<p>Wait...family can see Sea Trials? That doesn't seem right at all. Takes all the seriousness away from it.</p>
<p>My son said the same thing about Sea Trials after manning one of the stations last year. He said the parents were just a pain and that they had a hard time keeping quiet and leaving the plebes alone. </p>
<p>Anyway, I was concerned about the frocking and the possibility that they were not doing it in the fleet (my husband retired 7 years ago) so I did check on it and yes, at least as of according to SECNAVINST 1420.2 ASN (M&RA) 17 July 2007 regarding officer frocking, it is still a practice in the fleet. </p>
<p>Oh, and I meant I would have been unhappy had 07 been given the opportunity to pin on the shoulderboards and I had missed it with my 08 plebe. I don't think our mid cared about it the same way, but I was a veteran of many promotion ceremonies for my husband, so it meant something to me and to his dad, since we each did a side (and, yes, we did it correctly! :))</p>
<p>I do wish they would get the Commissioning Week schedule out. Oh well, semper gumby! :) Of course, that's easier when you don't live 12 air hours from USNA...</p>
<p>Although Frocking is still carried out in the Fleet, not everyone gets frocked just because they been selected for promotion. The number of officers frocked is a very small subset of those selected and are only frocked in order to meet the needs of the military with regard to assignments.</p>
<p>Sea Trials: No parents should be there! To put in VADM Fowler's terms, it is a "distraction" from the event. Sea Trials is about pushing the plebes to perform as a class in the final days AND NOT TO PLEASE THE PARENTS! Thus, Herndon, being a part of Sea Trials (not on the same day, but in planning), should be a "class" event. If you want distinction of a company, for performing well, then they should be formed at the closest point to the monument.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that parents won't be invited to Sea Trials this year, especially after what was done for PEP on PPW. And I am in total agreement with this decision.</p>
<p>Frocking is a result of hard work and dedication (as decided by boards/FITREPs) from a FEW INDIVIDUALS. The Academy isn't going to "frock" a few 4/C to 3/C. Making it through plebe year is an accomplishment, but not so much as to have "frocking." I could have done without the frocking ceremony.</p>
<p>Has anyone heard yet whether there will be either a PPW or FPW next year? That's the only rumored change that seems overboard to me.</p>
<p>pardon my ignorance, what is frocking?</p>
<p>"Frocked/frocking" is being allowed to wear the insignia of a higher grade, and to receive the benefits/protocols/traditions of that higher grade, before the actual official promotion.</p>
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<p>Except for the increased pay. Often stated as all the responsibility with none of the benefits.</p>
<p>Not sure how much is being done now. Son going to an 0-4 billet, already been before the board, and has been told informally that he will not be frocked.</p>
<p>My youngster was quite pleased to have his parents there for Plebe recognition week. He said his squad really performed well because there was an audience. Nothing like trying to show everything you have learned to your parents and friends parents. I did not see any parents that were getting in the way. We really were observers. The cheers were at the end of the evolutions not while they were doing the task. Maybe other blocks had problems with their companies parents but ours (1 to 4) had no problems.
I feel sorry for the kids who felt they were a spectacle with the audience there - does not say much for their self confidence...</p>
<p>Last night when talking to my youngster he said the plebes are very disappointed. When you have been looking forward to a tradition that every other class has gone through and now you are told you may not get that chance I can see how they will be disillusioned. Yes, many of the plebes chose to be on the outside fringes of the mob trying to climb - but they are there supporting the class. </p>
<p>I bet this will be like the Halloween Concert.... Let the Alumni get a hold of this...</p>
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He said his squad really performed well because there was an audience. Nothing like trying to show everything you have learned to your parents and friends parents.
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<p>You shouldn't be performing because the parents and their friends are there. That IS NOT the point of Sea Trials. It is easy to perform when there is a crowd and harder to perform when no one is looking....integrity and dedication (just like doing the right thing when no one is looking). The point is to perform well as a CLASS and NOT FOR the parents. Having many parents there, for the sole point of observing, is a distraction, whether doing anything or not. </p>
<p>Might as well name it Zoo Trials.</p>
<p>Thanks jadler. Indeed, while we might enjoy it all, aside from I Day and the grad ceremony, none of this is for me. It's not like my daughter being crowned at May Day. I cannot imagine that we're anything but distracting.</p>
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<p>Here is one alumi that will not be unhappy to see it return to it's original purpose. I think I was on the 'lone' side of this forum discussion about a year ago.</p>
<p>I do agree with parents NOT being a part of Sea Trials. It's a hard, stressful day and I don't think the Mids need the distractions of parents sitting in bleachers, watching. </p>
<p>Other thing that surprises me is how parents stand outside the Midstore and Alumni Hall watching their plebes on I-Day. The very last thing I wanted to see as a parent of a new Midshipman was my child being yelled at by the Cadre and I can imagine that the new plebes didn't appreciate having an audience. On our son's I-Day, we made it a point not be anywhere where there might be plebes. </p>
<p>For the past three years, I'd manned our Parent's Club table at the Alumni Association picnic. On my way to my car one year, I actually saw a mom walk up to a member of the Cadre and ask him to move over so that she could get a better picture of her son! I just about fell over. That poor kids probably had a miserable day because of it.</p>
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USNA69 wrote: Here is one alumi that will not be unhappy to see it return to it's original purpose. I think I was on the 'lone' side of this forum discussion about a year ago.
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<p>Man, how weird is it when I actually agree with USNA69 on something? ;)</p>
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<p>Not as weird as when I do. :D</p>
<p>Even my plebe wannabe has said that she thinks Sea Trials should be only for plebes and cadre, to the extent (before hearing of the changes) of making me promise not to come watch.</p>
<p>On a different note, how long have PPW and FPW been around? Are these really "traditions," or have they only been around a short time? There are graduation ceremonies for people completing boot camp, I believe. Wouldn't PPW somewhat equate to that?</p>
<p>Here's a question for the ancient mariners, when did families start accompanying their offspring to I-Day?</p>
<p>Is there still going to be PPW in the summer of 2008?</p>
<p>I know my husband's parents came to I-Day and PPW in the summer of 1978 and my parents went to both for my brother in the summer of 1983, but my uncle and dad both came to the Academy on their own in the summers of 1941 and 1948. </p>
<p>On a side note, there was no such thing a First Class Parent Weekend for either my brother (USNA 87) or husband (USNA 82). That must be something that started later.</p>
<p>Hmmmm. . . .how about CVW, they should probably get rid of that also. Probably an unnecessary distraction to unit cohesion and, besides, they didn't have it in the good ol' days.</p>
<p>And how about public viewing of parades. . . .no need for that.</p>
<p>And, while we're at it, how about closing the yard or restricting public movement. That's the way the AFA does it and that would eliminate the zoo-like atmosphere.</p>
<p>Oh, and no need to have the public area in Bancroft. Too much of a distraction.</p>
<p>Fact is, the public can see many of the training evolutions if they had such a mind.</p>