PPW completed

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helmsdown

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Just back from PPW and some very positive changes were observed in DD. She sounds much more confident. She walks past Ensigns and Commanders alike with a sharp salute and a "Good Morning, Sir" It seems second nature which I guess is the desired outcome. She moves easily around her peers and seems to really enjoy the comradery. We were introduced to most of her squad and detailers. Her room, nothing like at home. She showed us her closet space and I commented on her rifle being locked where she breaks into "This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine..."

She attends to everything she needs to including going home a bit early Friday to shine shoes and iron a uniform. She seems so much more mature now and it's only been 6 weeks.

We had a great weekend.
 
Great to hear more and more stories of the Naval Academy churning out sharp young leaders. Huge congratulations to you and your DD.
 
It was an amazing time for my wife and I. DD walked a bit straighter and a bit taller. She shared amazing stories with us and look forward to the academic year. As great as it was, I was having a tough time giving her back on Sunday afternoon. I can't say enough about the wonderful parents we met. So much allergies going on during the last evening formation before flying out. GO NAVY!!!
 
April75 said:
It was an amazing time for my wife and I. DD walked a bit straighter and a bit taller. She shared amazing stories with us and look forward to the academic year. As great as it was, I was having a tough time giving her back on Sunday afternoon. I can't say enough about the wonderful parents we met. So much allergies going on during the last evening formation before flying out. GO NAVY!!!
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The proper phrase is GO NAVY!!! BEAT ARMY!!!!!!

Glad it was such a great weekend for you
 
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Keep in the back of the mind the sound and feel of the rollercoaster...you will undoubtedly see the downside along the way. Just keep projecting confidence in them.

The plebes were happy to escape the Yard, see family, relax and realize they are just about done. With PPS. A relatively short period of time where they actually got decent sleep.

Soon enough, over 3000 new faces will be coming back, including a companyful (1/30th of the Brigade) of new names to learn about, plus their noses will be pressed to the academic grindstone for the first of 8 semesters, and oh yes, pro knowledge quizzes, more watchstanding and all kinds of mandatory fun. Many will get the first B, C, D and F grades of their lives. Someone has to. They will learn time management to an astonishing degree, and the ability to multi-task under pressure. All skills useful to officers.

Keep the faith that most grads note "it's a terrible place to be, but a great place to be from," or some variation. They learn to get themselves through it and develop lifelong friendships.

Glad PPW went well.
 
Enjoy the ride and best of luck to your DD. Catch one of those Navy/Army games if you get a chance. GO Navy Beat Army (and Air Force also).
 
We already have our tickets to this years game. The NJ parents club sponsors a tailgate feed for the Mids at all home games and select away games, A/N in Philly, so we will probably make one or two home games as well.
 
Alumni Association has some great parties before games. You may want to look into that. Never saw DD before Navy/Army as they had early form up for march on.
 
For Army Navy we always do the Alumni Association tailgater... it's always heated wherever it is, don't have to bring anything and easily available bathrooms. We decided when we started considering these factors into our tailgating we were officially OGs (old grads).
 
All was going well, smooth air and a nice tailwind until turbulence on Saturday night. Dining at a casual Italian restaurant, my wife ordered a "Shrimp Gondola" appetizer...forking a shrimp, she unleashed a fusillade of crustacean juice onto the front of my sons summer white uniform. Despite the quick employment of modern countermeasures, the Tide Pen and Shout Wipes, and my wife's insistence that it was "clean enough", both my son and I knew that heavier ordnance was required...a quick trip back to the hotel, a pre-soak and wash, some "direct fire" ironing and he was back to inspection ready...

The next day at brunch, my wife attempted to order the Shrimp and Grits at the Iron Rooster.... "mom, if you order shrimp again, I'm going to have to change seats".... :)
 
NTWLF ONE said:
All was going well, smooth air and a nice tailwind until turbulence on Saturday night. Dining at a casual Italian restaurant, my wife ordered a "Shrimp Gondola" appetizer...forking a shrimp, she unleashed a fusillade of crustacean juice onto the front of my sons summer white uniform. Despite the quick employment of modern countermeasures, the Tide Pen and Shout Wipes, and my wife's insistence that it was "clean enough", both my son and I knew that heavier ordnance was required...a quick trip back to the hotel, a pre-soak and wash, some "direct fire" ironing and he was back to inspection ready...

The next day at brunch, my wife attempted to order the Shrimp and Grits at the Iron Rooster.... "mom, if you order shrimp again, I'm going to have to change seats".... :)
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That's beautiful!
 
Just remember that Parents may (I think) also join the Alumni Association. I hate Grits, sand with butter. Out to dinner with DD at PPW and in walks her company commander with his parents and of course came over to our table to introduce everyone. She wanted to drop through the floor.
 
AF6872 said:
Just remember that Parents may (I think) also join the Alumni Association. I hate Grits, sand with butter. Out to dinner with DD at PPW and in walks her company commander with his parents and of course came over to our table to introduce everyone. She wanted to drop through the floor.
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I want to save this for any plebe who thinks no one will notice them if they try to get away with civvies out in town, and we have seen those questions here - perfect example of how small the town really is, and how easy it is to run into upper class, staff and faculty. How nice of the cc, though, exactly the right thing to do, and sets the example for your DD when she's a detailer!
 
Soon enough her detailers will not be the big scary people they are right now. Now that the Brigade is back the Plebes are now realizing how out numbered they are. The Detailers are a known aspect to them and honestly most detailers are happy for reform as they are exhausted too. Detailers usually lay very low during reform as they have usually had enough of it all and want a nap instead! They are proud of their Plebes and ready to hand them over to the Brigade and let the 2/C run with the training. The firsties are ready to settle into their new roles and enjoy the leadership challenges and freedom 1/C year brings. It's a new challenge for the Plebes as of today. Probably very anxious. But they will settle in and find their routine over the next few weeks. Oh and also enjoy the freedom to go to the Mid Store and not be escorted everywhere.
 
AF6872 said:
Just remember that Parents may (I think) also join the Alumni Association. I hate Grits, sand with butter. Out to dinner with DD at PPW and in walks her company commander with his parents and of course came over to our table to introduce everyone. She wanted to drop through the floor.
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Parents can indeed join the Alumni Association. My wife and I are members. Their photo website was a great way to get pics of our son during plebe summer.
 
Capt MJ said:
How nice of the cc, though, exactly the right thing to do, and sets the example for your DD when she's a detailer!
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Some things don't change...one of my Detailers , who happened to be from the neighboring town, sought out my Parents at the end of PPW (after we marched into Bancroft Hall to the sound of "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" ), told them that night was gonna be tough, but that we were in good hands.. That went a long way in making my Parent's comfortable !
 
Heard from my plebe after Hell-o night. A lot of hype she texted. 1 plank and some hand shakes. She is a little miffed about losing her roomies but knows one of her new ones fairly well. Only two Plebes from the old squad as the rest got shuffled with the reform of the Brigade which I guess is to be expected.
 
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