When to send care packages?

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Musicedu21

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May 2, 2021
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My son's induction day is on the 29th of June. Would it be okay to send the care package two days before the induction day from California?
 
It would be a good idea for everyone to send a package a few days early because the academy mail system is notorious for being slow.
 
Musicedu21 said:
My son's induction day is on the 29th of June. Would it be okay to send the care package two days before the induction day from California?
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Yes, and be aware that the detailers will be opening and sifting through the care packages, theoretically to scan for contraband, but more accurately to taste test the treats . We got in the habit of creating a subset of the care package, in a bag marked "detailers" so as to spread the treats among the brigade. They're going to get some anyway, so might as well make it a gift rather than their plunder!
 
aidanrockne said:
Yes, and be aware that the detailers will be opening and sifting through the care packages, theoretically to scan for contraband, but more accurately to taste test the treats . We got in the habit of creating a subset of the care package, in a bag marked "detailers" so as to spread the treats among the brigade. They're going to get some anyway, so might as well make it a gift rather than their plunder!
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Temple 17 --or another current Midshipman -- is this true ? If so, this is truly disturbing... Inspecting for contraband is fine , but "plundering" or taking without the recipient's permission is theft at worse (and probably a federal crime if the package was sent by US Mail, and abuse of the position of trust a Detailer is given at best. Neither is acceptable.

My how times have changed...worrying about sending care packages before Plebe Summer so they can get them immediately. USNA issues everything you need for the Summer and your Plebe can survive a few days without pogey bait and gedunk. Sure, a care package in the midst of Plebe Summer or during Midterms/Exam week during the Academic Year is appreciated by all.. but keep in mind, there are Midshipman that won't get anything from home their whole 4 years. How fair is it for one Plebe to get a box full of comfort items on Day 1 of Plebe Summer while others get by on what is issued. I know Parents are well meaning, but if I were a Detailer these days , there would be a cost to receiving care packages on Day 1. (Alas, I probably wouldn't last long as a Detailer in today's kinder, gentler, world).
 
If you have the means, consider creating one addressed to "Any Plebe" C/O the Chaplains office. Not everyone gets a care package or even mail due to family circumstances or it's just overlooked with email and texting the normal method of communication. For the foreign students, mail or a small package can take weeks or even a month plus to arrive. I typically send a couple each summer and include a note of encouragement. I don't expect a reply but have received one most of the time. Thanks for considering...
 
Old Navy BGO said:
My how times have changed...worrying about sending care packages before Plebe Summer so they can get them immediately.
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Both funny and sad that helicopters parents send so many care packages, brimming with all of Junior’s favorite goodies because god forbid Junior should go more than a few days without creature comforts of home. Call me old school!

We did send DD a couple small care packages. The first one arrived three weeks in. It had some goodies. It also had some gag gifts that I meant for the detailers or shipmates to see and hopefully get a good laugh out of. (I’m not above trying to embarrass DD.) For example, a can of escargot, a pack of chopsticks, a Barbie doll. She enjoyed those.
 
helmsdown said:
If you have the means, consider creating one addressed to "Any Plebe" C/O the Chaplains office. Not everyone gets a care package or even mail due to family circumstances or it's just overlooked with email and texting the normal method of communication. For the foreign students, mail or a small package can take weeks or even a month plus to arrive. I typically send a couple each summer and include a note of encouragement. I don't expect a reply but have received one most of the time. Thanks for considering...
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I was a plebe who didn't get mail, but I did get an "Any Plebe" care package during PS which is still my favorite, most memorable care package ever: 2 new blue rims (you can never have enough during PS), homemade chocolate chip cookies, and a handful of comics/jokes (necessary for meals). I've sent 2-3 of these each summer for about the past 10 or so. I also enclose a personal note and never expect a reply (even say that in the note; I know how crazy PS is!) but I've always received a thank-you.
 
I sent a few small care packages ... when he called me and asked for them on his weekly phone call.

