<p>not much in this thread is about NAPS. . .</p>
<p>Hey, does anybody out there know if we have to do the Plebe eating thing when we're at NAPS?</p>
<p>Only during Indoc. After that, you eat like normal people.</p>
<p>sounds like fun. Not.</p>
<p>what's the eating thing? Is it when we have to sit up straightand look foward while eating the entire time and people yell at you and ask you questions? Or is it when you get like 2 minutes to chug down everything you possibly can. Hey anyways someone from USNA told me that at NAPS, you get more than 2 minute showers and you don't have to be in uniform on weekends. Also the latest you wake up is maybe 6:30 am. Is that ture admiral Thomas?</p>
<p>Once Indoc is over at NAPS, it reverts to an almost civilian prep school in many ways.</p>
<p>Reveille used to go at 0630. You could take a shower whenever you wanted, for as long as you wanted, so long as you had the time. </p>
<p>Meals were eaten in a relaxed cafeteria-style fashion, with no questions or anything else. Just eat and chat with your friends.</p>
<p>We used to wear civies during study hall as well as weekends. Radios could be played anytime except class hours, study hours, and after taps. Several of my classmates had cars or motorcycles on base.</p>
<p>Unless you had duty, weekends were free. You could go as far as you wanted so long as you could get back by study hall on Sunday. On long weekends, you had to be back by 2200.</p>
<p>We had payphones, and these could be used the same as radios. Weekends were wide open except for after taps.</p>
<p>Believe me, NAPS bears no resemblance to Plebe Year once Indoc is over.</p>
<p>Remember, I'm running on 1986-1987 data! ;)</p>
<p>I heard alot has changed since then though. My blue and gold officer who interviewed me graduated there from 197? and he told me things are totally different now. </p>
<p>ZAphod have you ever left campus on week end? Also I hear the "Navy" physical conditioning SUCKS. 1.5 miles every two weeks. But it's totally different from those in the Marines. I hear the Navy is basically class room. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the discilpine at NAPS also, would you say you were able to sleep at night?</p>
<p>After going to NAPS did you enter USNA to become a Navy or Marines Officer, if so what were your experiences? How did you over come the barriers of the Mind Game they played on you? Have any advice on staying mentally Strong?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I heard alot has changed since then though. My blue and gold officer who interviewed me graduated there from 197? and he told me things are totally different now.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. I just hope they haven't turned it into a damned labor camp.</p>
<p>
[quote]
ZAphod have you ever left campus on week end?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I did that all the time. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Also I hear the "Navy" physical conditioning SUCKS. 1.5 miles every two weeks. But it's totally different from those in the Marines. I hear the Navy is basically class room.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well PT at NAPS was much stricter than at USNA. Three miles or 60 minutes of PT daily was the norm, rain or shine. USNA, OTOH, is far less stringent.</p>
<p>I hated it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the discilpine at NAPS also, would you say you were able to sleep at night?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Depends on the scale. If 10 is Plebe Summer and 1 is laying on the beach at Mailbu U, I'd give NAPS an 12 during Indoc and a 5 otherwise. Again, this was back in my day.</p>
<p>Oh, and I slept like a baby. Never had a problem.</p>
<p>
[quote]
After going to NAPS did you enter USNA to become a Navy or Marines Officer, if so what were your experiences?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I went Navy, although looking back I think I would have had a better time in the Corps. As for experiences, be specific. Can't distill 5 years down to one post! ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
How did you over come the barriers of the Mind Game they played on you?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Simple. I refused to give the bastards the satisfaction of denying me my dream. Period.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Have any advice on staying mentally Strong?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Tough one. You have to find it in yourself. You have to remember that when God closes all the doors, He always leaves a window open. You have to remember that the people giving you a hard time were in your shoes not too long ago, and if they made it through, so can you. Most of all, you have to want that ring more than anything they can throw at you.</p>
<p>Having a strong spiritual faith won't hurt, either.</p>
