- Joined
- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,809
These both made me LOL and once again tell myself that it is a VERY different world/USNA
Post-2023 PPW Reports!
- Thread starter Capt MJ
- Start date
Old Navy BGO
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2012
- Messages
- 4,614
Our PPW experience-
1) Go to PEP if you can. There were rumors on all the Facebook boards that parents wouldn't be allowed in the bleachers this year. We had a 30 minute drive from our rental, and chose not to make everyone get up early only to get there and not be allowed to watch (we arrived at our rental at 11:30 pm, after a 14 hour drive). Turns out they let parents in. Oh well.
2) Fly, don't drive, if possible!
3) We had a house about 30 minutes away, very isolated and peaceful, and DS could relax on the deck, go kayaking on the South River, and just feel as if he had escaped it all. Drive to and from the Yard was not hard at all.
4) We let him take the lead on activities--he did not want to rest (except for a 15 minute catnap each day). Saw a movie, went jet skiing nearby, ate out in DTA, got LOTS of ice cream.
5) Definitely was glad we made time to see his room and meet the detailers on Friday, and many of his friends as we were traipsing around Bancroft.
6) Meet the sponsor if you can; we did a Saturday brunch with his.
7) I was not ready for Sunday departure--he started getting teary-eyed while eating his ice cream in DTA with lots of other plebes and detailers around. We had nowhere to hide, really, while he composed himself. On the walk back he was trying to keep his head down to hide his tears and he missed saluting a detailer. I think the detailer might have realized what was wrong, but DS was even more upset after that. Be ready for all sorts of emotions.
1) Go to PEP if you can. There were rumors on all the Facebook boards that parents wouldn't be allowed in the bleachers this year. We had a 30 minute drive from our rental, and chose not to make everyone get up early only to get there and not be allowed to watch (we arrived at our rental at 11:30 pm, after a 14 hour drive). Turns out they let parents in. Oh well.
2) Fly, don't drive, if possible!
3) We had a house about 30 minutes away, very isolated and peaceful, and DS could relax on the deck, go kayaking on the South River, and just feel as if he had escaped it all. Drive to and from the Yard was not hard at all.
4) We let him take the lead on activities--he did not want to rest (except for a 15 minute catnap each day). Saw a movie, went jet skiing nearby, ate out in DTA, got LOTS of ice cream.
5) Definitely was glad we made time to see his room and meet the detailers on Friday, and many of his friends as we were traipsing around Bancroft.
6) Meet the sponsor if you can; we did a Saturday brunch with his.
7) I was not ready for Sunday departure--he started getting teary-eyed while eating his ice cream in DTA with lots of other plebes and detailers around. We had nowhere to hide, really, while he composed himself. On the walk back he was trying to keep his head down to hide his tears and he missed saluting a detailer. I think the detailer might have realized what was wrong, but DS was even more upset after that. Be ready for all sorts of emotions.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2019
- Messages
- 1,813
.
What changed for the Plebes at USNA after 1985? .... Daughter is in class now (last Wednesday) at NAPS. She said the USNA detailers there pushed them hard. She doesn't say much beyond that. NAPS and Naval Station Newport is closed to the public.
Sorry, I don't want to sound like I am waning on anyone's PPW experience, but some posts here are a little gushy. These kids are 17/18+ years old. Parent weekend in Newport is the weekend of Sept 20-22. Our daughter will probably rest and do her own thing while my wife and me tour the Gilded Age Mansions along Cliff-Walk and the Point . If your an Engineer like me, the extra tours underneath these behemoths are really cool. The Breakers (Vanderbilt's) has integrated Geothermal HVAC into the existing duct work. These are some incredible edifices, and deserve preservation. If your kid goes there, make a point to do the Newport Preservation Society Mansion tours. Really fun .... The Elms was owned and built by the Coal Barron, Edward Julius Berwind, a graduate of the USNA in the 1860's. He might have been one of the 1st to graduate from the original Newport USNA. He sold coal to the U.S. Navy. Coal was brought in underneath this mansion through a special doorway on small track carts.
