Roller coaster I: Get Us (The Parents) Through Plebe Year - Class of ‘26 🎢

In my letters to my MID I've generally been putting a little inspirational quote at the end. Something from a military person (from Sun Tzu on up to more modern leaders). He sends me back one on his letter, a stanza from the poem "Invictus" that they had to remember as one of their rates. He said it was one of his favorites.

"Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed".

I think they are being raised up as good leaders!
 
Bushrod said:
Wait until they find out about this:

www.npr.org

The Space Force is scrapping the annual fitness test in favor of wearable trackers

The new approach aims to promote overall fitness instead of focusing on specific exercises, and the devices will also give Guardians feedback about mental health, balanced eating and sleep.
www.npr.org www.npr.org
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I did read about that. I'm not totally against it from the standpoint that it encourages "24/7" fitness instead of cramming for the fitness exam. I believe there was a thread here where a recent grad or current MID said that in the weeks before PRT, the track is full of people running, then nothing.
Now that having been said, I am not in favor of the invasion of privacy aspect of it.
 
Huursoldaat said:
In my letters to my MID I've generally been putting a little inspirational quote at the end. Something from a military person (from Sun Tzu on up to more modern leaders). He sends me back one on his letter, a stanza from the poem "Invictus" that they had to remember as one of their rates. He said it was one of his favorites.

"Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed".

I think they are being raised up as good leaders!
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That's great. I have that on my office wall. "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."
 
Huursoldaat said:
I've been sending Military memes also. It seems Air Force takes the brunt of the Meme jokes. the Marines, not so much, other than something about eating crayons ...
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My father was career enlisted Navy. He crapped on the Coast Guard and Marines constantly. I would violate forum rules to post his comments.
 
Sealion II said:
My father was career enlisted Navy. He crapped on the Coast Guard and Marines constantly. I would violate forum rules to post his comments.
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Don't Give Up the Ship said:
CG, Army, Navy, Air Force, USMC are all one team. Each with their own unique history, capabilities and flaws.
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We are all on the same team, and have earned the right to give each other crap..... that said, one of my pet peeves is when non-veterans (including parents ) try to crack on other services.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
We are all on the same team, and have earned the right to give each other crap..... that said, one of my pet peeves is when non-veterans (including parents ) try to crack on other services.
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If you’ve worn/wear the uniform, you get to talk smack with/about all your brothers and sisters. If not, just no. If you’re married to one or otherwise closely related, you can dabble oh-so-lightly around the edges, treading carefully.

At a former employer’s social event, I was introduced to a retired senior officer (USMA grad) and his non-veteran spouse. Cordial introductions all around. I mentioned I was retired Navy, as was my husband, a USNA grad. She piped up and said with a little smirk (I took it as a smirk), “Oh, I’m sorry.” If the retired WP officer had said it, we would have plunged into some fun back-and-forth. As it was, she said it, and we all just looked at her in the dead silence that followed, even her spouse. I really wanted to say “Nothing to apologize for,” but mean-spiritedness is not part of the “vet club rules” norm, or shouldn’t be.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
It may sound elitist, but I'm in 100% agreement with you all. If you haven't walked the walk and slogged the miles in boots and formation, it isn't good natured ribbing to pick on the military branches, it's insulting ......
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I don't think that's elitist at all. I would never have the arrogance to feel I could deride any branch.
 
I feel a good analogy is a family. Siblings will make fun of each other endlessly, but are protective of one another. Imagine a stranger just coming up to your family with an insult. Regardless of intent, it wouldn't land. Military (past and present) immediately have a bond. It takes seconds for the conversation to go from salutations to how/when/where one served.

Some people who are also joining the military are guilty of misguided banter as well. Yes, you are joining the club, but you haven't built any credibility yet. Sure, saying Beat Army or something to that effect is fine for the Naval Academy appointee, but the DEP poolee roasting a veteran of a different service is poor form. You signed the contract, but you are still a civilian. Off my soapbox.

Anyway, I think the USSF is actually pretty smart here. It is probably pretty costly, but the military also spends considerable amounts on medical expenses relating to poor diet and fitness regimens. I have questions on how it'll affect Guardian life (I wouldn't want my CO watching me live my life 24/7) and remedies for the classified realm. Can't really track people accurately who work in a SCIF all day. It is naïve to think that every member of the military can pass a fitness test on demand anytime. Plus, most people workout regularly, but don't do workouts dedicated to their branch's fitness test. Why are we telling the guy/girl who is in the weight room six days a week who eats clean that they are not physically fit because they are a bit slow on a run they have to do once or twice a year? In the same vain, one could be very good at the fitness test, but not in good shape overall. I feel most people enjoy physical activity, but when you tell them that they have to do only X type of it, most people aren't motivated to do it necessarily.
 
Good call with the dude yesterday, except for his littlest bro following us around and yelling. Worked out a few details for picking him up Friday. Said he was in a boot for about a week because he rolled his ankle on the O course. Supposedly their end of summer PRT is coming up this week as well. He seemed generally upbeat, and we saw pics of him giving the pup at the USNA museum some snuggles on FB. It was cute.