<p>Thanks I will remember that. Guess I'll have to pray even harder there. As long as I continue to have my faith, I guess I'll be okay.</p>
<p>For experiences What did you do as an officer? what was it like on the boats and beig away for 6 months at a time. Did you get along with ship mates. You have to sleep in a tiny corner? Were you leading alot of men/women? Did you have to yell at them? I'm afraid of getting mean and on the tough side, I'm kinda sensitive. I really care about others feelings, but I guess I'm gonna have to get a new attitude and realize who I am. I'm hoping the experience at NAPS and USNA will help me to stay in tack with myself even more, you know, make me a stronger person all around.</p>
<p>Zaphod's naval career in a nutshell:</p>
<p>Served aboard USS DALE (CG-19) for three years. Was the Electronic Warfare Officer (9 men), the Guided Missile Officer (about 35 men) and the Admin Officer (about 15 men). Did a short stint on an Argentine corvette during the Haiti operation, then served another short stint aboard THOMAS S GATES (CG-51) as navigator (about 12 men) before I blew my back out. Ended my career as Human Resources Officer at FCTCLANT Dam Neck (about 9 people).</p>
<p>Did I ever have to raise my voice? Only once. The other times I either spoke sternly to whoever needed it or (even better) calmly mentioned it to the appropriate Chief who took care of it off-record but VERY effectively.</p>
<p>No one likes a screamer. There is a thread in here somewhere where I explain how I learned that lesson. The men want you to be fair. You can be relaxed, stern, ****ed, and friendly, so long as you never let them think you don't have their best interests (and that of the mission, of course) in mind. Treat them like professionals and you'll be fine. Just don't treat them like Plebes. That would be a CATASTROPHIC error.</p>
<p>You don't have to be mean. You simply have to have a backbone. Set high standards and hold them to it. If you hold yourself to them, and lead them to attaining them (and as long as they are relavant and realistic), they'll follow you anywhere. Treat them like you are their only defender, and they'll die for you.</p>
<p>For example, do not allow anyone outside your chain of command to yell at your troops. The only exception is when they are on watch and fall under the authority of, say, the OOD. Otherwise, keep everyone else out. Including your boss, the XO, and anyone else. If one of your guys is getting reamed by someone else, call the someone else over, politely explain that you reserve the right to chew out your people, and to please explain the situation to you, and that you'll ensure it gets taken care of. You're not blowing off that person, just ensuring that the discipline goes through YOU.</p>
<p>I did this with my department head and my XO, BTW. They liked the fact that I was standing up for my men, and taking responsibility for their actions. Of course, it meant that if they screwed up, I was the one chewed out, but that's what happens when you're in charge.</p>
<p>Oh, and learn your job. In particular, ask your guys to TEACH YOU your job. Go in there thinking you know it all and they'll show you you don't. VERY fast.</p>
<p>Anything else?</p>
<p>How did you blow your back out? How do you think your career would have been different (general) if you kept full health?</p>
<p>It all started on January 3rd, 1987, when I bent over to open the bottom drawer of my locker. POW.</p>
<p>Went through the rest of NAPS, all of USNA, and 80% of my career with the unjury. While moving to Norfolk, apparently I blew whatever was left.</p>
<p>Would have made no difference. Surface Warfare was not something I wanted to do for 20 years anyway.</p>
<p>Did you "think" you wanted surface warfare at service selection time or were you more or less "stuck" with that choice?</p>
<p>Definitely stuck. Mired. Captured. Ensnared. Forced.</p>
<p>Too blind to go aviation. Grades not good enough for nuclear power school (my first choice, since I wanted subs).</p>
<p>IMO, SWO sucks, but that's just me. I know great guys who love it and built great careers in it. To me, it was intensely BORING.</p>
<p>Do you think subs would really have been less boring (looking back on it)?</p>
<p>Difficult question. However, since I REALLY wanted subs BAD, I think I would have enjoyed the tour much more.</p>
<p>Being stuck on a surface ship (target) when you don't want to be is the worst.</p>
<p>Zaphod, what's your opinion on Naval war power today?</p>
<p>To be honest, I really haven't kept up. That said, I believe that we are still without peer in the world, and that where our fleet goes, the rest of the world goes only with our permission.</p>
<p>Today's warships have systems that are light-years ahead of what I saw just 10 years ago, and while the number of platforms my be less, the capabilities of each platform are certainly greater.</p>
<p>I sure do miss the days of the 600-ship navy, though!</p>
<p>haha....us NAPsters love the motivational run every friday afternoon...</p>