PROTRAMID

Heatherg21

Heatherg21

USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
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Got a chance to visit our DS during West Coast PROTRAMID this past weekend. Quick trip, fun, informative. Of course, any chance to see my MIDN is one I will try to take, and this was a blast. We attended a Padres game, hit the Zoo, ate out a lot, and laughed and laughed.

The best part was listening to what he and his Plebe year roommate (and best friend) had experienced so far and what they were taking away from those experiences. Both DS and his roomie were XO's for their groups and that seemed to be going well. They haven't lost any MIDN to Tijuana yet!!!
Overall, they are grateful for the chance to experience PROTRAMID and they know not having it, is a disadvantage for 2023.

So far, DS has done Subs, Marines and is doing SWO now. Subs has been the favorite so far, really had a great experience with the crew and the Captain made himself available for questions and discussion. He was very impressed with the way the enlisted and officers interacted together. The ship was larger than he thought it would be, apparently something called 'angles and dangles' is a blast. He shared nothing else so I'm clueless.

He went into Marine week thinking heck no, not my jam. Now, having spent a week at Pendleton, he is far more open-minded than this mom might have liked. Both he and his roommate (different evolutions) encountered the same officer who mentored them and also answered plenty of questions and discussed his experience and his 'why'. They both came away believing that being a good Marine officer meant taking care of your people, looking out for and advocating for your enlisted Marines. That was the emphasis the officer placed on why he chose to become a Marine Officer (not a traditional route) and why he stayed in. Both DS and roomie expressed how much exposure to high-ranking officers USNA provides them. They saw very few officers while at Pendleton.

I was able to meet a few of our DS plebe year company mates, and to a man (and woman) they all said they thought this training would show them for sure what service selection they wanted to make. Instead, it left them realizing that while one service might call to them more than another, they realized none of them would be an awful fit for them.

They all looked tan, happy and couldn't stop gushing about all of the experiences and the great mentorship they had.
 
Heatherg21 said:
Got a chance to visit our DS during West Coast PROTRAMID this past weekend. Quick trip, fun, informative. Of course, any chance to see my MIDN is one I will try to take, and this was a blast. We attended a Padres game, hit the Zoo, ate out a lot, and laughed and laughed.

The best part was listening to what he and his Plebe year roommate (and best friend) had experienced so far and what they were taking away from those experiences. Both DS and his roomie were XO's for their groups and that seemed to be going well. They haven't lost any MIDN to Tijuana yet!!!
Overall, they are grateful for the chance to experience PROTRAMID and they know not having it, is a disadvantage for 2023.

So far, DS has done Subs, Marines and is doing SWO now. Subs has been the favorite so far, really had a great experience with the crew and the Captain made himself available for questions and discussion. He was very impressed with the way the enlisted and officers interacted together. The ship was larger than he thought it would be, apparently something called 'angles and dangles' is a blast. He shared nothing else so I'm clueless.

He went into Marine week thinking heck no, not my jam. Now, having spent a week at Pendleton, he is far more open-minded than this mom might have liked. Both he and his roommate (different evolutions) encountered the same officer who mentored them and also answered plenty of questions and discussed his experience and his 'why'. They both came away believing that being a good Marine officer meant taking care of your people, looking out for and advocating for your enlisted Marines. That was the emphasis the officer placed on why he chose to become a Marine Officer (not a traditional route) and why he stayed in. Both DS and roomie expressed how much exposure to high-ranking officers USNA provides them. They saw very few officers while at Pendleton.

I was able to meet a few of our DS plebe year company mates, and to a man (and woman) they all said they thought this training would show them for sure what service selection they wanted to make. Instead, it left them realizing that while one service might call to them more than another, they realized none of them would be an awful fit for them.

They all looked tan, happy and couldn't stop gushing about all of the experiences and the great mentorship they had.
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A disadvantage for both Class of 23 and Class of 22...
 
I recall Protramid being one of the best experiences at USNA.. We did Pcola, Groton, and Quantico (no SWO week since we got that on other Cruises). All three were great experiences... USMC was still pretty high on my list at the time, and I loved Quantico. I was navigator on our night ambush patrol . I had done a bunch of land nav/orienteering as a Scout, and even impressed our assigned staff officers when our platoon came out of the woods about 50 yards from where we entered !

One thing that I bet has changed .... each of the bases we attended had a small budget for entertaining Midshipmen. The budget was essentially the cost of a keg of beer, so we had a party the last day at each location.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
I recall Protramid being one of the best experiences at USNA.. We did Pcola, Groton, and Quantico (no SWO week since we got that on other Cruises). All three were great experiences... USMC was still pretty high on my list at the time, and I loved Quantico. I was navigator on our night ambush patrol . I had done a bunch of land nav/orienteering as a Scout, and even impressed our assigned staff officers when our platoon came out of the woods about 50 yards from where we entered !

