<p>My best friend, a regular on this forum, is at the Naval Academy for plebe summer. How often do they check their mail? Also, do you suggest writing lots of short letters in a short period of time or just one once in a while?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>They don't check their mail at all--the cadre sorts it and hands it out. So...some companies get it every day and some do not. Lots of short letters are best--they don't have much time to read long ones. But, they love them all!</p>
<p>to all friends and family of Plebes who wish to write</p>
<p>keep it short
keep it upbeat</p>
<p>but
write
write
write</p>
<p>the Plebes have maybe, maybe 20 min. a day of personal time - but the letters are cherished</p>
<p>All I can tell you is what my son told us yesterday- it is the mail that keeps him sane. I write every day- send out cards that people wrote and drew at his graduation party- his GF writes every day- and I keep sending out pacakges. We got a letter from the HOTEL cadre and he said the same thing- the mail and care pacakges are important to the kids. So keep the cards and letters coming.</p>
<p>Just make sure letters are in envelopes with no cute things on the outside, postcards especially lead to way too much undue attention!</p>
<p>Does anyone know if care packages are shared throughout the company? I got a request for 8 energy bars a day to keep on weight, protein and carbs. I'm not sure how to get the bars to him without having them all passed out?</p>
<p>I will send extras to share, but I can't send enough for every plebe in the company to have 50 a week.</p>
<p>400U - you bet care packages are shared but don't worry about feeding the entire company each time. A couple batches of cookies on occasion and extra items each time will let them "swap" amongst themselves. </p>
<p>BUT, like peskemom and a couple others, if you're REALLY gung oh, mail some to me! ;)
LOL!</p>
<p>I just sent out DD fifth care package (I think she's geting more stuff now than when at home!) and included about 20 assorted "goodies" in addition to her stuff. From what she told us Sunday everyone in her platoon is pretty well covered.</p>
<p>As mentioned in earlier posts, she stressed how vital the letters were. A little blurb each day or so is a BIG morale booster. And remember that the worst is yet to come. By week 4-5 they will really begin feeling homesick so make sure the letters continue. Pictures were requested from my Plebe also. Just make sure they're not ones that may be "used against them" ;)</p>
<p>wvdad,
you sound like such a loving and supportive dad! How long does it take you to drive to Annapolis?</p>
<p>The plebes seem to be requesting similiar items- powerbars, photos- and lots and lots of mail!</p>
<p>I know he is behind by about 3 care packages that I know of.......</p>
<p>usna09mom - not true! I'm mean, mean, mean! ;) The rule at my house was daily beatings, whether needed or not!</p>
<p>Now that DD is gone the poor brother is left to absorb ALL the punishment, well I DO still beat the dawg, cat , bunny and occasionally flipper flick the fish. Hey, don't want anyone left out! :D</p>
<p>We're a "comfortable" 6 hrs, with only two quick stops 5 hrs. Live right on the Ohio/WV border. We WILL be making regular excursions this fall (according to the "boss"). Trying to work out making it to Tulsa, Rutgers and/or Temple game(s) - work permitting.</p>
<p>And thank you, as Z would say, you are too kind. :)</p>
<p>We parents are just so more hands on these days. My parents drove me to Annapolis and then showed up four years later for graduation. It wasn't a big deal. My dad did go to some Army-Navy games in Philly but until "June Week" that was pretty much it. </p>
<p>Received letters and always knew I could go home. My mom remarried during Plebe year and moved from NY to FL so that was a bit of a change...no ties to HS friends. Then she moved to the islands (Bermuda, Jamaica) so going home wasn't always an easy option and it wasn't really home though I did make trips to both places. AND even when they lived in Florida, I didn't always go home...I chased the surf up and down the east and gulf coasts with other Mids whenever we had time off and used the home as a pitstop unless there were waves, we didn't stay long except to eat well and have some beers. </p>
<p>THE KEY for me was having a GREAT girlfriend who did send some care packages and letters. Back then care packages arrived on birthdays and perhaps one or two other days and were mostly choc chip cookies...no power bars back then. </p>
<p>By flooding the market these days there is a double edged sword in that the Mids that don't get them may start to wonder why and perhaps feel like crap because they don't get any so having your Mid share some extra stuff can be vital to a classmates survival. That's at least where those extra packages come in and I'm sure it will brighten someone's day. If we ALL didn't send them to our Mids it wouldn't be a factor. </p>
<p>With email so prevalant, most people don't write letters so Plebe Summer is an excellent time to resharpen the brain and remember the art again. I use to write tons of letters as a Mid and carried that over until I got married. Receiving mail was always great. Now you made me feel guilty about not writing as much as I should be...I'll get one out today.</p>
<p>I don't know if anyone else received one, but we received an email and a letter yesterday from my son's Company Officer. I was impressed with receiving both the letter and email...certainly a very nice touch.</p>
<p>Last summer my plebe's company officer occasionally emailed photos of my daughter, squad, and company.</p>
<p>There are few things that can lift the morale of a Plebe (or any Mid, or any member of the military for that matter) more than receiving mail from loved ones.</p>
<p>Send it. Send lots of it. :)</p>