Yet Another Midshipman “Ask Me Anything” Thread

Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2017
Messages
995
The Brigade has completed finals! Since that means we have a bit more time on our hands (Okay, maybe more than just “a bit”) and a lot of folks seem to find these Q&A posts insightful, I figured I’d join the trend.

I’m Class of 2022. Was a re-applicant so I’m a year older than most mids in my class. Makes me a 3/C for another 2 weeks until the virtual comissioning ceremony, then 2022 will be considered 2/C! It’s already been a wild ride in just 2 short years. If anyone has any questions about anything related to the Academy, I would be happy to attempt to give an answer.
 
I'm currently deciding between USNA and AFROTC. What led you to choosing a career in the Navy vs other branches? Did you do ROTC while reapplying and how was it compared to USNA?
 
Did you re-apply from a university? If so, how was the transition from civ college to USNA? Asking because that's my case.
 
demolition said:
Did you re-apply from a university? If so, how was the transition from civ college to USNA? Asking because that's my case.
Click to expand...

Pardon the delayed reply! Yes, I did do one year at a civilian college first. In most respects the transition is no different than if you were coming straight out of HS. Obviously you’re subject to the exact same standards and rules as all the other Plebes. That extra Year of life experience may be useful, for example a common issue many Plebes have is feeling homesick or lost being “on their own” (in quotes because you’re never on your own at the Academy), but this is something you may already have experience with. The main thing is you may be fortunate enough to validate a few classes. If you can that’s a huge advantage because it frees up space in your schedule. A common scenario is taking 17-20 credits a semester, but if you can manage to take only 15-16 your days will be much less stressful. That’s the main thing. Also, try to avoid any feelings of frustration about having to “start over” at college. If it wasn’t worth it, you wouldn’t have made the decision!
 
sfjl3524 said:
I'm currently deciding between USNA and AFROTC. What led you to choosing a career in the Navy vs other branches? Did you do ROTC while reapplying and how was it compared to USNA?
Click to expand...

I did not do ROTC while in college. I didn’t view it as necessary since I was so sure I wanted to go to an Academy. My school didn’t even have its own ROTC program anyway. If I could do it all over again, choosing a civilian school with a good ROTC program would have been a great pathway as well. In the end, it’s the same commission.

I was drawn to Navy because I always was fascinated by ships, the sea, nautical stuff, and also the service’s mission. I didn’t know much about the lifestyle differences between branches when I made the choice to pursue Navy, but looking back that would have been worth considering for sure. I don’t regret where I am, but Air Force surely would have had some perks as well. I don’t think you can go wrong with either! Definitely do extensive research into the career options, lifestyles, and missions of all the branchs.
 
Forgot to mention, I will also be doing Plebe Summer detail this year. I can’t spoil ALL of the fun, but if there’s any questions about tips for success, or general curiosity about how things will be different this year given the covid situation I can share some stuff.
 
Would this be a good mindset to have for Plebe Summer: That our detailers our 1-2 years older than us and that everytime they're in our face, they only want us to better ourselves, and that it's a learning experience for them as well? I'm still trying to mentally prepare myself even with a staggered arrival and ROM
 
Go into Plebe Summer with an open mind and ears and ready to be pushed. Learn to laugh at yourself. You will mess up! It’s not the end of the world. Learn and move on. Your detailer could be a prior enlisted Marine infantry NCO or a Mid 1-2 years older. It doesn’t matter. I had a Navy SEAL as a Plebe when I was a Detailer, he was older than me by a year (yes he had earned his Trident). Bottom line... everyone chosen to attend USNA can make it. Thousands of us have gone before you and made it... so can you.
 
relaxalax92 said:
Would this be a good mindset to have for Plebe Summer: That our detailers our 1-2 years older than us and that everytime they're in our face, they only want us to better ourselves, and that it's a learning experience for them as well? I'm still trying to mentally prepare myself even with a staggered arrival and ROM
Click to expand...

