<p>It is exciting to finally figure out what Co they are in! We certainly will be checking out all the Indoc pics.... for a glimpse of our son... class of 2011... he volunteered to be a waterfront trainer! :) </p>
<p>HeHeHe... he's ready & waiting for the class of 2012! </p>
<p>Seriously he's an easy-going mid that loves the water... your sons & daughters are in good hands!</p>
<p>We walked in your shoes a year ago... we know EXACTLY how you all feel....</p>
<p>The other way you can figure out what company they are in is where they lined up during lunch muster. If, as you look at Delano, they were on the right, they are in company 1, if they were on the left, company 4. If I am remembering correctly, band company was in the middle. Hey MMAMOM2011, suzannegra and zonker, am I right?</p>
<p>Reno...I saw your boy last night. He helped mine move his room from 1st Co to 4th Co and helped him upack the carload of stuff :) He looks great!!!!</p>
<p>kathynp - you got the lineup right! can't believe it was a year ago that we were sweating this out. i'm SO glad to have him home for a few weeks. its fun to look at the indoc pics with him and reminisce a year later. those pics look identical - just different faces. we can laugh at it now. </p>
<p>don't forget plebe candidate parents - if you can get to the mets game on August 6th for their first outing in whites - it's well worth it.</p>
<p>the whole experience - rollercoaster ride included - is well worth it.</p>
<p>Remembering back... this time, LAST year.</p>
<p>"H":
I took LOTS of pics. FINALLY found my kid being escorted to a building on the left. Duuuhhhh. I don't even know it's name! WHere's my folded up map?! What company is that? Is it air conditioned? Let me ZOOOM in and blow up the image in the camera. I can make out writing on his hand. I can see it clearly now! It's an "H".. Which one is "H" company? (hunting for a khaki-clad Mid). 'quick quick, what is "H" company!".. um, sir, the "H" just means that they have had their HAIRCUT. Their company number is written on their OTHER hand ;) "Gahhh! (chagrined)"
WHich building did he go into? Ah, that one, on the left... That's 4th Company.</p>
<p>So, now I knew which company he was in! Another nice khaki-clad Mid told me which area 4th company would be standing in, before they entered Delano. (Up until that time, I had been busy snapping away at 1st Company.. they didn't line up 1-2-band-3-4 as <em>I</em> was facing them. it was that order as you look out from the steps of Delano... which meant "4-3-band-2-1"-order as viewed from the parents. [It's a WONDER I was able to string together so many wrong things in a row that day!]
But again, we faced a world of uncertainty.</p>
<h2>[If anything, I hope the new parents identify with that, and know they are not alone!]</h2>
<p>"F5=Refresh"</p>
<p>Ah, the good ole days of F5=refresh on the parents website, waiting for new pics.. </p>
<p>To you new KP parents, I (sadly) admit I nearly had to replace my F5=refresh key.... it was hit SOOO much ... Nearly wore that sucker out! "Where are the pics!!!" :) </p>
<p>They are doing better this year at getting them up.
But, as a rule of thumb, I've observed:
1) There will NEVER be enough pics posted for you to get a full idea;
2) Even though there are MORE pics posted, you will start getting familiar with everyone ELSE'S kids, while you are trying to find YOURS.
3) There will NEVER be enough pics of YOUR kid !
4) After you have perused them all, found your kid, printed off the pic, pored over it seeing if he/she is surviving/thriving/sick/happy/committed/etc...
within 30 seconds you will be looking forward to TOMORROW's pics , and hoping to see more of you kid!</p>
<h2>BTW: It is a sad thing when the photographer is on the boat with some OTHER company, and there are NO pics of your kid that day.</h2>
<p>Man, DO I remember those days, sheesh!</p>
<p>But SUzanneGra was really quick to post some pics. (Dang, she's fast!) A special thanks to her for helping all the new parents.</p>
<h2>I particularly liked the shots of all the parents waving.</h2>
<p>For me, I <em>NEVER</em> found my kid in all the bald-headed hat waving (THEIR bald heads, not mine.. yet)
So, I just held up my camera, snapped away at which company I thought he was in..... Once I uploaded those pics, I zoomed and scanned with the best of them... and FOUND him. OF course, he was searching the crowd for us!</p>
<p>I'm still very proud of all these kids :)</p>
<p>CPAsteve_98: Yay. Congrats. 4th company ! Mine too.</p>
<p>sorry, ETenn/Newkpmom, 2nd company is only half as good as 4th...;) </p>
<p>4th company x (1/2) = 2nd company ... it's just math. (hahaha. snicker. JK!) </p>
<p>Every company is a little different, and staffing is different now this year too.. So, who knows. EVERY company is going to have it's good points and challanges.)
