Roller coaster I: Get You (The Parents) Through Plebe Year - Class of ‘27 🎢

[IronmanDaremo]

Usually the kids do two training blocks and get one for leave. In some cases, they will do three. Usually, they can be all over. YPs will be out of Annapolis, and they will stay in Mother B, PROTRAMID (nearly all rising 3/C do that) will either be in Norfolk, VA or in San Diego, CA. Other activities can be all over the coasts, or overseas.

I suppose he could easily have gotten two consecutive blocks in CA, but without him sharing anything, it would be hard to know.

And, as always, he should remain Semper Gumby as they are well known for changing block assignments up to the last minute.

 

[justdoit19]

*usually* they have to report back in from one training to the next. *usually* there are briefs, etc that they need to attend before a training.

It’s not necessarily a smooth transition from one training to the next. Each training is its own unit, with start and stop requirements.

In fact, if a PROTRAMID is in CA, and the Mid has leave for the next block and lives in CA, if they don’t file for an independent travel (or whatever it’s called), they still fly back to USNA, and then back to CA.

 

[DutchAmerican]

All my kid told me is when he will be off for the summer. So, do mids stay at the same training location for the two other blocks? Say they got West coast for protramid, does that mean they stay in California for the 2 blocks?

Depends on their other training block. Do they have a leave block? Mine was on the Yard as a Summer Seminar detailer first block, leave second block, back to USNA for briefings and then West Coast PROTRAMID third block.

 

[severn]

... so I went ahead and booked a one way flight to BWI at the end of 3rd block-leave.
For some reason, I'm confident that he will get his preference for 2nd block-summer cruise, Pearl Harbor.

 

[LKNBrawley]

*usually* they have to report back in from one training to the next. *usually* there are briefs, etc that they need to attend before a training.

It’s not necessarily a smooth transition from one training to the next. Each training is its own unit, with start and stop requirements.

In fact, if a PROTRAMID is in CA, and the Mid has leave for the next block and lives in CA, if they don’t file for an independent travel (or whatever it’s called), they still fly back to USNA, and then back to CA.

When they get back from a training block to USNA do they have a weekend debrief then they can move on to Block 2 leave. Say Block 1 ends June 21st. Block 2 starts June 24th. Should I buy a ticket home on June 22nd? or June 24th when Block 2 starts? Or I buy 2 tickets then just cancels. DS is not sure. Hopefully someone can help me out.

 

[severn]

When they get back from a training block to nUSNA do they have a weekend debrief then they can move on to Block 2 leave. Say Block 1 ends June 21st. Block 2 starts June 24th. Should I buy a ticket home on June 22nd? or June 24th when Block 2 starts? Or I buy 2 tickets then just cancels. DS is not sure. Hopefully someone can help me out.

... so from USNA Summer Training Schedule
Block 1. 28May - 21June
Block 2. 24June - 19July

If this is my Mid, I'd buy a round trip ticket starting 24June (early flight from BWI, so he has to be up at 0330) and returning to the yard 17July (plenty of time for any delays).

Our situation is different in a way that block 2 surface warfare and block 3 leave are on the same location.

 

[justdoit19]

When they get back from a training block to USNA do they have a weekend debrief then they can move on to Block 2 leave. Say Block 1 ends June 21st. Block 2 starts June 24th. Should I buy a ticket home on June 22nd? or June 24th when Block 2 starts? Or I buy 2 tickets then just cancels. DS is not sure. Hopefully someone can help me out.

My strategy was always to purchase a couple, refundable, and use whichever one, and cancel the other. Over the years, those eCredits get used up.

Unfortunately this is one of the most ‘fluid’ times for them. Things can always change up with dates and times. I’ve sometimes had luck calling the airline and telling them a training got changed up, and they would rebook the flight for the same price (to avoid paying expensive last minute upcharges for changes).

 

[MidCakePa]

Pro tip 1: Buy only one-way tickets. That way, one cancelled leg doesn't blow up the whole trip. It's been my rule since DD started USNA and has paid off multiple times.

Pro tip 2: As said above, buy two options per leg and cancel one. Fly Southwest as much as possible, because of its generous cancellation policy.

 

[severn]

... caveat emptor. To each their own. Ok this is a banter. I Don't like Southwest... flying Southwest is like going to those super buffet restaurants with all those pajama wearing mega eaters and/or a crowded Walmart. There are personal standards and there are personal style, whatever that means.

I flew with Alaska Airlines 3 weeks ago for the first time. The boarding starts with Active Duty Military and Veterans. There's an actual menu including vegetarian... acceptable. As a 30-year Vet, I felt like being appreciated. I will fly again with Alaska Airlines.

For over 30 years, I flew with American Airlines, always.

 

[SeePower]

"pajama wearing mega eaters" wow @severn, that's quite a generalization!

