USNA Summer Session 3 2018

bolio1981

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May 21, 2018
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Hello I am thinking about having my son go to the summer session by himself we live in Utah...and already visited Annapolis, thoughts? Also the Seminar is listed June 16th to June 21st..Does that mean June 16th is the check in day?? Where there is shuttle service from the airport?
 
You should have received an email acceptance with instructions. You are supposed to fly to Baltimore-Washington for pickup @ noon on Saturday by bus manned by Mids. and plan to fly out from same no earlier than 4:00 pm on Thursday. Details and what to bring are in the email (sheets, shoes, etc.) and you need to read and follow the instructions.
 
I am sending my daughter from Chicago by herself. We visited USNA last summer and with 3 other children couldn't make the trip again as a family. They will be picked up in waves from BWI between 9-3 and returned for flights departing after 4pm on the final day. Hope that helps!
 
I saw a discussion on another Board, perhaps USCGA, about sending kids alone for summer programs. Coming from Utah, it might be tough to get DS to BWI or DC by Noon, so you might consider getting hotel room near the Airport. If you do that, you will want to call ahead and make arrangments, since many hotels won't accept guests under 18.

Sending kids alone the first time might be scary ..but this is actually a good lesson in independence. A year from now DS will be leaving the nest for good, so letting him test his wings in pretty controlled environment is a good start.
 
DS is being sent alone from the midwest for Session 2. Delta has a flight connecting through MSP that departs around 10:30 AM and lands at noon in BWI. Lots of early morning flights from Salt Lake to MSP. DW wanted to go out with him and I managed to talk her out of it. Time to start flapping the wings.
 
Okay. That's what I WOULD have done.
What really happened was my wife made me park the car and pay $8 so we could walk in with him and see him walk through the TSA checkpoint, and she cried most of the way home. All I know is that I had to pay $8 to park for about 20 minutes.
 
I just slowed down at the airport drop off and pushed him out.
"Have a good time, see you in three days!"

That's in essence what my Parents did with me ..both for NAPS and USNA I-Day. I never did like long good byes.

I recall dropping my eldest daughter off at George Washington University in DC about 10 years ago. I had great plans to simply drop her off, and head up to Annapolis for a night before driving back to the Midwest. I knew my plans were in trouble when DD complained that my Tahoe wasn't big enough for all her stuff. When we got to DC, we spent the whole day unloading her stuff, "setting up a dorm room", and taking the Metro across the river to buy more stuff. We stayed until kicked out of the dorm at about 7 pm, and I knew that my opportunity for dinner at Middleton Tavern and breakfast at Chick & Ruth's was shot, so we stayed in DC another night.

For the parents out there sweating about I-Day , I envy you -- there's no "setting up rooms" , trips to Bed Bath & Beyond, etc. -- you can drop the kid off, head into town, have a few beers and crabs, go watch the swearing in, say your goodbyes, and head back into town for more beer and crabs!
 
Okay. That's what I WOULD have done.
What really happened was my wife made me park the car and pay $8 so we could walk in with him and see him walk through the TSA checkpoint, and she cried most of the way home. All I know is that I had to pay $8 to park for about 20 minutes.

My wife went a couple of steps further. She made sure that we got DS a direct flight (we live in CA), a seat with extra leg room (DS is 6'2"), and when we got to the airport, she asked the agent for a "Gate Pass" so she could be with him until the flight left. I didn't even know a gate pass was a thing. I believe her apron strings are made of rebar :)
 
So you share these dreams of your kid making it to the big leagues? Trust me, best cut those apron strings right here & now. Sent mine to USMA, USNA, & Air Force flew her out on their dime to USAFA. Never got closer than the security check in. Let em go folks. Mine reports to NAPS July 23rd by herself. The following year when she enters USNA I WILL be there to witness that but that’s for me, not her. They have the right stuff, let em’ prove it.
 
If you can't get to BWI, your DD or DS can Uber/Lyft from DCA (National) - trip would take about 45 mins, but allow at least an hour for traffic etc.
 
I second flying in to Washington DC as well. You can look into SuperShuttle as well as Uber/Lyft.
 
When my DS went to NASS, I sent him on a 1-stop flight from our town in California. He had a 7 hour layover at LAX (IT WAS THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT BY HUNDREDS). He took a red-eye to BWI and was greeted and shuttled from there to the Yard. He got there very early...but was able to meet others and start developing friendships right away. Shuttled back to BWI after with no hitches in any direction. Just follow guidelines about arrival and departure times. Learning to navigate airports/layovers/shuttles etc...will be good training for the travel required once at USNA.
 
Maybe I’m a bad parent, but I sent my 16 year old to Mexico by himself. He had to leave the airport, stay in a hotel, and return the next morning for his connection. He’s now a ‘20 Mid and like his 3 siblings (one is ‘17), he’s as self-reliant as they come. Talk em through it, be available by phone, and put em on that plane.

I told my 15 year old when she went to NYC to not smile at anyone and act like she knew exactly what she was doing. I did get her a nonstop flight.

Bottom line is this trip will be fine. My 20 also flew to NASS alone.
 
My son is flying in by himself. He flew to Chicago by himself last fall. I was a nervous wreck, but all was fine.
 
Maybe I’m a bad parent, but I sent my 16 year old to Mexico by himself.

If that makes you a bad parent, then I too am a bad parent! My current HS freshman will be departing this fall to spend his sophomore year abroad as an exchange student. After flying all night he will need to change airports in Buenos Aires in order to get to his final destination. He has flown alone before a few times, so this is not that big a deal. We’ll just swat him on the rear and say best of luck son! Enjoy your adventure and WhatsApp us when you get there!

If your young adult does eventually attend an SA, just think of this solo travel as early training for them. They will be tasked with far, far more than this as a cadet/mid and then ultimately as an officer. And that includes how they handle themselves when things do not go according to plan. Push them out of the nest and let them start flapping…….if they are SA material then you will find they are quite capable!
 
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