<p>We got an invite for the All Academy Ball to be held in Lubbock, TX after Christmas. Son is a candidate (No LOA, Triple Q'd, nom should appear before Xmas). Anyway, are these things fun? Do the cadets/mids enjoy getting the dress unies on over the holidays? We cannot attend this year, but hopefully will have reason to attend in the future!</p>
<p>Mixed reviews. Re the dress uniforms ...NYET! I fear about over-generalizing, but I've not yet seen a Mid that "enjoys" getting into his/her uniform away from the Yard. But they can be fun when kids can meet, greet, eat with some pals. Were I to speculate ...these are more intriguing for parents and dates and the local media than Mids, Cadets. Still something one must do at least once. Jmo from observation.</p>
<p>Will have to say quite to opposite at our GA balls. The Mids and Cadets who attend have a wonderful time, and like looking sharp in their Dress Mess Blue, Full Dress over Grey or Dress Mess Bow Tie. Dates all look sharp and all Cadets and Midshipmen are presented on stage individually with their dates. The Kids usually have a great time after dinner dancing. When we left last year just before midnight there we a lot of Mids and Cadets still on the dance floor. They eat it up. Maybe it is a true Atlanta Southern thing.</p>
<p>As for not enjoying getting into their uniform away from the yard - in Annapolis that is probably true - at home not so much. Mine is even planning on flying back to DC for the bowl game in uniform Friday for the Saturday bowl game. Says it will be easier and not have to fear forgetting something. He enjoys the perks that he gets at the airport... Express line for military, usually a TSA agent will take him right up to the screener and has been know to talk his way into the Delta Crown Room! In these situations I would say he does enjoy the benefits of being in uniform.</p>
<p>Likewise in South
Texas.</p>
<p>I think mids are somewhat hesitant to go but, it seems, once they get there a good time is had by all.
From what I've seen, and I've been to two out of three and intend to go to our third, there is no hesitation, NONE, to get dressed up and attend.
Once in the room, aftera ll they are teenagers and young adults, they choose to have FUN. The music is usually good and they enjoy being around friends.</p>
<p>GO!</p>
<p>That's well put, and seemingly on target. Like lots of social events we didn't wanna attend, went anyway, had a nice time, made some nice connections.</p>
<p>That noted, prbly the truest test/indicator of how the vast majority of Mids feel about these formal affairs is crystal clear and stunningly obvious. They just don't go. Only a relative few, the tip of the Midshipmen iceberg show up, preferring to do anything but put on their Midshipmen formal wear and go to a dance with adults and fellow SA students, virtually none of whom they know, all during their precious days away from the milieu. Which is too bad, sorta, as they are inevitably nice, enjoyable affairs. But most choose to stay away, resisting their parental desires to put them on parade.</p>
<p>Hmmm...my Mid must be weird--this will be her second one--she had a blast last year. She couldn't go her Plebe year as it conflicted with the Bowl game. She's bringing a Mid from overseas, me, dh, and her sis and her young man. She does, however, change into a real dress after the formal part. They stayed up all night last year, dancing. She knows all the Mids from CO, plus one from MMA, plus will know lots of the AFA Cadets from the exchange program, so maybe that's why she has so much fun.</p>
<p>WP - I guess in your state the Ball is not perceived very well. I do not think you can make that generalization as what we see here they are excited about putting on the formal wear and going. Mine loves getting dressed up, and he is not the only one. Especially those who came from Private schools in the metro Atlanta area starting in 7th grade with all of the Bat and Bar Mitzvahs to the pre- debutant stuff to the actual debutant ball they have been getting dressed up and attending these functions with adults for a very long time. The RSVP's for this years ball are down - not because the kids don't want to go - ours is on a bad night with many people out of the area. Lets also not forget that at $60.00 per person it is a bit tight this year.</p>
<p>If you can afford it GO. Maybe the Mid wants to go and does not think to do.... If you set the tone thinking that they do not want to go then you have set the seed and it will be a self professing prophesy.</p>
<p>The door prizes are always an attraction also.
I think every mid/cadet walks away with something or the other; gift cards, cash, etc.
Firsties who attend get particularly noteworthy prizes.
Bribery? yes. but it works</p>
<p>So, to plebe parents, you child is still at the stage, especially after only a few months, where they may think it is cool to be nonchalant/indifferent to dressing up and embracing the whole military thing . . . . don't let them try to be "cool" for not attending.
Obviously, if they JUST DON"T WANT TO GO, you can't force it. But if it is only mild protesting, then ENCOURAGE attendance; they will have fun.
[well, from what I've heard, at MOST balls, they WILL have fun. A good date also makes a difference.]</p>
<p>No,I can't speak of perceptions. Nor can you. Maybe they all love it. Just not sufficiently to make it the priority. That'd be nice if so. </p>
<p>What I do know is numbers. Very few of all the invitees go. And that's the reality in GA as much as it is in PA. Just look at the pictures. </p>
<p>What we know are your perceptions and mine. And overall attendance. And the latter one's the only thing that counts. And for whatever reasons, one does not have to count very high to figure out how few attend of the approximately 15,000 invitees. </p>
<p>I'm willing to stick by my original point. This is a proud parents performance, primarily.</p>
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I'm willing to stick by my original point. This is a proud parents performance, primarily.
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<p>It might be for some, but certainly is not for all....if it were, there would have been at least one parent in attendance for every Mid, which was just not the case.</p>
<p>We had many of our Mids in attendance at our Ball on the 26th- including 19 firsties. Did all the Mids in our area attend? No. We still managed to sell out our seating at 250 for Navy's room. Did all the parents of the MIds that were in attendance attend? Surprisingly, no! I will second Profmom's point that the price tag ($65 up here this year) kept many away, as did the day after Christmas, when a holiday weekend kept many involved with other family events. All of our balls were smaller this year (west point most notably- they had a smaller room this year) and the room that combined USAFA, USCGA and USMMA did have some room to spare. </p>
<p>Despite the cost of the tickets, we did have several people sponsor a Mid for the ball- meaning, they purchased a ticket for a Mid to attend that might not otherwise been able to afford it- a sign of the economic times for sure! </p>
<p>The Mids that attended looked great, and even if it did take a little polking and prodding to get some of them there, they all seemed to have a good time, and from what I saw, there were faces there that I have seen from 2 previous years still there this year- oh, and we don't give them huge gifts to attract them (we do give the firsties 2 silver dollars- an expensive one to keep, and an inexpensive one to give for thier first salute)-after that, a few monetary prizes get handed out, with the majority walking away with hust $25 to spend on whatever-unless I am mistaken, all of our firsties were in attendance, along with a good representation from the other classes.</p>
<p>but our dance floor was filled, lots of good cheer, lots of proud parents for sure, but lots of VERY PROUD MIDS who relished the toast by USMA on "another great win".....!!!!</p>
<p>350 parents, Mids, Cadets and dates in attendance at the Washington State ASAB. It was a fun event after being snowed in for almost a week at home. My Mid did not want to attend last year, but was eager to take his girlfriend to a formal occasion. We sat with a delightful family we had met through out parents' club and a good time was had by all. There were door prizes but no cash giveaway. I like the silver dollar idea for the firsties. The mids and cadets had the first dance with a parent, then danced with their friends and dates.</p>