<p>jmwrites is correct. I'm one of those Mom's who had a heck of a time picking out her son. He is average height, average build, brown hair (what little there was) and no BCG's. During Beast I found a picture online that I truly thought was my son, my husband said it wasn't. I sent my son a copy of a picture and asked if it was him. He told me it couldn't be him because none of the others in the picture were in his company. I could have sworn it was him!</p>
<p>Well, believe it or not, that is the number 1 objective of the military during basic training. Take people from Texas, new jersey, Florida, Alaska, Catholic, Protestant, white, black, male, female, etc... and strip everyone of their individuality as much as possible. Make them all look the same, act the same, speak the same, march the same, etc... Then they all have something in common. They will also have in common their frustrations, fears, and even their dislike of much of the crap they have to go through. Then, once they all have commonalities to work with, they can begin to work as a team. </p>
<p>I'm not saying that there still isn't things like prejudice and racism in the military, but it's a lot less. Especially when you are stationed outside of the USA. All of a sudden you are ALL AMERICANS. The bonding and camaraderie is amazing.</p>
<p>So, even your son with his ears sticking out will blend in with the person with the long neck, nose, big eyes, etc... During BCT, no one wants to be the outcast. They need to work together. No one will probably make fun of him. These kids are going to have so much on their mind that they are going to want as many "Friends" as they can get. Don't worry.</p>
<p>Will add my 2 cents.</p>
<ol>
<li>It won't matter.</li>
<li>Everyone is going to look "funny."</li>
<li>It will help his fans and supporters to pick him out from the crowd of 1200+ plebes all with the same bald head.</li>
<li>He won't be the only one with "ears."</li>
<li>And with all the cold weather down there, he will be freezing his hoo-haas off anyway, which brings us right back to #1. It won't matter.</li>
</ol>
<p>Relax mom. If it helps any, they all get ear muffs in the winter. And last I saw, it will be his arse pinned to the wall, not his darling little auditory appendages.</p>
<p>(ps... you should see the set on one of our new york firsties.... he is going aviation, and I have no doubt those take-offs are going to be a cinch!!! ;) )</p>
<p>Best of luck! Congrats on USMA- and hopefully USNA!!! Once he puts that uniform on, no one will even notice!</p>
<p>" Everyone is going to look "funny." "</p>
<p>A picture is worth a thousand words :) :
Plebe</a> Year-R-Day Albums</p>
<p>Exactly!!!!
And like I said, it will make "picking him out" a whole lot easier!!! ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the memory During my daughter's Beast summer, I scoured all the hundreds of pictures posted daily. I convinced myself that I was fortunate to find so many pictures of her when so many parents were disappointed not to find their own cadet. I looked forward to the day she would be on the home page in a picture. Then, there she was - rappelling down a mountain. She looked fabulous and I beamed with pride, sending the link to everyone I have ever known. Then some other poor parents who hadn't seen their daughters in any pictures yet began claiming her as their own. I felt so bad for them. </p>
<p>I printed the picture and sent it to her, along with a letter, so I could ease the burden of Beast by showing her that everyone knew how great she was doing. I thought it would be a nice surprise so didn't even explain it in the letter. When we finally talked during one of our very short phone calls, I asked her what she thought of the picture. She said her roommate was thrilled to have been on the home page in such a cool picture. </p>
<p>Yes, I laughed. Yes, you'll do the same.</p>
<p>I don't think he'll have any problems with his ears. I'd be more worried about him going to the Naval Academy - why not attend the best leadership training program in the world.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Because the Coast Guard Academy didn't offer an appointment? :p</p>
<p>What's the difference between the Coast Guard and the Boy Scouts?????</p>
<p>The Boy Scouts have ADULT LEADERSHIP!!!!!!</p>