Going to be a busy few days for them before PPW.
 
Huursoldaat said:
In my letters to my MID I've generally been putting a little inspirational quote at the end. Something from a military person (from Sun Tzu on up to more modern leaders). He sends me back one on his letter, a stanza from the poem "Invictus" that they had to remember as one of their rates. He said it was one of his favorites.

"Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed".

I think they are being raised up as good leaders!
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My 2024 just got his first tattoo. A line from Invictus is part of it. Listening to him recite that poem gives me chills.
 
brewmeist said:
Now my wife just told me there is a post that three "Legendary Authors" will be taking part in a fireside chat to help prep for PPW. They are "subject matter experts." For the record, there are thousands of USNA parents who are subject matter experts. They just never felt the need to write a book about it.

Let me save any '26 parent time and money... You go to PPW weekend. You treasure every free moment with your Mid. And you make sure to get them back to the Yard every night on time.

Parents need to learn that it is our kids' journeys at USNA, not ours. Especially parents who's kids have already graduated and moved on with their lives. It's time to move on. Nothing wrong with supporting and enjoying the ride, but the vicarious living is not healhy for
brewmeist said:
Now my wife just told me there is a post that three "Legendary Authors" will be taking part in a fireside chat to help prep for PPW. They are "subject matter experts." For the record, there are thousands of USNA parents who are subject matter experts. They just never felt the need to write a book about it.

Let me save any '26 parent time and money... You go to PPW weekend. You treasure every free moment with your Mid. And you make sure to get them back to the Yard every night on time.

Parents need to learn that it is our kids' journeys at USNA, not ours. Especially parents who's kids have already graduated and moved on with their lives. It's time to move on. Nothing wrong with supporting and enjoying the ride, but the vicarious living is not healhy for anyone.
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They cater to
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brewmeist said:
Now my wife just told me there is a post that three "Legendary Authors" will be taking part in a fireside chat to help prep for PPW. They are "subject matter experts." For the record, there are thousands of USNA parents who are subject matter experts. They just never felt the need to write a book about it.

Let me save any '26 parent time and money... You go to PPW weekend. You treasure every free moment with your Mid. And you make sure to get them back to the Yard every night on time.

Parents need to learn that it is our kids' journeys at USNA, not ours. Especially parents who's kids have already graduated and moved on with their lives. It's time to move on. Nothing wrong with supporting and enjoying the ride, but the vicarious living is not healhy for anyone.
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brewmeist said:
Now my wife just told me there is a post that three "Legendary Authors" will be taking part in a fireside chat to help prep for PPW. They are "subject matter experts." For the record, there are thousands of USNA parents who are subject matter experts. They just never felt the need to write a book about it.

Let me save any '26 parent time and money... You go to PPW weekend. You treasure every free moment with your Mid. And you make sure to get them back to the Yard every night on time.

Parents need to learn that it is our kids' journeys at USNA, not ours. Especially parents who's kids have already graduated and moved on with their lives. It's time to move on. Nothing wrong with supporting and enjoying the ride, but the vicarious living is not healhy for anyone.
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It’s out of whack
 
Heatherg21 said:
I am going to take a different stance on parents helping new parents.

Our parent club has a Zoom set up Saturday with our 2026 parents, those who choose or want to join.

It’s a basic check-in and an attempt to have some camaraderie. We are a diverse group, some Veteran parents, a parent of a prior-enlisted, and several NAPS parents. Then we have the other side of the coin, the deer in the headlight parents with zero and I mean ZERO knowledge of anything military.

We are here to support and lend an ear. We can answer questions about what that first call might be like. We can do what this forum does for members. Gently advise that the call might not be all rainbows and unicorns.

We can let those 2400 miles from the Yard know that the “weekend trip home” during plebe ac year isn’t really a thing. Nor are civilian clothes (seriously, I just had a long chat with a parent about this, she was flabbergasted, and had a box of cute outfits ready to ship).

Should they know more? Sure, the internet is an amazing thing. But, conversely, USNA doesn’t really advertise the hard parts. They don’t have the Dark Ages and restrictions in their YouTube videos. The average parent doesn’t understand fully what their kid is saying yes to. Not completely. Heck, their own kid doesn’t really know yet. The plebes will learn the full extent of this as the summer and ac year roll out. Even they don’t get the full extent of N*ot College this is.

I happen to own two of the books written by the authors mentioned. I gleaned something positive from both. If they are asked to answer questions for current parents? What’s to dislike? If it’s not your thing, don’t attend.

In the same way this forum and its posters supported my naive questions (and DS is 4th generation at USNA, and I still feel occasionally lost), parent groups can attempt to do the same.

No parent is moving into Mother B. They are on a separate roller coaster from their kid. And if they don’t know that now, they will soon. And we gently remind them. We tell them to “butt out and cheerlead”. We just do it nicely and we hand out Kleenex.
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Commenting after the fact. Our parents Club has been a blessing. However those FB page moderators do not encourage nor promote parents clubs. They make you believe they are the only source for answers. It’s so wrong
 
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