And for EVERYONE there (especially plebes/candidates/etc), it will be individually challenging.</p>
<p>Best of luck to the new parents... you were lucky to find this site BEFOREhand.</p>
<p>awwww Zonker thanks......but you are still wrong about 2 Co being half as good as 4 Co :D....except my DS is a drill instructor for 4Co...so I guess I have to become a fan [at least during Indoc].</p>
<p>Good point MMAMOM....if you are close go to the Mets game on 6 August. Buy the cheapest seat you can find, because I promise you won't be sitting in it once. The Plebe Candidates look so sharp marching into Shea Stadium and you will actually get to talk with your child the whole game.</p>
<p>Our s is 4th Co also but is an ADI for 3rd Co this year. We nearly wore out the F5 refresh on our computer also! It was the highlight of my day when I got home from work to go through all of the pics! I find myself still looking this year only he is now in khakis! Welcome all new parents and so far this has been a great ride!</p>
<p>Thanks zonker for your words of wisdom and humor, indoc is challenging at best for our kids but really hard on parents. Special thanks to you suzannegra for the pictures! Finding this site is indeed a huge help, wish we could go to that game, wonder if it will be televised? Close football parents use to be able to attend the scrimmages as well. well time for some refreshing!</p>
<p>Met Game: Would it be better to purchase the tickets ahead of time? Do you think it would be sold out? </p>
<p>Just want to make sure I do not ride up to the game and not have tickets to get in.</p>
<p>Purchase them ahead of time. The Mets are comming back and NY does support its teams, so I would not take a chance. Like I said...by the cheapest ones you can find becuase you will hang out with your child the whole time. They are allowed to walk around on the deck where their seats are....well at least they were last year, but, if not, then they can take long restroom breaks LOL</p>
<p>Had to laugh yesterday in Chapel. I read in CC about all the parents who are worried about their candidates. Then I go to Chapel at KP and the candidates are asking prayer that the parents will do okay during INDOC!!!!</p>
<p>Don't worry, the DIs are taking good care of the candidates :)</p>
<p>Here is a link to a story that was shown on the local TV station about Day one of Indoc...enjoy :)</p>
<p>I noticed a DI that kept showing up...wonder who that kid is?
:)</p>
<p>hmmmm I wonder :D</p>
<p>I was actually surprised to see he was in it 2 times. Guess they liked him...ha ha ha</p>
<p>No phone call, no contact, thankfully some good pictures. We are certainly concerned as are most parents but we remain hopeful and optimistic. If some one could answer several questions that would be great:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What are some of the kids wearing on their sleeves (an elastic band with a clear plastic document holder). Different kids have different colors.</p></li>
<li><p>What time of day do the Candidates typically call on Sunday, as we did not hear from our son and we waited the "most of the day" for his call</p></li>
<li><p>We have sent some food for the company but we do not have an accurate number, how might we insure the correct amount.</p></li>
<li><p>Will all the candidates attend the baseball game (we show up and the kid does not would be less than ideal)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the help and response in advance. This is our third kid to school but certainly this is the most anxiety provoking with no contact. Maybe we will get a letter soon.</p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Dan O'Connor</p>
<p>Dan...here goes:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The plastic arm band is a "sick chit" and means they went to an EMT or Patten and may be on "limited" PT. Don't worry, KP takes very good care of the Candidates, and the DI's watch out for their health as well. There are a great number of EMT's all over campus and with the Plebe Candidates as they go throughout their day.</p></li>
<li><p>The reason you did not get a call yesterday is because one was not scheduled. Not sure if you heard VADM Stewart in the parent's meeting, but, your Plebe Candidate will only get 2 calls home during INDOC..the first one will be this Sunday 20 July and again on 27 July. The times vary as well. Last year my son called me around 7:30 am before Church. The call is very quick, and don't worry if your child sounds "different." Normally the DI's are standing right over the Plebe Candidates as they make their calls and the Plebe Candidates are a bit worried, so just be supportive :).</p></li>
<li><p>Regarding the snacks, not sure, but if you send enough for 40 that most likely would be okay. I actually did not send any snacks during Indoc. I would suggest healthy snacks too....one thing my son appreciated were the powdered individual Gatorade mix. Water gets pretty old after a while :)</p></li>
<li><p>As far as I know all the Plebe Candidates attend the baseball game unless they are sick...</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope this helps!!!</p>
<p>Be careful about the food you send at this point. The candidates get in trouble if food is found in their rooms. You better check out first what is allowed. I'm not personally sure, does anyone know? Later, you can send as much food as you want.</p>
<p>You can send whatever food you want right now, just be sure to send lots of it. All packages at this point in time will be opened by your candidate in front of the company and any food will be distributed amongst the company. They will not be allowed to keep any type of food in their room during the Indoc period.</p>