<p>No, you won't.</p>
<p>However, NAPS is a little different. When I was there, I remember having to shower with two other guys in the stall. One would rinse, the other two would soap themselves down, then SWITCH. It's a memory I'd rather do without, but it was the only way to get everyone through in time.</p>
<p>We shared urinals too. </p>
<p><zaphod rolls="" his="" eyes="" in="" wonder="" at="" the="" *****="" he="" put="" up="" with="" for="" ring!=""></zaphod></p>
<p>you should. Do you think a Gerber is appropriate? And i totally understand how you feel about cameras, even at NASS, my mom was worse than paparazzo, she must have taken 50 pics minimum. If i can't get my dad to keep her under control, i'll hide it. But i'll tell my bro :).</p>
<p>Rosa</p>
<p>P.S. Zaphod, where did you get your handle? is it from Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy?</p>
<p>I'm tracking with you for the most part Zaphod, but having gone through this recently I really can't discourage anyone from sending packages during Plebe summer. The mids I know LIVED for the packages -- it almost didn't matter what was in them! And it was down right discouraging for the few who rarely got packages from home -- so much so that many of the parents clubs around the country send "to any plebe" packages just so they will have something to open.</p>
<p>During the summer these days, packages are picked up by the upperclass and delivered to the plebes -- usually during "Blue and Gold" time (a brief company assembly before lights out. As I noted, it differs by company, but knives and flashlights were two of the things that were specifically noted as "contraband" by most of the companies last summer. </p>
<p>You WILL have the address to send packages to before I-Day. For the past two years the format for summer mail has been the same:</p>
<p>MIDN 4/C Your Name Here
___ Company ___ Platoon
PO Box 1xxxx
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD 21412-xxxx</p>
<p>Where: The Company will be a letter and the Platoon a number. The Platoon number will equal their Company once the Ac year starts. The Company letter is ONLY used during Plebe Summer, and it functions to combine the plebes from two platoons into one group. In other words, if you will be in Company 1 in the Fall, you will be assigned to Company A Platoon 1. If you will be in Company 2 in the Fall, you will be in Company A Platoon 2 during the summer. 40 plebes to a platoon, each platoon has 4 squads of 10. </p>
<p>The PO Box number will be assigned about 2 weeks before I-Day and the 4 digit extension to the zip code will be the same as the four digits in the PO Box so its easy to remember.</p>
<p>Once the Ac year starts, the address WILL CHANGE and from that point on the plebes will have to pick up packages for themselves. Only USPS packages can be delivered to their P.O. boxes -- not FedEx or UPS. These have to go to a separate express package office that has more limited hours. Avoid using the overnight services if possible.</p>
<p>So -- considering that they will be issued just about everything they need, what should go into a care package? Depends on the individual, but ALWAYS appreciated is food. Good choices are things that are non-perishable, easy to eat on the run and don't produce a lot of crumbs. Powdered Gatorade to mix in waterbottles. (big, big hit.) Throat lozenges. Fruit leather. Always send enough for sharing! Pictures of family, friends, dog, cat (they have a small bulletin board). Send a few shoe boxes or plastic boxes with lids for storage.</p>
<p>Females will be issued the necessary feminine products, so don't worry about that. Technically they can shop at the mid store but I don't know a single plebe who had time for that during the summer. Most toiletries are issued (good quality too) such as razors, soap, shampoo/conditioner etc. </p>
<p>The point isn't that they can't survive w/out the packages, its that the arrival of a package, regardless of the trivial stuff inside, is a boost that can redeem an otherwise exhausting day.</p>
<p>(PS: Regarding the LAX stick: I'm don't know -- probably should check with the coach. If practices are going to start shortly after I-Day and you don't want to take a risk w/USPS, one might choose to carry it in.)</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm tracking with you for the most part Zaphod, but having gone through this recently I really can't discourage anyone from sending packages during Plebe summer.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. Packages are great, but they shouldn't send a bunch of stuff the kid doesn't really need or which he's going to have to haul later. Choose wisely. And yes, FOOD is the best thing to stick in a care package! ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
As I noted, it differs by company, but knives and flashlights were two of the things that were specifically noted as "contraband" by most of the companies last summer.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hence the discretion. I used my Swiss Champ to trim belts, fingernails, etc. Never had a problem. You don't need anything that Rambo would pack. Heck, the SMALLEST Victorinox will do. As for the flashlight, it doesn't surprise me that they wouldn't allow them, but I've BTDT. I'd smuggle a Photon Microlight and be VERY careful how I use it.</p>
<p>You rate what you skate! ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Zaphod, where did you get your handle? is it from Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's me! So cool you can keep a side of meat in me for a month! So hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis! A frood who really knows where his towel is! ;)</p>
<p>So mids now have PO boxes, eh? Where are they located?</p>
<p>I guess they don't have the mail desks in each company area anymore. Used to be a PITA for the MOD to sort all the mail....</p>
<p>oiixxg pretty much covered all the bases, however, the candidate information package included a list of things to bring (not just recommended) on I-day. My daughter followed the directions and brought the minimum required. Again, unless you live east of the Mississippi, or are a parent/alumni who wants to perform an additional oath, I suggest the candidates arrive solo. On I-day, you're NOT WITH THEM because they're being processed. I wonder how many family members show up for I-day at Great Lakes?