.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2010
- Messages
- 15,994
I expect this was the standard, somewhat joking, reference to "We were the last class to really have a tough Plebe Summer as it was meant to be!"
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,809
Believe what you want but I can assure you that NONE of my classmates enjoyed plebe summer and for sure didn't like our firsties (they were not called "detailers" back then) either. A sign of this is that neither I nor the vast majority of my companymates would not and did not introduce our parents to our First Class. I'm pretty close to my company classmates and we've discussed this because of the number of alumni children that have come from our bunch.
Read Webb's books like "A Sense of Honor" or "A Country Such as This" to better understand how things have changed. USNA of the 70's was slow to shake off the extreme hazing of the past. By that I mean that my Firsties made sure to let us know any of the activities that were banned and had us do them to make sure that we knew what they were. In some cases we did them time and time again to make SURE that we would recognize those banned activities. And there was absolutely no chance that we'd squeal on them as their classmates would assuredly respond. The First Class were pretty much the only leaders we saw from day to day. There were no Company Chiefs/Gunnys and the Company Officers were mostly invisible to us during plebe summer. They could and did things like have us exercise during "black flag" days with seemingly no pushback from the administration.
NOTE: I'm not saying it was better or worse, I'm just saying that it was VERY different.
Heatherg21
USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2019
- Messages
- 5,616
Sir, your post resonated with me. My dad is class of '68. He and his brother attended at the same time, my dad made it, my Uncle didn't. According to my dad the hazing was really bad, my uncle didn't withstand it and left at the end of his 1st spring semester. My dad said changes were made as leadership recognized the problem. To be truthful, I don't believe my Uncle was a good fit for USNA or they him. He was loving and amazing man who really was quiet and cautious and not a 'leader' of men to be sure. Considering where the country was and what was being asked of leaders in war time, being drummed out may have been the best outcome sadly. I have copies of the letters his commander sent to my Grandpa (class of '39) and Gramma who were of course concerned. Very nice, caring and personal letters. I appreciate all of your wit and direct answers on these forums, the forums are helping me get through the application process as a mom. Thank you!
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2019
- Messages
- 1,813
Heatherg21
USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2019
- Messages
- 5,616
Now I have to read his books. I just looked the list up. And his career is very illustrious. I just looked at his senior portrait in the Lucky Bag, (page 376 1968) and even in the write up it said he was Corps all the way and determined. Proved to be very prophetic. I will ask my dad if he remembers him
I heard the 1860’s were the last real plebe summers. It’s gotten soft since then..
What changed for the Plebes at USNA after 1985? .... Daughter is in class now (last Wednesday) at NAPS. She said the USNA detailers there pushed them hard. She doesn't say much beyond that. NAPS and Naval Station Newport is closed to the public.
Sorry, I don't want to sound like I am waning on anyone's PPW experience, but some posts here are a little gushy. These kids are 17/18+ years old. Parent weekend in Newport is the weekend of Sept 20-22. Our daughter will probably rest and do her own thing while my wife and me tour the Gilded Age Mansions along Cliff-Walk and the Point . If your an Engineer like me, the extra tours underneath these behemoths are really cool. The Breakers (Vanderbilt's) has integrated Geothermal HVAC into the existing duct work. These are some incredible edifices, and deserve preservation. If your kid goes there, make a point to do the Newport Preservation Society Mansion tours. Really fun .... The Elms was owned and built by the Coal Barron, Edward Julius Berwind, a graduate of the USNA in the 1860's. He might have been one of the 1st to graduate from the original Newport USNA. He sold coal to the U.S. Navy. Coal was brought in underneath this mansion through a special doorway on small track carts.
.
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
- Messages
- 6,746
From what my DS said, there were indeed some jackhole Firsties, last year. I think there are always those personalities who get off on whatever "power" they have over others.
I was just there this past week, and I certainly saw some folks swaggering around like they were all that and a bag of chips. I guess when you're you're not a Plebe anymore, it's easy to get like that.
