<p>I laughed, oh wait, no I didn't...</p>
<p>Zaphod your an alumni, great, but that first post...was a little rediculous, I know you made it seem almost impossible to go through your fine institution aka "Canoe U." However, I assure you as much as you may think your school is tough, come up north a little bit, check out KP. It is the toughest, and if I can handle it now, they probably can handle your alma mater. </p>
<p>And I say this with the utmost respect.</p>
<p>i shall dub this thread...</p>
<p>Full Metal Post</p>
<p>Question... my boyfriend is really considering going to the Academy for 2010 and has completed the app process, etc. Now we're just waiting for an answer....</p>
<p>how hard is it to keep in touch with people once you're at the academy? I might be going to a school a few hours away but I still worry about being able to talk to him.. no communication during Plebe summer, right? I'm not sure if our relationship would still remain exclusive and everything like that, I'm more worried about us losing our friendship completely! Kind of a saddening thought...</p>
<p>"I laughed, oh wait, no I didn't...</p>
<p>Zaphod your an alumni, great, but that first post...was a little rediculous, I know you made it seem almost impossible to go through your fine institution aka "Canoe U." However, I assure you as much as you may think your school is tough, come up north a little bit, check out KP. It is the toughest, and if I can handle it now, they probably can handle your alma mater.</p>
<p>And I say this with the utmost respect."</p>
<p>I have no earthly clue what you're talking about. I didn't make USNA seem near impossible. I described it as it is: extremely difficult. Would you prefer I lie?</p>
<p>I have no idea what KP is (kitchen patrol?), but the attitude you have is a dangerous one at USNA. Walk in there thinking you're going to own the place and the place will put "PAID" to your account faster than you can blink. It's the difference between confidence and arrogance.</p>
<p>I've been there. You haven't. Forgive me if I don't agree with your assessment of the situation.</p>
<p>"how hard is it to keep in touch with people once you're at the academy? I might be going to a school a few hours away but I still worry about being able to talk to him.. no communication during Plebe summer, right? I'm not sure if our relationship would still remain exclusive and everything like that, I'm more worried about us losing our friendship completely! Kind of a saddening thought..."</p>
<p>It's not as difficult as you might think.</p>
<p>I'll give you what I remember: My GF called whenever she wanted. The call went into the Main Office and I received a written note to call her (or whatever message she left). During study hours (or any time I had a moment), I could go to any of the phone rooms and call her (I had an AT&T calling card). Easy.</p>
<p>Now, this was in the days before cell phones (which I doubt a plebe can have, but I bet they get sneaked in), e-mail, IM, etc. </p>
<p>During Plebe Summer, you'll most likely only be able to speak to him for a few hours on Sunday Morning. Other than that, he'll be a bit preoccupied.</p>
<p>One of the things we most valued (both at USNA and in the Fleet) was MAIL. Write letters. LOTS of them. Even a simple card is an incredible pick-me-up, and far more meaningful than a quick e-mail.</p>
<p>Another bit of dead-serious advice to all you Plebes-to-be:</p>
<p>Be very, VERY wary of any classmate of yours who thinks he/she knows it all, especially about the Academy. Unless they've been there before (and a few have), or unless they went to NAPS (and therefore have reason to know), DON'T rely on them to "get you through".</p>
<p>People like that quickly become labeled as Sea Lawyers, Skaters, and worse. If you want to go through the Academy easily, please stay home. Go in, and do the job to the best of your ability. Follow orders, study what you need to, then do what you think is RIGHT. If you screw up (and you will), at least the mistake will be an honest one and it will be YOURS. It may not seem like it, but upperclassmen will accept honest mistakes that were made by someone trying to do the right thing. What they will NOT tolerate is someone trying to skate, or find a loophole, or trying to weasle. Few things drive upperclassmen nuts faster than that.</p>
<p>Don't try and beat the system. You can't, but you can find ways to make it work for you. Doing that within the scope of the rules is part of the experience AND the preparation.</p>
<p>One other thing: If anything that I have typed above has SCARED you, then a) I'm glad, and b) my offer to discuss things with you one-on-one stands. I will remind you that courage is not the ABSENCE of fear, it is the ability to CONTROL and CHANNEL fear into a useful outcome. If you're going into USNA without some measure of fear, then either you don't really give a damn about graduating (in which case, why are you there?), or you're an idiot. </p>
<p>Take your fear and make it work FOR you, not AGAINST you.</p>
<p>Regarding "how hard is it to keep in touch with people once you're at the academy?" here's the situation for current Plebes.</p>
<p>During the summer the Plebes got about 5 minutes on Sunday afternoon every 2 weeks to make phone calls (total of 3 times over the course of the summer). This time could be split between family and girl/boyfriends. Some companies are very rigorous about exactly 5 minutes, others might be more flexible, but it was only time that phone calls are allowed. Families were notified ahead of time when to expect a call so they could be sure to be available. </p>
<p>Once Plebe summer was over, cell phones were returned to the Plebes and, in general they then have the ability to make and receive calls any time that they don't have miliitary obligations, class, etc. They also have room phones (cell reception isn't very good inside Bancroft). </p>
<p>If you are local to Annapolis, you can visit your mid on weekends even when he/she can't leave the Yard, but there are some quirks: you won't be allowed inside the dorm and he/she isn't allowed to sit down on the Yard, so you can walk around together or sit down in some of the indoor public places like Dahlgren Hall.</p>
