When 2C Mids do the Service Academy Exchange (Fall), do parents have to miss 2C Parent events?

[NickMomSince1997]

First of all, I know the academy exchange program is a wonderful opportunity, and I am so happy for our mid. That being said, do parents then have to miss the long awaited 2C Parent Weekend - when we would have finally been able to attend classes and eat in King Hall with our MID, attend meetings about rings and graduation, etc.?

 

[justdoit19]

No you wouldn’t HAVE to. But personally, I wouldn’t spend the money to attend. Since it’s all about experiencing the day with your Mid.

Perhaps you would be getting together with other Mid parents? Or I could see attending classes with your Mids BFF/roomate if particularly close? But personally, I would not go. And instead attend when my Mid WAS there. On another weekend. Spend my time and money with my own. Perhaps a 3 day weekend. Perhaps even during a special weekend with my Mid at the exchange academy! Now THAT would be cool.

I think parents weekend is fun, but would be very much less fun without my own Mid.

I also recognize, that if you are inquiring for this next one in September, that you weren’t able to see the dorm or eat in King Hall during parents weekend. Bc we didn’t have one. But having done that with my oldest? You really aren’t missing much.

Rings don’t need any parental input.

The graduation ‘meeting’ is an info event available online. Every year. You can access it now as a matter of fact. That info is the same presentation every year (I’ve attended/watched 4 of them!!). If you prefer seeing it live, you can attend ANY year.

 

[NickMomSince1997]

No you wouldn’t HAVE to. But personally, I wouldn’t spend the money to attend. Since it’s all about experiencing they day with you Mid.

Perhaps you woukd be getting together with other Mid parents? Or I could see attending classes with your Mids BFF/roomate if particularly close? But personally, I would not go. And instead attend when my Mid WAS there. On another weekend. Spend my time and money with my own. Perhaps even during a special weekend with my Mid at the exchange academy! Now THAT would be cool.

I think parents weekend is fun, but would be very much less fun without my own Mid.

I also recognize, that if you ar inquiring for this next one in September, that you went able to see he dorm or eat in King Hall during parents weekend. Bc we didn’t have one. But having done that with my oldest? You really aren’t missing much.

Thank you for that. I do wonder if USNA ever allows parents to do those things (attend classes, eat in King Hall) when it is not 2C Parents Weekend - say in the Spring? No, the trip to USNA is way too long and expensive for us to attend 2C Parent Weekend if our Mid is not there.

 

[shiner]

When on exchange, the parents typically attend the events at the exchange school to see a glimpse of what the alternate universe looks like and experience what their cadet/mid is seeing.

 

[justdoit19]

Thank you for that. I do wonder if USNA ever allows parents to do those things (attend classes, eat in King Hall) when it is not 2C Parents Weekend - say in the Spring? No, the trip to USNA is way too long and expensive for us to attend 2C Parent Weekend if our Mid is not there.

They do not host another formal invite for the two together. But if you are there, you can have your Mid request that you dine with them. I haven’t done that but have been told by mine that it’s something we could do if we wanted.

You would probably get a better ‘experience’ of dining with the brigade on a private visit, vs 2/c or parents weekend. Which is very much toned down bc of all the parents there (vs King Hall on a normal day). The other piece to consider is if your Mid would want to actually do that with you.

 

[usna1985]

IMHO, the main thing you would miss not attending 2/C PW is going to class with your mid. I believe this is the only time in the 4 years that this is offered. That said, it's not THAT exciting and some of the technical classes could be like listening to Japanese (unless of course, you're fluent in Japanese). Also, you never know what will happen with COVID. I can guarantee that, if there are any COVID concerns at the time, this would be the first activity to be canceled.

As noted, you can eat in King Hall at other times. Keep in mind that, while it's fun for you, it's not for your mid.

You will get PLENTY of information about graduation when the time comes. Not sure there needs to be a "meeting" about rings. There is a ring catalog publicly available on-line. Your mid chooses the type / size of ring, color of gold and stone(s). They select in the fall and the rings arrive usually right before spring break.

The SA your mid is attending may also have events for parents. Your mid will definitely be informed if that is the case.

 

[NavyHoops]

Thank you for that. I do wonder if USNA ever allows parents to do those things (attend classes, eat in King Hall) when it is not 2C Parents Weekend - say in the Spring? No, the trip to USNA is way too long and expensive for us to attend 2C Parent Weekend if our Mid is not there.

I know with COVID, things have been different, but we used to be able to bring guests to King Hall. Just buy the appropriate tickets, talk with the squad, make room for them at the table. I am sure with some approvals and working things up a chain, someone could get approval for parents to see a room and attend a class or two. I think during our 1/C parents weekend most of our Profs really didn’t conduct class. We introduced our parents and called it a day. I had one prof have a quiz and they allowed our parents to help and then allowed us to leave. The class was thermo by the way… my dad actually helped on one or two, but for nearly every parent they were as lost as I was. I understand it’s a milestone weekend and you missed PPW. A long weekend in Annapolis with a football game, your Mid with overnight liberty, and whatever else you want to do is probably just as great. If you get to do this at another SA, I think that is pretty cool!

 

[ders_dad]

FYI - last year's 2/C parent weekend was a nothing burger - meaning, there was nothing available for parents that couldn't be done on any home-football game weekend - parade, football game. That was it - no classes, no dining in King Hall, no seeing a small room with blue magnets. Things could change but I wouldn't want to spend any money at all betting it would (especially if you rmid is not in town).

 

[usna1985]

To be fair, COVID was still fairly rampant last fall. I think USNA tried to do what they could without jeopardizing the health of mids, USNA staff as well as families. That's why I said above that what does or doesn't happen this year will depend heavily on the status of COVID and related protocols, if any, for the USN and USNA. Semper Gumby.

 

[AggieTexan]

My mid (nephew) participated in the Exchange program this year. Even though he/his parents missed some milestone events I think my nephew would do it again without hesitation. It was a fantastic experience for him.

The Academy had a smaller 2 for 7 signing ceremony after finals last spring for all the mids who were going to be away in the fall. Parents were offered the chance to attend parents’ weekend next year, but my sister and her husband aren’t going to take advantage of that.