after three weeks of plebe summer. Bottom line is-- they can show up with nothing more than running shoes (as my DS did) and they will be just fine and everything they need and more.
 
If your DS showed up in nothing more than running shoes, I'll bet he was was the talk of I-Day!
 
Sandydesert said:
USNA has a saying- Someone could show up for Iday wearing nothing but a pair of underwear. They give the plebes everything the plebes need".
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Except for a brush! Note to incoming female plebes, you will want to bring a brush. At least as of last year when my DD reported, USNA still had not figured out that, even with a short haircut, females need a brush. My DD said they were issued 2 barrettes to pull their hair off their face but no comb or brush. She brought her phone (in bag with charger as directed), paperwork, and a few toiletry items in a backpack on I-day. She was allowed to unpack the toiletry items when she got to her room and then the backpack (with phone and paperwork which she no longer needed) were stored for her and we took it home PPW.
 
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