Roller coaster II: Get Me (The Parent) Through Plebe Year Class of ‘25 🎢

9

93RN

USNA ⚓️ Mom 🦀
Joined
Mar 17, 2021
Messages
278
1st thing this morning DS texted me a photo of him and several buddies in their Working Blue. All of them smiling ear to ear 😁
DS had 2 awesome roommates for PS. Now has 2 new roommates that he is looking forward to sharing space with. Also sent photo of his new rack area. He is super excited with it…has more storage and cubbies.

I am strapping on my seatbelt and hanging on for dear life! Praying roller coaster II 🎢 doesn’t give me too many whiplashes 🤣
Cheers everyone! 🥂 🍷🍻🧉🍸🥃🍹 🥓

Thank you @Capt MJ for thread title suggestion…🤗
 
93RN said:
1st thing this morning DS texted me a photo of him and several buddies in their Working Blue. All of them smiling ear to ear 😁
DS had 2 awesome roommates for PS. Now has 2 new roommates that he is looking forward to sharing space with. Also sent photo of his new rack area. He is super excited with it…has more storage and cubbies.

I am strapping on my seatbelt and hanging on for dear life! Praying roller coaster II 🎢 doesn’t give me too many whiplashes 🤣
Cheers everyone! 🥂 🍷🍻🧉🍸🥃🍹 🥓

Thank you @Capt MJ for thread title suggestion…🤗
Click to expand...
Yep - here we go - one year at a time!
 
Random AC year question, what books do they have to pay for directly vs being issued and assumingly deducted out of pay?

Seems plebe year DS didnt have to pay out of pocket for any, but this year he does?
 
Five plebes plus us for dinner tonight. My phone blew up with texts last night. Theoretically, plebes get liberty 1700-2400 today if they pass various inspections and get things done. Let’s hope they figure out teamwork is the key. We already have some orphan ride-alongs. Heading to Sam’s Club and Commissary shortly to buy augmentation supplies. Laundry bags are also arriving.

And ac year begins for us.
 
Capt MJ said:
Five plebes plus us for dinner tonight. My phone blew up with texts last night. Theoretically, plebes get liberty 1700-2400 today if they pass various inspections and get things done. Let’s hope they figure out teamwork is the key. We already have some orphan ride-alongs. Heading to Sam’s Club and Commissary shortly to buy augmentation supplies. Laundry bags are also arriving.

And ac year begins for us.
Click to expand...
Don’t know you, but adore you. So EXCITING, I can feel it. SOOOO DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR!! And this feels so hopeful, beyond USNA ♥️
 
justme said:
Random AC year question, what books do they have to pay for directly vs being issued and assumingly deducted out of pay?

Seems plebe year DS didnt have to pay out of pocket for any, but this year he does?
Click to expand...
The specifics may not be here - and I haven’t found the 2021-2022 book yet - but the cover letter talks about textbooks, and there may be nuggets to be mined in the following pages.
 
Just remember, all that gear you saw in their locker will not fit in the storage provided for them next summer! I remember leaving Plebe year with a full SUV (couldn't see out the rear view) with a carrier on top. They have been issued a years worth of uniforms for every season. after Plebe year they know what they need for each semester and can rotate from home. Some get together and rent some storage space. It is a lot of stuff:)
 
AF6872 said:
It is a lot of stuff
Click to expand...
Indeed it is! DD, now a firstie, needed to move from her Plebe Summer quarters to her company area. That move took a couple trips, as she traveled light this summer between training blocks.

But when I asked her how many trips it would take to get the remaining stuff from basement storage to her room, she said probably five if she could secure a cart. Plus a trip to her sponsor’s house for more stuff. This from a mid who does a good job of shedding stuff. It’s a lot!
 
For me - the roller coaster stopped at ppw.

He got his phone and could text me or call me if he wanted. As a parent, it was no different than my daughter in college. Hardly heard from either. Looked forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For him - he was now in his comfort place with academics and sports. He loved plebe ac year.
 
I continue to caution our new state 2025 parents that less is more. Our DS moved out and back into Mother B multiple times this summer. Out for LREC. Back in for 3 week summer class. Out for six day leave home. Back in for 4 week class. Back out for PROTRAMID. Back in for the AC year.

MIDN will know what they need and learn to live lean. It makes life simpler for them. Let the MIDN lead the way. Mothering and spoiling and taking care of them now takes a totally different approach. They will end up taking care of you. And telling you, “mom, I got this”, and “mom, already handled it”. Awesome words.

It means we did a great job.
 
It’s also fine to have ‘stuff’. If your mid likes ‘stuff’. And has a place and the means to store ‘stuff’. Everyone is different. But for sure, don’t shower them woth all the dorm stuff that you think they need. Unless they want it.

Usually over summer trainings, they store everything but what they need. Either in a storage locker, storage they have at Bancroft, the ceiling (true story), company spaces, sponsors or their own home. And then keep their sea bag with things they actually need. Sometimes switching things out.

My firstie for the first time has a mattress topper (game changer he said!!). Both got good, supportive desk chairs. All will be stored over the summer, but to them it’s worth the hassle. So everyone is different. They FIO!!
 
justme said:
Random AC year question, what books do they have to pay for directly vs being issued and assumingly deducted out of pay?

Seems plebe year DS didnt have to pay out of pocket for any, but this year he does?
Click to expand...
A lot of Mids pay OOP for rentals through different book services. Cheaper in the long run. But they FIO through their mentors and upperclass. Very common to do this.
 
Regarding storage, I made it a point to get rid of things every Reform. Plebes get issued enough to come in with the clothes on their back. The plebe issued underwear (if they even issue that still) just took up space. If it's donated, you help someone in need and you have lower storage requirements. I also got rid of my boxing headgear and my nav kit (after boxing class and and after selecting Pilot, respectively). As a plebe, you have virtually zero storage privileges in Bancroft outside their room. Small lockers are for 2/C and 3/C and large ones are for 1/C. The ceiling thing is a great trick that I used, but it only works best if you come back to the same room. You also get uniform items issued to you throughout your time at the Academy (aka more stuff for you to figure out what to do with).

A pro tip is for summer cruises, the packing list they give you contains a lot more than you need. For example, the SWO cruise list has stuff like khakis. I was in NWUs/PT gear/civvies the entire time except joining/leaving the ship and for a reception (was in whites for all three). On the USMC cruise I went on, it said bring camo face paint and a sand table kit, but I sat in an office most of the time (it was MAGTF... you need it for Leatherneck). Get with upperclass who have gone to the trainings you are headed to (assignments happen in March... it's the closest thing to service assignment you can get) and ask what they did and what they needed.
 
DS has quickly found his people. He was asked by some upperclassman to participate in an open field sport event, tried to see the men’s soccer match but was canceled and had to end call home because a group came by to head to dinner chow. He was selected for an ECA that required an audition so he is stoked. He has already found all of his classrooms and knows that he has a class with another Plebe from hometown. He is excited about academics starting. We have agreed on one phone call a week. While I anticipate a rollercoaster I also believe we are more accustomed and embracing Semper Gumby
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top