<p>This year, Plebes have Town liberty on Saturday afternoons, but are on duty one weekend out of every 3, so on duty weekends they can't leave the Yard. If your boy/girlfriend has Town liberty and you visit you can explore the Annapolis area with them, but they are not allowed to ride in your car, so its either on foot or public transportation.</p>
<p>Also: the right to use instant messaging is determined by company. Most allow it. At the end of plebe summer every mid gets a computer and is issued his/her own USNA email account. They can also use their personal email accounts (such as Hotmail).</p>
<p>Good old-fashioned snail mail and "care packages" are critical during Plebe summer: send your friend or family member as much as possible but don't expect to get much written back, because he/she won't have time. Once the academic year starts, snail mail is much less important now that email and cell phones are ubiquitous.</p>
<p>Don't they still have Sunday mornings essentially off during Plebe Summer, mostly to allow them to attend religious services?</p>
<p>Back in 1987, you had from 0900 - 1200 Sunday to study, go to church, or call home. At 1201, the fun started up again.</p>
<p>We didn't have phones in our rooms. Talk about luxury!</p>
<p>Be aware that Plebes (unless the rules have changed) are not allowed to be seen in public with their drags (dates). Period. Has to be camouflaged with the parents around as well, or has to be at a sponsor's house or something.</p>
<p>Ask me how I know. (Zaphod rolls his eyes and curses MIDN 2/C Vanni ('89) almost 20 years later.)</p>
<p>Never did fully understand that restriction. Are we training warriors or monks? Whatever....</p>
<p>Last summer the plebes could either go to church or sleep on Sunday mornings, but no phone calls. </p>
<p>Regarding being seen in public with a date, apparently the rules have changed: still no "public displays of affection" while in uniform, but merely walking around or talking with a member of the opposite sex is not a concern. </p>
<p>Dates are generally no longer called "drags". The term "drag" now refers to a visiting candidate (either from NAPS or a high school senior on a visitation weekend).</p>
<p>zaphod:<br>
you said: "That also goes if they ask you a question with a numerical answer, and the answer is their entire class number or the last two digits. "Sir, there are 10 minus 2 days until Navy defeats Army, SIR!". </p>
<p>Not gettin this-</p>
<p>Brace up Plebe!!</p>
<p>Seriously. I still live near mother B, so anything I can do, please ask.</p>
<p>Zack Kitchen, M.D.
LCDR MC USN</p>
<p>USNA '91</p>
<p>A few things are out dated. During Plebe Summer on Sundays right after breakfast we had free time until noon meal formation. If you are in Protestant choir right after performing for the 1100 service you get pizza and soda in Dahlgren until about 1300. </p>
<p>Guys always have their girlfriends come over. It's annoying because we're always getting mass e-mails saying "oh my girlfriend and/or family is coming over, can someone please take my watch next weekend?" And drags as explained already are high school kids who show up to the academy in their varsity jackets which the mids like to make poke fun at.</p>
<p>Some traditions have died down, like throwing the company commander in the Severn after the last parade of the year. And Beat Air Forces are voluntary, which are every and any item (ketchup, mayo, choc syrup, mustard...) on King Hall's table mixed in a cup and having a plebe drink it. </p>
<p>Goodbye leave
Hello Army week....
:/</p>
<p>"you said: "That also goes if they ask you a question with a numerical answer, and the answer is their entire class number or the last two digits. "Sir, there are 10 minus 2 days until Navy defeats Army, SIR!".</p>
<p>Not gettin this-"</p>
<p>Okay, I'll give you the example from my time there.</p>
<p>I am in the Class of 1991 (incidentally, the finest class EVER to graduate that esteemed institution, and almost certainly to REMAIN so). The three classes above me were 1990, 1989, and 1988.</p>
<p>So, if there were, say, 88 days until the Army-Navy game, I would NOT say, "Sir, there are 88 days until the Army-Navy game!" because I'd get dumped on for exhalting another class and dumping on mine. Instead, I would reply, "Sir, there are 91 minus 3 days until the Army-Navy game!".</p>
<p>It wasn't my idea. It was cast upon us by the reactions of the upperclassmen.</p>
<p>Capiche?</p>
<p>"A few things are out dated."</p>
<p>Damn! Somebody get me a requisition for a walker and a bedpan! I'm gettin' OLD! :-(</p>
<p>;-)</p>
<p>Zaphod, davygravy3 goes to Kings Point (KP)--USMMA. It was some friendly trash talk.</p>
<p>Does anyone enjoy plebe summer? During my time at Summer Seminar, a few of us found being yelled at (during indoctrination) and yelling back the best part. Are we masochists or does the enjoyment wear off?</p>
<p>Yeah, I figured KP was Kings Point later, but the friggin' board doesn't let me edit the post.</p>
<p>Once I realized that, I understood it was simply the mouthings of a disgruntled attendee of an inferior academy! ;-)</p>
<p>In all seriousness, KP is probably the best-kept secret among the service academies. Anyone who graduates from there is right up there with the rest of us, in my book.</p>
<p>As for "enjoying" Plebe Summer, anyone who does is slightly deranged. Granted, I found it mostly easy, and then only because my NAPS Indoc was brutal by comparison, but to ENJOY it? Dude, seek help! ;-)</p>
<p>Zaphod: </p>
<p>So, if there were, say, 88 days until the Army-Navy game, I would NOT say, "Sir, there are 88 days until the Army-Navy game!" because I'd get dumped on for exhalting another class and dumping on mine. Instead, I would reply, "Sir, there are 91 minus 3 days until the Army-Navy game.</p>
<p>Capiche?"</p>
<p>Sir, yes Sir!</p>
<p>Just to clarify something (if it even needs to be), this only applies to the three classes above yours.</p>
<p>bump this thread</p>