PPW- What to expect?

lovethenavy

lovethenavy

5-Year Member
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Feb 12, 2010
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As I am extremely new to the USNA, could someone give me some idea of what to expect during PPW. Will DS have his whiteworks on? Is that what they wear when out and about? What is permitted in and around the hotel? Any other pointers for us newbie parents who will be seeing their sons and daughters one more time before either Thanksgiving or Christmas?
 
PPW

When you see them on PPW friday afternoon they will be in summer whites and they will look damn good. For the parade on Saturday they will return to whiteworks but when they leave the yard they will be in the summer whites again. They will get specific orders as to what to wear as PPW gets closer. They will not be permitted to wear any civilian clothes. Enjoy your time with them.
 
All Plebe parents get an envelope in the mail. We already got ours. It gives a specific timeline for various things going on during the weekend. Including what time they are available, when they MUST return and what to wear.
 
we brought shorts & T-shirt for our son to wear in the hotel room. They will know what they can wear when ... he really appreciated getting into some of his own, old clothes ... that said, they can't leave the room except in uniform.
 
lovethenavy,

Just to make sure you know the difference in uniforms, "summer whites" are identical to a USN commissioned officer's summer uniform EXCEPT for insignia (shoulder boards and cover insignia). It's pretty breathtaking to see all those Plebes appear at Friday noon formation, when the last time you saw them was the 30 minutes after the oath of office ceremony on I-day! They will be paranoid about staying clean, as that will be only the second time they "rate" wearing summer whites.

As a general note, until they become MIDN 2/C, Mids are required to wear the dress uniform of the day (summer white April-October, service dress blues = "SDBs" from October-April) when they leave or return to the Yard. Plebes are supposed to be in an approved uniform at all times other than leave (Christmas, etc.). That means they are expected to wear an approved USNA swimsuit or PE gear, even at the hotel. Yes, I know that it seems a minor thing to wear clothes from home in the hotel room during PPW. It will (and should) be your Plebe's decision, but he/she might want to keep in mind that quite a few upper class Mids occasionally rent hotel rooms to get away from Bancroft over a weekend. My Plebe and I were checking in and checking out of hotel rooms in the presence of older Mids on several occasions.
 
As an also very new parent to the USNA, do we bring DS's swimsuit to wear at the hotel? Or does he have to wear one issued?
 
Don't know if it is exactly the same, but enlisted son could wear civies IN OUR HOTEL ROOM ONLY during PIR weekend. Our son wouldn't even have thought of walking out that door without his uniform of the day on his bod.
(He may have not been the most comfortable, but this mom kind of liked that rule...walking down the streets of Chicago with my handsome sailor son!) With that said, we didn't have a pool in our hotel. I would like an answer to the swimsuit question as well.

And may I say that the first pics of parade practice looked kind of sad, but I can already see an improvement in the more recent photos! Way to go detailers and Class of 2014! Can't wait for August 12!!
 
USNA13DAD said:
When you see them on PPW friday afternoon they will be in summer whites and they will look damn good. For the parade on Saturday they will return to whiteworks but when they leave the yard they will be in the summer whites again. They will get specific orders as to what to wear as PPW gets closer. They will not be permitted to wear any civilian clothes. Enjoy your time with them.
Click to expand...

Funny story: I remember Parents Weekend back in my day. (We didn't call it Plebe Parents Weekend back then because there was only one Parents Weekend. Nowadays, they have a 2/c Parents Weekend.)

When we all put on our Summer Whites for the first time, we scared one another because we all looked like firsties. Up to that point, firsties and officers were the only ones we've ever seen wear that uniform.

When we saw somebody heading our way wearing that uniform, we had to focus really hard on that shoulder board - making sure that it was stripeless before we could relax.

But nothing was more dreaded than the red nametag. :smile:

Also, if I recall, we called that uniform "Tropical White Longs" - to contrast it from "Tropical White Shorts", which we were never issued. I think you had to be based in Tahiti to wear Tropical White Shorts.
 
I agree with all the other posts. We did bring a swimsuit, but he had one issued AND since the one we brought didn't have "navy" on it, he couldn't have worn it anyway. He didn't mind not having civilian clothes because he had issued gym shorts and t-shirts to lounge around in. We didn't leave the hotel much because he just wanted to "chill", watch TV, listen to his ipod, etc. We did go to see a movie, but that was about all other than eating out. Hope you have a great weekend with your mid AND yes, your breath will be taken away when you see them in summer whites esp. since the last time you saw them, they had those yuck uniforms on.
 
As time gets closer discuss w/ your DS/DD if they want you to bring anything. Most likely they will just want to RELAX, SLEEP, EAT, SLEEP, and SLEEP some more...

Don't be surprised if you don't recognize them...I remember after that noon formation on the first day PPW when we were released and I went to go meet my mom in T-Court (where swearing ceremony was held) she walked right past me, didn't even recognize me. Plebe summer is the best weight loss and tanning program ever!

Also, on the last day...prepare yourselves for the Christmas music, specifically "I'll Be Home For Christmas", that will be coming from within Bancroft Halls. It's a "wonderful" joke that the upperclassmen play to remind all the Plebes and Parents that most likely you wont see them until Christmas...

For me and my mom we laughed about it, but I know there were others who didn't find it as humourous.
 
USNA 02 - Thanks....homesickness is not a problem for my DS but it is for his mom....Okay, I'm at home but my kid is not....does that qualify? Anyway, made sure to send a special card today to celebrate 2 weeks down. They all ROCK!! Also, for this new Navy mom, finally seeing my son on the official site made a big difference. Sometimes I wonder who does the harder work. If you had to choose, would you choose physical or emotional? Bad question and I retract it. I know you're not of my era, but an old George of the Jungle cartoon used to say, "You knew the job was difficult when you took it Fred (his sidekick)". Guess I never got the manual...

