<p>Hey all -</p>
<p>Just returned home from the big trip - I really need some '09 parents to tell me it will be ok :)...really.</p>
<p>jrh</p>
<p>Ditto the above message. Is there any site where the company assignments for the Class of 2010 are published? And does anyone know where any new indoc pictures will be placed?</p>
<p>Thank goodness the rain stopped this morning and it was cooler and less humid than yesterday.
Like you, we watched our son enter O'Hara Hall, then leave 45 minutes later squaring corners.
By the time they formed up in Barney Square around noon for the Superintendant's remarks, they were already in PT gear, running shoes and caps and standing in straight formations while answering the DIs in unison. While we had many emotions as we watched them march into Delano Hall for lunch, we were also very proud of them for getting to this day and for accomplishing so much in a few hours.
As one parent told us, this is what they and we have been training for!
The Superintendant, officers and midshipmen were very engaged in the Induction Day process. The Superintendant stood with the parents for quite some time while they waited for their son or daughter to emerge from O'Hara Hall. Over at the Museum where they set up coffee and doughnuts for the parents I ran into the Superintendant. In a brief conversation, I found him very impressive. I also met the Midshipmen Regimental Commander there. Both of them spoke at the briefing in Ackerman Auditorium. The Regimental Commander and Deputy handled a large number of questions from parents very well. Remarks by the Academic Dean, Admissions Director, Commandant, and Parents Program Coordinator were also most helpful.
So my impression is the class of 2010 is an excellent class and this class is in excellent hands.
Right now, we are praying for our son and all the young men and women in the class of 2010.</p>
<p>Yes everything will be OK and you guys will be sitting where we '09 parents are before you know it. I believe this was the fastest passing year I have spent. You will be feeling much better as soon as the first pictures from Indoc are posted and you will see that the new candidates are actually having some fun. I think that last year's company assignments were posted on the Parent's Web page. I checked and didn't see anything posted this morning. Last year it was posted in Excel format. '09 Parents were not as fortunate as the '08 Parents during Indoc, our pictures were posted the first few days and then stopped for a while. Hopefully '10 class will be more consistent. Keep a check on the USMMA web site for updates, also keep a check with the Colarado Parents web site, it was updated regularly during Indoc last year. Good luck with your new candidates and know that we have all felt what you are going through and we all made it.</p>
<p>It will be alright. Next Sunday will be the five best minutes of your life. Its amazing I was just thinking what I was doing a year ago -- trying to stay dry ;-) You other 2009 parents know what I'm talking about.</p>
<p>It will be an amazing year. Before you know it, it will be Acceptance Day and you will see a different kid than you did yesterday.</p>
<p>Then once again, before you know it they will be at sea and that brings a whole new dimension to being a Kings Point Parent.</p>
<p>Hang in there.</p>
<p>I know ya'll are dying for some photos. Me too! Hopefully today, some will get posted. Be aware that the photo page gets hammered & might be a bit sluggish at first. Message from my Mid is that the first day was the hardest. His words were, "It was intense". They spent many hours standing at attention & getting yelled at. So know that by today, they'll be in a routine and doing the real training. Drill, changing clothes five times a day in 20 seconds (no I'm not kidding), PT, swimming, standing watch, ect. When they eat, they'll be sitting on the first 6" of their chairs, looking at 12 o'clock on their plate. They are really tired at this point. They don't know what time it is but are really glad when its called lights out. Those 30 second showers are a real experience but they feel awesome to be clean.</p>
<p>Sunday will be a good day. No early morning PT, they'll get to go to church & call home wahoo! Prepare yourselves for that first phone call. Their voice will be so hoarse from all the yelling. They'll be sore & tired & sunburnt & will have a D.I. standing over their shoulder timing the conversation. If they are alittle teary eyed when they first hear your voice, just keep talking, saying supportive things. Mine was ok but he could hear some other kids crying. Don't let it wig you out. They're just relieving stress. They have brunch on sundays & your kid will eat massive amounts of food. From the letters I received last year, the boy said he'd eaten 3 waffles, a bowl of cereal, an omelet & hashbrowns. They feed them well! LOL </p>
<p>Last year they'd posted a spreadsheet, when they'd posted the photos, that had the company assignments. </p>
<p>Remember to address your letters with "Candidate" John Smith, 2010 & not "Plebe Candidate". :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the update on the I-Day drop off! Know that they are being taken care of. They are doing really hard things but they are feeling pretty good about themselves that they can do it all. Hope my post helps a little.... Keep smiling! Photos will come soon! :)</p>
<p>Wow - thanks to all for the support. The first thing I did this morning was to look at the clock, add two hours, and try to figure out what they were doing right then...I assumed push ups :)</p>
<p>Quick question - the logging in book says to address letters as Plebe Candidate - JM, can you clarify?</p>
<p>To the 2010 parents this is the current message on the USMMA parent page:</p>
<p>INDOC PICTURES WILL BE HERE VERY SOON</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usmma.edu/parents/default.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.usmma.edu/parents/default.htm</a></p>