My sister sent him a large batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. His company loved them - they all got as many as my son. He didn’t care ... he said at that moment they were the best cookies he ever had.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Temple 17 --or another current Midshipman -- is this true ? If so, this is truly disturbing... Inspecting for contraband is fine , but "plundering" or taking without the recipient's permission is theft at worse (and probably a federal crime if the package was sent by US Mail, and abuse of the position of trust a Detailer is given at best. Neither is acceptable.
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This is my take as well.
 
aidanrockne said:
Yes, and be aware that the detailers will be opening and sifting through the care packages, theoretically to scan for contraband, but more accurately to taste test the treats . We got in the habit of creating a subset of the care package, in a bag marked "detailers" so as to spread the treats among the brigade. They're going to get some anyway, so might as well make it a gift rather than their plunder!
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As someone who will be doing detail for a second time, I can say this is definitely not allowed. That would be grossly unprofessional and immoral, and as Old Navy BGO pointed out it is illegal to take someone’s mail. Not only would any sane detailer intervene if this were to happen, but the senior enlisted leader would shut that crap down in a heartbeat and the offender would be dealt with. I would not be surprised if that happened in past years but today’s Plebe Summer is pretty tightly regulated. Hazing happens once in a while, but those detailers will find themselves gone pretty quickly.

And I thought this would go without saying but do not include gifts for detailers in your care packages. I can go to the Mid Store or the Exchange whenever I want. 🙂
 
Kierkegaard said:
I would not be surprised if that happened in past years but today’s Plebe Summer is pretty tightly regulated.
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Not during my time either. Back then, the most that might happen would be a detailer dropping by when the package is opened and saying something like: "Oh thank you for offering, don't mind if I do" as they take one cookie." I never saw or heard of anything beyond that.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Temple 17 --or another current Midshipman -- is this true ? If so, this is truly disturbing... Inspecting for contraband is fine , but "plundering" or taking without the recipient's permission is theft at worse (and probably a federal crime if the package was sent by US Mail, and abuse of the position of trust a Detailer is given at best. Neither is acceptable.

My how times have changed...worrying about sending care packages before Plebe Summer so they can get them immediately. USNA issues everything you need for the Summer and your Plebe can survive a few days without pogey bait and gedunk. Sure, a care package in the midst of Plebe Summer or during Midterms/Exam week during the Academic Year is appreciated by all.. but keep in mind, there are Midshipman that won't get anything from home their whole 4 years. How fair is it for one Plebe to get a box full of comfort items on Day 1 of Plebe Summer while others get by on what is issued. I know Parents are well meaning, but if I were a Detailer these days , there would be a cost to receiving care packages on Day 1. (Alas, I probably wouldn't last long as a Detailer in today's kinder, gentler, world).
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I would not be worried about sending care packages. Personally, I have never witnessed or heard of Detailers stealing food meant for Plebes. Detailers may inspect for contraband in boxes or bulky envelopes, but may not read any letters. In addition, detailers are prohibited from withholding mail as a form of punishment.

If a plebe has so much food that it can't be stored in their issued air tight container meant for snacks, they are supposed to give it away to fellow plebes. Realistically, I couldn't imagine a plebe getting so much food where this would required.

Sharing snacks with fellow plebes is a way to make a quick friend :)


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LongAgoPlebe said:
I was a plebe who didn't get mail, but I did get an "Any Plebe" care package during PS which is still my favorite, most memorable care package ever: 2 new blue rims (you can never have enough during PS), homemade chocolate chip cookies, and a handful of comics/jokes (necessary for meals). I've sent 2-3 of these each summer for about the past 10 or so. I also enclose a personal note and never expect a reply (even say that in the note; I know how crazy PS is!) but I've always received a thank-you.
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LongAgoPlebe, I have received some nice letters from Plebes the last four years I've been sending packages. It's nice to hear that is really did mean something to you. I too tell them I don't expect a response but that I will respond to all correspondence. Three letters was the most I've received from one Plebe over PS. I'd like to think the package and subsequent letters helped, even if only for a few minutes when a detailer hands them a letter.
 
Your plebe will care more about handwritten letters from home. I wrote about work, the dogs, what dad grilled. Inane things that reminded DS life continues and all is well. I sent postcards (cool app, MyPostcard) with pictures of dogs, household empty nester projects and our amazing sunsets that I know he would miss and appreciate.
Granted I sent some condiments and granola bars, but my DS was a Covid Isolation 2024 so they had limited options. Either way, he would be fine without those.
The high school teachers who supported him, and office staff wrote him.
Plebes won’t always have time to reply, but those notes matter.
A candidate for USNA reached out to me via the forum for some guidance. They also wrote a note to him in gratitude. He will be happy to write them a note as they now start their USNA journey in a few days.
Moral of the story, mail is slow, your kid needs very little beyond moral support and they are too busy to write.
 
You don't have to whip up an entirely new care package for "any plebe," either. Just tuck a note or two in your own plebe's care package addressed to any other plebe in the company, filled with news about what's grilling, the sunsets, photos of dogs and people smiling. We passed around the non-personal notes like that so other plebes could have the feels too.
 
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