Plebe summer

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luke2212

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Joined
Apr 5, 2024
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Hi, im in the incoming class for '28. I was just wondering if our detailers for this upcoming summer have to train to be one? And when does it start? (training) Im not sure why im curious about this haha.
 
luke2212 said:
Hi, im in the incoming class for '28. I was just wondering if our detailers for this upcoming summer have to train to be one? And when does it start? (training) Im not sure why im curious about this
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I don't know why the other guy didn't want to tell you, that's kind of weird. There is a common theme of people trying to gate keep information at USNA and I personally think its pathetic. Anyways, here's what I've heard from some of my teammates who were detailers as 2/C last summer when I was a plebe. For context, the academy separates the summer into 4 different blocks. 0 Block, 1st block, 2nd block, and 3rd block. 0 block is after finals and it entails all of the "fun" stuff on the yard and a good 80% of the brigade is on the yard for this portion. Varsity athletes will be gone on protramid cause they have summer training to do later and some will be gone for leave. Those people on leave are ones who need to take summer school during 1st, 2nd, or even third block. You will probably see them walking around at some point during plebe summer wondering who they are. Anyways, 0 block includes Herndon (30 days!), Graduation, Color Parade etc. During this time "detailer school" takes place. Its about a week/ two weeks long and during this time the class of 2026 and 2025 will undergo training for the summer. From what I was told from my teammates about last year, the first things they have to do is take an initial PRT. If you fail you cant be a detailer, pretty self explanatory. Then they spend the next three or so days just getting yelled at by Gunnery Sargent's who try to "put them in the plebe shoes". They learn how to teach drill, march plebes, fold clothes, yell properly etc. After those first three or so days of "plebe life" the training switches to more knowledge based classroom time. During this time the training includes a section of "crisis prevention" where the detailers learn how to deal with people who freak out or lose their marbles over plebe summer. During this time they also learn how to run their specific billet (navy term for job). The first class will all have specific roles such as safety, platoon commander, company commander, etc. They each have a role within the company and yes, all of them will yell at you equally, even if they are the "safety" billet. The 2/c are all squad leaders. That's what the person above in the thread will be during the summer. Their role is just to yell, drop you, and take you place to place. All the detailers, essentially learn how to do this during detailer school during the classroom phase. They also learn the restrictions on how much they can drop you during this time, how to drop people, when to drop people etc. Another part that is a misconception of detailer school is how they learn the rates (the stuff they ask you, like whos the chief of naval operation etc.). The reality is they don't. The time they have to train is limited, so they cant spend it on learning/ memorizing the sailors creed or orders of a sentry. They have to focus on the more important mission areas or specifically based situations the academy wants them to train for. Essentially those little details you might be wondering about like rates, rack races, uniform races etc, the detailers will be relying on their own prior knowledge of plebe summer or just what they feel in the moment. In short, they cant train for everything. HOWEVER. I must include that the training they receive during 0 block is no where near the level of caliber used at great lakes where they train RDC's. Those are "Recruit Division Commanders", they are professional staff used to train recruits who enlist in the navy or OCS. The academy just doesn't have a ton of time to actually train. My point being yes, you will encounter detailers who mess up, make mistakes, or even do things that are not allowed. I certainly did. I will however note that the academy is very observant of the staff and ensures that detailers are following the rules, to a tee. If they mess up and are deemed unfit, they will be relieved and removed from detailing. The academy has "spares" or standby midshipmen who are trained to be detailers that will step in to replace the removed detailer. In short, the training the detailers receive is proper and very thorough, but mistakes still happen. If you have any other questions just ask.
 
Navy_Simp said:
Don’t worry about when it starts or what it entails. Your concern should be on getting through your summer, not the preparations behind it. Trust that you will be in capable hands.
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This is sound advice. Eyes in the boat. Don't worry about what you can't control. Plebe summer has been a thing for a long, long time. The retailers will be ready.

WaspWax said:
I don't know why the other guy didn't want to tell you, that's kind of weird. There is a common theme of people trying to gate keep information at USNA and I personally think its pathetic.
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With respect, the other mid's approach strikes me as practical more than "weird." Doesn't seem like gate-keeping information rises to the level of "pathetic." Just because one has information doesn't mean it should be shared. Discretion is indeed the better part of valor.