<p>Hang in there, believe me, we all can appreciate how tough this is. Last year I would look at the INDOC PICS from the class of '08 just so I had a sense of what was going on since the '09 PICS were slow in coming.</p>
<p>I know... The thing is that they need to update that information. The Colorado parents website posted a link to this page called "Candidate, Plebe Candidate, Plebe, Huh?" In my son's first letter home he said, "Mom! Don't address me as Plebe Candidate yet. Thats not until after I finish Indoc". They made some of the kids do 20 push-ups for their mail last year because we just followed what they said in the parent's hand-book. It wasn't too fair. We were just doing what the hand-book had said to do. So any more of your letters should be addressed as "Candidate" until after Indoc when they will be Plebe Candidates. They will be Plebes on Acceptance day. Here is the link to the website I mentioned earlier. It truly is confusing so hope this helps.</p>
<p>I loved reading the new parents' comments about INDOC. And the waiting time for the pics to be posted only compares to the waiting time for the anticipated phone call. That phone call will be an experience! You can hear the yelling , telling the kids how much time they have left. Now I want to see if some of you will make the same mistake I did when it came to FINDING your son/daughter in those INDOC pictures. I was doing pretty well picking him out in smaller group pictures, but it is hopeless in the large marching photos. Then there was the 'gumby suit' episode. I was SURE my son was suited up, and sent it to his grandparents, my friends, etc. Later, I found out he never donned a gumby suit at all. Oh......Sure fooled me, his own momma! My son is 6'1", and that often was a clue in group marching photos, but some of the shots are too large a group to even try to id our own. Sometimes the online newspaper, <a href="http://www.newsday.com%5B/url%5D">www.newsday.com</a>, has stories from KP. Just a suggestion when you are surfing.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Sunday will be a good day. No early morning PT, they'll get to go to church & call home wahoo!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>They won't be able to call home until next Sunday, not this Sunday, but they will get to do some "horizonal worship" in the chapel if they want.</p>
<p>I seem to remember one of the presenters saying that the photographer had a death in the family and would be leaving for a short while...therefore, the camera was being shuffled around to various others to get Indoc pics....may be a bit</p>
<p>Ya gotta watch me LFWBDad. Yep, I meant NEXT sunday. :) I noticed that Colorado's web site has changed to "We're standing by for photos" with a photo of last year's Indoc. Check back & forth today between the CO website & the main parent's website. Here's CO:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usmmaparents.com/usmmaparents/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usmmaparents.com/usmmaparents/</a></p>
<p>do they call after church on sundays? so then pacific time it would be 9am or so correct? or can they choose when to call on sundays.</p>
<p>We know the photographer and that person did take lots of digital pictures of the new class yesterday in locations that were not accessable to parents etc. Lots of pics were taken of the cadets on the "grinder" as well. The photographer had to leave for a couple of days to attend a funeral and will return soon. There is another cadet photographer who is also taking pictures.</p>
<p>I have some good pictures from Indoc and can post a few here if it is possible to attach pics etc. For those parents who were not at indoc, the Superintendant stated that class 2010 consists of 270 total cadets. (Probably lower than normal because of so many cadets from 2009 that were held back for various reasons).</p>
<p>We met a new 2010 candidate named Dave from Colorado at the BBQ on Wed night and he was by himself. We walked with him and toured the Waterfront to help him and our son relax etc, We have some pictures of him and would like to pass them on to his parents if we could find their email address. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>re: phone calls</p>
<p>they will unfortunately call when they call, no telling when, and they won't get to choose. usually if they don't get an answer on the first go-round they will get a second chance. I would highly recommend changing any schedules to be home next sunday until you get the call.</p>
<p>The Indoc cadre told us that you can expect their first five minute call to be made sometime next (not this) Sunday afternoon.</p>
<p>All -
I threw up a quick page with a <em>few</em> pics from Thursday - not just my son, but some of a little of everything. There are only 8 right now, but I will look for more of general interest. - check it out and see if you see yours anywhere:</p>
<p>Here are about 100 photos taken at the water sport bbq the night before and also the first day of INDOC. There are many photos here and you might be able to find your son or daughter. </p>
<p>For those who wonder which company their son or daughter are in: if you are luckey enough to spot them, the company positions are 1-4 from right to left on Barney Square, with Band Company in the center position in front of the steps.</p>
<p>Put this link in browser:</p>
<p>file:///c:/DOCUME~1/NEWADM~1/MYDOCU~1/PICASA~1/USMMAF~2/INDEX~1.HTM</p>
<p>Nope, TXusmmaparent10, it doesn't work. Perhaps you can load them up to a website such as <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com%5B/url%5D">www.shutterfly.com</a> or do a web page on <a href="http://www.tripod.com%5B/url%5D">www.tripod.com</a> ?</p>
<p>I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PIX!! How very neat indeed.</p>