Yes, I would say that’s a fair statement. Although every summer there’s a few detailers that nobody likes who are only doing it because they think it sounds like fun to yell at people, the vast majority are doing it because they care about you. The detail is under orders from the Commandant and Officer in Charge to apply stress to the 4/C in order to teach them tenacity, mental toughness, humility, and other basic qualities that will be critical throughout your whole time at the Academy and in your military career. In my company, we have a really great group of 2/C and 1/C mids who are taking this very seriously. It’s the biggest responsibility we’ve had at the Academy and possibly our lifetimes. None of us ENJOY yelling at people and making them stressed out and uncomfortable, but we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t; In fact we’d be doing everyone a disservice, especially the Plebes.
 
Kierkegaard said:
Yes, I would say that’s a fair statement. Although every summer there’s a few detailers that nobody likes who are only doing it because they think it sounds like fun to yell at people, the vast majority are doing it because they care about you. The detail is under orders from the Commandant and Officer in Charge to apply stress to the 4/C in order to teach them tenacity, mental toughness, humility, and other basic qualities that will be critical throughout your whole time at the Academy and in your military career. In my company, we have a really great group of 2/C and 1/C mids who are taking this very seriously. It’s the biggest responsibility we’ve had at the Academy and possibly our lifetimes. None of us ENJOY yelling at people and making them stressed out and uncomfortable, but we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t; In fact we’d be doing everyone a disservice, especially the Plebes.
Click to expand...
aye aye, thank you so much for the guidance; I greatly appreciate it. 🙏
 
NavyHoops said:
Go into Plebe Summer with an open mind and ears and ready to be pushed. Learn to laugh at yourself. You will mess up! It’s not the end of the world. Learn and move on. Your detailer could be a prior enlisted Marine infantry NCO or a Mid 1-2 years older. It doesn’t matter. I had a Navy SEAL as a Plebe when I was a Detailer, he was older than me by a year (yes he had earned his Trident). Bottom line... everyone chosen to attend USNA can make it. Thousands of us have gone before you and made it... so can you.
Click to expand...
Thank you
🙏
 
@relaxalax92

They are not allowed to actually kill you.

The go-go-go exhausting and demanding chaos and pressure is designed to help you build skills to remain calm, focused and functional:
- in the cockpit, when alarms are going off and it’s not a drill
- at your battle station, when your ship is in a collision or your sub has something really wrong going on
- in your Marine ground situation, where the fog of war has made it uncertain just what the heck is going on and where the bad guys are
- in any going-in-harm’s-way situation
- when your sailors and Marines are looking to you for command presence in a terrifying situation
 
^ I bookmarked that one for when mom and dad wonder why they always stress out little Johnnie and Jane. It seems so unfair.

I'm sure this will come up later this summer.
 
Great points! They can’t kill you, nor can they put their hands on you. Yes, they will correct your uniform, but they will do their best to only touch the uniform and not you. Trust me... if I somehow made it... you can to!!! Days are long, weeks are short. When you start it will be making it one meal at a time. Eventually it becomes... make it to Sunday. Then it’s, make it to the next major event. Then it’s, Parents Weekend (well maybe)! Trust me... ac year is harder than Plebe Summer. You won’t understand this until late Sept or Oct.
 
^ After all, what can they do -- cut your hair short and make you join the Navy ?
(And they can't take your birthday away either !)
 
Old Navy BGO said:
^ After all, what can they do -- cut your hair short and make you join the Navy ?
(And they can't take your birthday away either !)
Click to expand...
Having finals on your birthday is like having your birthday taken away.

1590523583731.png
 
NavyHoops said:
Trust me... ac year is harder than Plebe Summer. You won’t understand this until late Sept or Oct.
Click to expand...

So true! Once ac year starts — and when the dark ages hit — plebe summer might feel like child’s play.

For newbies, helpful to know that it’s common to divide the USNA experience into three seemingly equal parts: plebe summer, ac year of plebe year, the last three years. As DD starts her 2C year, we can attest to this.
 
For newbies, helpful to know that it’s common to divide the USNA experience into three seemingly equal parts: plebe summer, ac year of plebe year, the last three years. As DD starts her 2C year, we can attest to this.
Click to expand...

Very true. It was perhaps even more true years ago when we lost so many during plebe year (around 20-25% left during the first year and another 5-15% the final 3 years). Time speeds up. During PS, you count each day. Ac Year, you seem to count each week. After that, it's a semester or even year at a time. Not only as a mid but also as a parent, friend or sponsor.
 
That is so completely true in my experience (from a parent's viewpoint) as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top