Congrats and thank you. Nancy
 
It is a bit of a surreal weekend. You will spend a lot of time just watching your Plebe. Haven't done that since they were babies!

We brought civies which he wore in the hotel room. Anytime we left the room he was in his summer whites. Consequently he wanted a lot of take in and room service. They are paranoid about getting their summer whites dirty. When you go out for dinner or lunch remember that they will be concerned with staying clean. Probably not a good weekend to go to Cantlers for Crabs!

We spent a lot of time in the hotel with internet and cell phone (they do get them back for PPW) so he could get caught up with all the friends. We also went to a few stores that he wanted to get some things at - didn't like the issued pillow, got an iron, white bath mat ect.

You will want to get a printer. Get one that is both a scanner, copy machine and printer. I would strongly suggest not sharing a printer with roommates.

Also, if you should happen to meet your Plebe's squad leader, they may be really nice but at this particular time they are not your Plebe's "best" friend and your Plebe will not want to stand around while you make small talk with them. Also keep that in mind for people that you have met on the list serve, online or even your parents club, do not make plans to do things together as the adults may find one another enjoyable but the Plebes may not. Best not to plan on doing anything with other families unless your Plebe suggests it.
 
A tip about PPW: those new white uniforms are WHITE. Mom: take a tide pen or shout wipes in your purse. You will use them! Also, as passed on from a older, wiser parent, grab a hand towel from hotel and have along in your purse as well.if you want to sit down in a restaurant, bench along the waterfront or in front of ice cream place, or wherever, plebe can park those pristine pants on that towel!

They will be comfortable in that uniform ( they become masters at keeping it clean!)by fall, but for now that dress white uniform can be a bit intimidating. As someone said earlier, they have only seen firsties or upperclass mids in these uniforms thus far. Your plebe will be focused on any mids approaching as plebes must salute/greet the officers and upperclass. And all of a sudden there are people in white dress uniforms everywhere. I remember me jabbering excitedly in plebe' ear, then realizing he was totally focused on everyone we passed so he could salute or offer up a "Afternoon, sir/ma'am" as necessary!
 
Plebes will have met their sponsor families on the previous Sunday at the Sponsor Social at Alumni Hall. As sponsors, we typically get in touch with the parents of our newly assigned plebes, tell them we've "had a sighting," and invite them to stop by for a few minutes on their way to or from a meal or hotel on PPW Saturday afternoon/early evening while plebes are conveniently in uniform. Parents and families are usually curious about where their DS/DD will be spending quality weekend time asleep on the sofa or raiding the refrigerator. Experienced sponsor parents can also answer questions about how the whole sponsor thing works. Plebes also get to see their sponsor home for the first time in company with family, and will be more comfortable with the whole idea of hanging out with a strange family at the start of ac year. If you are invited to drop by a sponsor's home, I recommend a drive-by that works with your plebe's desires in terms of when he/she wants to be out and about.

Otherwise, be flexible and adaptive to your plebe's needs to refresh, recharge and relax.
 
Being the wife of a USNA grad, I have to say that my husband's sponsor family was the best, and let me to stay with them on the weekend's that I visited...they were at our wedding...and we still keep in touch with them....many years later....

Sponsor Families are such a great thing! :thumb:


Capt MJ said:
Plebes will have met their sponsor families on the previous Sunday at the Sponsor Social at Alumni Hall. As sponsors, we typically get in touch with the parents of our newly assigned plebes, tell them we've "had a sighting," and invite them to stop by for a few minutes on their way to or from a meal or hotel on PPW Saturday afternoon/early evening while plebes are conveniently in uniform. Parents and families are usually curious about where their DS/DD will be spending quality weekend time asleep on the sofa or raiding the refrigerator. Experienced sponsor parents can also answer questions about how the whole sponsor thing works. Plebes also get to see their sponsor home for the first time in company with family, and will be more comfortable with the whole idea of hanging out with a strange family at the start of ac year. If you are invited to drop by a sponsor's home, I recommend a drive-by that works with your plebe's desires in terms of when he/she wants to be out and about.

Otherwise, be flexible and adaptive to your plebe's needs to refresh, recharge and relax.
Click to expand...
 
What about the things they will want during the academic year, specifically civies for the time at their sponsors' house and guitar. Do we have to send those up later, or can they accept them during PPW?
 
Yes, I was wondering about the same thing. What do we do with the Printer once we buy it? Drop off DS at the gate with his "packages" of items he has gotten during PPW. I can see my son saying NO WAY to that. He will do anything to not draw attention to himself.....any advice to us newbies? I also wanted to send him a small compact clothes steamer.
 
Correct me if I am wrong but they can not wear civilian clothes even at a Sponsor House (WINK). Sponsors have rules they have to follow also. Just a suggestion, if you are meeting your PLEBE's sponsor (highly suggested) it would be nice to bring something. They are volunteers and sometimes give up their family time so that your MID has a place to feel at home and relax for awhile. They often take time out of their schedule to make sure your MID gets to the airport, has someone to talk with or just gets your MID to the Mall for a few hours. They are the best! Lucky the PLEBE with a Sponsor within walking distance.
 
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what AF said. Our Mids sponsor family was outstanding. Practically ran a private taxi dervice for her including trips to BWI for leave etc. As a 2/C helped her buy her first car as she was really naive about the whole proces.
 
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