Say it ain't so...

Having gone to I-day last year and again this year, the difference was shocking. Construction made parking a nightmare on the yard and the carts were, hmmm, strange. Our Plebe struggled with the cords and I'm sure would have rather not have had a cart to pull. Nerves, cords and the carts made for interesting comments. I'm sure spirit videos will have carts in them this year. Still, they were working out in near 100 heat the very next day so no difference there!
 
DrMom said:
When I was a plebe there was no a/c in Bancroft Hall and we had to carry all of our issued gear on I-Day--and those were the heaviest bags I ever carried in my life. SOFT!
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Once at Bancroft they carried it all the way up, greeted by the detailers. There was construction but still perplexed why the carts were used at all. It wasn't very far walk for the bags.
 
This is the point where the busses would of dropped them off. They did start carrying the bags from here. Trust me every OG from USNA did a face palm this week when we saw it and wonder why USNA didn't just have them walk with the bags, issue a sea bag instead or have them throw a bag on the truck in front of Alumni. All viable and easy options USNA could of done.

Oh well none of us can change it. Good news is they all made it and are starting to snap out of the 'what the heck did I do phase.' It's Sunday... means it was quiet this morning, chapel, Chaplains hour and the first real time many of them have gotten to have a conversation with their squad mates to realize they are all feeling the same things. The Fourth is on Tuesday they will get another break from routine with fireworks.
 
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Perhaps the carts are practice for missions like this famous scene in the Wind and the Lion




at 0:12 seconds you will see the Navy troops with the wheeled cannons.

Find a clip of this whole scene if you can - its one of my favorites!
 
DrMom said:
@MAC_Daddy, why were there uniformed personnel in PT gear?
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Those were all the detailers. It was interesting. The detailers were all in PT gear during processing, but they were all clean and changed into dress whites for the Oath of Office. NAPS reported the day before, they all reported in PT clothing.
 
Grunt: They do four years and go Marine and then TBS and start all over again without the carts. But they do get to know every tree and stream at Quantico.
 
Detailers and certain staff were in PT gear. USNA is stern with the new Plebes but chaos does not start until after swearing in. They won't get dropped or yelled at until after the oath. It's why you hear so many kids wonder why they haven't been yelled at when they see their parents for those few minutes. Usually the staff in PT gear are transferring bags or moving boxes all around Bancroft as they shuffle Plebes and gear to the right spots.
 
NavyHoops said:
Due to construction they can't get busses or a truck to Alumni and back. So the reasoning to issue the carts was for the walk back to Bancroft.
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Huh -- what is it, about 500 yards , at most ? Do they get to use the 'vator as well ?

As for the A/C -- I spent a few nights in the Hall for BGO training almost 15 years ago.... to be honest, the AC was wholely inadequate, but I bet that is the source of the infamous Plebe Hack ..going from hot to cold (okay, cooler) all day,
 
Oh I agree! You won't hear an argument from me. Carry your gear! Let's face it... even inadequate A/C would be better than none, especially when living on the fourth deck.
 
Sure. There was construction. The bags are heavy. The bags have always been heavy. Would carts have been issued in 1950? 1970? 2000? What has changed? Why have so many adaptations taken place in the last few years?
 
As a USNA "old grad" and career Naval officer, I could probably answer for you but would probably be sent packing by the moderators....a better discussion to have over a few drinks at one of the few remaining "O" Club bars....:(
 
during the detailers briefs they where told how to interact with the plebes and candidates at NAPS . It has gotten somewhat easier , even in the last couple years .
 
MAC_Daddy said:
Those were all the detailers. It was interesting. The detailers were all in PT gear during processing, but they were all clean and changed into dress whites for the Oath of Office. NAPS reported the day before, they all reported in PT clothing.
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Hold on. In the picture, the people with the yellow t-shirts and blue shorts are part of the leadership detail for plebe summer?

Oh man. That's worse than the little carts.
 
The ones in that picture are Ensigns in PT gear. The green on green are the 2ndLts. They halted them there, undid the carts, new Plebes grabbed their bags, then turned them over to detailers waiting at the top of the stairs for them (which are directly behind them).

USNA does things slightly different then the other SAs as far as the 'welcoming'. I Day from reporting to the oath is very rapid like the others, but there is no dramatic reporting to the Cadet in the red sash or footprints. New Plebes won't actually interact with detailers until they get to Bancroft. Alumni is all new Ensigns and Lts. There is no screaming, it's very rapid with loud voices, but they won't be dropped or screamed at. The dramatic part starts the minute the doors close after they march in. They have been sworn in and are now Midshipmen and all heck breaks loose then. It is why you have seen a few parents post that their kids were a little confused that they hadn't been yelled at yet when they see them at the oath. That all changes the minute they get back in Bancroft. USNA has been for decades very selective where Mids can be dropped and screamed at... Bancroft is the sanctuary of misery for all this.
 
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