Plebes would benefit more from parents showing up on Plebe Parents' Weekend AND a three-day weekend in the fall. BRING THEM HOME FOR THANKSGIVING too. We live in Southern California and my daughter had a wonderful time coming home over Thanksgiving. Write daily during Plebe Summer and send lots of healthy food and cleaning supplies.</p>
<p>usna09mom -
How much notice did you have to arrange the Thanksgiving transportation?</p>
<p>Is there a preferred smuggling method?</p>
<p>usna09mom: I questioned this too! You are right that the information packet doesn't say "recommended" -- the implication is certainly that it is required. But my kid had been in touch with current mids at USNA and insisted that they all said "Bring nothing". So I went along with kid's decision and it all turned out to be fine. That said -- I did mail off clean socks and underwear later in the summer so it certainly isn't a negative to have extras. It's just a matter of what you want to carry around on I Day.</p>
<p>dad2b'2010,
if I remember correctly, the calendar was available in August, so I bought the tickets in late August. Thanksgiving airline tickets are more expensive than other holiday periods, and I wanted to get her on the "friendly skies" nonstop between Baltimore and Los Angeles, so I was anxious to buy them early. She ended up having duty that weekend, but was able to trade so she could come home.<br>
We have friends who have had three children at USNA, and the dad is a retired naval aviator. They have never attended I-day and also recommended bringing the plebes home for Thanksgiving. So far, their guidance has been sound.</p>
<p>From our experience, if you are a recruited athlete, you will meet the coach and other incoming members of the team most likely the night before I-Day. You will have the opportunity to store equipment in the locker room in order to avoid carrying it with you the next day. No doubt the coach will be in touch before the big day to give you the heads up.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is there a preferred smuggling method?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not really. Just keep it out of sight if you suspect any issues.</p>
<p>Again, I had mine in full sight and never had a problem. YMMV.</p>
<p>
[quote]
She ended up having duty that weekend, but was able to trade so she could come home.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Have they changed this, too? When I was in, the only folks who had duty were those who could not leave at all. Otherwise, if you could go home, you did.</p>
<p>Does the classic toothbrush thing apply to Plebe Year/Summer? I was just amusing myself with the thought.</p>
<p>"Classic toothbrush?" :confused:</p>
<p>Sorry. Don't know what you're talking about...</p>
<p>USNAMOM: thanks- may I ask what sport your Mid is in?</p>
<p>Scrubbing the floors with a toothbrush.</p>
<p>Hey i just took my PAE and my scores are this:
Pull ups: 8
Push-ups: 45
B-ball:66
Shuttle run:8.81
Crunches:57
mile: 7:01
is this good enough to pass?</p>
<p>Hornetguy,</p>
<p>The shower story is most likely just a bad rumor...</p>
<p>like the bad rumor of European airport security screenings...</p>
<p>Scrubbing floors with a toothbrush is silly.</p>
<p>What you do is lay down the stripper, let it work for a few, then wipe it off with a towel (you can rinse the towel in the sink. More on that later.)</p>
<p>Repeat.</p>
<p>Now, you will see areas where the wax is not coming off. Corners and such are particularly nasty because people don't strip right or put too much wax down so it builds up and goes yellow. For areas like this, use the stripper and one of those small scrapers you can get at Home Depot for 59 cents. I think they sell them in the Mid Store. These are the ones that hold a razor knife blade in a yellow handle. </p>
<p>Letting the stripper do it's work, scrape the floor. Be careful not to gouge the floor. keep doing it until all that is being scraped up is stripper (you'll be able to tell.</p>
<p>Once you've got the whole floor well-stripped, wipe it down with a damp towel and let it dry. Any shiny spots? Stripper and blade. Repeat until floor is completely matte when dry.</p>
<p>Now get down on your knees and put some Mop-n-Glow on a damp sponge. Not a lot! Start at the back and slowly draw long straight strokes, ensuring you keep a wet edge. Back and forth across the floor, adding wax as you go.</p>
<p>Do it right, and they'll be able to shave in your bright, shiny deck. It really is a transformation to behold.</p>
<p>Why I wasted this much time to type this I'll never know... :/</p>
<p>
Hey i just took my PAE and my scores are this: Pull ups: 8 Push-ups: 45 B-ball:66 Shuttle run:8.81 Crunches:57 mile: 7:01 is this good enough to pass?
</p>
<p>That is passing. If everything else is fine then I think you're ok.</p>
<p>LOL, I figured the shower stories were bogus, but got a good laugh. :)</p>
<p>zaphod,
does your wife know about your "hidden talents?" My daughter said the youngsters across the hall got busted during an Alpha inspection and most of their gear was thrown out in the P-way and in the middle of their room. Kind of upset my mid to see this happen (isn't that the point???). She and her roomies have met and exceeded the paradigm of shipshape rooms.</p>