Current USNA youngster (still strange to write this
-- Yes, in my humble opinion, definitely worth joining the USNA Alumni Association for a multitude of reasons. The pictures that will be taken during Plebe Summer and posted on the site are worth the investment alone. Important to note though: There are other really good, very reputable commercial sources for Plebe Summer Photos (specifically ThortonStudios) and in my family's case, they subscribed to that service along with the Alumni Association's posted photos. Because of scheduling -- there is very little overlap and it just provides a great likelyhood you'll find your plebe in photos.
But there are other compelling reasons beyond just the photos -- and joining the Alumni Association effectively translates into supporting the Academy. For example, my parents genuinely love and look forward to getting the USNA Alumni Magazine,
Shipmate (an online and print version are both included with the annual membership.) There are great articles on both historical insights into and current trends at the Academy -- and reading it really makes them feel connected to USNA. It will definitely help you fill in the gaps.
In addition, you'll want to stay abreast of USNA Alumni Association sponsored events throughout the year. A great example is that for the Army-Navy game every year, the Alumni Association charters a convoy of buses for members from Annapolis to the game (Philly this upcoming year) on the morning of the game and returning to Annapolis that night. While there is a nominal fee, my parents said that they had an absolute great time meeting and socialising with Alumni and other parents on the bus trip up and back - they literally knew no one on the bus but by the time the bus returned back, they had a bunch of new friends and are already planning on trying to be on the same bus with them next year
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Finally, and apologies if you know this and slightly afar from your question regarding the Alumni Association, definitely sign up for the BLB (blind leading the blind) 2024 USNA Parents Group on FaceBook if you haven't already. Each year there a group gets set up, usually by a handful of parents who have older siblings who have gone through USNA and now have a rising plebe (this was the case for the BLB 2023 cohort) and according to my parents, was and remains a great resource for parents to ask questions of -- and get answers from -- one another about USNA. It's also a group that tends to be very positive and supportive. My parents have remarked over and over that nothing like that "extended family" feel existed for my older sister during her time at college (not a Service Academy).
I come from a family with no significant, recent military background (absent of great grandparents & great granduncles who served in WWII, and granduncles who served in Korea and Vietnam.) As a result, my parents were pretty clueless about USNA when my interest back in middle school and journey to USNA started. But now, nearly a year after I-Day 2019, I can tell you that between the Alumni Association, the FB groups and having met so many alumni and really nice fellow parents, they feel very, very connected and "in the know" as will you.
Congratulations to your son on his appointment! Buckle up -- it's going to be a roller coaster of a ride -- remain flexible above all else because the only certainty is that things will change -- especially these days -- but I promise, this next year will include a set of transformative experiences for both you and your son, without equal