One thing that I bet has changed .... each of the bases we attended had a small budget for entertaining Midshipmen. The budget was essentially the cost of a keg of beer, so we had a party the last day at each location.
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We had a Surface Week in Newport in addition to the other three and yes, there was beer at each of them.
 
With the drinking age at 21, and protramid changed to after plebe year, most of the Mids are underage as far as drinking legally.

Not saying it doesnt happen, but no official endorsement, like a keg… 🍻
 
I recall talking to a USCGA parent volunteer about 3 years ago. He told me about a couple of 1C cadets that got dismissed after coming back drunk and ending up in a fight. What a shame. Im sure Midshipman are not immune to this behavior either.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
I recall talking to a USCGA parent volunteer about 3 years ago. He told me about a couple of 1C cadets that got dismissed after coming back drunk and ending up in a fight. What a shame. Im sure Midshipman are not immune to this behavior either.
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“Protraparty” is always good for a rash of underage drinking and alcohol-related conduct incidents at USNA.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
. Im sure Midshipman are not immune to this behavior either.
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Of course not, but it's also good for young officers to learn how to drink responsibly (i.e. and avoid doing stupid things!) before they get out to the Fleet and are actually responsible for other people. We've developed into this zero defect mentality where making mistakes when you are young can destroy your future (I'm not advocating for allowing young people to drink to the excess without accountability , but it shouldn't be career ending - I know a lot of very successful officers that did stupid things when we young. They paid the price at the time, but it didn't follow them forever).
 
DD doesn't care about missing Protramid. She wanted Subs before her sub cruise. Still wants Subs after her sub cruise. Will early select and is totally down with it.
 
FutureAdademyDad? said:
DD doesn't care about missing Protramid. She wanted Subs before her sub cruise. Still wants Subs after her sub cruise. Will early select and is totally down with it.
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I think my sub leaning ‘24 will now early select subs post PROTRAMID. Sounds like your DD knew her path and is setting course for it.
 
THParent said:
Like I always say - if there were cameras back then like there are today - I would have been in trouble.
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No kidding. Thank goodness social media and cell phones were not even an idea when I was young and irresponsible.
 
My 2023 DS developed his prioritized community list between 4C and 3C years: 1. EOD 2. NSW 3. USMC Force Recon. He's training hard for the screeners he has to take this fall. Doesn't want SWO, Sub or air. Best if he finds his own path ahead. Returns from NOLs in a few days. Very quiet, confident and physical young man. Mom doesn't like his choices...but keeps quiet.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
My 2023 DS developed his prioritized community list between 4C and 3C years: 1. EOD 2. NSW 3. USMC Force Recon. He's training hard for the screeners he has to take this fall. Doesn't want SWO, Sub or air. Best if he finds his own path ahead. Returns from NOLs in a few days. Very quiet, confident and physical young man. Mom doesn't like his choices...but keeps quiet.
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Force Recon to start and not Bn Recon now that is hardcore :cool:

Either way it’s a great choice

Can anyone explain how a future USMC officer at the USNA could be on a USMC Recon track?

I understand how it works for NSW

Is a USMC Recon track at the USNA different than just opting for the USMC and then the mos you get?

I know that enlisted can join with a recon (tryout) contract.

But I have never understood how midshipman might do it.

Of course after decades I still don’t understand how USMC officers get assigned any particular mos
 
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So is protramid “firmly” in place between 4/C and 3/C year now? Whats in between 3/C and 2/C. I know that summer school is an option. I thought I had seen a summer schedule somewhere on USNA website but now can’t find it.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
Force Recon to start and not Bn Recon now that is hardcore :cool:

Either way it’s a great choice

Can anyone explain how a future USMC officer at the USNA could be on a USMC Recon track?

I understand how it works for NSW

Is a USMC Recon track at the USNA different than just opting for the USMC and then the mos you get?

I know that enlisted can join with a recon (tryout) contract.

But I have never understood how midshipman might do it.

Of course after decades I still don’t understand how USMC officers get assigned any particular mos
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I’m not sure of the path-probably steps to take.
 
LT360 said:
So is protramid “firmly” in place between 4/C and 3/C year now? Whats in between 3/C and 2/C. I know that summer school is an option. I thought I had seen a summer schedule somewhere on USNA website but now can’t find it.
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Yes! It is a permanent change…see training continuum and matrices here:

 
Small Team Bacsi said:
Can anyone explain how a future USMC officer at the USNA could be on a USMC Recon track?
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Like many "special" or "elite" units...I would expect (and hope) it begins with performance throughout the initial training and tour in the "vanilla" units.. ie. strong performance leads to increased opportunity.

FutureAdademyDad? said:
DD doesn't care about missing Protramid. She wanted Subs before her sub cruise. Still wants Subs after her sub cruise.
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I really don't recall too many people who changed their minds about Service Selection after Protramid, but its still a good program to get exposure to all of the warfare communities. If anything, Protramid may dissuade some service selections , ie. Midshipman dreams of flying or submarines, but finds out that he /she gets airsick or can't stand being cooped up in a steel drum underwater.
 
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