DD held a plebe summer regiment-level billet during her firstie year. She believes that plebe summer would be more effective if plebes knew less about it coming in. Much of the mystery and mystique has gone out of it -- perhaps inevitable in the era of social media, plus the desire to be "in the know." But her point is well taken.
 
luke2212 said:
Hi, im in the incoming class for '28. I was just wondering if our detailers for this upcoming summer have to train to be one? And when does it start? (training) Im not sure why im curious about this haha.
Click to expand...
Congratulations!! Yes, the Detailers will begin their training soon. They've all been selected and know when & which Company they will be detailing. I have an incoming plebe - her older brother, a '25, will be a Detailer this summer. They do not know which Company you'll be assigned to yet but I do know they are already following the USNA.2028 instagram page. So... clean up those social media posts now.
 
WaspWax said:
I don't know why the other guy didn't want to tell you, that's kind of weird. There is a common theme of people trying to gate keep information at USNA and I personally think its pathetic. Anyways, here's what I've heard from some of my teammates who were detailers as 2/C last summer when I was a plebe. For context, the academy separates the summer into 4 different blocks. 0 Block, 1st block, 2nd block, and 3rd block. 0 block is after finals and it entails all of the "fun" stuff on the yard and a good 80% of the brigade is on the yard for this portion. Varsity athletes will be gone on protramid cause they have summer training to do later and some will be gone for leave. Those people on leave are ones who need to take summer school during 1st, 2nd, or even third block. You will probably see them walking around at some point during plebe summer wondering who they are. Anyways, 0 block includes Herndon (30 days!), Graduation, Color Parade etc. During this time "detailer school" takes place. Its about a week/ two weeks long and during this time the class of 2026 and 2025 will undergo training for the summer. From what I was told from my teammates about last year, the first things they have to do is take an initial PRT. If you fail you cant be a detailer, pretty self explanatory. Then they spend the next three or so days just getting yelled at by Gunnery Sargent's who try to "put them in the plebe shoes". They learn how to teach drill, march plebes, fold clothes, yell properly etc. After those first three or so days of "plebe life" the training switches to more knowledge based classroom time. During this time the training includes a section of "crisis prevention" where the detailers learn how to deal with people who freak out or lose their marbles over plebe summer. During this time they also learn how to run their specific billet (navy term for job). The first class will all have specific roles such as safety, platoon commander, company commander, etc. They each have a role within the company and yes, all of them will yell at you equally, even if they are the "safety" billet. The 2/c are all squad leaders. That's what the person above in the thread will be during the summer. Their role is just to yell, drop you, and take you place to place. All the detailers, essentially learn how to do this during detailer school during the classroom phase. They also learn the restrictions on how much they can drop you during this time, how to drop people, when to drop people etc. Another part that is a misconception of detailer school is how they learn the rates (the stuff they ask you, like whos the chief of naval operation etc.). The reality is they don't. The time they have to train is limited, so they cant spend it on learning/ memorizing the sailors creed or orders of a sentry. They have to focus on the more important mission areas or specifically based situations the academy wants them to train for. Essentially those little details you might be wondering about like rates, rack races, uniform races etc, the detailers will be relying on their own prior knowledge of plebe summer or just what they feel in the moment. In short, they cant train for everything. HOWEVER. I must include that the training they receive during 0 block is no where near the level of caliber used at great lakes where they train RDC's. Those are "Recruit Division Commanders", they are professional staff used to train recruits who enlist in the navy or OCS. The academy just doesn't have a ton of time to actually train. My point being yes, you will encounter detailers who mess up, make mistakes, or even do things that are not allowed. I certainly did. I will however note that the academy is very observant of the staff and ensures that detailers are following the rules, to a tee. If they mess up and are deemed unfit, they will be relieved and removed from detailing. The academy has "spares" or standby midshipmen who are trained to be detailers that will step in to replace the removed detailer. In short, the training the detailers receive is proper and very thorough, but mistakes still happen. If you have any other questions just ask.
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I really appreciate you explaining in detail to me, i was just curious because my cousin is detailing. I rly appreciate it!! Tysm :)
 
3xMidMom said:
Congratulations!! Yes, the Detailers will begin their training soon. They've all been selected and know when & which Company they will be detailing. I have an incoming plebe - her older brother, a '25, will be a Detailer this summer. They do not know which Company you'll be assigned to yet but I do know they are already following the USNA.2028 instagram page. So... clean up those social media posts now.
Click to expand...
thank you so much!!!
 
luke2212 said:
I really appreciate you explaining in detail to me, i was just curious because my cousin is detailing. I rly appreciate it!! Tysm :)
Click to expand...

