Watch on parents weekend

CT2014parent

5-Year Member
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Jul 27, 2010
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9
OK. My DS has handled everything so far really well. Indoc was tough but he stayed positive and we've been proud of him. Of course it's been tough on us (watching for letters & waiting for phone calls) just like it has been on all the other parents who have posted notes, problems & questions here.

Today, for the first time, our DS is really upset. He received the "watch bill" which lists who has watches & when. Well, He is scheduled to stand watch from 0600 to 0900 and then again from 1500 to 1800 On Sunday, 09/05 - THAT'S SUNDAY of PARENTS WEEKEND! ! !

Now I'm really upset! ! ! I'm trying to be supportive and trying to keep him positive - but his mom and I are heart-broken. Like all other parents, , , we just wanted some time with our DS. He won't complain. He'll do whatever is expected of him. But for the first time since he's been at Kings Point he's really devastated

I don't dare interfere. Is there anything I can advise him to do?
 
Easy. He can pay someone to stand his watches. There are usually mids who need money and are willing. Not all mids have parents coming, and I am sure he can find someone, particularly an upperclassman. The only question will be the price.
 
To be honest I can't remember what has been done in the past regarding watches for Parent's weekend; however, midshipmen tend to be resilient and figure things out.

Unfortunately someone is probably going to have to stand watch. And if it's not your child it is someone else's. It sucks, but it's part of KP life. I'm sure he'll find a way to deal with this.

I'd tell him to look around for a classmate whose parents aren't coming.
 
Thanks for the advice. My DS hasn't told us yet what his watch is but he knew the guy that was doing the scheduling. If he gets any watch time, I will forward this advice to him and let him decide as to what to do.
 
Watch

My DD has 6 hours of watch also on PW, but she told me that it was secure so she did not think she would have to do watch. I have no idea what that means in KP speak, but that is what she said. I sure hope it is true otherwise she told me that 6 hours of watch could cost $250!!!
 
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My DD has 6 hours of watch also on PW, but she told me that it was secure so she would not have to do watch. I have no idea what that means is KP speak, but that is what she said. I sure hope it is true.

"secured" means that the watch does not need to be stood. watches can be secured for a variety of reasons, either academic (tests, labs), facility issues (Kings Pointer didnt have electricity for a good while last year), or special occasions (Parent's Weekend:smile:) i seem to recall that they secured plebe watches for parent's weekend last year, but dont bank on it. i'll check with my CC and let you guys know tomorrow.
 
My DS just told me that the watch was "secured" and that he didn't have watch this weekend.
 
My DS said they just talked about this tonight and no P/C will have watch on parent weekend. At least that is what he was told.
 
seems like the consensus is watches will be secured. not 100% on that, from what i heard it hasnt beed officially discussed yet. but it has in years past.
 
We too had to work a visit around our Ensign being on Watch. Yeah…it sucked….but we got through it and had a great trip. Your PC needs to be the one to work out the scheduling. Don’t get involved. If PC can that’s great. If not, consider it training for when PC will be at sea during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays (A-Split) or Mothers Day/Spring/Summers (B-Split) for their sea years.

Just Sayin....
:redface:
 
I am so glad somebody mentioned paying other plebes/mids to do watch for them. My DS mentioned that last year and my stomach did flips. I was thinking it was well beyond "working within the system to make the system work for you" and a serious breech of something or another. I guess it isn't outside the norm of surviving at KP.
 
I am so glad somebody mentioned paying other plebes/mids to do watch for them. My DS mentioned that last year and my stomach did flips. I was thinking it was well beyond "working within the system to make the system work for you" and a serious breech of something or another. I guess it isn't outside the norm of surviving at KP.

careful about what you say. on the change of watch form, it says right above the line for the signature something to the effect of "I have not offered money, given money nor taken money or any other compensation for the exchange of these [watches]." officially, midshipmen are forbidden from accepting additional watches for money. how much you want to stick to the rule of the law, and just how enforceable is that regulation, well, that's between the two concerned parties. but it should at least be noted that while it may (or may not) be frequent in practice, it is in fact against the rules.
 
Ahhh haaaa- just as I expected, it is a bad idea. Glad I expressed my reservations about the idea and DS, as a plebe, wisely proceeded cautiously.
 
I'm a 2013 B-splitter and I had watch parents weekend, the start of thanksgiving break and the start of spring break. They secured the watches for parents weekend and I was fine. they also secured the watches for the holidays too so I was able to make it home earlier than I expected.

For parents weekend the watches should be secured. I remember freaking out last year because I thought I wasn't going to be able to see my family for the weekend when they had flown up from Texas. i talked to my CC and what he told me at the time was that the watch would be secured because it wouldn't really be fair to make a PC who had just started the academy miss out on seeing his family just because of watch. Not to mention how much flights were.

If this year is the same as last year and the years before than the watches should be secured. Just thought I'd put in that I've been in this situation.
 
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