DS did PROTRAMID Block 1 in Norfolk and was overall disappointed in the experince. Lots of standing around looking at stuff versus actually doing anything. His Marine week was nothing compared to what has been shared on social media for Block 2 in SD. However he did go underway on a sub for two days and did get a flight on the trainer during Av week. His surface week was curtailed as there was some goof up on their clearances not getting passed along.
However he did get to have PROTRAMID, learned more about what he likes and does not like, so from that perspective it was good.
8 days til we head back to the Yard. Reform logistics now coming more clear, he has his roommates figured out, and is really looking forward to this semester classes as he has very heavy Major content.
C/O ‘22 and ‘23 had no PROTRAMID at all. Many also had their surface cruises cancelled. They found ways to get them exposed.
Also, next year, they will have a cruise opportunity. It all works out!
I would probably agree that they found ways to get get some '22 and '23 cursorily exposed. A weekend at Norfolk does not make a surface cruise but it's something. But it does not answer a mid's question as to whether they might get sea sick or could they envision being underway on a boat or how does it feel to pull g's in a fighter jet. Just like touring a sub isn't the same as spending a few days both on the surface and submerged and sleeping in those little bunks. But I'm not sure it makes much difference because the Navy is going to do what the Navy is going to do.
Stipulating the horrible mess that COVD made, most would probably agree that summer training opportunities have been underwhelming for '23. My DS ruled out SWO and aviation in service selection preferences in part because he never got a surface cruise of any kind (other than day YP trips) and never even got near a fixed wing plane. One could argue that he could have made efforts this summer for both but he also had Leatherneck and plebe detail. It's service assignment (as opposed to selection) anyway and the Navy is going to do what the Navy is going to do. If PROTRAMID was all that important to USNA, some greater effort would have been made to give '22 and '23 priority. That didn't/couldn't happen. I can see why having Leatherneck, EOD cruise, and BUDS cruise are important from an evaluation/screening point of view but the aviation assignments can be figured out by the Navy from ASTB results and SWO/nuke and subs selects from academic performance.
My DS's path forward may have been much different had he had PROTRAMID. We'll never know.