<p>Do plebes come home between plebe summer and academic year?</p>
<p>Nope. You’re there from I-Day until at least Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>While the first opportunity to get home following I-Day is Thanksgiving (unless you live within 30 miles of the chapel dome as the crow flies) parents get an opportunity to visit their plebes at the end of plebe summer (this upcoming weekend in fact for the Class of 2013), and following reform, parents can visit any time their plebe has liberty (either town or yard). Many come for the football games and visit at that time, providing you live close enough.</p>
<p>After plebe parent weekend (PPW) and the plebes return to the yard on Sunday, tradition holds that they will be greeted by the sound of Christmas music blasing from the windows of Mother B (Bancroft Hall) to remind them that the next time they will get to go home is for Christmas (keeping in mind, those that live a good distance away- especially out on the West Coast- may not be able to negotiate a visit home over the short Thanksgiving break). </p>
<p>The good news is that sometime between PPW and reform, the plebes get their computer issue, and then it is just days before they are able to reconnect with the outside world between IMs, emails, and texting.</p>
<p>My plebe flew home the first Thanksgiving and it was so much fun! Actually, travel between Baltimore and the West Coast is often easier than long drives on the East Coast. Non-stops between BWI and LAX are 5 hours westbound, 4.5 hours eastbound; half the time it would take to drive from Southern California to San Francisco. Over four years we averaged a trip to Annapolis or the mid coming home about once every three months.</p>
<p>LOL! Now isn’t that the truth! Even us fortunate enough to live within a drivable distance to the academy know enough to avoid the NJ Tpke on holiday weekends- especially Thanksgiving! </p>
<p>While direct flights to CA make short visits possible, I guess I was thinking about those from places where the travel is not as convenient- Hawaii, Alaska, some places in Texas or the mid-west where connecting flights to-and-fro make for a long commuting time, and where family finances may not allow for 2 back-to-back visits “home.” Thank goodness for sponsor families that set another place (or two) at their table, and even King Hall does a nice job with the turkey feast!</p>
<p>In any event, if you can get home, great- if not, the Christmas break is just a short month away, and between the A-N week and finals, it speeds by all too quick!</p>
<p>Do they have access to phone/cell phones to call home?</p>
<p>During plebe summer, they are limited to a few scheduled phone calls.</p>
<p>Plebe year really isn’t as crazy as some people may think. Parents should honestly look at it as going to a regular college, but just having restrictions on how much fun you can have and some added tasks. There is really no restriction on communicating with home.</p>
<p>During plebe year, can the family come and visit on the weekends (we don’t live too far away)?</p>
<p>Yep. Plebes have town liberty from noon to midnight on Saturdays so you can go off the yard with them. You can honestly see them at any time on the yard.</p>
<p>Sorry for the bump, but I was wondering if Plebes are able to leave the yard on Saturdays with people other than their parents? I have a friend going to USNA and am planning on visiting him on the 23rd. From reading the USNA website, I came to the understanding that I wouldn’t be able to drive him around and that we would have to walk. Is that true?</p>
<p>They can certainly leave the yard (as they have liberty) with someone other than their parents. The rules say that plebes are not supposed to be driven by anyone other than their parents, sponsors, or firsties but I’ve never heard of anyone making a big deal over it.</p>
<p>They can leave the yard on Saturdays from about 12 noon- midnight.
They must stay within the (now) 30-mile limit, as the crow flies from the dome of the Naval Chapel.
They may not be driven by anyone other than parents or sponsors, and in some respect, firsties. They MAY and SHOULD ask for a chit for an exception, if one is needed for a compelling reason (Just hanging out is not compelling).
They SHOULD NOT bend, twist, stretch, or otherwise break the rules for the above. While it is possible they could get away with it, the price for getting caught would be steep. Your plebe-friend will know that, and support from others is always a help. </p>
<p>Before you finalize plans for visiting, just make sure your friend does not have “duty” that weekend- which means, no off the yard.</p>
<p>Hmmm…my daughter drove her plebe boyfriend all over the place last year. And they went to Baltimore and DC. I guess that means he was breaking the rules…
That isn’t sitting to well with us.</p>
<p>The metro areas of Baltimore and DC were considered within reach of the limit for this year’s Plebe Parent Weekend. The plebes were told 22 miles, I believe, but I may be remembering my son’s conversation incorrectly.</p>
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<p>It depends how you look at it. The intent of the “22 mile” rule is to specifically exclude Baltimore and DC. However, parts of both metro areas are within 22 nautical miles. In actuality, the 22 mile rule is one of those Naval Academy infractions that is rarely enforced.</p>
<p>didn’t they extend the radius last year to include metro DC and Baltimore?</p>
<p>They could have. May info/experiences are starting to become a bit dated.</p>
<p>the radius was extended putting DC and Baltimore’s inner harbor in play.</p>
<p>Riding with boyfriends, girlfriends- anyone other than parent or sponsor parent- is still against the rules. Do they do it? Some will, but if caught, there is a price that gets paid. However, one can ask for a “chit” to allow the above, depending on the circumstance. Better to be safe than sorry.</p>