3xMidMom said:
Congratulations!! Yes, the Detailers will begin their training soon. They've all been selected and know when & which Company they will be detailing. I have an incoming plebe - her older brother, a '25, will be a Detailer this summer. They do not know which Company you'll be assigned to yet but I do know they are already following the USNA.2028 instagram page. So... clean up those social media posts now.
Click to expand...
im totally not posting on it haha
 
MidCakePa said:
With respect, the other mid's approach strikes me as practical more than "weird." Doesn't seem like gate-keeping information rises to the level of "pathetic." Just because one has information doesn't mean it should be shared. Discretion is indeed the better part of valor.

DD held a plebe summer regiment-level billet during her firstie year. She believes that plebe summer would be more effective if plebes knew less about it coming in. Much of the mystery and mystique has gone out of it -- perhaps inevitable in the era of social media, plus the desire to be "in the know." But her point is well taken.
Click to expand...
^ I agree 100%

I get WaspWax's comment ..sometime at the bottom of the food chain it seems like those above are "gate keeping " or withholding information. It really doesn't apply in this case -- Navy_Simp was just giving the practical response.

In many cases there is good reason to limit information... for example, in the military enviroment , things are constantly changing and it is often better to keep people in the dark instead of yanking them around as things change. In the context of of the OP question, its really a case of "None of your Business " or " You don't need to know." T
 
With respect, with all the information on the old interweb do you feel that since there is so much information out there about BUDS that the candidates who complete it go onto be less capable operators? Do you believe that the quality of Marines has deteriorated because of the information out there or is it just different? I like information good and bad. Knowledge is power. So to say don’t worry about what you can’t control sounds good in theory but not in reality. I also was never a big fan of being left in the dark, it surely did not make me feel like part of the team. I get things are different from back in the day but when someone has a question pilling on the dog probably is not the way to do business.


The only constant is change……
 
Old Enlisted Marine said:
With respect, with all the information on the old interweb do you feel that since there is so much information out there about BUDS that the candidates who complete it go onto be less capable operators? Do you believe that the quality of Marines has deteriorated because of the information out there or is it just different? I like information good and bad. Knowledge is power. So to say don’t worry about what you can’t control sounds good in theory but not in reality. I also was never a big fan of being left in the dark, it surely did not make me feel like part of the team. I get things are different from back in the day but when someone has a question pilling on the dog probably is not the way to do business.


The only constant is change……
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I agree, i like to be in the scoop too. I am trying to prepare to the best of my ability so i can succeed.
 
Part of learning and developing is failure and how one bounces back from failure/adversity. Resilience is an important ingredient in leadership…both to rebound from a setback and extrapolate lessons learned to improve and not repeat mistakes. I’m not opposed to sharing some information on plebe summer, but too much takes away from plebes failing and developing important skills…they are able to bypass failures by pre-gaming requirements ahead of time. Just sharing a different perspective.
 
It’ll be a piece of cake. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. You’ll be making great memories to share “war stories” with classmates at future reunions/ get togethers. 🙂
 