 

[mspeachintexas]

... caveat emptor. To each their own. Ok this is a banter. I Don't like Southwest... flying Southwest is like going to those super buffet restaurants with all those pajama wearing mega eaters and/or a crowded Walmart. There are personal standards and there are personal style, whatever that means.

I flew with Alaska Airlines 3 weeks ago for the first time. The boarding starts with Active Duty Military and Veterans. There's an actual menu including vegetarian... acceptable. As a 30-year Vet, I felt like being appreciated. I will fly again with Alaska Airlines.

For over 30 years, I flew with American Airlines, always.

We started flying Southwest after our mid started at USNA. We only have two options here for direct flights, the second choice is Spirit - DH and DS are very tall, and DH’s behind is too big for Spirit small seats - We have had no problem with SW, the only challenge for me is the “seat wherever”. I literally sweat everytime during the boarding process, even when we have early boarding tix, plus I don’t know how the pilot can “calibrate” the plane not knowing which side of the plane has more passengers, (i overthink, i know)

 

[mspeachintexas]

... so from USNA Summer Training Schedule
Block 1. 28May - 21June
Block 2. 24June - 19July

If this is my Mid, I'd buy a round trip ticket starting 24June (early flight from BWI, so he has to be up at 0330) and returning to the yard 17July (plenty of time for any delays).

Our situation is different in a way that block 2 surface warfare and block 3 leave are on the same location.

Our mid has training during block 1, and 2, then block 3 is leave. Do i have to provide transportation to and back from training? And I’m assuming Block 3 he can just stay with us back home correct?

 

[severn]

Our mid has training during block 1, and 2, then block 3 is leave. Do i have to provide transportation to and back from training? And I’m assuming Block 3 he can just stay with us back home correct?

... so Uncle Sam pays for training transportation. And Dada-Mama pays for leave transport. Unless training location and leave destination are the same place then Midshipman Johnny, Dada, and Mama are all smiles come late August.

 

[severn]

... so OK, another banter and I'll stop. When Southwest started flying to Hawaii about 17 (?) months ago, the Department of Tourism started announcing about a "new" kind of tourists. Then businesses started complaining that these "new" tourists are not spending at all. They just walk around and look. I ignored it like ignoring a fly in the kitchen. Then while waiting in HNL for my flight, a Southwest aircraft deplaned adjacent to my gate. Within seconds, I thought I was inside a crowded Walmart... red bandanas, cut off shorts, sleeveless tshirts, worn out caps.

 

[OldRetSWO]

And Dada-Mama pays for leave transport.

Must be some new regs for travel. How he got to and from USNA when Mid'n OldRetSWO was a mid was up to Mid'n OldRetSWO and his classmates. They could ask for parental $$$ but many just used their own money.
Summer after plebe year was a two month cruise with about a month leave during which time I got a job delivering furniture for added spending money. Summer after Youngster year had 2 months training and a month leave during which time I was a night watchman. I could have asked my parents for money but wanted to "adult" and did so. I know of other classmates who did similar things.

 

[severn]

Must be some new regs for travel. How he got to and from USNA when Mid'n OldRetSWO was a mid was up to Mid'n OldRetSWO and his classmates. They could ask for parental $$$ but many just used their own money.
Summer after plebe year was a two month cruise with about a month leave during which time I got a job delivering furniture for added spending money. Summer after Youngster year had 2 months training and a month leave during which time I was a night watchman. I could have asked my parents for money but wanted to "adult" and did so. I know of other classmates who did similar things.

... yah, I got this message twice now, "hey dad, here are the dates and get the tickets "

 

[justdoit19]

... so OK, another banter and I'll stop. When Southwest started flying to Hawaii about 17 (?) months ago, the Department of Tourism started announcing about a "new" kind of tourists. Then businesses started complaining that these "new" tourists are not spending at all. They just walk around and look. I ignored it like ignoring a fly in the kitchen. Then while waiting in HNL for my flight, a Southwest aircraft deplaned adjacent to my gate. Within seconds, I thought I was inside a crowded Walmart... red bandanas, cut off shorts, sleeveless tshirts, worn out caps.

That’s really an awful thing to say. Seriously. Really awful.

 

[severn]

That’s really an awful thing to say. Seriously. Really awful.

... free speech.

 

[justdoit19]

... free speech.

Just because you can say something, doesn’t mean you should.

You are making bigoted generalizations about people who fly a certain airline that’s below your standards, and people who shop at a store that’s below your standards, and are not welcome in your community. Lumping people into pots and making derogatory remarks/assumptions.

That’s not free speech. That’s awful.

 

[severn]

Just because you can say something, doesn’t mean you should.

You are making bigoted generalizations about people who fly a certain airline that’s below your standards, and people who shop at a store that’s below your standards, and are not welcome in your community. Lumping people into pots and making derogatory remarks/assumptions.

That’s not free speech. That’s awful.

... not sorry for offending you. Taking the high ground by signing off.
And my 30 years military service with the US Constitution in my chest pocket allows me to fully express my First Amendment rights.