<p>Sorry. My boss is a Coast Guard Academy graduate and eventual coast guard retiree. Nice guy; but personally I think he's a weenie. He would have never made it in the Air Force or with some of my friends in the Marine Corp. But I have met a lot of good people from all branches. Just not him. LOL!!! I always try to Rib him whenever possible. I don't let him know I respect the coast guard. When military stuff comes up, I ask him if he wanted to join the "MILITARY" why he didn't at least join the guard or reserve. He deserves it.</p>
<p>Luigi, what is your beef against USNA?</p>
<p>Not to drag this thread even farther off the OP, but after what happened in the Gulf of Mexico the other day (F-15Cs' collision and subsequent rescue of the aircrews), I just have to say "Thank You Coast Guard". </p>
<p>As a WSO who routinely flies his sorties off the Carolina Coast, it always a comfort to know you guys are there when we really need you. I raise my glass in a toast to all the men and women of the Coast Guard, plus all the other great men and women who risk their lives "so others may live".</p>
<p>And I don't think Luigi words were intended in any other way but friendly "ribbing" between the services, and were meant to be humorous. Each of us respect every service, but we love to tease the others.</p>
<p>"I raise my glass in a toast to all the men and women of the Coast Guard, plus all the other great men and women who risk their lives "so others may live".</p>
<p>EXCEPT my boss. He's a weenie. Oh yea; I already said that didn't I? LOL!!!!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Relax, guys - notice the :p smiley? "BigGreen" left the door WIDE OPEN for it. (It was a joke, get a sense of humor.)</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>The more years that go by, the more you learn to respect the other services. Throughout a military career, you will have assignments or missions that require the assistance of the other branches. I've done missions in the gulf of mexico with the coast guard; south america with the marines; middle east with Army; and the med with the navy. It's all good. We will have our different opinions about who is better or more important, but that's just the normal competition. We all like to think how important our job is; but you wake up when you've been "Out" for a couple of weeks eating nothing but MRE's. When you get back, you realize how important and needed the cooks at the Chow Hall are. </p>
<p>Yea, we rib each other, but over time you develop a very true appreciation for all military members. active/reserve/guard. AF/Army/Navy/CG.</p>
<p>EXCEPT MY BOSS!!!! He IS A WEENIE!!!!! (Notice no smiley?)</p>
<p>Tell you what, Christcorp. If, by some unfortunate event, I find myself floating in the mid-Atlantic, holding a beacon and praying for that wonderful sound of a Coast Gaurd helo overhead, I'll be sure to make radio contact with them as they approach.</p>
<p>Me: "Coast Guard Helo, this is Bullet. Are you visual with my smoke?"</p>
<p>CG Helo: "Contact Red Smoke. Sending in the rescue diver."</p>
<p>Me: "Copy, CG Helo. By any chance, is Christcorp's boss on board?"</p>
<p>CG Helo, slightly confused, "Uh, that's a negative."</p>
<p>Me: "Good, because I don't want to be resued by a WEENIE!" </p>
<hr>
<p>Me, 10 minutes later, watching the tail end of the Helo disappear in the distance: "Hey, wait. I was just joking!!! Please!!! Anyone??? Even a WEENIE? Oh, cr@p!" :) :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Absolutely. A lot of people don't seem to understand this. OBTW, Luigi, what branch of the service were you?</p>
<p>Jumping back to being able to "spot Waldo" on the I-Day, R-Day etc. photos reminds me of a real life thing that is even worse than not recognizing your plebe in a photo with a million others. Of course, I did that too and my screensaver was a nice picture of a young woman who I thought was my daughter until she pointed out to me that it wasn't her and didn't I notice that by the gymshoes? (uh, no). </p>
<p>Anyway, dear daughter's first summer cruise was from San Diego to Hawaii. I found this the perfect opportunity to vacation myself and talked my husband into letting me the kids and my mom fly to Hawaii to meet the ship. We arrive, fresh leis in hand, cameras etc. and the ship pulls in. There she is! We are all waving frantically and she is waving back and we are taking a million photos when my cell phone rings. It is my daughter asking me who in the world we are waving to. Oops. We sure gave a lieutenant one warm welcome! Daughter witnessed it all and still laughs about it. What can I say! They all look alike from a distance. :)</p>