WaspWax said:
I don't know why the other guy didn't want to tell you, that's kind of weird. There is a common theme of people trying to gate keep information at USNA and I personally think its pathetic. Anyways, here's what I've heard from some of my teammates who were detailers as 2/C last summer when I was a plebe. For context, the academy separates the summer into 4 different blocks. 0 Block, 1st block, 2nd block, and 3rd block. 0 block is after finals and it entails all of the "fun" stuff on the yard and a good 80% of the brigade is on the yard for this portion. Varsity athletes will be gone on protramid cause they have summer training to do later and some will be gone for leave. Those people on leave are ones who need to take summer school during 1st, 2nd, or even third block. You will probably see them walking around at some point during plebe summer wondering who they are. Anyways, 0 block includes Herndon (30 days!), Graduation, Color Parade etc. During this time "detailer school" takes place. Its about a week/ two weeks long and during this time the class of 2026 and 2025 will undergo training for the summer. From what I was told from my teammates about last year, the first things they have to do is take an initial PRT. If you fail you cant be a detailer, pretty self explanatory. Then they spend the next three or so days just getting yelled at by Gunnery Sargent's who try to "put them in the plebe shoes". They learn how to teach drill, march plebes, fold clothes, yell properly etc. After those first three or so days of "plebe life" the training switches to more knowledge based classroom time. During this time the training includes a section of "crisis prevention" where the detailers learn how to deal with people who freak out or lose their marbles over plebe summer. During this time they also learn how to run their specific billet (navy term for job). The first class will all have specific roles such as safety, platoon commander, company commander, etc. They each have a role within the company and yes, all of them will yell at you equally, even if they are the "safety" billet. The 2/c are all squad leaders. That's what the person above in the thread will be during the summer. Their role is just to yell, drop you, and take you place to place. All the detailers, essentially learn how to do this during detailer school during the classroom phase. They also learn the restrictions on how much they can drop you during this time, how to drop people, when to drop people etc. Another part that is a misconception of detailer school is how they learn the rates (the stuff they ask you, like whos the chief of naval operation etc.). The reality is they don't. The time they have to train is limited, so they cant spend it on learning/ memorizing the sailors creed or orders of a sentry. They have to focus on the more important mission areas or specifically based situations the academy wants them to train for. Essentially those little details you might be wondering about like rates, rack races, uniform races etc, the detailers will be relying on their own prior knowledge of plebe summer or just what they feel in the moment. In short, they cant train for everything. HOWEVER. I must include that the training they receive during 0 block is no where near the level of caliber used at great lakes where they train RDC's. Those are "Recruit Division Commanders", they are professional staff used to train recruits who enlist in the navy or OCS. The academy just doesn't have a ton of time to actually train. My point being yes, you will encounter detailers who mess up, make mistakes, or even do things that are not allowed. I certainly did. I will however note that the academy is very observant of the staff and ensures that detailers are following the rules, to a tee. If they mess up and are deemed unfit, they will be relieved and removed from detailing. The academy has "spares" or standby midshipmen who are trained to be detailers that will step in to replace the removed detailer. In short, the training the detailers receive is proper and very thorough, but mistakes still happen. If you have any other questions just ask.
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I'm really not sure why you are hostile in this message, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt in saying I was also a disgruntled plebe that didn't understand the system at one point. Many others already pointed this out for me, but my intention was to shift the focus of this incoming midshipman into something that is in the realm of their control. In reality, what difference does it make if we have to relearn our rates or not? They will get dropped, yelled at, and pushed to their limits all the same. Moreover, one of the bigger parts of plebe summer is learning how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable (I'm sure that's a phrase you remember) and I truly believe a lot of that comes from being blindsided by some aspect of the academy. That will likely still happen, as I don't believe you can truly prepare mentally for every aspect of plebe summer but the more information divulged, the more you are robbing them of that opportunity to grow. In particular,

Essentially those little details you might be wondering about like rates, rack races, uniform races etc, the detailers will be relying on their own prior knowledge of plebe summer or just what they feel in the moment. In short, they cant train for everything.
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Strikes me as you encouraging the incoming class to be slimy plebes and take shortcuts. Those are still important rates, not because of what they contain, but the value you get from the process of learning/doing them. You and I won't remember the qualifications of a naval officer in 10 years, but you will retain the skills of rote memorization and subsequent retention through proknow. You might not think it's important right now, but I think you will start to see it next year once there are people below you that you have to take care of. Just my $0.02, good luck with finals and Herndon.
 
It’s not that deep, I’m sorry if you interpreted my post as hostile towards you individually, I was trying to highlight that people gate keep information as a whole here. I was not trying to single you out, I’ve just never been a fan of gatekeeping. I agree with what you said, however I’m not trying to encourage slimy plebes. I was trying to emphasize to him that detailers specifically are not going to know rates word for word, not that plebes have to disregard rates as a whole. I was just trying to give the perspective / answers to questions I had as an incoming plebe. FYSA, I got an A in aptitude, ranked in the 300’s, never been unsat in any mission areas, I work hard but I’m not going to be a helmet 24/7 and shut someone out for asking a question. Good luck with your finals and the shellback.
 
Detailers will know rates word for word, they will probably even have reef points in their hands. They will expect everything out of you that they expect from themselves. If you are required to know the rate, they will too. Just trust the system and learn as much as you can. Take it day by day and you'll be fine.
 
Also know that every detailer is working harder and longer than any plebe during PS and that they are constantly being evaluated and (if necessary) corrected by their detailer peers, CoC, and supervising officers. For the detailers, it is the single most important job they will have at USNA.
 
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