I always like to think that the swaggering types who are full of themselves usually get paid back when they join the Fleet as Ensigns and are effectively Plebes, again. I like Karma.
I was just there this past week, and I certainly saw some folks swaggering around like they were all that and a bag of chips. I guess when you're you're not a Plebe anymore, it's easy to get like that.
I always like to think that the swaggering types who are full of themselves usually get paid back when they join the Fleet as Ensigns and are effectively Plebes, again. I like Karma.
Old Navy BGO
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2012
- Messages
- 4,614
Or cry ....
> Absolutely, there has never been a class that didn't think they were the last to have a Plebe Year.
> Great books, and I will admit that '85's Plebe Year wasn't as bad as Webb describes.
> Things have changed, and in many ways softer than they were in the days of old...and in some ways may even be harder. However , there are still enough similarities to recognize the past. Every class has their share of "flamers", some turn into great officers and some flame out (pun intended) as soon as they hit the fleet. It is oft said that USNA is a leadership laboratory, and the Midshipmen get the opportunity to observe, and to try out, different leadership styles.
This is exactly what happened in many cases.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2018
- Messages
- 686
Good times.
DD got through PS with no injuries.
The AOIC stopped us in Bancroft to compliment her; probably just standard issue pat on the back, but felt good nonetheless.
DD was hyper-aware of the presence of detailers during shopping at Target and during drop-off each evening.
Lots of ice cream was consumed.
The goodbye was hard.
DD got through PS with no injuries.
The AOIC stopped us in Bancroft to compliment her; probably just standard issue pat on the back, but felt good nonetheless.
DD was hyper-aware of the presence of detailers during shopping at Target and during drop-off each evening.
Lots of ice cream was consumed.
The goodbye was hard.
Sounds like you need to change your name... PresentAcademyDad!!! Congrats
We arrived very late Thur nite so did not make it to PEP, plus the ambivalence on whether parents were allowed did not have me up at 5, so I regret that. The brief Friday was very informative and the video a lot of fun, but the amount of parents leaving early and shuffling by us was very annoying and rude, but they did get a good seat for the formation! Walking out of Alumni Hall we actually ran into our Plebe, my husband was so startled that he yelled out her name, not once but twice-we could see her stifling a smile but not turning her head an inch. Back to not getting a good seat for formation, it worked out cause we got a good look at her running toward us!!
The rest of the weekend was a blur of eating, talking and resting. She was too nervous to manage a trip to DC, people looking at me, were there detailers lurking, what if there is a lot of traffic... A movie and walk around the mall was a good first public step. I was impressed with her wiping every chair she sat on, how much she could stuff in her sock, her walking straight and tall despite a HUGE blister on her foot! She had great roomies that helped each other, squad that helped each other, platoon and company that learned to work together. Their tough first round of detailers, her company was the one that had to stand at attention for the 4th fireworks, paid off as they were Color Company!
We stayed within walking distance, which helped walk off some of the food! Sunday afternoon she got a bit antsy, we spent some time just looking at the boats on the pier, and then the slow walk back through the gates. She turned smiled and waved so its all good!!
The rest of the weekend was a blur of eating, talking and resting. She was too nervous to manage a trip to DC, people looking at me, were there detailers lurking, what if there is a lot of traffic... A movie and walk around the mall was a good first public step. I was impressed with her wiping every chair she sat on, how much she could stuff in her sock, her walking straight and tall despite a HUGE blister on her foot! She had great roomies that helped each other, squad that helped each other, platoon and company that learned to work together. Their tough first round of detailers, her company was the one that had to stand at attention for the 4th fireworks, paid off as they were Color Company!
We stayed within walking distance, which helped walk off some of the food! Sunday afternoon she got a bit antsy, we spent some time just looking at the boats on the pier, and then the slow walk back through the gates. She turned smiled and waved so its all good!!
KirkcudbrightBorn
Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2019
- Messages
- 52
Is the Yard Access Card that you mentioned in your post different from the piece of paper that we were issued for access and parking? Just wondering if we missed a step somewhere along the way!
That is it. It may not seem like much but it gets you to drive into the yard!